buying
Notes on the art of buying art by Gavin McClafferty
If you find yourself glancing at a blank space and wishing for the perfect piece of art to appear, it’s time to act. The good news is you don’t need a masters in fine arts or to have made a fortune to acquire something fabulous for your home. Buying art is however a balance between practical, aesthetic and emotional reasons.
The most important rule is to buy art that you LOVE. Don’t rely on other opinions; in the end you’re the one who will be living with the purchase.
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To make confident purchases, avoid impulse buying. Look at more work by the same artist; get to know them. One of the best things about the festival is the opportunity to meet artists and discuss their work.
To decide among several pieces, ask yourself: “five years from now, which will I be most interested in?“. Ask questions, conversations spark new appreciation of artwork, and reading the literature will give you additional information.
If you like an artist but don’t see something exactly right, consider commissioning as most artists charge the same as for existing work.
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Renting is an option and is excellent for businesses as it keeps the boardrooms and office spaces lively and interesting.
If you find a work you really love but it’s out of your price range, ask for something at a lower price. Some artists may discount work if you are buying more than one piece and artists will allow you to pay for it over time.
Lastly enjoy it and don’t forget your cheque book.
Limited-Edition Prints
A set number of copies made from an original work which is often signed by the artist. Each print in the set will be numbered to show how many prints were made. Limited-editions have documentation giving specific details about the size, edition size, etc. This document is known as a Certificate of Authenticity.
Original Art A one-of-a-kind painting created by the artist. The artist has the right to reproduce the piece as a limited edition piece. If you have purchased an original, the artist still owns the copyright and can reproduce the piece without your permission. This is the most valuable type of art.
Open Editions Open-edition prints may be produced in any quantity and size and for as long as the publisher wishes to produce the print. This is the least valuable type of art. Remaque A limited-edition print to which the artist adds a small drawing. The piece is signed and numbered with the letters R/M added to indicate the type of prints and how many were available
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