Tool kit for becoming an Experienced Art Collector
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Focus on building your taste, don’t rush to buy before you look widely at the work of a very large number of contemporary artists. The more time invested in looking at contemporary art, is the more you taste will develop and you will be able to start fine-tuning your searches. Research as much as information as possible about artists whose work you love or are interested in, and do not limit yourself to just their websites, social media pages like Instagram, etc, look at galleries, on art school or group art websites, read about the artist on third-party websites discuss the artist or feature their art. In you should do basic image searches using Google image search and a picture of the artists work. This will help you catch other artwork that looks like the artist you are researching and help you find any similar artist styles and catch if AI thinks your work is another artists work. The is a good check for uniqueness or originally that is very quick. Look at who the artists you like follow on Instagram.
Build a list of fine artists you are interested in that represent a wide range of attainable price points for your current budget and potential earning budget over time. Once you have a list of attractive and mostly attainable artists names, start by visiting their websites reading the artist's statements, their biographical information, reviewing their CV and resume of shows and experience, look at selections of their art at gallery sites. Note specialties, descriptions or explanations of their artmaking process and techniques, what materials or mediums they use. Artist sites rarely provide details on pricing, but many to note there current gallery representation, contact information, waitlist, and other relevant details. There affiliated galleries should provide information on how to buy/inquire, how they ship or deliver the art. The more data you gather before you make artist and gallery contact, the better.
2. Start to streamline and direct your art searches to focus on your favorite artists-(should mostly the artist on your collectors list) subject matters (figurative, landscape, still life, Preferred artistic medium (painting, sculpture, ceramic…). Read, listen and see how it's described by galleries, by the artists who create it, and online.
Pay attention to what types of art you like the most are called and what words are commonly used to describe it. That's how you learn to search for and locate it.
Gradually identify and zero in on the artists, galleries, websites and social media pages that specialize in your favorites offer significant selections.
Are their artists and art shows reviewed by significant art publications, websites or critics?
Best procedure at the outset is to work with galleries that have profiles in the art community and that collectors pay attention to. The same goes for websites that offer varieties of art from multiple sellers and artists. Sticking with websites that vet or qualify their sellers are good to work with if you're new to art buying.
In the meantime, read national and regional arts publications and online content provided by websites that specialize in the types of art you like. If you're buying or collecting more locally or regionally, find the most respected and established galleries, artists and websites for your area. You can usually ask around to find out which these are without too much trouble.
There's something ephemeral about originality in artwork, this because nothing is really new in art. It's inevitable that some thing that we're looking might look like something else or someone else's work, but when duplicative elements are excessive it is a problem. We discuss this in some detail in the journey section. Just know that originality is key in terms of an artwork that you will value and will appreciate in value over time.
3. Watch out for fine art dealers, galleries, or online venues? Once you contact galleries, dealers, and artists inquiring about art you're interested in..things start move very fast. Excessive selling should not be necessary either in person or via email. For example: someone at a gallery might approach you, engage you in conversation, begin by asking about what kinds of art you like, and then pretty soon start asking personal questions like where you live or what you do for a living. Anytime you find yourself getting cornered or pressured into taking action now, especially on art you know little or nothing about, head for the door or the next website or wherever else you can flee to as soon as you possibly can. What is the caliber of the gallery representing the artist? Is the artist represented by an art farm? Like: https://www.singulart.com/ - Art Farm. You can tell the caliber of the gallery by the number of locations the gallery has in international cities. The number of artists the gallery represents, should not be more than 40 artist max for a larger multi branch gallery. You also can tell by the quality of the galleries website.