I purchased my first painting for my home in October 2005. While shopping for the perfect piece, I realized that I had a lot to learn about the art world, so I started a blog to share my thoughts and experiences.
No matter how much you love art, deciding on buying a painting for your home can be an overwhelming task. It is not just a question of whether or not you like it. You have to consider size, framing and mounting, canvas vs. paper vs. metal etc; your budget; and countless other factors that are all important when purchasing something as personal as a painting.
The purpose of this blog is to share my experience in collecting art and hopefully help others similarly situated make informed decisions about what to buy for their homes.
I’ve bought some paintings for my home in the past. I like them and they look nice, but I’m not sure how much they’re really worth. How can I tell if an oil painting is a good value or if I’m being scammed?
I have a few things in mind when I think about buying artwork for my home. When evaluating a piece of art for purchase, I try to consider (1) the reputation of the artist, (2) the history of the work, and (3) the current market for that kind of work.
4
Art is something that you have around the home. There are various reasons for this. The first is that it is good to have beautiful things in your home. Beauty has a positive effect on the people who live there and on the way they feel about themselves.
The second reason is that art can be a good investment. This is particularly true if you buy older works of art rather than contemporary pieces, because older works are more likely to appreciate in value over time.
Another important consideration when buying art for your home is whether the piece you want will be appropriate for where you plan to put it. There are some pieces that would look good anywhere, but there are also many pieces that would only look good in certain locations.
If you want to buy some art for your home, then, you should try to find something that will make both an aesthetic and financial contribution to the overall look of the room or rooms where you plan on putting it.
When it comes to art, there are two different kinds of value. We talked about the first kind the last time: the market value of a painting. That’s what you can sell a painting for, or what you could use it as collateral for a loan.
Art has a second kind of value, though, and it’s just as important: the personal or emotional value of having that piece of art in your home.
With art as with anything else, you have to think about both kinds of value.
When you are buying a painting, the most important thing is to love it. It’s worth spending time thinking about how much you love it since how long you love it may be more important than how much you paid for it. If you don’t love it, do not buy it.
If you want an investment, then buy real estate. There are many reasons why art is not a good investment but if a painting is purchased for investment purposes, then the value of that painting should be determined by what someone would pay for the work that is in the frame, NOT what you paid for the frame and work combined.
In the case of very early works on paper there are often only one or two copies known to exist, so the value of these works will be determined by their position in the artist’s oeuvre as well as their age. However, any reputable auction house will provide as much information as possible about condition and provenance which can have a significant impact upon value.
If an artwork has been restored (painting over cracks or tears done when the artist was alive) or relined (a new canvas added) this will be stated in any sales literature provided and could detract from the value of a work. Again, a reputable auction house will make
It’s impossible to enjoy art if you feel that you can’t make a statement or express an idea. You can hang art by notable artists on the wall and say to everyone who walks into your home, “Yes, these works are expensive, but I have them because I love them.” This is a fine attitude.
But if you want to enjoy art for yourself and for your own reasons, it’s important to collect art that speaks to you. That way, when you’re sitting in your art-filled home, you can look at the art and think about how it makes you feel. You’ll be able to have conversations with yourself without anyone else there.
So keep this in mind when you’re shopping for art: if it doesn’t speak to you on a personal level, then don’t buy it. It’s not going to do any good sitting on your wall or in storage somewhere. And if it doesn’t make you think about what you like and what moves you in an intimate way, then save your money and find something else that does.
The internet is a great place to start your search for art. The prices are usually very good and the way they display the art is helpful in making your decision. You can see what the whole piece looks like and you can read about the artist and their work.
Many of these places will have examples of the artists’ work that you can order directly from them. However, if you are interested in purchasing a piece, check out some local galleries as well. Not only do you get to see the artwork in person, but you also get to talk to someone about it and about any concerns that you might have regarding theft or authenticity.
TIP: Before purchasing a painting, make sure that it has been properly cleaned and restored by a professional cleaning service . Often times paintings that seem to be in good condition may actually be damaged beyond repair from years of neglect or improper storage. Art restoration services are typically quite affordable and can save your valuable pieces from destruction.
