Francesco Riccardo Monti
Cast marble.
So far in this small
series of blogs we have talked about buying your first painting and
then becoming a collector.
Next I would like to
talk about buying that expensive collectible piece you have always
wanted and how to get the best deal that you can.
I must disclose
first but I am sure you all know that I am the Gallery coordinator, so I do see things from a Gallery
perspective.
I am also an artist
so I do know what it is like also as an artist to deal with
Galleries, the highs and the low lows.
Before you decide to
buy that beautiful collectible that you so want, research the item.
There is so much information on the internet and you will be
surprised what you can find.
As a gallery we try
and research all the major pieces, so we know the current value of
the piece or if not the exact piece then another work done by the
same artist at the same time period.
That can be a little
misleading as not all works are the artists masterpieces, remember
that, so it is wise to check out current prices of different pieces
done by the same artist.
An example, we have
a work by one artist done 20 years ago and it is worth more today
than his current work. The reason being is that these older works are
recognized as his signature work and as the years went on his newer
work does have the same insight or creative instinct that he
possessed in his earlier years, but this can work the other way as
well, as I said check today’s price of the artist that you want to
buy before you consider giving up your hard earned money.
Remember every
Picasso with his signature on it is not worth $200 million.
Many people have
paid to much for the work of living artists only to find that when
they want to sell it, the market is not interested as the market sees
it as overpriced.
Guillermo Tolentino
Cast marble
This Art World is an
up and down world and name is everything but fashion trumps all.
Today some artists
are getting very big prices for very average work and in the years to
come the buyers will find it very difficult to get their money back.
Do not buy what is
in fashion as fashions change.
Do not buy what is
being hyped up and heavily promoted by Auction Houses again it is
fashion and people will get hurt.
Research what you
want to buy, find out what the past years of sales have been like and
the prices, remember every painting by any artist is not a
masterpiece, do not be rushed into the sale.
I remember an art
dealer said to me thirty years ago when I believed every painting I
painted was a masterpiece and worthy of big prices and he looked at
my work and said, “ You like most Artists do one good painting in
every fifteen or twenty, do not take yourself so seriously, they are
not all worth a lot of money, you should burn a couple of them.”
Harsh words I know
but there is an essence of truth in what he said.
I look at lots of
paintings by lots of Artists and I know that they are not all
masterpieces, some should never have seen the light of day, do not be
rushed into the sale.
I cannot say this
enough, do not be rushed into the sale.
Do not let sales
people or the urgency of an Auction rush you into buying, if you miss
it then it was not meant to be.
I have people bring
me paintings that they bought in the excitement and feeding frenzy of
the auction and find they have spent to much for the painting and now
they cannot even sell it for what they paid for it.
I say all of this
just to caution you.
So, first of all and
the number one reason for buying a painting and collecting,
You buy it
because,You love it.
Research the
painting, find out all you can about it.
Once you have an
idea of the value of the painting, begin to search out the painting in
the Galleries or Auction houses of your choice.
Set a budget and
stick to it, especially at an auction.
At a Gallery check
out the best price you can and never be afraid to work away, after
all it is just a painting.
I love paintings and
sculpture, it is my life and I want everyone who buys a work of art to
go from the transaction happy and satisfied that they got a good
deal.
If we are all happy
with the outcome then the world is a nice place.
I want my collectors
to love the work of Art that they have purchased and to want to live
with it and it is my hope and desire that the painting or sculpture
that they purchased will bring them lots of joy.
Collecting is a
wonderful pursuit that can bring the collector much joy and
happiness.
Happy collecting.
Mark E Shellshear
Art Consultant.
Art Consultant.
"Dalagang bukid "
Tom Raymundo
Limestone.
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