I recently came
across a statement made by by a collector that made me think about
strengthening the building your Art Collection. He said how he was
part of a small auction on household pieces of an estate and he
deliberately went there to buy an art work by an Artist that he
collected. The piece was an undistinguished small painting by the
artist on paper but it was very different from his normal work. The
Artist was a contemporary painter who concentrated on large powerful
works, this painting in the auction was a scene of a woman sitting at
a kitchen table preparing a meal. As I said a very undistinguished
painting and he paid very little for it.
Why did the
collector want it?
Because he wanted
some obscure paintings by the artist that would build more of the
character of the artists life and his paintings into his collection.
Collector Chandler
Coventry said,” Try and amass as many diverse pieces by an Artist
as possible and these include incongruous works, so by the time your
collection is mature, you have depth and breadth.”
Of course it is very
important to get the best paintings from your favoured Artist as is
possible and this requires research and know when to buy and how much
to pay. It does not help your collection to pay far more for your
favoured Artist in an Auction just because someone wants to bid up
the price, set your price limits and do not move from them, if you do
not get that painting today, you never know when it could come back
on the market again.
As well as buying
these important pieces, seek out the obscure works by your favored
Artist. See if you can find very early pieces, pieces on paper and
even doodles and scribbles by the artist, these all add to the depth
of your collection and especially if the Artist is living and will
acknowledge these obscure pieces and sign them.
No piece by your favored Artist is not worth having especially if it is authenticated
by the Artist or if the Artist is not alive by the Gallery that
represented him.
I know a collector
who when he goes to his favored Artist to buy a painting always
looks around the studio for paper and small canvas cut off and brush wiping on cloth that the Artist would dispose of anyway and ask for
them and get the Artist to sign them, he sees them as an important
part of his collection, they gave history to the best works and gives
a little incite into the Artist.
As you pursue your
passion for collecting, do not forget the little things that others
would not be interested in. The best thing about a lot of Collectors
is that they do not think obscure and undistinguished pieces of an
Artist are worth having, they see no value in these things of little
value but added to your collection they bring value to you because
they build the back story of the Artist.
They are so never
over look these little gems they will enhance your collection and
make the great paintings shine even brighter.
I do hope this has
been a help for you and if you need any help or advice with you
collection or collecting needs, please contact our Gallery Team at
Galeria de las Islas and they will do all they can to help and assist
you.
Enjoy your passion.
Written for Galeria
de las Islas by,
Mark Shellshear.
Art consultant.
mark@shellshearmedia.com
