Where to learn basics of art collecting?
Jason Y. Kim
in college and enjoyed dozens of museum exhibits. However, I have
never bought an original work before. I would like to start collecting
paintings for my new home but do not really know how to proceed.
Visiting local art galleries (Washington, D.C.) I can discern no rhyme
or reason to the pricing of artwork. Most of these galleries only
carry contemporary artists, none of whom I recognize, and I have no
idea whether the works really deserve the prices they are asking. I
also don't know what the current trends and schools of art are, so I
don't know what's "hot" and what's not. I would prefer to buy
something I can understand and appreciate, such as an Abstract
Expressionist piece from the 1950s, although I wonder if I could afford
something like that.
Is there a web site or book or something that I can read to learn about
the basic valuation criteria for art and how to go about acquiring
something that will fit my aesthetic interests? E.g., is it possible
for an Average Joe like me to go to art auctions, and if so, how do I
find out when and where they are?
Any advice would be appreciated. Email preferred. TIA...
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Andrew Werby
Jason Y. Kim wrote in message
<130420000022246749%My_Email_Add...@smart.net>...
>I know a fair amount about art and art history, having studied it a bit
>in college and enjoyed dozens of museum exhibits. However, I have
>never bought an original work before. I would like to start collecting
>paintings for my new home but do not really know how to proceed.
[What is your goal here? Are you trying to spend as little as possible on
art you personally like as much as possible, or is this an investment, where
spending more money is rationalized in hopes of higher return?]
>
>Visiting local art galleries (Washington, D.C.) I can discern no rhyme
>or reason to the pricing of artwork. Most of these galleries only
>carry contemporary artists, none of whom I recognize, and I have no
>idea whether the works really deserve the prices they are asking.
[If you fall in love with a piece of art, it might seem to deserve its
asking price. If not, keep looking. If you are buying through a gallery, the
price will be double what the artist is getting. It is increasingly
possible, though, to buy art directly from artists, through their websites,
saving all or part of this markup.]
I
>also don't know what the current trends and schools of art are, so I
>don't know what's "hot" and what's not.
[Do you care? If so, read up on it. If not, go with your own taste.]
I would prefer to buy
>something I can understand and appreciate, such as an Abstract
>Expressionist piece from the 1950s, although I wonder if I could afford
>something like that.
[If you're talking about a major "name" of the period, then maybe, if you're
rich. Lesser-known figures also produced art in that style and period, which
are available for less. There are also artists today who work in that style,
and their work would be the most affordable alternative. People are also
producing classical realist work, Surrealist-type pieces,
Impressionist-style paintings, petroglyphs- every historical style you can
think of is still being done somewhere.]
>
>Is there a web site or book or something that I can read to learn about
>the basic valuation criteria for art and how to go about acquiring
>something that will fit my aesthetic interests?
[For major artists, values are established at each auction. In general,
valuations of contemporary artworks are a function of the artist's name
recognition, and are subject to the whims of fashion. Although there are
books available on art collecting, I'm not sure how helpful they really
are.]
Is it possible
>for an Average Joe like me to go to art auctions, and if so, how do I
>find out when and where they are?
[If you get on the list of a major auction company, like Christie's,
Sotheby's, or Butterfield & Butterfield (recently bought by e-bay), they
will keep you informed of upcoming art auctions. Some even allow internet
bidding these days. And of course there are internet auctions happening all
the time, although it's best to see the work itself, not just a photo,
before you buy.]
>
>Any advice would be appreciated. Email preferred. TIA...
Andrew Werby
http://unitedartworks.com
br...@wralaw.com
"Jason Y. Kim" <My_Email_Add...@smart.net> wrote:
> I know a fair amount about art and art history, having studied it a
bit
> in college and enjoyed dozens of museum exhibits
The less you know the better off you'll be.
> Visiting local art galleries (Washington, D.C.) I can discern no rhyme
> or reason to the pricing of artwork. Most of these galleries only
> carry contemporary artists, none of whom I recognize, and I have no
> idea whether the works really deserve the prices they are asking. I
> also don't know what the current trends and schools of art are, so I
> don't know what's "hot" and what's not. I would prefer to buy
> something I can understand and appreciate, such as an Abstract
> Expressionist piece from the 1950s, although I wonder if I could
afford
> something like that.
Tell me exactly how much money you have and I'll make you something
that no critic or parrot will be able to tell isn't a JacksonPollack
or a Rothko if you like.
> Is there a web site or book or something that I can read to learn
about
> the basic valuation criteria for art
In another post I suggested that anyone who is going to collect
painting read a large book on art technique, like Russ Meyers
book or Blockxs. What you are paying for is labor and longevity,
the 1950's AAE have neither, so most of them other than the primum
mobiles are utter ripoffs.
> and how to go about acquiring
> something that will fit my aesthetic interests? E.g., is it possible
> for an Average Joe like me to go to art auctions, and if so, how do I
> find out when and where they are?
It only takes Money. Many of the fortune 500 started out as average
Joes, and their tastes prove that not much more than $$ has changed.
> Any advice would be appreciated. Email preferred. TIA...
Bryn Ayers
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.