Purchasing contemporary art pieces looks like a daunting task to the beginners. However, it isn’t as tricky as it seems from the other end. Novice buyers generally find it difficult to understand the worth of an artwork or the artist. As a result, they refrain from investing in these pieces. However, if you are new to the world of contemporary art, then here are five guidelines that will help you in making an informed purchase.
1. Believe your eyes more than your ears:
This is an age-old tip, but somehow everyone ignores it while making vital purchase decisions. Drawing a conclusion after listening to someone else’s words is easy to do but you must control that feeling and rather choose to do your own research. There are innumerable people present in the world of art who are ready to give all sorts of advice about the latest trends, artists, and artworks. The most important thing about an artwork is the way it looks. Consider the artwork and understand if at all it evokes anything in you. When it comes to buying contemporary art, you must choose to use all your senses instead of one.
2. Research is your soulmate:
In the world of art, research is your best friend. Find out as much about the artist as you possibly can before choosing to invest your hard-earned money into one of his creations. Research about artists, their sources of inspiration, their artworks, etc. to gain valuable insights into their personality. After thorough research, you will be able to understand the various genres of art along with the ones which suit your taste the most. Once you’ve identified your liking, then you can dig deeper into it and later on opt to buy fabulous contemporary art in that genre.
3. Explore:
There is something magical about going to art exhibitions and exploring the various artworks which are showcased there. The more you explore, the better your understanding becomes. Art is a journey and it gets better with exploration. Go and look at various artworks as they will help to shape your mindset. If you get an opportunity to visit with an expert, then make the most of it as the knowledge of a proficient person can give you valuable insights and an entirely different thought process.
4. Buy what you love:
This is the most important tip when it comes to buying contemporary art. Before committing your financial resources into a particular artwork, it is vital for you to love it. You will be waking up to that piece of art for the rest of your life and that is why it is of utmost importance for you to love that painting dearly. It doesn’t matter how good a painting is, if it doesn’t match your personal taste and personality then it would be of seldom any use to you. Surely, art is an investment but you must only invest in what you love.
5. Gain a substantial understanding of your own space:
There is truth in the fact that the life of a painting is longer than the place as one might choose to switch houses or the location of the painting. Nonetheless, having an understanding of your space before purchasing artwork is a smart thing to do. Try to understand your furniture, upholstery items, and décor in general. This will give you information pertaining to your taste in terms of style. Once you’ve known this, hunt the pieces which will complement the existing décor and won’t look out of the place.
The aforementioned tips will act as a stepping stone while helping you ace the process of buying contemporary art.
Punit