How to Buy Art Start Your Own Art Collection
Your Art Collection as a Self Portrait in Pieces Creating your own art collection will become one of the most fulfilling investments you make during your life. A piece of art in your home can become
an
oasis
of
rest,
a
springboard for new ideas or a memory of a particular moment in time. Art is personal, it showcases one’s taste and style just as the fashion, interiors and gadget we choose.
“You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.” George Bernard Shaw
A Good Place to Start: To sharpen your taste, look at as much art in as many different places as possible. Visit galleries, see exhibitions, find out about the big and local art fairs. Spend a moment analysing what speaks to you and what doesn’t. Once you spend some time engaging with lots of different art, you will develop ‘an eye’ for what you prefer and what you don’t care for. This will make it easier to know when something catches your eye, a piece of art that will work just right for you.
Understand the Format: Original Art An original artwork is an artwork that is simply one of a kind. It can be an oil painting on canvas or board, done in acrylics, watercolours or mixed media. Art comes in many shapes, sizes and media used.
Prints Prints (see more on the next pages) are artist made or artist approved editions of their work. They can come on paper but also on canvas. They can be limited edition or unlimited, signed or unsigned. All fine art prints are printed on acid free materials that last and come with certificate of authenticity.
Understand the Format: Sculpture Sculpture is an object in space, viewable from many angles which can be made out of variety of materials. It can be made directly and some is cast from sculptor’s model. If cast, sculpture too can be one of a kind or come in editions. Photography In
many
ways
similar
to
prints,
photographs can come in limited or unlimited editions, be signed and is printed on materials that last. Wall Art Much as the name suggests, this is any kind of art work fixed to the wall that has sculptural elements to it. Neon art, ceramics, found material, fabrics – these can be either behind glass, perspex or have no covering.
Terms within the artworld can seem confusing, let’s clarify a few: What is an Edition? The number of times an image is printed is the edition . If the artist chooses to print just one piece however, as a silkscreen for example or an engraving lifted out of a plate, the original is then one of a kind, often called a monoprint. What is a Reproduction? A reproduction involves taking an original piece of art and photographing or scanning it, transferring that image to paper. Posters are produced in this manner. What are Limited and Numbered Editions?
Editions may be limited or unlimited in number and may be numbered or unnumbered at the discretion
of the artist. While it is often thought that limiting editions makes the print more valuable this is not necessarily true. Many of the most well known photographers (for example Ansel Adams) do not limit their editions and their prints are still extremely valuable.
What is a Medium? Medium refers to either the type of artwork (painting, sculpture, drawing, print) or to the materials used in making of the work (bronze, plaster, charcoal, oils, etching, lithography etc).
Is the work I’m buying going to increase in value? This is one of the most complicated art related questions to answer. All parties involved are looking to have the value of the art increased overtime. That however should not be the sole reason for buying an artwork unless you are looking to work with an art investment advisor. The art market is famously fickle and doesn’t easily adhere to any rules. Often artist’s art organically increases in value as their career progresses, they gain recognition and show in more galleries and exhibitions. Artworld is run on originality and scarcity.
“Art is not an investment. Art is something you buy because you are financially solvent enough to give yourself a pleasure of living with great works rather than having to just see them in museums. People who are buying art at the top of the market as an investment are foolish.” Arne Glimcher
How can I tell good art from bad art? The art market is huge, there are thousand of artists and only a handful of them make it to the popular consciousness. Some art, especially abstract art is often dismissed for ‘not being art’, being ‘pretentious’ ‘my 5 year old could have done it’ etc. One man treasure… and all that. However, everyone is free to like what they like. We are all different and art should and can cater to all of us.
“Art is what you can get away with.” Andy Warhol
“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.�
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Where and how do I hang my art? There’s a huge variety of ways to show off your collection. Large pieces can become rooms main focal points, they can be hung at eye level but you can place them higher if you want the eye move upwards. Art can simply placed on shelves, the floor, furniture. It can be hung ‘gallery style’ in groups of similar sized pieces or uniformly especially if the are a series.
Frames Framing is often somewhat overlooked part of buying, preparing and showing art. Frame is chosen to work with the artwork in whichever way you prefer. You might want the frame to be noticeable and you might not. You can choose frames that match the work or you can have an old print in a contemporary floating frame. No frame or big frame, it’s something not to overlook.
About Us: We are a sister company to a successful art consultancy Luminaire Arts in London’s Belgravia. To support and encourage more young artists and to widen the audience of the established ones; we have created LumiArts to provide an art service that reaches world-wide and will provide you with stunning quality art effortlessly. Our art consultants are highly experienced, working on public and private projects for the world’s most successful interior designers. The following pages are aiming to help you understand how our website works and in what ways you are being supported. You always have the option to either contact us or the artist if you have any questions about the process or the art work.
At LumiArts we are passionate about art and satisfaction of our customers as well as our artists.
1. A Stunning Range of Art to Choose From To find an artwork that suits your taste and your space, browse our website and find the perfect piece for you.
2. Customise your Selection Choose categories on our website in any variation by size, colour, medium or subject to find a match.
3. Sizing Consider your space. Establish what are you looking for and check how will it fit the designated space. Think about the framing, the right frame can make the work stand out.
4. Art Consultancy Only a Click Away We provide continual support
Contact one of our experienced art consultants with
on any of your purchases,
any queries you might have. Send us photos, get advice
whether you are unsure how
on curating your collection.
to show, store or look after your art.
5. Commission Your Own Art An artwork that caught your eye not quite fitting your requirements? Our website makes it easy to contact our artists and provides a secure way of commissioning a piece that is just right for you. 6. Satisfaction Art is more than just an ornament, it will become an Keep all documentation
integral part of your home or office; improve and
that comes with your
cultivate your life and set off your personality, style and
artwork. The receipt, and
taste.
the certificate of originality. If one day you part with your piece, you will have everything at hand.
“It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure.�
Albert Einstein
To find out more, visit us at: http://www.lumiarts.co.uk/ Or contact us: ivan@luminairearts.co.uk