A couple of weekends ago I was in Salem with friends checking out art set up at a few different venues throughout the city. At one particular gallery, we found a series of adorable “dark” paintings… tiny monsters and creeps and such. I was interested in one particular piece and after a song and dance to find the price of the work (somehow I had the impression that a business should know the prices of work, or perhaps have a list somewhere) I was ready to whip out my credit card to make a purchase (seeing as it was in my minuscule budget). While the gallery owner disappeared in the back room for some unknown reason, my husband took the piece off the wall to look at how the piece was constructed. Oh, man, am I glad he did! I was so enthralled with the piece I hadn’t even thought to look at its construction, and when he flipped it over, we realized that the painting was done on a student’s “canvas board,” which in and of its self isn’t that terrible, but it had been torn from a larger piece of board… not cut neatly and the edges sealed all clean, but torn, with jagged, uneven edges. Needless to say, I did not purchase any art that day. Obviously, if the artist does not care enough to prepare his materials properly, I should not care enough to give him money for his work.
This entire experience then brought to mind another important aspect of starting an art collection: spend your art budget on work that is worth it! Whether you have a hundred dollars or a hundred thousand dollars (or more) to spend, make sure you understand the value of what you are purchasing and make sure that it is worth the cost. Aesthetics are very personal, but quality is an aspect of art that is somewhat universal. Keeping this in mind, there are some things that I would suggest you look at when thinking of purchasing work for any budget.
The surface that an image is painted on is a very important factors in how the work ages. The more flexible an item, and the thicker the medium on the surface, the more likely you are to see the paint crack and fall off later. So look to see if the surface is well supported? Do you know if the artist created the surface themselves (stretched the canvas, built the supports)? Can you tell if the canvas is wrinkled or is it stretched tight? Is the structure beneath the surface visible (intentionally?) or hidden? Do the edges look like they were finished nicely or were they left ratty and unpainted? Has the piece ever been damaged and repaired (its okay to ask this question... a professional will probably expect it)?
If the potential purchase is a work on paper, is the paper archival (meaning it is not going to fade so much over time)? If it is a print, what is the printing method? Giclee prints are different from inkjet prints are different from monoprints are different from silkscreen… know the method and know what it is worth. If an artist is printing from an inkjet printer at home using non-archival paper, they should be charging you less than the same image printed on archival paper, mounted on board or printed on canvas. Do you know if it is a limited edition, or is it from an open print run? Are the prints signed and numbered?
The frame a work is displayed in (and sold with) can also be an important factor. Is the work displayed in a frame? Can you tell if the frame was custom-made for this piece of art or was it picked up at the local craft store? Was the frame built by the artist? Is the frame actually a part of the work? Does the frame enhance the image or take away from it? I have found that often you can tell a lot about how an artist views their art by the way in which they frame it. Keep in mind as well that young and emerging artists often choose frames for financial reasons, not visual ones, so don’t over analyze the framing job in these circumstances.
Mostly, just LOOK! Look at all the details… is that smudge a part of the painting, or a post-production error? Is the painting going to tear right off its supports because it isn’t put together properly? Is the store-bought canvas a “professional” grade canvas or a “student” grade canvas (which primarily relates to the quality of the canvas material and the thickness of the support structure)? Is the paint already cracking or the paper turning yellow? Spend your money wisely! No matter how beautiful or enchanting a piece of art might be, make sure it will be around for you to enjoy in a few decades (centuries?) as well! Ask the artist if there are care instructions when you inquire about purchasing because that information will be invaluable in keeping your work beautiful for a long time!
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