The Perceptive Buyer: Factors to Consider When Purchasing Art

** All images copyright of The Brand Stand STL and/or the respective artist

A successful buyer of art considers many factors when selecting pieces for purchase.  This blog will provide an overview of some of those factors to assist beginning buyers in entering the collecting market.

Browsing Artwork at The Brand Stand STL Art Gallery

ARTIST’S CREDENTIALS

The artist’s background, training and exhibition history play a major role in determining the value of an artwork.  Consider the prominence of the school the artist attended, who he or she trained with (a famous artist?), the company he or she kept (an artistic circle, etc.) and how long he or she has been producing artwork.  Have they exhibited locally, regionally, nationally, internationally in galleries and museums? Have they won awards in juried shows or been published in books or catalogues?  Are they listed in artist registers?  Have they been working long enough to have a retrospective exhibition?

On the other hand, an artist can be very well known without any training.  Many artists are respected for their vernacular art, work that is a product of its environment and community, often made by self-taught artists without any formal training.  An example is Mose T, a famous African American artist who painted subjects such as snakes and watermelons on salvaged wood.  He used a soda can tab as a hanger and signed his name with a backward “S.”

MEDIUM

Some collectors prefer the classic medium of oil paint over other media, due to its association with master painters over centuries.  Acrylic paint has become more popular in the modern era and allows for versatility in its ability to be thinned with water.  Watercolor and gouache paint were used in the Renaissance era to highlight drawings, maps, etc.  Over the years, they developed into more widespread usage, and, today, are considered legitimate media for an entire painting, although oil paintings most often command a higher price. 

SIZE

In general, a larger painting commands a higher price, if for no other reason, than the artist had to put in lots of work and use more materials to complete it.  Larger paintings may appeal to corporations as they fill walls in lobby and office spaces.  Small and medium-sized paintings work well in more intimate residential environments.  

DATE

The date of a work of art may be important when placed within the artist’s career.  For example, if the piece was done early in his or her career, it might be worth less because the technique is more rudimentary.  A work done late in an artist’s career might exhibit a mature, painterly quality and, therefore, be more desirable and worth more money.  Some artists go through different periods in their careers, so a piece done within a specific period may be worth more than one done in another period.  

Mingling at The Brand Stand STL Art Gallery

MARKET

Obviously, a collector must monitor the art market closely to keep abreast of fluctuations and changes in taste.  The simplest way to do this is by monitoring sold prices at auction houses and galleries and looking at list prices at art shows and on websites of online retailers.  This is a method based on comparing prices of similar artworks to determine a price for the one you are looking at (comparables).  There are many different markets out there, one example being the regional market.  Regionalist paintings have been popular for a long time and command nice prices.  

REGION

The city, region and country of the artist are also factors to consider when purchasing artwork.  For instance, St. Louis does not have as thriving and burgeoning an art scene as comparably-sized cities like Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Cincinnati.  Therefore, when purchasing artwork in St. Louis, it may be necessary to look harder and be willing to pay higher prices.  Regional art has been popular for quite some time.  Examples are artists painting in a similar style in the Midwest or in California.  

CONDITION

The condition of an artwork is very important in determining its value.  Things to consider include tears, repairs and surface crazing on oil paintings (crazing is to be expected in older works). Other factors include water damage, scratches and blemishes to works on paper, canvas or panel.  If the piece is in a valuable frame, check the frame for damage, too.  An ornate antique frame can add value to the piece.  A painting may have been resized, restretched or remounted.  Check to see if the work has been conserved and make sure the signature is authentic. 

SIGNATURE

A signed piece is more desirable than an unsigned piece.  A signature ensures the work is actually by the artist that painted it.  Sometimes, an auction house or gallery will list for sale an unsigned painting done by an attributed artist.  This means that expert(s) have examined the painting and believe it was painted by a certain artist based on stylistic and technical similarities to the artist’s other work.  These “attributed” works will not sell for as much as a genuine piece.

PROVENANCE

Provenance is the history of ownership and possession of a work of art through the years, in other words, its pedigree.  It includes who purchased the work initially (or it may have been donated), and then the record of ownership thereafter.  Buyers typically look for a strong provenance.       

Good luck with your collecting adventures.  I hope this blog provides a solid backdrop from which to begin.