BECOME AN ART BUYER - TEN TIPS TO HELP

1. When the lights are on in an art sales gallery after 5 o'clock and a crowd has gathered, it means you can walk right in, have a drink and a bite to eat and look at the art. No invitation is needed. You don't have to pay to enter and you won't be pressured to buy anything. Gallery openings are listed in magazines and newspapers and you are welcome to attend.

2. If you do happen to like one of the works but you are unsure, ask if you can take it home to see if you can live with the art work.

3. One of the pleasures of owning a work of art is meeting the artist. There are many opportunities for this to happen. Go to an exhibition opening and the artist is often present. Most cities have an open studio tour or an art walk (San Diego has both). An art dealer may be able to arrange a meeting and most artists welcome a call from you directly to arrange to see more of their work.

4. Celebrate if you fall in love with an artwork. This is a totally valid reason to buy. Like in any good love match, if you treasure it, it will reward you.

5. It is also OK to buy a work because it fits the décor of your home. Just make sure you have an emotional and/or intellectual connection to the work as well.

6. Don't hesitate to buy a work of art to commemorate a special event or to remember a favorite place or feeling. Many famous collections were started in just this way.

7. If you are nervous about buying or even looking at art, seek out a friend, an art collector, an art dealer, an appraiser or consultant to mentor you. Some artists are excellent mentors and can speak well about a whole range of art work.

8. If you buy art, you may eventually outgrow it. This is all right and you can sell the work, give it away or put it in the attic. Just make sure and replace it with a new work.

9. Once you buy an art work, share it with friends and let them experience the joy, insight and pleasure from the works that surround you.

10. Trust your instincts by buying what you love and having the courage in your conviction.

TOP 4 REASONS NOT BECOME AN ART COLLECTOR

1. You meet too many interesting people and have no time to be lonely

2. The parties are too much fun and might distract you from taking out the trash or fixing the disposal.

3. When you buy a work that increases enormously in value over the years, you might become spoiled for the simpler life of poverty.

4. All the notoriety of having a famous art collection makes it impossible to go anywhere because of the paparazzi.

Look for other topics in the SmART Collector

Topic: Commissioning Art - Joan Seifried at Galerie D'Art International written by Lisa Roche (Report on the Art Collectors Round Tables, 2004)

For more information contact info@SDVisualArts.net