A Simple Guide to Buying Art Online

Properly decorated walls pull a room together and serve as a great conversation starter. How you decorate a small or large space can really elevate the experience your guests have when visiting your home.  Here are some simple guidelines to consider when purchasing artwork for your space. 

Buy work you love. 

This one is probably the simplest to understand, but we live with our art.  Therefore the art we choose needs a special connection to the owner. 

Buy with your eyes and not your ears.

You do not need to worry about the opinions of others when purchasing art.  We all have different tastes and opinions on artwork, so don’t be concerned if someone has a different preference than yourself.  

Consider your intentions. 

Measure the space you want to fill and decide the aesthetic you want to create with your decor choices.  Making these choices before you shop will make the buying experience more pleasurable to you. If can also benefit you in a conversation with the artist if there is something specific you are looking for or want to commission. 

Know your budget. 

Having a price in mind will dictate much of the purchasing decisions.  If your budget is not conducive for a large print or wrapped canvas then you can consider buying several small works and crafting a gallery layout to fill a space.  

Emerging artists have a bright future, but their work is more affordable in the present.  Buying the work of an emerging artist can also benefit you in the long run as the artist becomes more popular and you can receive a positive return on investment in the future if you decide to sell. 

It is also wise to consider the factors affecting art prices such as the rarity of an item, artistic medium used, the period the work was created and if you are the first buyer (more affordable) or second buyer (more expensive) for any given image. 

Keep all documentation. 

Artists will provide you with a bill of sale or receipt and a certificate of authenticity for any artwork you purchase.  Saving these documents is a must if you want your purchase to retain value or appreciate in value overtime. Without these documents a secondary buyer or art dealer will not offer you full value in the future if there is not a paper trail directly to the artist.