How to Buy Original Art
Original artwork is an investment, and it requires a lot of thought and consideration if you do decide to buy original art. Thus, learning how to buy original art is necessary so you do not invest in artwork that proves to be of no value later on.
Materials
- Magnifying glass
- Framed piece of art work
- Internet access
- Library card
- Examine the artwork for the artist signature. Take into consideration that the artist may also sign copies of other works as well. The way to get around this is to familiarize yourself with the artist work, know the artist name and visit the artist website to see if the artwork you are considering is authentic.
- Check if the artwork you are buying comes stretched and framed because if not you will end up paying more for the artwork, if you order online.
- Examine the brush strokes. The brush strokes should have a natural appearance, and the color should blend into the next color as well as the paint built up area. Review the strokes with a magnifying glass if you cannot see the brush strokes blending into each other. Touch the artwork and check for thick or thin areas on the artwork. Your artwork should not have a flat surface with texture that differs from the background. If it does, you most likely have a print.
- Check the back of the artwork for a signature if none is on the front. Open the back of the frame carefully and remove the backing to examine the painting. Original artwork sometimes have an additional signature, a symbol, other notations such as information about the painting such as where it was created and the year it was created. Some may even have the name of a former owner. If you find something research that information online or at your local library to determine if you have an original artwork or a knock off.