Art of Collecting Tips
The following tips were gathered during a panel discussion in February 2011 about art collecting. The panel was led by moderator Denny Griffith, President of the Columbus College of Art and Design and included panel members Priscilla Tyson, Columbus City Councilmember and president of Star Arts Gallery; Catherine Evans, curator of photography at the Columbus Museum of Art; Duff Lindsay, gallery owner; and collectors Roy Gottlieb and Ellen Pizzuti. The panelists provided personal insights on how they started their collection, tips on how to purchase art and why festivals can make good options for beginning or building an art collection.
- Spend time learning about art and individual artists instead of following the latest art trends or styles of the moment. Get involved now. Go around your town, visit museums, interact with art, read about art and create your concept of what you enjoy. Popularity does not insure an artist will go up in value over the years. Glancing through our Artist Gallery will be a great way to prepare yourself for your trip to the Columbus Arts Festival.
- Educating yourself about up and coming artists can help you purchase wonderful work that you can afford. While purchasing expensive pieces by already established artists is one method of collecting, it's certainly not the only way and not necessarily the most profitable way in the long-term. Columbus Arts Festival artists are the best in the world at what they do, and will go out of their way to help you learn more.
- Buy what you love. The artwork you purchase will presumably be in your home for a long time. Pay attention to your immediate reactions. If you can’t stop thinking about a piece then you should probably try and find a way to buy it. If you make sure you really love the artwork you buy and it will enhance your decor and add to your quality of life for years to come. In addition you may want to think about the collection as a legacy to leave your children, or as a donation to a museum near and dear to your heart.
- There is no right way to collect art. Each individual or collector has his or her own method of purchasing art, and it can vary from: buying bundles of art at one time, purchasing a select piece once every year or two, commissioning a favorite artist to create individual work with personal meaning, etc. Find the style of collecting that best suits you, but be sure to walk around the Arts Festival to get a feel for what might fit in best in your collection.
- Think outside the box! Be creative. Here's an opportunity to express yourself with items of jewelry, clothing or household items that are hand-crafted by skilled artists. Ask questions. One of the benefits of a Festival is the opportunity to talk one on one with the artists. Our artists won't hesitate to answer whatever questions you may have when considering the purchase of a work of art. Provenance, condition, artist information, and history are all aspects of the piece that are very important to its value and your enjoyment of the work.
- Relationships can be an important part of collecting. Especially if you really love a particular artist’s work. Establishing that relationship by getting to know the artist can put you among the first in their mind when they are coming to town, create new work or have a studio sale.
- Art buying is an area where you can bargain. Not all artists will give discounts but it never hurts to ask, especially if you’re purchasing an expensive piece or more than one piece of work from a single artist.
- Be aware of the need to care for your collection. Some pieces such as encaustic (wax), fiber and some glass require special cleaning processes. In addition, the display of some work needs to have special consideration—watercolors and some other painting methods fade very easily and should be kept out of direct sun when hung. Be sure to discuss with the artist how to care for the work you purchase.
