Investing in Art – The Trends of Art Investment

“Are you new to the investment stuff when it comes to art works and paintings ? Understand few basic trends which goes around about art investments and then think on if the investment is worth or just putting money as art work collector and for no returns..”

The Trends on Investing in Art

• Today there is a lot of hype surrounding investment in art and returns expected. The word itself signifies many things, but we humans immediately look at it as a monetary means to bettering our lives.
• Art is an investment that requires patience. That’s why for women who can make the initial venture it is a good option. Art as a holistic approach means an investment in exposing the human mind to colour, space, the evolution of man and woman and the history of the world among other things. This investment of enriching our selves through art is forgotten today by many. It has become a commerce.
• We have investors, collectors, lovers of art and the lay person who feels shy to express her reaction to art, begin most sentences on the subject with ‘I don’t know much about art.’  Investors buy for the signature and the rising status of the artist. Promotion of the artist would either be through the gallery, or the media. If a well known personality picks up the painting everyone else wants it too. The investor may not even enjoy the work, but hopes to gain a blue chip artist as part of his portfolio.
• The collector is more discerning. He or she would buy works to enjoy, but also with the vision that the particular artist would ‘appreciate’ over time. Collectors love the world of art, have some background knowledge of it, and when they interact with artists, there is always a healthy exchange of thoughts.
• The art lover buys for the love of having a work of art that they would enjoy giving a good home to. Not for the signature, but just for pure pleasure. This person has no reason to defend the work as serious art or boarding on craft or whatever may be the etymology.
• To the lay person shy about expressing feeling towards art, If you want to hang pretty pictures, go ahead and do that , as finally you are the one who has to live with the work of art every day. No apology is required for your taste or your budget. Go for what works best for you. If you already have art, how do you go about selling it? Painting don’t translate into easy or immediate money. There is no stock market to play with. No brokers as such , listed to handle one’s portfolio. No question of buying and selling over the telephone in seconds. So what do you choose? Auction houses ? Galleries ? Private investors or collectors? It takes time to find the right source with the right price as perceived by the market. And, what are market prices to start with? One yardstick are auctions.

Based on the bidding one can benchmark the artist’s standing. As in a job, one is assessed by one’s market value. Another method is following the demand created.

Many times, following all the hype, the artist does not get the full price. Neither can an artist today languish in a corner and expect to be discovered. One has to be articulate and savvy, besides being talented. Presentation plays a role. So those of you out there who want to buy art, just go ahead and give the art go ahead and give the art you buy a ‘good home.’

7 Things to Know before Investing in art

1. Check out the basic guide to art available in India (web search).
2. Zero in an art that relates to your aesthetic senses.
3. Check the history of the artist.
4. Check the price range.
5. Assure the durability of the work.
6. Find out how best to take care of the same.
7. Make regular gallery visits to get a feel of art face to face. Then make the decision. Take your time, and remember, finally you have to live with your art.

Appreciating Art Work

A year and nine months later, the unknown artist’s name is splashed all over the newspapers and magazines. His face is beamed across the entire bouquet of television channels. Sure, it’s great to buy art as a wise investment and of course it can bring you rich profits when you sell it, but sometimes, just listen to your heart when you buy art. Don’t always go with the ‘profit-motive’ in mind. Enjoy the process of spotting, buying and owning quality works. Let the excitement of the hunt bring you pure joy and not mere projected gains.

There are three beauties in art work :

1. The beauty of the object.
2. The joy of collecting.
3. The pleasure of meeting and connecting with people.

Other than this, there are really no rules to helping you decide whether to buy or not to buy.

The new generation of artists share similar artistic concerns – that of understanding and taking a look at the self and society. Their work is an honest exercise to archive the times, and document the ever changing dynamics of modern mind scape and city space. People tend to identify with their work at an emotional level, and the art would is compelled to sit up and take notice of them. So, the next time you go gallery gallivanting, keep and eye out for something that strikes a difference, or simply tugs at your heart. You might just stumble upon a rare treasure in more senses than one!

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