Drawing together established artists and new talent. An essential event on the South's Art Calendar...

  Investing in art can be personally satisfying and financially rewarding.

  These tips will help you get the best of both worlds!

 

Buy art because you like it. This is probably the most important consideration. As well as being collectable, art can enhance your home or working environment. Look for an independent artist, you may get better value when you purchase directly from an artist, particularly one who is 'emerging' or 'not yet established'. Find a unique, consistent style. A contemporary work of art that looks 'just like' a Monet or Van Gogh, for

  example, might have aesthetic appeal, but may not prove to be valuable over time. Ultimately, you want to find an

  artist who can eventually be identified by his or her style without looking at the signature.

Study the artist's biography. Knowing some fundamental information about an artist can help you gauge their

  potential for growth and will often provide a deeper understanding of their work.

Look for dedication, not education. When looking for a great doctor or lawyer degrees are important but this is

  less so for artists. Artists whose work appreciates the fastest exhibit a strong work ethic and a lifelong

  dedication to producing great art. Picasso, for example, had no formal training past the age of 16, but was the

  most prolific artist of the 20th century.

Interact directly with the artist. This allows you the opportunity to augment the information provided in an artist's

  biography, and helps ensure a smooth transaction, especially when buying online. It is also advantageous to get

  a feel for the artist's personality.

Promote 'your' artist after the deal is done. There is a direct correlation between the value of an artwork and the

  name recognition of the artist who painted it. By encouraging others to explore your artist's work, you help

  increase the value of your personal collection.