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.