How To Start Collecting Art
So you want to start an art collection, but you’re not quite sure how to begin
So you want to start an art collection, but you’re not quite sure how to begin, we can help you make the best choice to get started.
At the California Thomas Kinkade galleries in Carmel, Monterey, and Placerville, we’ve put together a few tips to make sure you get off on the right foot, so this can be a fun and rewarding experience.
- Set Goals For Your Collection
- Set A Budget For Art Purchases
- Decide Where To Shop
- Think About What To Collect
- Keep Your Paperwork In Order
- Choose Quality Over Quantity
- Care For Your Collection
Set Goals For Your Collection
As a beginner buying art, you should start by thinking about the purpose of your collection. Are you collecting art to support local artists, as an investment, or to preserve pieces of history? Maybe this is an opportunity for you to show off your personality through your home decor.
Once you get started, you’ll find no shortage of creativity and beauty out there. Setting goals will keep you focused on what really fits your purpose so that you can get the most enjoyment out of this rewarding hobby.
Set A Budget For Art Purchases
Now that you know why you’re buying art, it’s time to think about how much to spend. Put aside a comfortable portion of your income, so you can be prepared when that perfect piece pops up. You may decide to use your full monthly budget on one larger item or multiple small artwork purchases.
You could also save over longer periods for a specific annual art show, seasonal artists fair, or benefit auctions. Your goals and your income will help you create and stick to a reasonable budget.
Decide Where To Shop
Speaking of art shows and fairs, next it’s time to think about where you want to shop. Shopping local can help the artists and the arts in your community. Exploring online galleries and artist shops opens up many new avenues for varying your art collection with pieces from around the state, country, or even worldwide.
Think About What To Collect
Having set your goals and budget, you’re now ready to think about the type of art you want to collect. Will you focus on limited edition paintings, sculpture, photography? Do you find yourself gravitating to a specific style of art or artist’s works? Visiting galleries and browsing creative outlets, like social media, can give you some ideas.
Keep Your Paperwork In Order
Whether you are investing in art for profit or simply for fun, it’s important to keep the documentation for each piece you buy. When you’re starting out, you may find yourself with editions of prints. Over time, you may be purchasing originals and even get to know the artist.
Make sure to keep detailed records of each purchase, including any paperwork that certifies the edition or item number. These will be useful if you ever need to sell parts of your collection or prove losses to an insurance company.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
Narrowing down what you’re looking for through clear goals, budgeting, and learning what you like will help to keep you from making purchases just for the sake of buying. You want the art collecting experience to be rewarding, not a drain on your time or finances. So, be sure to invest in quality works that are truly what you’re looking for, instead of a lot of anything that’s just okay.
Care For Your Collection
Lastly, it’s essential to research the best ways to care for your new art collection. Lighting, cleaning, display methods, and ideal environments can all be different for different types of artwork. Do your research and, when in doubt, ask questions.
Shop Our Limited Edition Paintings In CA
If you’re ready to start your first art collection, stop by the California Thomas Kinkade galleries of Carmel, Monterey, and Placerville. Our friendly art consultant can help you find Limited Edition paintings in a particular style, theme, or area of interest. We look forward to answering your questions as you begin getting involved in this very rewarding hobby.
