Sidebar 2: Collecting Art: How to Get Started
A beginning collector, says Johanson, uses an art dealer or gallery owner as his primary source of information. "The more expensive the work is, the more you should know about the artist, so ask a lot of questions. Where has he shown? Is he in any museums?"
Fame, he says, has an impact on price, but that doesn't mean a piece of art is worth the money. "Just because you like something doesn't mean you should pay a lot for it, so be informed. Harvey Littleton said that you're not paying for the artist's time or labor, you're paying for his vision. Which is to say that anybody can learn technique, but technique combined with vision is what raises it above the mediocre." Your relationship with a dealer, he continues, is at first as a client. "Eventually, if you become passionate and educated, you'll move beyond that and become a friend of the gallery."
Being acquainted with the artist adds dimension to his work. "Knowing the makerwhat motivates him to do what he doesmakes it more than just an object." Johanson says the best way to meet an artist is at an opening, but that most are pretty good about letting the sincerely curious into their studios.
Another resource Johanson uses is the Internet for both information and purchases, especially of small pieces. He visits artists' Web sites and if he sees something he likes, makes inquiries and asks for pictures before he buys.
Some galleries specifically target beginning collectors with special shows. Gabrielle Shain Bryson, owner of Shain Fine Art, opened a Valentine's show for beginning collectors last month that runs through March 14. Although her Myers Park gallery has a strong following of repeat customers, newcomers are hesitant about taking the first step. The Valentine's show features small works by established artists, giving inexperienced buyers a chance to get started. "Start small and buy what you love," Bryson counsels, believing that "nothing says more about you than what you put on your walls." A small purchase enables the new collector to "live with your choices and see how they wear." It's a gentle approach that leaves room for exploration.
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