5 Essential Tips to Plan Your First Art Collection

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5 Essential Tips to Plan Your First Art Collection

Art collecting is more than obtaining something valuable. It is about having a collection that others want to see. A good collection tells others about the art that they wouldn’t be able to determine simply by seeing the pieces alone. There are a few keys to planning your first collection.

Establish your tastes

The first step is to determine which pieces appeal to you. When you collect simply on what interests others it’s hard to make a statement with your collection. Forbes recommends touring galleries and other collections. Spend time at auctions and with other collectors before making a purchase. This will give you an opportunity to determine what interests you. Ultimately you are the one who will own the collection. It doesn’t matter if everyone shares your opinions. Your collection allows you to express your unique tastes.

Form a Cohesive Collection

Once you know what you like it’s important to know why you like it. According to ArtBusiness.com the best collections aren’t simply randomly selected pieces, but have something that ties them together. The collection then becomes a work of art in and of itself. When you know why you like a particular piece it makes it easier to select similar pieces. If you select simply based on the interests of others you may find that it is difficult to create your collection.

Create a Budget

Once you have an idea of what interests you it’s important to set a budget. How much are you planning to spend on your collection right now? How many pieces do you want to start with? These are important questions to consider and will help you determine your budget per piece as well. Art collecting can be an expensive hobby and if you spend your entire budget on one piece it may be a while before you are able to add to your collection. In addition to purchasing the piece itself you also need to consider the cost of insuring, obtaining, and displaying it.

Document Everything

Proper storage and documentation is an important key to planning your first collection. You will need to have a filing system in place to keep track of all of your purchases before you start. This paper trail is the key to establishing the authenticity of the pieces you purchase. Careful documentation preserves the value of your collection and is important not only for your own interests, but for insurance purposes as well.

Pick Your First Piece

The first piece in your collection is the building block upon which you will select your other pieces. It is essentially the first step in starting your collection. By this point you should already have a well-defined idea of what your particular tastes are. This piece should fit with the theme that you have determined for your collection. It is okay to spend more on this piece than the others as long as you don’t go over budget and are still able to purchase the remaining pieces for your collection.

What You Need to Know About Art Authentication

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Although it can be a bit difficult to decipher whether or not a certain individual is deemed as a “qualified authority,” when approaching a conversation with this kind of individual, be sure to make note of the following:

Generally speaking, individuals who are known as qualified authorities are people who have extensively studied the artists, published scholarly papers about them and Also, another important attribute of a qualified authority is if this certain individual has sold a mass scale of anywhere between twenty to a hundred works by the given artist, or has previously written or is currently writing a piece highlighting the artist’s life work.

art authenticationQualified authorities may also be the artists themselves, relatives of artists, employees of artists, direct, individuals who have legal, formal, or estate-granted entitlements to provide their professional opinions on works of art created by particular artists. Among the rest of these important attributes, qualified authorities are those recognized throughout the art community as the professionals who are able to provide in depth analysis of a particular artist and their work.

Before purchasing art, be sure to look out for these traits that indicate the individual is not a professional qualified authority in the art community.

► Individuals who have written about an artist’s work or experience, but are not the primary experts in the art field.
► People who in any way, shape, or form attribute their art to artists, but who have no concrete proof of attribution and who are not recognized authorities on those artists.
► During this process, individuals that believe or sell art on the fact since art is signed by a certain artist, there is no question that work or painting is authentic.
► People who say “that’s what the previous owner told me,” but who have no other forms of proof.
► Be sure to keep a lookout for individuals who may be self-proclaimed qualified authorities, but who are not recognized by their peers as authorities.
► Art appraisers who are not recognized authorities on the artists in question, but who appraise the art as
being by those artists anyway.
► Individuals who are unable to produce tangible first-party proof that their art is by certain artists. This lack of evidence therefore highlights that you should in fact not go through with the deal.

Along with these tips, it is important to utilize a fair amount of common sense before you purchase art from a certain person. In addition to being extremely careful under all circumstances, make sure you have concrete proof that everything you’re being told is true before you make the purchase. Also, if you have the time or resources, make an extra effort to look for a second opinion to reaffirm any lingering doubts or concerns you may have.

Swiss Cracking Down On Art Market Laundering

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auction-dayAfter the recent FIFA scandal emerged, the Swiss government is now looking to crack down on the laundering of money and even art.

According to some sources, Russian leader Vladimir Putin bribed a FIFA executive with a Picasso painting in order to have Russia be a future host for the World Cup. The Swiss government already passed a law in parliament limiting the amount of cash that can be traded in a transaction as well as the ability to freeze assets in Swiss Bank accounts. The once highly trusted bank accounts in Switzerland, commonly used to smuggle or launder money, are now getting a major face lift due to the recent number of crimes gaining publicity.

The new law, which will be implemented in the beginning of 2016, only allows 100,000 CHF ($104,000) to be transferred in any cash transaction. This change directly targets the art market, since many auctions have pieces which sell well over the 100,000 CHF limit being imposed.

As the head of the Swiss Money Laundering Office, Stiliano Ordolli explains, these transfers are:

Payable by credit card or the seller must carry out due diligence obligations. Either the seller does not accept it or they must ask additional questions to be sure of the legal origins of funds.”

The reason for the change is not to make it difficult, but rather to protect people from laundering and other forms of extortion which can fly under the radar when cash is changing hands.

This move is expected to put a stop to fraud since all auctions must be made public and leave a paper trail. Recently, Freeport leader and art leader, Yves Bouvier was arrested for fraudulently selling paintings which were not done by the artist.

For more about Etienne, please visit Etienne Kiss-Borlase’s Official Website.