Basics of buying artworks –offline and online

Collecting is vitally important for the domain of art, to harness talented artists’ potential and boost the galleries in their endeavor to promote good art. Secret of building a quality art collection lies in remembering the fact that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the parts’. Here are a few basics of buying art:

• Whether you're an art lover, aficionado, or a serious collector, it is important to grasp intricacies of both primary and secondary markets. Constantly visit art fairs, keep a tab on auctions and take a look at exhibitions, to get a broad overview of the art scene.
  
  
• No matter what type of art interests you, you must locate and compare the various offline and online avenues for buying art. The crux of finding the best art lies in finding the best dealers and art galleries with whom you can interact, communicate, and negotiate.
  
  
• Know how to spot the best art dealers and who to trust! You learn to make a qualitative assessment based on what you see and perceive after meeting them. Learn how to position yourself favorably in the art marketplace hierarchy.
  
  
• Buying directly from top artists is different than buying their work from dealers. There are many different ways of investing in art via online auctions, art gallery sales and online portals. Buying art online is the new frontier of collecting. Follow key aspects of the process and how it is different from buying art in traditional ways.
  
  
• Online auctions present you with a different set of circumstances than their bricks & mortar counterparts; for example, not being able to inspect the work in some cases before you bid. You should understand how to evaluate the work descriptions and images. Learn how to approach the auction house; which questions to ask; what additional information to seek; how to bid judiciously, and then complete a transaction successfully.