Art Auctions Photography Shack Guide
Art Auctions And Understanding The Rules
By Jane Lovell
Investing in art is a great way to save money for a
rainy day or pass down something substantial to future
generations! Once purchased and affixed to a wall, an
art investment painting will require little maintenance
in order to appreciate in value.
It’s hard to predict trends, but one thing is for certain,
no matter what the country’s economic situation may
be, people’s love and appreciation of art and attendance
at art auctions have not diminished. However, one should
understand a few rules of the game, such as bidding
practices and categories.
One category is the estate sale. You can review your
options and often find great bargains here since purchases
are made directly and most of the items from a deceased
person’s estate must go.
Finding Original Treasures In Estate Sales
Recently, a woman in Canada found out that the painting
she had selected from her grandmother’s estate sale,
when she was ten years old, was actually a $300,000
original painting! Now you see why they sometimes refer
to art as "treasure."
At consignment art auctions, artists showcase fine
art for sale in a gallery atmosphere without the pressure
and high stakes of a bidding war type auction. Many
people enjoy this because it reminds them of a Sunday
stroll through a local museum.
Only, in this case, if you find it, you like it, then
you can buy it too! Sometimes the consignment fees may
be high or the commission isn’t fair, although generally
it’s not a bad place to dig.
Fine Art Auction Houses
A third category is the art auction house. These established
buyers and sellers at fine art auctions wheel and deal
pieces for a living. They’re the middle man connecting
art lovers and artists.
Patrons attend these swanky events in big cities around
the world, dressing up, sipping wine and schmoozing
with fellow art lovers. In addition to perhaps finding
a famous oil painting for sale, some rare works and
getting a great selection, you’ll love the social aspect.
Taking Part In Art Auction Online
Lastly, you can participate in an art auction online.
At iCollect.com,
you will see a list of all the upcoming eBay auctions.
If you’re fortunate enough to live in a big city, like
New York or Paris, you’ll have no trouble finding a
local auction to partake in!
For everyone else, the online auction is a cost efficient
solution with a wide selection. On your home computer,
you’ll be entering bids on your keyboard, while the
auctioneer reads them aloud in real time off a computer
screen.
Good Research Leads To Good Buying
Before attending art auctions, it’s a good idea to
plan in advance. Be sure you know the day and time -
and attend the preview events! At the preview, you can
be first in line to see which items will be bid on.
If you’re going to an online auction, be sure that
you’ve not only signed up to the website you’ll be watching
on, but also that you registered as a bidder for that
particular auction as well.
Find out about auctioneer commissions. Bring a note
pad and decide on a maximum offer before you engage
in bidding because it’s rather easy to get swept away
with the tide once the real bargaining begins!
About the Author:
Jane Lovell has written a number of articles on art, digital photography including
Best Digital Cameras,
Mini Digital Camera,
Photographer School,
Portrait Photography,
Still Photography,
Boudoir Photography,
Amateur Photography,
Photography Backdrop,
Photography Tips,
Digital Photography Tips,
Photography Studio.
Keep a lookout for more articles coming soon.
More Art Auctions Facts....
Can I use Ebay to sell my art work?
Yes, of course you can use Ebay
to sell your art work. If it is a rare piece of art
you may want to reconsider. Ebay is known for bargains
and this is one time when bargaining may not be in your
best interest.
For less expensive prints, paintings
or pieces you can receive a fair deal. Just make sure
to give a very accurate description of the piece and
also make sure and demand that the winner pay for
insurance.
That way no one will be out of
money should the art work be damaged during shipping.
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