Adding art to your new home is perhaps the easiest way to add a personal touch to your space, but deciding what to buy can be quite challenging. The last thing you want is to spend hundreds of dollars on a painting and end up hating it, simply because you didn't know what you were looking for.
As the founder of MaxSold, the expert downsizing and estate sale service, I have seen hundreds of art pieces and know which ones sell for big bucks in auction. Throughout its history, MaxSold has seen its fair share of art, both the high-brow and, well, prints of dogs playing poker. Provided below are some tried-and-true tips for art neophytes who want to up their artistic ante, but also need to make sure they’re not getting duped at auction or the flea market:
· Know your medium: Watercolor versus oil; what’s the difference? Watercolor paints are made of pigments and water, and are generally done on paper. Oil paintings require a more sturdy backing, such as canvas or linen, because oil paints are made of pigments that are mixed with drying oils, such as linseed, poppyseed, walnut or safflower. Watercolors typically do not have any tactile texture, while oil painting are textured and take a very long time to dry, thus making the paint resilient to the touch, even years after it was applied.
· Is it real?: Watercolors are notorious for fooling even the most ardent art buffs. Because of the lack of texture in watercolor paintings, the naked eye can’t always detect the real deal from faux masterpieces. To decrease your chances of being duped, grab a loupe and get looking! If you see pixels, steer clear - the painting your examining is a print. Remember, pixels = prints.
· Signed, sealed, delivered: Most people know to look for an artist signature when buying a work of art, but taking a look at the back of a painting can be just as telling of value, if not more. Is there a gallery stamp, gallery tag or title? Also, is there any documentation to verify provenance? These things can verify the authenticity of a painting and help determine if you’re overpaying or getting a bargain.
· What’s your type?: If you’re not sure what art style your looking at, stick to the these three basic categories: landscape, portrait and abstract. Generally speaking, landscapes are worth more if animals and humans have been included in the painting, as they require more work and attention to detail. Also, when shopping for landscapes, beware of oilettes! This sneaky tactic mimics brush stroke textures to trick buyers into thinking their buying an oil painting instead of a print. Typically, paintings or taverns and historical buildings fall prey to the oilette technique, so keep an eye out if an old-time European cityscape strikes your fancy.
