The Love of Fine Art

Art Buying, Valuation and Collecting

As you begin to develop a strategy for using your love of art as an investment plan, a number of factors come into play. The art market can be highly volatile. So if you wish to view art as an investment opportunity, you must do so with a long-term plan and be prepared for set backs and dramatic changes in the market. Along with a wise approach to the “art” of art collecting, it pays to have partners and resources such as the Thomas Kinkade galleries to guide you along the path to success.

This article will briefly discuss some principles your art collecting should utilize for success. For most of us, expanding the joy of art collection into an investment or “business” enterprise comes with some perils. Perhaps the greatest of those is that as your view of art as an investment could hurt your love of art and the pure joy you get from collecting and appreciating fine art.

Its Has To Always Be About the Art and the Artist

It is a circular dilemma. You need to have the knowledge and the patience to stay current on trends in the art market to become a successful art collector. But an investor also has to have an ability to view art an asset, and something to be held or disposed of on its investment value as much as it’s artistic merit.

Balance those two values. If you see a piece that touches that place inside you that only great art can touch, do not let the accountant in you keep you back from purchasing it.

There will be some art in your collection that you have purchased for investment and potential profit and other things that you treasure for the pure joy of ownership. In fact, if you view the investment side of the business as a means to the end of owning and enjoying the finest the art world can give, then you will keep your collecting “hobby” in proper perspective and it will be an exciting, fun and challenging project for you. It's often helpful to have a basic understanding of the creation of art by attending a distance learning art college or by reading up on art composition at your local library.

You will find that working with other art enthusiasts and professional art collectors will help you keep that balance correct. From professionals such as those at the Thomas Kinkade Galleries you can learn the proper approach and attitude about collecting that combines love of fine art with a keen eye for investment

What about the Economy?

Your collection and its value in a volatile economy should be part of your strategy for the investment side of collection. However, as with all long-term investments, you have to “ride out” any downturns in the valuation of your artwork. Investors in the stock market know this and they use shifts in the economy that may drive down the value of their investment to purchase more stocks on the expectation that the value of the investment will rise when the economy goes up again. Investors in the art market such as Thomas Kinkade are just as savvy in how to manage their investment in art over an economy that will always have its ups and downs.

Plan your purchasing and selling cycles exploit the changes in the economy. When the art market is depressed, that is the time when you can pick up some valuable pieces at preferable rates. When the art market is at its peak, then you have those prized pieces to release for sale at a premium price. Of course, to know this, you have to be in constant communication with the market place so develop your network of professionals like Thomas Kinkade and others so you are aware of even the short-term changes in art prices and you can take advantage of those market opportunities.

There will be a tendency for you to be highly aware of the value of the art pieces and styles where your passions lie and not as much in styles of art that do not appeal to you. However, by utilizing valued advice from reliable art experts such as Thomas Kinkade gallery directors, you can keep up on the value of art outside your expertise. The value of making that investment of your time is that when the prices in that genre of art drop, you can view that as an investment opportunity and reap the rewards. The profits from exchanging art purely as an investment transaction is that it will fund the art collecting you are passionate about.

What Makes Art Valuable?

There are some obvious factors such as the notoriety of the artist or the piece and the popularity of a particular artistic style that affect the value of the art and how it will resell. But as you evaluate new art, there are also some general principles concerning the work itself that are much more investment principles than artistic ones. Keep that in mind in reviewing this list and keep your art appreciation ethics well balanced with your investment principles as we discussed earlier.

These are just a few of many intuitive factors that go into what makes a particular piece of art a strong investment. Your education in the marketability value of art as it compares to the artistic values will be an ongoing one for as long as you are involved in collecting.

Conclusion

Look at your art collecting effort as a long-term investment of both your artistic knowledge and passion and of your investment monies. Rely on your partners in art collecting such as the Thomas Kinkade Galleries to stay current on art trends. And above all, do not lose your love of fine art. Feel free to contact Will Lane at our gallery if you find yourself in need of some assistance in choosing the right Thomas Kinkade painting or print for your collection, or just to complete a room!