1.Buy art tailored to your taste
There is so much more to an artwork than just the colours, so before buying an artwork there are some key questions to ask yourself. What do I like about this work? Does it continue to interest me? Is it intellectually inspiring? Does it promote thought and discussion? The last thing you want to do is end up with a lot of sub standard art that you bought because it matched your sofa. Then of course there are more practical questions like, can I afford it? And, if it is for my business, does it reflect the company’s mission?
2. Location
Selecting where to place an artwork is a personal decision and there is no right or wrong way about it, but there are some practical facts to take into account. The interior and the use of the space will influence where the work is displayed. In areas with a lot of foot traffic or small children it’s important to leave enough space for movement without touching the artwork. Take into consideration what artworks to place on stairwells as bags or backpacks can scratch the service or what artworks need to be securely fastened to prevent them from being knocked down.
– Kitchens that are enclosed and not well ventilated are not suitable for most artworks as there is a lot of temperature fluctuations and cooking vapors, place face mounted artworks or sculptures that can easily be cleaned in a kitchen.
– Bathrooms are also problematic especially if there is a lot of moisture and steam in the bathroom, place works that are not easily affected, face mounted work is most suited to bathrooms.
– Fireplaces can be problematic, depending on how old the fireplace is the wall above the fireplace can become hot or smoke residue can damage the work, this can lead to paintings flaking and the wood frames warping.
3. Consider how much sunlight your home gets
You want to choose walls that don’t get any sunlight to hang your art. Sunlight can be one of the most damaging causes to artworks even if its for 10 minutes a day, over a long period it adds up and can cause permanent damage. Framing the work using UV glass that is 99% proof is the best way to protect your artwork, keeping in mind that UV glass is twice as expensive but well worth it if you will prevent your artwork from fading.
4. Keep a record of the artworks you have collected
One of the most important parts of any collection, weather it is stamps or art is to keep track of who the work is by, where and how you acquired the pieces. It is therefore a good idea to start a filing system where you keep all the receipts, catalogues and certificates of authentication for your art collection. This record is not only good for insurance purposes but also important in providing the provenance for your artwork. The provenance or history of the work is important because is shows the authenticity of the work.
5. Insure your artworks
General home or business insurance will cover some artwork, but as the collection grows it would be wise to get separate art insurance. Art insurance takes into account the unique nature of art that includes installation, transportation and restoration requirements specific to an artwork. It is also important to re-value the collection every few years to ensure that the artwork is valued at the current market value.
