Calling All first time buyers...

Many buyers walk though our doors without any preconceived ideas and notions of what they want, but rather with this idea that they’ll know what they want when they see it. This misconception of assuming that buying art is a serendipitous act has led to many a buyer hanging their prized investment piece in the visitor’s bathroom instead of in the house because they can’t stand to look at it anymore.

So before you get caught up in the excitement of an auction or the persuasiveness of a sales person, there are a few decisions every buyer, even the most seasoned, should make before heading to a gallery or auction and making a purchase that yields neither investments nor pleasure.

Firstly determine your preference.

1. Do you prefer Oil paintings, Water colours, Sketches, Pastels etc?

• The best way to determine this is to simply ask for the medium on the next painting you see and like.
• It should however be noted that Oil paintings are always better investment pieces

2. Within your given medium, what style of painting do you prefer?
Oil paintings offer a series of variations for example:

• Lisa Crumpton and Royalene using a palette knife creating the following effect.
• Artists such as Maggie Gradwell and Prinsloo have very abstract pieces that are very emotive.
• The Koch’s, Garizio’s, Griesel’s offer realistic interpretations such as this.
  
  

Establish the purpose of the purchase...
Is it decorative or investment?

• In the instance of investment art, anticipated return on investment normally dictates the type of art purchased. 
• If an immediate return (approximately 3-5yrs) is expected, then look out for names such as Pierneef, Maggie Laubster and the like. Needless to say that prices range from six to ten figures for an oil painting and are rare finds.
• However if you’re not in a hurry investments can be found across the spectrum. We currently have pieces by ear marked old masters which cost about R15000 upwards and works by the old masters in various medium and sizes that cost a lot less than the famed pieces.
• For a first time buyer, it is advisable to purchase a well known already established artist. This does not necessarily have to be their most expensive, largest work or even an oil painting, but rather a piece upon which you are guaranteed a return.
• At a later stage when you have established your budget and availability, you may have to decide how you intend to break up you investment portfolio. Whether you will purchase one large painting or a series of smaller paintings?
• Most people assume that decorative art cannot be an investment, but really each painting should fulfil both roles.
• With decorative pieces, identifying where you intend to put the painting and thus the mood and feel you want will really help both you and the gallery find you a piece you like
• Most first time/younger buyers tend to buy pieces they really like, thus leaning more towards contemporary pieces. These however can also be investments because within each given medium are artists’ ear marked for Old Master status. Thus purchasing such pieces maybe more worthwhile in the long run
  

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