What questions should a buyer ask an artist when considering the purchase of a piece of their work?
Updated: Jul 28, 2020
When an art buyer purchases a piece of art, it is a big investment. What are the questions that might discussed in order to determine if this is "THE ONE" they want to buy? There are many other questions that could be asked, but as an artist I believe these three questions will go a long way towards helping to make the decision about purchasing the right painting for a particular buyer.
1) "What are the materials that were used in creating this piece? A buyer should know that their purchase was created with professional quality canvas, and paint. What method was used to preserve the painting the elements? This information is paramount to knowing that the art you purchase will withstand the test of time. You don't want to discover a few years after purchase that the painting has flaked or separated because inferior materials or techniques were used.
2) "What was the process that was used to create this piece? Were any of the techniques used part of what makes your work different from another artist?" A buyer should be aware of what makes a particular artist's work unique. No two artists create the same piece, but if artist Jane Smith is renowned for her mixed media pieces using found objects, it is good for the buyer to know that the found objects in the piece help to make it unique.
3 What was the inspiration for this piece? In many cases, there is a story behind every piece of art. If a buyer knows that a painting of the city of Florence, (Italy) was created in response to inspiration from a trip to Europe where a great deal of time was spent in Florence painting the city from the banks of the Arno River, the story the painting tells will come alive and the ownership of that painting will be more meaningful to them if they have heard the story behind it's creation.
I hope these few simple questions will aid you in your quest for the perfect piece of art! Happy Shopping!
Next topic, coming soon: How is art priced and what affects the pricing considerations for an artist?