A Fine Art collection is the collection of pieces of creative visual art either for a keepsake or as an investment, to be sold later. An art collector today straddles both the categories. He or she lives with the art, so that the piece can speak to him or her. Someone with a passion for art could become an art collector. He or she needs to understand art which is a matter of educating oneself, about what they are buying and be receptive to guidance in this matter. Hands on experience is very important, not theoretical knowledge alone.
An art collection grows with a person. Most often, there is an underlying theme binding a collection, like recording a particular time in history. Most art collectors are artists themselves. An art collector should collect only what he or she likes though at this point in time, even if people are buying art for the sake of buying, it is not such a bad thing because there will be others who will have an eye of true appreciation.
Fine art includes painting, sculpture, drawing, watercolor, graphics and architecture. Most art collectors are online now, which has the great advantage of being able to display their collection by posting good quality images of them online. With the ability of zooming into the images, and being able to display the prices, it is very easy to transact any business without too much effort.
Nowadays, there is software designed in the app format too for art collectors, artists and galleries to streamline their activities. They basically design websites for their customers, and provide them with an inventory management and mailing system. Again, creator of these applications have often been managing galleries in the past and have a solid understanding of the art business.
There are many art websites which are not strictly art collectors only. They involve their customers by encouraging them to sell their own photographs as prints, greeting cards, and also offer the opportunity to customers to buy museum quality prints of the world’s greatest artists and photographers in canvas, acrylic and metal as well as in framed and poster forms.
They also host a community of photographers and visual artists which the customer can join, thus increasing their exposure to the best in the field.
Back to art collection – what is clear now is that Art Collectors per se collect very specific pieces of art. They do not buy randomly – they are looking to expand their collection with art that fits very selective parameters. They get progressively narrow in their search, since they know exactly what they are looking for. They are widely networked with artists, galleries, curators and others in the art world so they know where to source their requirement. They will not entertain any stranger, unless he or she comes with a referral or recommendation.
The more casual art collector, moves around the art scene, visiting galleries, art fairs, festivals picking up what interests them at that particular moment. They too have their own methodologies and will not be influenced by an outsider. The main thing for artists to know is that sooner or later, an art collector will find them.