Things To Look For If You Buy Art At An Art Market
‘Tis the season for art markets, craft fairs, and flea markets. The artists and makers are here, ready to sell you beautiful, handmade artwork. But how do you know if it’s worth your money? Here are my tips to help you buy art at an art market with confidence.
Do you like it?
Liking the art is the first and most important thing. An art purchase is a personal choice, there is so much variability in fine art, and we all have our own tastes. What I like is different than what you like, and that is a beautiful thing.
So, we’ve established that you like the art. A lot. Here are some other things to look for.
Is it an original, a limited edition print, or a print?
There is nothing wrong with any of these options, but the difference will significantly affect the price of the artwork. An original will be the most expensive because it is one of a kind. The artist toiled over this artwork, and you are taking a tangible piece of that artist home with you. A limited-edition print is more valuable than a print because there is scarcity. The limited editions will be numbered, and you can see that you will own say 1 out of 50 of that print. Regular prints have no limits on reproduction.
Do you feel that the quality is high?
There is an intrinsic value to a work of art. Does the paper look or feel dense and luxurious? Does the paint appear well applied? Is the canvas frame heavy and robust? Is the artwork sealed?
Look for these markers of high-quality art-making. If the art is high priced, you should feel that the price aligns with the value of what you are buying.
Does the artist speak knowledgeably about their art?
There is also an added value to the artwork that depends on the artist and their experiences. Have they been creating art for years, do they show work elsewhere, or are they in prominent collections? Admittedly, these questions are harder to answer, but you can get a feel for the “validity” of the artist through a conversation with them.
Sure, it might be strange to ask them for their CV, but most artists probably have one handy, or at least on their website. For that matter, check their website. If you are about to spend hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars on a piece of art you just happened upon at an art market, the artist should not be offended if you want to do your homework.
Is the market curated?
The art market that I’m a part of, 1st Saturday Arts Market in the Heights, is a curated art market. This means that I had to apply and submit images of my artwork and website to become an approved artist vendor. Other big art festivals are most definitely curated. But not all are, so that’s one easy check.
Does the artist have a consistent voice?
Emerging artists seem to be everywhere, but when it comes to thinking of art as an investment, you want to buy from an artist that has consistency in their artwork. Might their art develop and change in the future, yes, but you can take comfort in selecting artwork from an artist that has gone through the work to establish a consistent style. These artists are typically further along on their career path and likely to continue to make art moving forward.
Does the pricing make sense?
Do the prices make sense to you? Are the small pieces cheaper than the large ones? Are there a lot marked at a steep discount? This may seem counter-intuitive, but you probably don’t want to see art marked at a significant discount because that means that there is a good chance you will buy a work of art in a series from that artist, and then three months later someone else will buy one for half price. By fluctuating their prices, the artist is changing the market value of the artwork that you purchased. Better to see that the artist holds prices steady or even increases them over time. That’s a good sign for your investment.
PS. I’m so glad you want to buy art at an art market. If you’re interested in collecting, here are some more tips on buying art in my post on Collecting Art 101. So, ready to go shopping this season? Here are the details for the art market I’ll be set up at this weekend.
Saturday, December 7
11 am – 6 pm
530 W. 19th St. Houston TX. 77008
