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A Beginner’s Guide to Buying Art

By Emilya Colliver
A Beginner’s Guide to Buying Art

by EMILYA COLLIVER

Starting an art collection is a daunting experience. Questions that come up a lot include: isn’t art collecting expensive? How do you know which art is good? Where do you start?

I started Art Pharmacy to make people just forget about those questions and think about building an art collection in a new and exciting way.

Here are my best tips to build an art collection that you can be proud of.

Artist: Akisiew | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Akisiew | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Jeff McCann | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Jeff McCann | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: James Dale | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: James Dale | Image: Art Pharmacy

#1: Purchase with your heart

Collecting art doesn’t need to be expensive, nor should it be all about money. Buy the pieces that you love, and that you’d like to live with every day. Whether you choose to spend a little bit of money on art every now and again, or save up to buy a big piece, the motivator should be the same: you love the art.

#2: Start early

Just as art collecting doesn’t necessarily need to be expensive, it also shouldn’t be something that you put off until you’re older and wiser, with more of a disposable income. Starting early, in your twenties, and supporting local and emerging artists is the best way to get your collection going. Who knows, those artists might just be The Next Big Thing!

Artist: Julia Kennedy | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Julia Kennedy | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Dominique Gauci | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Dominique Gauci | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Ingrid Wilson | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Ingrid Wilson | Image: Art Pharmacy

#3: Don’t ask yourself too many questions

All those questions you had? Scrap them! Again, art collecting doesn’t need to be expensive if you build it little by little, buying a piece each quarter or even once a year. Art is highly subjective so build a collection that you love and it can’t help but be a ‘good’ art collection. And if you need a little help you can always turn to our Art Pharmacy Prescriptions. ‘Patients’ (to extend the metaphor even further) will receive an exclusive new artwork each quarter delivered straight to their door. Collecting art has never been more delightful! Soon, you’ll have an art collection of your very own.

#4: Take care of your collection

Big, or small, building an art collection, is still an investment so it’s important to take care of the works themselves. Keep paper works away from direct sunlight, clean sculptures, note the works you have and get them insured.

Artist: Bafcat | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Bafcat | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Chrysa Koukoura | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Chrysa Koukoura | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Alexandra Ethell | Image: Art Pharmacy
Artist: Alexandra Ethell | Image: Art Pharmacy

It’s these little things that will help your art collection grow and thrive in years to come.

Emilya Colliver is the Founder and Director of Art Pharmacy, an online gallery that sells artworks by Australian-based, emerging and established artists.

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Cover image: Marisabel Gonzalez

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