LITTLE ROCK — Whether you are new to the art scene and looking to fill some empty walls in your home or ready to take down the posters and prints and surround yourself with original art that you love, collecting can be fun. With some purposeful buying and planning, your purchases can turn into a meaningful collection and if you’re lucky, maybe even an investment.
Here are some tips from local collectors and art experts to help you get started on your path.
Pick your path - Marilyn Porter of Little Rock believes the first step to becoming an art collector is deciding it’s the path you want to take.
Once you make the decision, commit to it.
Price matters - The second step is being sure you don’t overpay for the piece you have selected. Educate yourself and do your homework. You can do a lot of research online or join an active group of collectors like that at the Arkansas Arts Center.
Budget for it -The third step is establishing a budget every year to buy art. Porter and her husband, Rob, started with an annual budget of about $3,000, and it hasgrown somewhat over the years. “It’s a priority for us. It’s like giving up four dinner parties for eight friends to purchase one piece of art, not going on a trip or not buying as many clothes. It is reachable and obtainable by anyone who chooses to make it a priority. We sacrifice in other areas to keep our budget because it has turned into a lifetime collection.”Change is normal - Thom Hall, head registrar and collections manager at the Arts Center, has observed collectors evolve. “One person started collecting old masters because he felt it was more easily authenticated - and quickly recognized he liked more contemporary work. I know one major collector in Little Rock who has very conservative taste in home decor but likes very wild contemporary art. It works together. It’s important not to think about matching your sofa.” Lay eyes on it - Hall also feels it is important to see the piece in person. The Arts Center offers many opportunities for collectors to do this.
Join a club - The Arts Center Collectors Group is a great way to meet gallery owners, artists and collectors and to see and learn more about art. “There are six programs throughout the year and we invite dealers from around the country to travel here and share some of their work. One of the programs is generally a trip to a major art market like Los Angeles, Chicago, New York or Miami. The trip includes visits to art galleries and artists’ studios, which can be very revealing,” Hall says. The Collectors Group is open to Arts Center members at the $150 level or above with an added yearly participation fee of $200 for individuals and $350 for couples.
Seek it out - Another way to see art in person is to visit local art galleries. “It is important to look at a lot of art and get involved in the current art scene,” says Melody Stanley, owner along with her husband, Steve, of the Red Door Gallery in North Little Rock.
“We have several events during the year where our customers can meet the artists that we represent, and during our Spring Fling, to be held this year on May 4th, the artists are outdoors painting and available to talk about their work,” Stanley says.
Document the purchase - Stanley encourages collectors to do more than just write a check when they decide to buy. “My best advice to new collectors is to buy what you are passionate about and document the purchase. Write down where and when the purchase is made, the price and anything you can recall about the artist’s intentions. Better yet, ask the artist to write something down for you and sign it. Attach the artist’s bio (a service we offer) or show announcement and have your photo made with the artist.”Strike out on your own - “I would encourage any new collector not to follow the crowd,” says Greg Thompson, executive director of Greg Thompson Fine Art. “It’s a false market, an inflated market.” He believes that after you find what you are passionate about you should narrow your focus. “Some collectors only want Southern art, some only want Mississippi art, others only want images of women and some prefer three-dimensional craft. Develop a filter and your collection will begin to take on a life of its own. Then, you have something.”
HomeStyle, Pages 38 on 01/12/2013