Some art shopping tips:
• "If you are interested in developing an art collection, go to galleries and museums and learn what you like," says Brad Cushman, gallery director at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. "I'd encourage people to educate themselves ... do research on art and its terminology."
• "To a layman, it's a piece of art. But as a buyer, you need to know if it's an original, a mass-produced copy, a vintage or modern print," says Roy Dudley of Roy Dudley Estate Sales in Little Rock. "When you decide what you want, do your research and find out what you can about the artist, the edition and other aspects. Always look at the art's condition. If the painting is ripped, it can be repaired. If it's flaking, you can't. If it's a print or watercolor, look for water spots or discoloration.
"Don't think of it as an investment. Buy what speaks to you."
• "The tip I'd give is to buy what you like, not what will go up in price," says Amanda Linn of Little Rock, who works in adult leadership development at the Arkansas Leadership Academy. Also an artist and art collector, Linn advises people to "be aware that sometimes ... especially in the case of folk or outsider art, the pieces may be poorly constructed. You may have to repair some of it."
• "Find your interest first before you go out there to buy," says Don Edwards of Little Rock, who has built his collection almost entirely in the secondary market. "Do you like landscapes? Portraits? Modern art? Abstracts? Once you have an idea, do a little research. When you know what appeals to you, you'll see something that'll slap you in the face and you've gotta have it."
SOLD IT, SOLD IT, SOLD IT
Another place to acquire art, sometimes at a bargain price, is an auction.
At a recent art auction at Pinnacle Auction and Estate Service in Little Rock, Sunset, Hove, an oil painting by 20th-century English painter Algernon Cecil Newton, sold for $5,000. Works by Arkansas artists Sammy Peters and Amy Edgington sold well below their gallery prices; some works didn't sell.
Auctioneer John Saugey says auctions require even more awareness on the buyer's part.
"It's always a good idea to go to the auction house early to look the art over," he says. "Who the artist is and the condition of the work is everything. If you have questions, ask.
"When you come to the auction, have a price in mind that is your stopping point. You can get caught up in the action and spend more than you wanted to."
Saugey's wife, Phyllis, also an auctioneer at Pinnacle, does research on the company's acquisitions. She says it's important to know what you like.
"Do research on that artist, get comparison prices, make sure the signatures on the work are correct. If there are pictures of the works posted on the auction house's website and you need more, ask. If you have questions, ask."
-- Ellis Widner
Style on 11/13/2016