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Sometimes a painting may generate a negative feeling or even worse, no feeling at all. You must not invest in these as you will not want to see them or you will tire of them. You should try to surround yourself with the art you love and will give you pleasure every day.
As you start looking at art, a trend may emerge in the works that you prefer. It could be a collection of works by Indian artists or by African artists. It could be abstract art, contemporary, impressionist, spiritual, realist or surreal. People will have their own unique styles and the works you collect definitely define your individual personalities. I mainly collect the works of 20th-century Indian artists and prefer the fluid impressionistic style with its strong bright colours. Realistic paintings do not inspire me.
Auctions are another good source for art. Once you have decided on a style or an artist, try and search for auctions. It is quite frightening to think of going to an auction to buy art. Initially, it might be easier to obtain catalogues and review the prices fetched for the preferred artists. Most auction catalogues can now be viewed online.
Many collectors like to support emerging artists. One of the greatest advantages of collecting modern art is that the artists are living. Develop a friendship with artists you like and become familiar with their style. Find out about the processes used to create the various types of artwork. Meeting and talking to the artists adds a special factor to collecting contemporary art that makes the work unique and an irreplaceable treasure. The artist's style may change over time. It is always useful to maintain the relationship to see the works throughout the lifetime of the artist as the art will change and often reflect the different phases of their life.
It is always educational to talk to other collectors. They may be collecting the works of artists that you like and may already have acquired a lot of valuable information. Talking to other collectors sometimes enables you to see the value of a work of art which you might have otherwise missed either because you did not like it or because it was of a style that did not appeal to you.
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Jain Education International 2010_03
ART & LITERATURE | 37
It is important to determine your budget, as it is very easy to fall in love with something beyond your price range. It is a myth that all paintings are expensive. It is possible to buy works which are not expensive. Look for artists who are just starting out. In general, prints and photographs are less expensive than original paintings and watercolours and drawings are cheaper than oil paintings. Similarly, larger paintings are normally more expensive than smaller ones. Sculptures are expensive. But the more you look at art, the more you get a feel for what the prices are for the works you like.
It is also possible to make a mistake in buying. Before the purchase, carefully examine the work. Often fakes are sold and it is very important to establish the provenance of the work of art. There is a lot of adverse publicity about works of art, particularly, sculptures from South Asia and the source of a particular object must be established.
Take your children with you to museums and galleries and expose them to art. Children can start learning about the different artists and styles of art. They can learn about colours and their effects. Most museums also have events for children. When I was travelling in Egypt, I met a couple who had brought their grandchildren with them and each evening the children wrote and sketched in their diaries about the monuments they had seen. In this way, art reaches into the spirit and makes a deep impression.
Collecting art is not so common in our community. Many look at it as an expense instead of an investment. It will not necessarily result in a monetary profit but unlike other investments you would be able to see it every day. It will give you pleasure and enrich your surroundings. I find that I love the art I have acquired more as time passes and see new things in it every time I look at it. I am very pleased when other members of my I family and my friends are inspired by my passion for art and have also started collecting art. Art can help us continue the family lineage, with collections passing from one generation to another.
Divya Malde is an avid art collector who lives in London.
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