Art Collecting
How to transform your home with art
Many designer homes, while stunningly decorated and renovated, seem to lack personality. A collection of art, can really transform your home in to a place that really tells your story. Art creates a two-way dialogue between the artwork and its surroundings in a way that decorative objects do not. Here’s some thoughts on how to…
Read MoreMy picture passed in at auction – what do I do now?
If you have ever tried to sell something in a specialist art auction you will know that there is a long build up and the process can be very stressful. Once you have made a decision to sell, a failure can be very frustrating not to mention inconvenient. My first tip is – never pre-commit…
Read MoreFive essential Art Collecting terms explained
If you are collecting art, what are some essential terms you need to know? Provenance Provenance means the record or history of an artwork’s ownership. Ideally, an artwork can be traced back to when it was first exhibited and sold. If it was acquired directly from an artist, the relationship of the first owner to…
Read MoreFake or Fortune?
Do you have artworks in your collection that you really know next to nothing about? Have you ever wondered if you might be sitting on a work with potential to set the artmarket on fire and feature in one of those articles we all love to read about with titles like ‘Painting found in attic…
Read MoreHow to commission a portrait
The winner of the wildly popular Archibald prize was recently announced, and that has set me thinking about how to commission a portrait. The Archibald might be the most famous, but it’s not the only prize for portraiture in this country. To name but two others there is the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and…
Read MoreHow and where to start collecting art
If you are wondering how to start collecting art, then the best place to start your journey is where you can’t buy any! I refer to major public art galleries that have large permanent collections covering many periods and styles. Of course many of the artists whose works you will see there are either very…
Read MoreLessons from the world’s best art collectors
Are you thinking of starting an art collection? Here is a brief guide to some of the 20th Century’s best art collectors, and a lesson we can learn from each of their stories. Sir Denis Mahon (1910-2011) Denis Mahon majored in art history at Oxford in the early 1930s. At the recommendation of Kenneth Clarke,…
Read MoreSculpture in your garden
Enhancing your garden with screens, water features and other decorative elements that add form and structure is a trend that is here to stay. However artist-made sculpture can add impact and lasting value in a way that factory made pieces simply cannot. Sculpture is not just for public spaces Outdoor sculpture has become associated with…
Read MoreThe art of framing
There is an art to framing and displaying art in your home. Of course most artworks are sold in some kind of frame, and frames can be costly, so why go to the trouble of replacing them? Because you don’t want your collection to look thrown together. So a very important thing to consider in…
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