Giclee Coa

Giclee Coa

How to Buy Art - Painting Buying Guide

Are you thinking about buying a painting?

Buying art can be a very complex and exhaustive process requiring a lot of time to research, study, compare and select. With so much variety in styles, sizes, mediums and colors, sometimes it can be very hard to make a decision about which painting to buy.

If you are looking for paintings to decorate your house, office or business, this article is for you. An Art Collector might choose a different approach.

From searching to selecting to buying, these basic questions will help you to find the perfect painting for you.

- What is your favorite Painting Style and Medium?

Defining what you like is the key. Popular painting styles are: Abstract Art, Impressionism Art, Realism Art, Expressionism Art, Surrealism Art. Some of the mediums are: Oil, Acrylic, Gouache and Watercolor. If you need more complete information, you can search for painting styles and mediums on Google.com, Yahoo.com or other source.

- Are you looking for an Original Painting or a Print?

An Original Painting usually has textured brush strokes, rich and vibrant colors, and overall, looks, feels and smells like an original. It usually has rough surface and uneven paint on the sides of the stretched canvas. Buying an original work of art is a magnificent experience and an investment opportunity.

A Print is a copy of the original painting. Also known as a reproduction, it usually has a flat image and lacks the true color and essence of an original fine art. It generally has even edges where the buyer typically does not look. If you see a dot matrix pattern, the same pattern you find in magazines or book images, it is probably a print. Some Giclee prints are very well done, may be hand signed and could be very difficult to differentiate from the original.

- Would you like an Artwork that goes with your current decor?

Look around at your furniture, wall color, rugs, lamps, curtains, etc and choose the colors you would like in the painting. Also, measure the area where the painting is going to be placed. With this information your search will be easier and faster.

- How much are you willing to spend?

Set a budget and consider the cost of the frame. Sometimes the frame can be very expensive. Paintings on Gallery Wrapped Canvases usually have painted edges and don’t need frame, saving you money and adding a contemporary look to your room.

- Would you prefer to visit Art Galleries or buy Paintings Online?

Visiting Galleries can be fun and you can personally see the artwork. However, it can be time consuming. Online you can find more variety and some artists will even re-create paintings that have already been sold (commissioned art).

- How reliable is the Art Dealer, Art Gallery or the Artist?

Scams and misrepresentations are part of the art business. Do some research about the Art Dealer, Gallery or Artist before purchasing. If you are buying an original painting, make sure it is really an original and not a reproduction.

- What is the Shipping and Handling and Return Policy?

Understanding the Shipping and Handling and Return Policies is very important. Insurance and tracking number or delivery confirmation are essential for proof of shipment. You should also be able to contact the seller in case you have any question or problem with the painting.

- Is a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided?

The Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provides assurance and verifies the authenticity of the painting you have purchased. Even though, a COA is not necessary to prove that the painting is original, it is recommended to ask if it is provided. Also, make sure the COA is legitimate and comes from the artist or a qualified dealer, agent, gallery, etc.

- How is your personal information protected?

Find out about the Privacy Policy, and make sure your personal information, including credit/debit cards and bank account information, is safe.

- How to contact the seller?

Any website where you can purchase online must have a contact link, telephone number or other way to contact the seller. So, if you have any question or problem with the painting, you should contact them right away.

Owning a work of art can be a fantastic experience. Fine Art brings harmony, glamour and sophistication to any room. It has the ability to beautify any space and transmit feelings and emotions to any spectator, somehow capturing all the attention.

At www.carmenguedez.com, Abstract Art Gallery, you will find 100% Hand-Made Original Fine Arts. All paintings have a Certificate of Authenticity, hand-signed and embossed with the official logo and a Fine Arts Registered number. Prices are competitive and the online shopping transaction is easy and safe. Shipping is fast and the customer service is outstanding.

About the Author

Carmen Guedez is a professional artist and best known for her beautiful and upscale Impressionism Art, Flowers Art, Landscape Art, Symbols Art and more. To visit her website go to www.carmenguedez.com.

Art collectors: What's the difference between giclee, lithograph, canvas, and print?

I'm having a very tough time trying to understand this market. I want very much to be able to invest in something unique and special that is beautiful to me and will be a smart investment. I see so many things advertised as signed and numbered w/ COA or COL but surely they can't all be the best to collect. Can you help me understand and make an informed decision?

so hang in there with me this may take awhile a giclee in usually nothing more than a very high quality REPRODUCTION of something usually a photo of a painting or a photo itself. These can be made in the thousands and regardless of what guarantee you get... more can be done anytime by simply changing then a Small fractional amount and calling it a "second state" then a third yadda yadda yadda you get the picture

A lithograph can be one of three things it can be offset litho "read magazine and repros in the 1000s" or original litho from either a stone or plate printed by hand either by the artist or a professional who is trained in that kind of work, me for instances. that litho is a 40 step process by hand in fairly small editions and they are numbered ands signed by the artist with a certificate of authenticity that gives date paper type... artist ..printer.. and amount in the edition and how that amount is split up, artist proofs, printer proofs collectors proofs museum proofs regular edition, preferred edition (usualy on very fine paper Canvas is just that... either painting down on an exceptable substrate such as canvas, masonite etc then there are prints on canvas again another reproduction.

Prints can refer to anything from a book plate to a real hand made print like litho above or just another big batch run off by high speed machinery and barely worth the paper they are printed on even if they are signed by hand on the print you are basically either buying it because you like kittens or horses or whatever or you are paying for a name. A fine art print with documentation which anyone selling one should have with their siguature on it that you saw them sign and a registered stamp on it to boot. The very best thing that you can do is study study study get to know what it is you want to buy and then pick something that you really like to look at before the profit is a factor because it may never do what you want it to in the market but you would still have it for the original reason that you bought it becuse you liked it hope that helps try to get a used copy of The Art of the Print by Fritz Eisenberg it is the print bible

SALVADOR DALI GICLEE DALI'S INFERNO FOR SALE!