2. THINK LIKE A GUEST – Now walk through your home imagining you’re a visitor or guest so you can understand the logistics of entering your home for the first time and what impression or atmosphere you wish to create. Important areas from a guest’s point of view are: the entrance (this is their first impression) the path from the entrance to the main living/entertaining area and an outdoor area if you have one. Look for what you think they would notice: as you enter your home, is it obvious where the kitchen/living areas are from the entrance; are private rooms or areas such as bedrooms ‘on show’ as guests walk through the house to the living area. Can any outdoor areas be seen from the main living area?

3. DETERMINE ZONES – This time, when you walk through your home again, think from your own perspective and classify it the following zones; entrance (front garden, path, front door, entry) traffic zones (hallways, gardens) formal entertaining (dining room) informal entertaining (family room, games room) function-specific zones (home theatre, kitchen) private zones (bathroom, toilet, bedrooms) business zone (home office, studio). This will assist you to think about where to place art plus what purpose or mood you wish to create in each zone.

4. MAP WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE ARTWORK – List each zone and room and table the atmosphere you wish to achieve and the number of artwork to suit the space.

5. DO SOME RESEARCH – Through your own research you will feel more confidence to make an informed decision when you discuss your needs or view art with an art consultant, interior designer, gallery manager or artist. Plus as you regularly go back to research you will gain an increased knowledge about art and therefore a deeper understanding which will only enhance your appreciation of your collection. To begin:

‘Google it’ search online about art buying advice and tips
Browse online art galleries
Look for articles in your local newspaper about local artists, exhibitions and galleries
Visit local Art Galleries
Talk to local gallery managers and artists as you meet them

6. LIST YOUR PREFERENCES (STYLE, SIZE, MEDIUM) – Return to your planning chart again after your research to put in your preferences of style, size and medium. Style refers to if the artwork is classified within a broad category such as Abstract, Traditional (landscape) or (figures), Surrealism, Pop Art, Impressionism, Digital Art, Still Life, Realism and many more.

Size mainly described as dimensions in centimetres. Also be aware if the dimensions include framing or not. For an average home artwork around 60 x 80 cm would be considered a medium size and 80 x 130 considered a large size. Obviously this is completely subjective and the best thing to do is get the measuring tape out.

Medium is what the artist used to create the artwork. For example, oil means oil paint, acrylic means acrylic paint, watercolours, ink, pencil, charcoal and many more. Mixed Media is simply when an artist mixes mediums together. For example, some artists bind Acrylic paint and a texture medium (sand) together.

7. SET YOUR BUDGET – A fundamentally important step, however also be sure you’re expectations are realistic, your earlier research should assist you in this area. This is important because if you ‘blow your budget’ then you are not going to view the artwork with a positive frame of mind but rather a resentful one. Also, ask if flexible payment options are available. Most galleries and art consultants offer payment plans over a 3 to 6 month period or an art rental service so you can ‘try before you buy’.

8. RAISE YOUR OWN AWARENESS OF INVESTMENT POTENTIAL OF ART AND ARTISTS – When beginning a home art collection it is good to remember you need to live with the artwork therefore it needs to be appealing to you. However you can also begin to consider the future investment potential of the artwork you’re purchasing. At the most fundamental level, check the artist is active i.e. is regularly producing new work for exhibitions and awards, have won any awards, received any reviews of note or are apart of art investors collections. This is important if your art collection is later to be considered as part of your investment portfolio and if you decide to on sell any of your collection in the future.

9. LESS IS MORE – Often when you’re in the middle of this process and you’ve found a style or artist you simply love you can become quite excited and simply want more, more, more. While this is great, you also want don’t want to ‘overdo’ it. Simplicity in most things is always a good rule including art. Therefore if you are deciding on three pieces for the one room and you simply can’t decide on the final third piece. Then, purchase the two you’re sure about and either hire the third or just take some time to think.

10. PURCHASE YOUR ARTWORK – Now you have completed your planning and research which has built up your confidence to go purchase the art that is right for you and your home. Remember you don’t have to do it all at once. It can be a gradual process of building up your art collection – a journey you can enjoy. Or if you don’t have the time, simply rent a collection and purchase the ones you love and continue to rent until you have all the pieces you want.

You will know when it is right because as you ‘live’ with a piece of artwork you become familiar with it and will also learn when is the best time of day to view it and the mood you feel when you view it. If you feel the atmosphere you intended to create has been achieved and your collection is a conversation point with your visitors and guests then you know it is right for you and your home. Please note, all of us react very differently to artwork often because of the emotion we are already carrying around in our heads, therefore a reason why art is such a great conversation starter.

Hype and value in the art market are two very different things. Hype may mean you end up buying art that sells well in the auction houses at the moment. My opinion, and I reiterate my opinion only is that the auction houses are a small step from the type of market manipulation seen so recently on Wall Street. Value art is based on Warren Buffett’s philosophy, stick with good value fundamentals.

So what gives art its value? It is after all just canvas and paint.

Art markets work like all other markets – perception counts for about 60% and proof about 30%.

Over the years I have developed these ten criteria to help me determine my purchases:

Perception
1. Is it scarce? If it is hard to find or tightly controlled there is a perception of specialness. That is why originals and limited edition artist prints are better value than mass produced.

2. Is there a story behind the art and artist? It is hard to separate Van Gogh’s life story from his art and indeed his popularity is a combination of the two.

3. Is the artist well known? That doesn’t mean he/she is doing the celebrity circuit but is there enough knowledge about the artist that people can feel safe in investing in him/her.

4. Has the artist been widely exhibited? Sometimes a new artist may not fit this bill but in general the more exposure and recognition the better.

5. Is the artist unique? That is, is his/her style recognisable, even if you don’t know their name? Unique art stands the test of time and also makes people feel they know the artist and are themselves knowledgeable about art.

6. Does the artist speak for his/her times? Art and artists help us define ourselves and the world around us. An artist in 2008 who expresses our issues and times will more than likely still be considered relevant in years to come. Think of how Lautrec embodied the Montmartre in Paris in the late 1800s. His art captured the times and place in a way nothing else did.

Proof

7. Is there provenance connected with the art? Can it be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the artist created the original work, that the limited editions are as they state and is the work made out of the materials promised. This last point is very important as the longevity and integrity of the work for both originals and limited edition prints or reproductions rely on using materials that last.

8. Have other collectors purchased work by this artist? This not only means someone else likes the work enough to buy it but that there is a known market should you choose to sell.

9. How much are the originals selling for in todays market? This is where scarcity can have another impact. If the artist is putting fewer originals on the market or only doing commissions then the worth of limited edition prints or reproductions generally goes up along with the price of the originals and makes collecting the artist prints even better value.

The Final 10%

You may have noticed the points above only add up to 90%. They are really the quantifiable factors. That indefinable something is the 10% that counts.

10. Is the work great? Forget for a moment about personal taste or whether the art goes with the furniture. Is it great? Does it draw your eye to it when you enter a room? Does it say to you, this is something special? Think of all the bands from the 60s, – who is remembered most? The Beatles of course. And this is true even if they aren’t your favorite band – they were very special.

I work extensively with an artist who fits all these criteria, Garry Duncan, and I know that although he is a “good buy” he has an almost indefinable something that makes me know that not only has it been a wise choice to invest in his art, it has been an even better choice to support it.

So look for that magic, that genius, that power and more often than not if you also take the points above on board you will be getting value in your art investment for now and for the future.

Collecting art is a possibility for almost anyone. I can say this after many conversations with dedicated art collectors of many differing bents and differing economic means. Original art IS available to everyone.

The amount of money that you can spend is one of several factors in choosing additions to your collection. But, the amount spent has not been demonstrated to me as the prime factor in determining the size or quality of of your collection. Rather, I believe the prime factor is personal taste.

Personal taste accounts for a lot. There are many personal and organizational collections that were well-founded on the numerous secondary and tertiary factors, but were not well-founded on a taste for excellent composition. These collections, no matter how large or full of “name” artists, show themselves as well-meaning but second level collections.

You should remember that even when prestigious organizations acquire major works of art they usually want to focus on the best examples of a given artist or school. Size and price are important of course, but a masterwork is always desirable over the lesser efforts of even the very greatest names of the artworld.

In regard to taste – as it pertains to a good or best example of an artist’s work – the decisions on what pieces will be decided upon and negotiated for may be up to one individual or a group of individuals. A purchase may very well need to fulfill several requisites for a collection’s owner(s). If a committee is making the decisions then there will hopefully be real discussion.

Buyers for a collection, whether committee or individual, must use taste as well as the other factors needed to enhance the collection. If the artwork is a gift or bequest then taste is not a problem – then it’s just a matter of how the work is to be accepted (publicized or not publicized).

Some buyers confer with appraisers or other experts before making a decision. They may value the opinions of particular academics, art historians, art writers, or art market analysts. Again, the taste of these experts will be important, possibly the most important parameter of the decision-making process.

Many people who look at art, or who buy and sell art have varying esthetic tastes. This begs the question – for whom is this collection built and exhibited? Is it only for the buyer? – his/her family? – or for a wider audience?

Museums and galleries very much take this into account when they buy or advise buyers. Although acquiring works for a public school audience will be different from acquiring works for a casino’s hotel – taste should be the primary consideration.

• Develops social skills

• Changes behaviors

• Develops problem solving strategies

• Allows an individual to engage in creative thinking in a safe environment

• Allows an individual to focus solely on the activity at hand and shut out other thoughts that may be intrusive.

Keep in mind that all of the above positive outcomes of art therapy may not be experienced by someone with high functioning autism. Remember, not every autistic functions the same.

Where can I find and art therapist and what should I look for? If an individual with high functioning autism is interested in art therapy, an art therapist will need to be sought out. An art therapist can practice in a number of environments, but can usually be found in psychiatric or general hospitals. They may work in oncology or geriatric wards, schools, rehabilitation centers, and counseling centers. The best way for you to find an art therapist locally, is to speak to your child’s health care provider or call your hospital.

When choosing a therapist, keep the following in mind:


• Find out about their education background and where they received training

• Find out if they have previous experience with high functioning autism patients

• Ask what types of therapeutic approach do they use

• Ask what to expect during a lesson

By: Rachel Evans