Archive for June, 2009
NOT Savvy to buy !!!
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, General | No Comments
IF future value is of interest, do not purchase
- reproductions such as Giclees of existing paintings or other original artworks
- new or old painted copies of original artworks
- artworks created specifically for the design community
Be cautious about artists whose careers are rapidly ascending and heavily hyped by galleries in tourist zones
- Hawaii
- Rodeo Drive (and other high-brow shopping zones)
- Carmel, California
- Las Vegas
Be alert when purchasing art online whether in a live auction or from a virtual store.
- Ask about the artwork’s condition, if it is not spelled out
- Clarify any concerns you have before committing to buy
Corinne Cain of SavvyCollector.com
Print Nuts !!! IFPDA.org is for you !!!
Thursday, June 25th, 2009 | General | No Comments
International Fine Print Dealers Association was founded in part by my crazy, but brilliant print mentor and friend, Marty Gordon.
“The International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) is a non-profit organization of leading art dealers, galleries, and publishers in the field of fine prints who are committed to the highest standards of quality, ethics, and connoisseurship, and to promoting a greater appreciation of fine prints among collectors and the public.”
On their wonderful website you can learn about
- the next IFPDA Art Fair, where a week is devoted to buying as well as eductional opportunities
- which dealers handle the work of artists you crave and collect (world wide)
- world-wide print exhibitions past, present and future held in museums and commercial galleries
- collecting prints advice through their FAQs
Sign up for their newsletter naming fine tuning options for areas of special interest to help stay abreast, while you are busy making a living !!
Plus, I can assure you that these are some of the top print dealers in the world who are deeply grounded in what they offer. The notion is that these are dealers who live in the “trust” lane.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
De Grazia Expert + Appraiser Opportunity June 27!!!
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, General | No Comments
Saturday, June 27 from 10 am – 4 pm at the De Grazia Foundation located in Tucson at 6300 North Swan Road (exit Ina Road from I 10, heading East) 520 299-9191
Lance Laber, a true Ted (Ettore) De Grazia expert will be available to authenticate your De Grazia item, be it a painting, drawing, print, ceramic, jewelry, etc.
Correspondingly Corinne Cain, ASA Accredited Senior Appraiser Fine Arts as well as American Indian Arts will be on hand to identify the value of authentic De Grazia items.
There are large quantities of both intentional and unintentional De Grazia fakes in homes across America.
An “unintentional fake” is an artwork made to simply practice the look of someone’s work appealing often to a budding artist. The artist does not have a financial agenda.
An “intentional fake” is made with the intention of passing as a real painting by the artist, typically to realize financial gain.
Both types of fakes; however, can cause confusion and potentially disappointment.
If you have not visited the Foundation before, you will be amazed! Plan an extra 30 – 60 minutes to visit the facility. It is fascinating and unique!!!
Both the event and access to the Foundation are available FREE of CHARGE!
This event coincides with the celebration of Ted De Grazia’s 100th birthday.
Use a mapping option online to facilitate your finding the Foundation with ease.
See you there!
Corinne Cain of SavvyCollector.com
Stolen Art ???
Sunday, June 14th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, General | No Comments
By visiting www.artloss.com you can:
- Register a lost or stolen item
- Search to see if an item is lost or stolen
As a potential purchaser you will want to avoid spending money for something to which you cannot legally obtain clear title.
There is a fee to carry out the single search request, $75, paid to Art Loss Register.
About four telephone calls a year start out “A relative of mine brought back this artwork following World War II.”
This comment always brings to mind the possibility that it was obtained intentionally or unintentionally in such a way that the artwork still belongs to someone else.
These websites named by IFAR.org may be useful to investigate that possibility.
The Central Registry of Information on Looted Cultural Property, 1933-1945
Commission for Looted Art in Europe (CLAE)
The Documentation Project
The Frick Art Reference Library
The Lost Art Internet Database
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
New York State Holocaust Claims Office
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Doing a little homework is better than crossing your fingers, hoping all is well.
IF your Artist is Alive or Contemporary . . .
Monday, June 8th, 2009 | General | No Comments
Catalogue raisonnes because they are revealing “all known works” typically are configured after an artist dies. As they can involve more than 5 or 10 years to compile, they are frequently completed decades after an artist’s death.
If your artist is still living or newly deceased, whereupon there is no catalogue raisonne in progress:
- Contact the artist, if he/ she is living
- Visit an art museum library and examine all catalogues and pamphlets accompanying exhibitions of the artist’s work over time. An artist’s work changes, so that you might align the work with his/ her style of work, as of a particular time period.
- Check auction catalogues offering any work with the same intent, to grow familiar with more examples of the work.
- Canvas any and all known dealers, especially the primary ones who handled the work over the longest period of time.
- Focus on the artist’s family, as often a spouse or adult child will be quite familiar with the artist’s body of work
- Contact any museum with a large body or his/ her work, curators who have focused heavily on a number of the artist’s work may have assembled a great understanding of the artist’s oeuvre. Caveat: they may or may not be willing to comment specifically on the authenticity of your artwork due to professional constraints.
- Check to learn if his/ her university was gifted the artist’s archives, especially if there are no survivor family members
- Archives of American Art, http://www.aaa.si.edu/, may have evidence in visuals such as the artist’s sketchbooks or writing about his/ her work. They have microfilmed information that your library could request via interlibrary loan http://www.aaa.si.edu/interlibraryloan/
- If a committee exists to judge the authenticity of your artist’s work, contact them and provide the information they require: photographs (digital or transparencies), all relevant descriptive information and possibly a fee
- Investigate authors who have written extensively about your artist to find who they might consider to be extremely well versed in your artist’s work.
An art appraiser is methodical and diligent. When one door closes, you must find another door to open. This is true for anyone interested in uncovering information about an artist.
Listen closely to the person’s delivery who is imparting information. If a dealer or family member or anyone you contact sounds dismissive, their response may not be reliable. This could be intentional, but more likely, it is simply because they were contacted on a day when they were overwhelmed with his/ her personal challenges. Listen with your heart, as well as your brain.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Other countries may have archives designed to gather information about artists based abroad.
Is My Painting a Fake ???
Sunday, June 7th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, General | 1 Comment
Pretend you are an art appraiser.
Compare your painting to those in the artist’s catalogue raisonne.
A catalogue raisonne is a book citing all the known works by an artist typically arranged in chronological order. The catalogue raisonne lists titles, dates, editions and often photographs of all known artworks. In many cases, the artwork’s ownership and location is cited as well.
A relatively new shortcut to discover the title of the catalogue raisonne you want to consult is at the International Foundation of Art Research’s website www.ifar.org
- Click the navigation bar along the left side (on the IFAR’s home page) marked Catalogues Raisonnes.
- Type the name of artist in the search box.
- Verify artist’s name by clicking on the correct name in the next screen.
- Next you will see lists of appropriate catalogue raisonnes. Often there are different ones, depending on what the artwork’s medium is (prints, posters, drawings, paintings, sculpture)
- IF there is no raisonne, IFAR’s site often identifies who is configuring a raisonne in progress and how to contact that person or organization.
Of course, if your artwork is a type of reproduction, you won’t need to contact anyone.
In upcoming Savvy blogs, different types of reproductions will be disclosed.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
a little art speak: practiced art players call them “cat razzes”
Also, if your local or museum library does not own a copy of the catalogue raisonne, petition Interlibrary Loan to borrow a copy for your use. Often there is a fee have the book transferred to your library. All of this constitutes Step #1 in the process of determining if your painting is authentic.
Why “Art by Kids” ?
Thursday, June 4th, 2009 | General | No Comments
Under Culture, we now offer “Art by Kids“.
This concept came to SavvyCollector.com by way of our new marketing director, Ben.
Ben, Marketing Director & Art by Kids Scout
Min’s paintings caught Ben’s attention while at school. He proposed selling Art by Kids and we agreed that “good art” is not generated by a uniform art maker.
Pricing of all Art by Kids on SavvyCollector.com will be modest. We do not intend to promote the idea that Art by Kids has investment potential. Lin Min Naing’s art is competent and fresh. If it gives you pleasure, buy it!
Years ago I made it a practice to purchase Art by Kids to gift to those who were hospital bound. Choosing bright, happy subjects, I saw the potential to brighten the space of those who were confined.
Just so you know, half the proceeds from the sale of Art by Kids goes back to the young person who made it.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
PS I retained some of the Art by Kids from past years unintentionally because I found I could not bear to part with them. They gave my spirit a lift as well.
Savvy Collector’s YouTube Debut !!!
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 | General | No Comments
Click the link below for an art-buying Pop Quiz !!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/Buyartintelligently
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Feedback about Savvy’s first video is appreciated !!!
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