Art stimulates the senses while inspiring the soul and remains throughout the centuries a necessary part of a vital existence. Since the days of the Medici family’s support and influence on the visual arts in Florence, Italy, art collectors have been revered for their great taste and style. There are many reasons to collect art, whether for personal enjoyment in your home or to share great works of art with others. So often, especially after completion of a new home or remodeling of an existing home, the question of how to build a great art collection arises.
Selecting an art gallery with a solid reputation is a wise first step to building your art collection. A reputable art gallery will have trained art consultants who know the artwork and the artists and, therefore will be able to provide educated suggestions and alternatives to create the perfect art collection to fit your home and budget. At Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art more than 100 of the top artists in the world present artwork in almost any style and medium - oil painting, watercolor, bronze sculpture, ceramics, photography, just to name a few. Established almost a decade ago by owners Marty and Diane Herman, Exposures International displays the finest artwork by current artists from around the world in beautiful Sedona, Arizona. The Hermans offer their personal knowledge and passion for art to you through a diverse collection of artwork presented in a manner reminiscent of prestigious museum curators. Along with the owners, the professional team of art consultants at Exposures International will guide you through an enjoyable collecting experience.
At Exposures International we inform our clients that the most fundamental consideration of a strong collection is to collect works of art that you love. The joy and beauty of art is that viewers appreciate it differently. So, get to know your personal style and preferences by simply opening your eyes and really thinking about the piece of art you see before you. Your first instinct is generally the strongest and collectors tend to be attracted to similar color palettes, themes and styles. You will notice these patterns once you become comfortable viewing artwork.
A work of art can be initially summarized for its obvious characteristics - name of the artist, title of the piece, size of the work and materials used to create the piece. Subject matter is also important when surveying artwork. What is the piece about? Artwork tells a story (narrative), depicts a landscape, is an arrangement of inanimate objects (still life) or conveys only symbolic references to natural objects (abstract). What personal meaning or social statement does the work possess if any? Do you relate to the subject of the piece? If an abstract, what interpretation do you have of the symbols? What do you see? Once you have come across an intriguing work of art, train your eye to consider its fundamental elements:
Color. Think about the colors you see and any variance in hue, value and intensity of the colors. How do these colors make you feel? Will the colors work well with your lifestyle? Do they coordinate with your desired color plan for your home?
Line. Line defines shape, implies direction and provides the aesthetic effect. Do you prefer smooth, shapely lines? Or more expressive lines? Do the lines in the piece converge and contribute to the balance of the piece? Follow the lines of the piece with your eyes, noticing patterns and shapes.
Texture. Examine the surface quality of the piece. If it is a painting, is the paint applied in thick layers (also called impasto) or smooth almost imperceptible brushstrokes? Which do you prefer? or both? The same holds true for sculpture. Is the finish of the sculpture soft and life-like or does it feel jagged and textured?
Composition. Notice the arrangement of the piece. Are the elements balanced (symmetrical) or arranged in no particular pattern (asymmetrical)? Think about the movement in the piece achieved by the combination of color, line and texture. Do you feel harmony and see the similarity of the elements in the composition or are there striking difference in the piece, such as light and dark?
Your emotional response to any piece of art should also be considered, especially when placing it in your home. Art can bring repeated joy and contentment and be reinvented in the viewer’s eye each time it is experienced. Ask yourself - What message do you gather from the work? What can you personally relate to the message? What do you think was the artist’s intention?
Once you are comfortable "reading" works of art, you can begin collecting. There are several approaches to building your personal collection. Often collectors will acquire works within a particular style or movement, such as Impressionism or Realism. Other collectors prefer a regional approach and stay within a geographic designation, Southwestern Art or Northern Italian, for example.
Collecting examples by one particular artist at different phases of his or her career is another structured and rewarding way of collecting. By acquiring works by one artist in different styles and media, an academic approach to collecting surfaces and the artistic growth of the artist becomes apparent. Yet another alternative is selecting artwork to fit the mood and style of the room in which it will be placed. With this method, keep in mind that rotating your collection throughout your home could be appealing in the future so you may enjoy artwork in different spaces.
A strong collection should be full of variety no matter which approach you choose or if you create your own method. A great way to add variety is to collect artwork in various media to add depth and interest to your collection. For example, combine a traditional oil painting of a landscape with a nude marble bust within the same space and you will witness the two pieces interacting and adding new dimensions to one another daily.
Oil, acrylic, bronze, marble, ceramic, or photography the options are out there for you to discover. Learn what you love, select a knowledgeable art consultant and your personal art collection will come together beautifully. Embrace collecting and your artwork will bring, you and your family pleasure for many years to come.
--Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art is located at 561 Hwy 179 in Sedona, AZ. View our collection at www.exposuresfineart.com or phone us at (928) 282-1125.