The excitement about internet, one of the biggest inventions of XX century, slowly becomes our addiction. When you ones start to use it you will continue doing it every day and no wonder, because on internet you can find practically everything. Just using the right key, you are able to get about all on the subject you are interested in. One of the biggest groups on internet is art.
The fact that both the computer and the internet have become a common, accessible technology has opened this formerly high tech art circuit up to a much broader field of artists and movements. Net.art or internet art uses the internet as its primary medium and groups various of artists are showing their work on the internet sites.
It does not matter if your are looking for paintings, draws, sculpture, photography or video's you can find any kind of material you need. No matter what kind of movement you are interested in, there is all to find.
Nowadays you do not even need to visit an art gallery, a museum nor flight to Paris to see Louvre. The only think you need to do, is to click the right key word in one of the search engines and throug the wires of internet you can enjoy virtual excursion through Louvre. To get what you need you can search through variouse search engines like google, altavista, hotbot, lycos, etc. or check the catalogue yahoo. The only one important thing that you have to remember is to be specific.
Internet offers millions and millions of informations about art and artists, contains millions of pictures, so it is an art to find the one you need. There are some simple rules which will help you on an easy way to find quicker all what you need. Remember, the first word you write is the most important one. That is the word for which search engines will look in the first place and to which they will match the most.
Chronology is of the essence. When you want to find exact expression you need to use quatation marks " ". Mostly you use it by quoting titles and names. You can also eliminate from the searching order words you do not need, by using "-" at the beging. The great thing about internet is that there is to find all kind of art. It does not matter how old it could be, as long as it exists in a real world you can for sure get in on internet. And with a little bit of luck you can also download most of it to have it for yourself. Do not worry, it is really easy and a fun to do. After few minutes of practice you are an artist yourself, the artist of online art search.
How To Sell Art Online
The Internet is revolutionizing the art world. In the not too distant past, if you were interested in browsing a few hundred paintings to find a new focal piece for your living room, you would’ve had to spend a considerable amount of time going from one gallery to the next. Now, in just several minutes, you can browse and purchase hundreds, even thousands, of original artworks right from your home. But before you click the “add to cart" button, there are five things you should know that will greatly improve your online art buying experience.
1. Know the Gallery – The most important aspect of buying art online is knowing who you are buying from. There are thousands of virtual galleries, and you want to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable one. If you can’t find a phone number on the gallery’s website, or it takes them more than a day or two to get back to a phone or email message, move on.
Find out where they are located, how long they’ve been in business, if the artwork is curated, how they price their art, and of course, what their return policy is. Make sure that if you decide you don’t love your artwork when it arrives, you have the ability to return it for a full refund, and without being charged high shipping or restocking fees.
Most artwork on the Internet is from emerging artists whose legacy is yet to be defined. As such, you will want help determining if their work is worth your time and money. Find an online gallery with a reliable curator or board of curators. Additionally, this type of art should be affordable. Although there is no exact science to pricing artwork, it should mainly be according to the artist’s previous sales and exhibition history, and the size, medium, and composition of the work. As a general rule, emerging artwork shouldn’t cost more than four figures unless it is a spectacular piece by a spectacular artist.
2. Know the Artist – Once you find a piece of art that you are interested in, get as much information as you can about the artist. Obtain their artist statement and speak with them if possible. If you are buying more for potential future investment, obtain a list of exhibitions that they have participated in, collections they are in, and find out where they went to art school. Overall, you want to make sure that you are buying from a legitimate working artist, and that there is quality and value in the work.
3. Know the Piece – You love the expressionist brushstrokes, now find out the important details. What is the medium, what surface was the work created on, is it framed, is it signed somewhere, and most importantly, what are the dimensions? You may be surprised at how big the artwork actually is, and you wouldn’t want to buy a piece that doesn’t fit on your wall. One of the best ways to combat this is to get a sheet of butcher paper, draw the dimensions of the artwork on it, and then cut it out. You can then put the paper on the wall where you intend to hang the art to get an idea of the size. Also, certain online galleries have a view to scale feature that will show you the artwork in a virtual room proportionate to your room’s dimensions.
4. Know the Edition – If you are buying printmaking or photography, you need to find out if the piece is part of a limited edition or open edition. Pieces that are in a limited edition are produced in a set limited quantity and tend to be more expensive, but can also have more value because of their limited number. Open edition artworks are not limited in quantity and can be reproduced indefinitely. In both cases, each piece in the edition is identical and is considered an original.
5. Keep a Record – Save your receipt of purchase. If you intend to sell the art in the future, this is a must. In the art world, this is known as provenance, or the artwork’s history of ownership. Depending upon how well known the artist becomes, this will help establish that the work is not fake or stolen.
With all of this in mind, buy what you like! Don’t worry too much about what the art market or your friends say, choose artwork that you connect with. Although art may hold a future value, find pieces that you are passionate about. After all, you are the one who has to live with it.
Both James Brown & Mike Bradbury are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
