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Man finds solace in the expression of self. Through art and his creativity, he made the world see what he is. Slowly the world became materialistic and finesse could either be brought with money or through power. The crude form of art became folk art overtime. But, fine art was rare. There was a time when commissioning an artwork was synonymous with riches. It was considered a luxury. Artists flourished under the patronage of generous kings who were admirers of creativity. Now, the paradigm has shifted. People who were earlier reluctant to buy Indian art are now looking out for options to buy art for various purposes like decorating homes or investing.

But, for a layman, choosing a piece of art may not be that easy as it seems. Usually, people walk into a gallery and without weighing necessary pros and cons and they either end up buying something they don’t want or something that won’t fit. So, if you are planning to buy a piece of art. Consider the following points:-

1. Don’t rush! Take it easy!

Motivation draws you to acting out. So, if you want to buy Indian art, you must understand why you want to buy it. You must not buy something on a whim or for the fact that you saw that in someone else’s home. As stated clearly, art is the expression of self. The kind of art you put on display tells a lot about your personality. So you will want to know what kind of art you would like to see every day in your home and never get bored.

Cultivating a taste of art is simple. Visit a lot of art galleries and events to know what is trending. A big name having a high price may not just do for you. Attend seminars and workshops to get acquainted with different art forms and styles. Your ethnic-looking home might not go well with pop culture art. A Persian miniature or a traditional Indian Art painting by Indian artists might do wonders.

2. A little knowledge doesn't harm anyone!

If you don’t like going out much, the internet is your refuge. Find online art stores and online art galleries that display art ranging from exclusive to affordable art. If you have made up your mind about the type of artwork that would suit you, the next step is to look out for the best prices.

There are many online art galleries that could guide you in buying Indian art made by Indian artists. They offer different kind of services like custom made family portrait of your family to decorate your living room. Keep tabs on art auctions and press releases of these online platforms so that you may know about discounts and sales they offer from time to time.

3. It’s too good to be true!

Pictures of artwork can never do justice to the original painting. You ordered an artwork and after you saw that in the concrete form it was not as magical as you saw. The colors in the picture may be enhanced and colors play out differently under natural and artificial light. So, after you have decided to buy an artwork, make efforts to look at it in person if it is possible. The same applies to the artwork you might reject as colors are not vibrant. You must make efforts to look that painting for yourself because the quality of picture might not have captures the intricacies involved in the work.

Play Sherlock Holmes! Do a little background check on the creator of the artwork you are planning to buy. Inquire about the solo and group exhibitions he took part in or if he has been endowed with any award or recognition.

Also Read: Want to buy indian art?

4. You want to take care of your pocket too!

Prices of art are hitting the sky. Still, art dealers and gallery owners are nowhere around the top ten list of richest people because of the fact that they face loss due to some deals gone bad. So, if you are planning to a bigger fish to fry, then wait for it. Weigh the scales of your pocket before you buy Indian art rashly and will eventually lose interest in it, you will regret that decision of buying that artwork for the rest of your life.

Beware of going into an auction if you are impulsive and act on the excitement as adrenaline rush is going to make it worse. The following tips might help the tilt the balance in your favor at an auction house and may make you take the right decision.

a. Artworks brought for the first time tend to be less expensive. You buy it directly from the artist with or without an intermediary like an online gallery.

b. Rates of the artwork that are being resold are higher. These works are sold by previous owners, auction houses, galleries, etc.

c. Always invest in the art which will not perish or fade soon like oil on canvas or acrylic on canvas. Watercolor on paper is not a good choice if you are thinking of investing in art. It perishes fast. You might not get a chance to resell it.

d. Lookout and inquire about any taxes or hidden costs that might occur for example like packing, framing, and shipping charges.

e. Insurance is the surest way of protecting your expensive piece of art that costs you a fortune. There are many artworks that are out of the purview of protection and the expensive the piece is, the higher the premium is.

f. Always have a word with a trustworthy and experienced art collectors or curator for the price you are paying for a particular painting, installation, or a sculpture. Make sure that you are not coaxed into taking an artwork that might not have a resale value. Higher prices always do not imply a masterpiece.

g. Resell any artwork you might not want. Do not throw it away.

5. Use your prowess for bargaining to the fullest!

Art galleries generally put the highest mark possible on every artwork. Do not pay the prices tagged on the artwork. Negotiate the selling price and try to get a discount. Your reasonable demand will certainly pay.

Follow these steps and you are good to go! Best of luck with the road you are about to take!