Collecting oil paintings is a fascinating and rewarding pursuit that combines the appreciation of fine art with the thrill of discovery and the potential for investment. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just beginning your journey, the world of oil paintings offers a rich tapestry of styles, periods, and artists to explore.
From the Old Masters of the Renaissance to contemporary artists pushing the boundaries of creativity, each piece tells a unique story and reflects the cultural and historical context of its time. Building a collection of oil paintings requires not only an eye for beauty but also knowledge, passion, and a strategic approach to acquiring and preserving these timeless works of art.
A Guide to Start Your Oil Paintings Collection
Think about collecting paintings as an investment.
Art is a unique asset that goes beyond stocks and bonds, offering investors an excellent way to diversify their portfolios. The value of an original piece by an avant-garde pioneer tends to remain stable, while collecting high-quality works from living artists can be highly profitable in the long term.
Art is also a timeless form of expression, which is why durability is a crucial aspect of investment-worthy pieces. When evaluating an artist's portfolio, ensure they possess the technical expertise to create works that convey a lasting message for generations.
Determine The integrity Of a Painting
Before purchasing a painting, it’s important to check the condition of the artwork. Start by examining the canvas, which is typically made from either linen or cotton fabric.
Linen is the preferred choice for artists who want their paintings to withstand the test of time. This is especially true for large paintings, as linen is less prone to sagging in the center over time.
For demanding painting techniques, linen is undoubtedly the more durable option. Avoid purchasing oil paintings on paper if you want your artwork to remain in good condition for years to come.
Additionally, closely inspect the surface of the oil painting to ensure there are no cracks. Cracking is a warning sign that improper techniques were used during its creation. A skilled artist adjusts the ratio of oils in successive paint layers to prevent this issue. Cracks in the paint are a red flag that the painting may not have been created with proper care.
Determine if the painting is original.
Before buying a new painting, it’s important to understand the meaning of the term ‘original.
The term ‘original’ can have many interpretations. Some might define it as creating something that has never been done before, while others may see it as the first presentation or unveiling of an idea.
Originality in art is relative. A painting can be considered original if it introduces a new style, composition, color palette, or technique—or even if it takes a non-representational approach, such as Hilma af Klint’s abstract works.
Creating art in a way that is remarkably distinguishable—allowing viewers to recognize the artist’s identity without seeing a signature—is a significant step toward originality.
An artist’s style is shaped by their creative process, whether it involves classical, multi-layered techniques or impasto painting with thick, textured strokes. It also encompasses their choice of color palette, whether realistic or expressive.
The tools and techniques an artist uses to apply paint onto a canvas reveal a great deal about their journey. Each brushstroke narrates the path the artist takes to bring the artwork to life—from nonexistence to creation. Any new technique developed by the artist is a step forward in originality.
Before purchasing an original painting, it’s essential to recognize that creating a work of art that is entirely innovative in every aspect is no small feat. However, every step taken beyond the boundaries of conventional art contributes to originality.
Check the date on which the painting was created.
Each art movement can be seen as a wave. It begins with the groundbreaking pioneers who establish the avant-garde ideas that define the movement. The second generation then validates and spreads these ideas, integrating them into the broader art community. Over time, the purity of the movement often fades, transforming it into a precursor for new ideas and concepts to emerge.
For instance, the wave of abstraction inspired by the Theosophical Society in the early 20th century began with the pioneering works of Hilma af Klint, Wassily Kandinsky, and Piet Mondrian. Following these trailblazers, a second generation—including artists like Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning—utilized abstraction in more expressive ways, reflecting nihilistic philosophy in their Abstract Expressionist styles.
When purchasing a painting, it is essential to consider its creation date. Knowing this allows viewers to place the artwork within the context of its art movement: Was it the work of a pioneering forerunner, or does it belong to a later wave of followers?
Know more about the artist.
Before purchasing an original painting, take the time to closely examine the artist's portfolio and inspect their signature on the canvas. A portfolio provides valuable insights into the artist's career development over time.
The diversity in an artist's portfolio—spanning styles like Realism, Impressionism, and Expressionism, as well as techniques and subjects such as landscapes, still life, or figurative art—reflects their professionalism. Conversely, collectors should be cautious of works that resemble hobbyist paintings, as these may lack the depth and refinement expected in professional art.
Have a close look at the brushstrokes.
Before Buying a new painting please have a close look at the brushwork. The quality of the artist’s brushwork … allows the spectator to recreate how the artist moved the brush and applied paints to get the artwork out to light.
Oil paintings are created sometimes in one layer of paint or in overlapping multi-layer paint.
The artist needs to follow the Fat over Lean rule to end up with high-durability oil paintings, by looking closely at the texture of the painting you can make sure there are no cracks in the top layers of the oil painting.
Evaluate the composition.
Before buying a new painting, the composition is the most important aspect, actually, you should start with the composition and end with the composition.
A good composition is one where the artist controls the movement of the viewer's eye to a beneficial result.
The utilization of the two-dimensional space on a canvas, the interaction between the artwork subjects and the background, the color, and light transitions all these elements target the capture of the viewer's eyes and enhance the delivery of the artist's message.
Before buying a new painting, please consider that the creation of a successful composition is not easy and depends on the artist's ability to gather subjects, colors, and light to create a unique homogeneous, or heterogeneous artwork. Sometimes achieving an emotionally effective heterogeneous artwork is much harder than a homogenous piece of art.
Finally, Buy the Painting You Love.
Before buying a new painting, please make sure that you purchase something that you adore. Take your time deciding what you like in a work of art. Buy paintings you naturally gravitate toward, buy your specific style.
Before making a decision have a close look through galleries, museums, art books, and websites.
If you’re thinking about buying art as an investment, keep in mind that paintings take a long time to rise in value, so it is better to buy a painting because you like it rather than hoping it will be worth a lot of money someday.
Once you’ve decided on a theme, you’ll be able to buy the perfect oil painting that meets your requirements and provides you and your family with years of enjoyment.
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