Buying and collecting art is a hobby and interest pursued by many the world over. Every year, you have various sculptures, paintings and other artworks put up for sale at galleries and online for collectors and investors to buy.

The thing about collecting art is it requires you to have an eye for the intricate, quaint and utterly gorgeous among other things. If you’re someone who has recently taken up the hobby of art collecting, you might be wondering what it is that seasoned collectors look at when purchasing it.

What to Look into When Buying for a Personal Collection

There is no hard and fast rule about what you need to pay attention to when you’re buying for a personal collection. The fact that it is a personal collection means that you’re the one who gets to choose the kind of art work that makes it in and what gets left behind.

This being said, there are some things you can look into to give you a sense of whether or not the work you have selected belongs in your collection.

Simple Aesthetic

This is a little obvious but the work you select for your personal collection should appeal to you aesthetically in some way. There is no set theory or science to this. It’s quite simple. Does the work aesthetically appeal to you or not? Do you like the way the artist has used the medium they are working in. Do you like the strokes or use of color?

Do you feel the piece of work you selected is something you find appealing or intriguing aesthetically? Looking into the general aesthetic of a piece of work you’re about to invest in and add to your collection is always a good idea.

Value

Sometimes collectors buy art as an investment. This involves figuring out which artwork is predicted to increase in value and investing accordingly. If you’re looking to form a personal collection in this manner, you might need to stay up to date on what is happening in the art world as well as on the many upcoming artists putting out work around you.

What it Triggers

The thing about any good or powerful piece of artwork is that it is bound to make you feel something. This affect of artwork, along with other factors such as artist’s exhibition of skill, the base idea etc. is what is often used by critics to define whether it is indeed a noteworthy piece of work or just kitsch!

Another good yardstick by which to select artwork for your personal collection is to pay close attention to how it makes you feel. A good piece of work does not have to make you feel particularly positive. It can make you feel anything from pleasant and happy to uneasy, uncomfortable or even really sad.

Just remember, if a piece of work has the ability to evoke feeling within you, indicates that you may have found something worth investing in.

The Creator

Sometimes collectors like to follow a single artist through their growth and process investing in multiple pieces done by the same creator. This allows them to in a sense document the evolution of the artists work and ideas as they progress over time. This is also an enjoyable way to collect work as where you often start with someone in the early phases of their career; you get to watch them and their work mature and in a sense support the process.

In short, another way to build on a personal collection is to follow one or more artists who you continue to patron over a period of time.

It Reflects Who You Are or Where You May Be

Finally, your art collection might serve as a mirror to your own inner reality. If this is so, it helps to look for work that you can relate to. Work that may reflect who you are, how you may be feeling and what you are about at a given time.

The Upshot

As we said earlier, the thing about a personal collection is just that! It’s personal. At the same time, keeping in mind the particulars mentioned above and looking into the same when you buy artwork for your collection; ensures you build something well worth the time and money spent!

If you’ve got the input you needed, check out the kind of artwork available out there and get started on your own personal collection.