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Collecting of any type is a fun hobby if you are really interested in the item. The more that you learn about this specific item the more enjoyable the hobby becomes. Art collecting is a hobby that can be complex and lend itself to many different areas of expertise. There is artwork in many categories such as art on pottery, glass, china, and one of my favorites comic books.
The Art Collecting that we are now considering is in the category of fine art paintings. These are collected by era, style, artist, theme, country, type of painting such as watercolor, etc. Art collectables can be found in a wide range of prices.
The impression is very present that in order to collect art, you have to be wealthy. This is not the case. Many people with modest means have art collections that cost them little and that they are very proud of.
There are also many sources for these personal art treasures. Whether you are interested in collecting reprints or originals, places like flee markets and yard sales are usually a good source for a lot of different kinds of art collectables. Artists from different regions of the country or world have works that can sometimes be purchased when visiting these regions. Some people spend their vacation time in certain regions just for the purpose of finding works of art of which they are interested in.
Local art shows, museums, and even places that the artist frequent are good possibilities for finding affordable and desired works of art. Some of these local and fairly unknown artists specialize in different themes for their paintings. Some of the scenes that they specialize in are buildings, landmarks, people, or other subjects representative of their particular area or region.
There is also what we consider the serious art collector. What we are considering here as a serious art collector is one that collects fine art paintings mostly by well known artists. We use the word serious here mainly for emphasis and a little out of context because there are serious collectors found in all areas of collecting.
If you are just starting out and have the finances to be considered the "serious" art collector, the main thing to understand is the investment involved and the future possibilities of the work involved. Another thing to consider, is whether you are collecting for the enjoyment of the pieces or monetary gain at present or in the future. You could also argue that if your are buying for monetary gain, you are not collecting but investing.
Another aspect of the above argument is that if your are investing and not collection, you may not necessarily have a passion for the works that you purchase. I think that this is the determining factor for collecting a certain item. If you can be a collector and investor at the same time, you will have the best of both worlds.
Whichever the case may be, you will want to become a student of the type of art that you are interested in to either enjoy or profit from your purchases. Study books, articles, and magazines to become more informed. Go to exhibits, museums, auction houses, and attend seminars when possible.
You can purchase books such as the Story of Art ; by Ernest Gombrich or buy various magazines for list of exhibitions. One of these such magazines is Art & Antiques.
Whatever your motives for collecting may be, you can be assured that you stand to gain a vast amount of knowledge and add beauty to your life and surroundings.
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