Do you remember long ago when you had to stand up in grade school in front of strangers and perform? Or better yet, still in school and throwing a party? Yep that is similar to what an art opening is like. The nervousness and anticipation. The gallery owner asks him/herself questions like: Will anybody come? If they do come will they buy anything? Did I advertise enough? Did I forget someone?

The artist(s) asks all those questions plus: Did I take to long talking to that person? Am I missing an opportunity by not talking to that person? Who is that person? Have I already talked to them? Am I sounding like a recording of myself – just push the “play” button and the elevator pitch comes out? Why did I not just become an office worker with a steady income, lots of free time, company benefits, paid vacation, and always an abundance of work to do – like my parents encouraged me to?

Now both the gallery owner and the artist(s) have all that in common, in addition they have to smile and act like it does not matter. Think of the Dial commercial – “Never let them see you sweat” is very appropriate. What a recipe for being or having some kind of psychological “ism” wrong with you.

What to do?

As an appreciative and supportive person of the artist (presumably you would not be there if you were not), be nice and gracious to the artist and the gallery owner. Even if you know the artist, come up and introduce yourself casually along with your date. Believe me the artist will be somewhat relieved. You have just taken off some of the pressure of a social encounter.

Talk with the artist for a minute or two or maybe a little longer if you have a question. Then mingle with the crowd. There are probably a lot of other people that want to talk to the artist that evening, but are too bashful to cut in. This is a selling event for the artist and gallery owner. Their job is to get people interested in buying art tonight and in the days ahead. Not just talk politics.

If you are interested in getting a custom artwork from the artist – make an appointment to see them a day or two after the show. An appointment after the show is a kindness. Just write your name and phone on a business card and possible times that would work for you. It allows time for the client (you) and the artist to discuss custom work in a less pressurized environment. Better art results from this.

If another question occurs to you that you would like to ask the artist – go ahead. That is what they are there for. Just remember that the artist may have forgotten that he(she) talked to you. You are not forgettable at all. Just reintroduce yourself and ask your question. Opening receptions are hard work for artists. A lot of them do not get out much – their solitary work environment gets in the way. For a lot of artists it is rather like a reception line that you shake hands at. The politician shakes your hand and moves you to the next person. You are important; there are just a lot of important people to see. Politicians also have an advantage – they have a political minder who reminds them of all the people’s names wanting to shake hands. Most artists do not have that advantage.

Enjoy the opening reception. Have some wine. Talk to the artist and also the gallery owner. The gallery owner does get lonely. Ask questions. If possible – buy some art. Have the artist personalize the art for you with an inscription. Above all have fun. It is a great night for a show and to meet people. You just might meet someone interesting or better yet find a ravishing piece of art that you just have to have now.

The Indian art market is divided into two segments – Modern and Contemporary. Modern segment comprises of masters like M F Husain, S H Raza, F N Souza, VS Gaitonde, Amrita Sher Gill and more. Contemporary segment is comparatively young, around last 30 years. Alternately, Painters who were born after 1930.

1. Do your own research.

One of the first things to do before buying art is to empower yourself by reading up on art, visiting local art galleries, meeting artists/ collectors and other people who are actively involved in this field. Talk to artists, consultants and curators to get insights about the functioning of the art market and to also network with like-minded people intending to buy art also known as “Collectors”.

There are international auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s which focus on Indian art. Also there are domestic auction houses like Pundoles, Asta guru and Saffron Art. You can contact dealers and galleries. You can also approach an art advisor. You can end up paying a consultant 2-5% fee for expensive works. The service for smaller works may cost 5-15% of the value of the artwork. Fees also depends upon rarity of art work.

Ensure that the dealers and galleries sell genuine/ authentic works. Art market is full with fake artworks, so make sure you do proper research before buying the art. Check few important documents while purchasing art like authenticity guarantee, a provenance certificate, that is the previous owners of the artwork, condition report, publications (if any). Nowadays, many auction houses like Saffronart do not provide authenticity certificate. While buying from the auction houses make sure you understand buyer’s premium and the total cost incurred by (delivery charge, taxes, etc). Usually when you are buying through a dealer, only the seller has to give commission to the dealer and not the buyer. This can also be happen when you buy from a gallery. Again this depends on dealer, gallery and artwork involved.

2. Quality, not quantity.

Invest in fewer pieces that are higher quality. Not all pieces done by a renowned artist are masterpieces. You must take help from experts to recognise a masterpiece. For instance, an oil on canvas is perhaps the most expensive form of painting. Then is an acrylic on canvas, followed by an acrylic on paper. Then would follow watercolor on paper and charcoal on paper.

3. Buy art that you like and understand. Allocate a budget.

Buy art that you like. It is something you may keep for a lifetime, as you don’t know whether you will be able to sell it or not. Unlike other forms of investment such as stocks, it is worth remembering that art has an aesthetic quality that can, and some say should, be appreciated outside of its monetary value. Art is a long term investment. Also, prices of a renowned artist’s works do not necessarily shoot up when he dies. Art should not form more than 5% of your total investments.

4. Maintaining the artwork

Once you buy the art, you also need to incur the maintenance cost like insurance, storage cost. Also you need to take care of the artwork, like art should be stored in an environment that does not get direct sunlight.

5. Investing in emerging artists

Experts say you can look at investing in emerging artists whose works are available from Rs 1 lakh onwards. Though they may be a good option, it is difficult to predict who will make it big in the future. For this, you need to take advice from experts in the field.

6. Prints, limited editions

If you have limited budget, you can also invest in limited edition prints like serigraphy, lithography.

7. Evaluating an artwork.

In west countries, art has a much bigger market. These countries have institutes that value art. In India, we do not have certified institutes that value art. But the artwork can be valued by auction houses and galleries. Of late, even insurance companies are vaulting artworks.

People are generally too busy these days to do even routine tasks and just want to rush back home after work to relax. One has to be an art enthusiast to spare time to visit an exhibition. Moreover, if there are two or more exhibitions at the same time, you will rarely be able to attend both, no matter how much you wish you could. Obviously, you would have to give one exhibition a miss and find solace in the joys of the other.

Thankfully, purchasing methods for art have evolved over the centuries. Today, cyberspace is the most popular and the latest platform for art browsing, auctioning, selling, and of course buying. For the modern art buyer, it is very exciting to move around online art galleries.

Art lovers have the opportunity to see many more pieces and to appreciate them at their own leisure rather than visiting a traditional gallery. There is also the advantage of discretion on an auction and sale websites as it is much easier to make a bid and to buy an item. Generally, the rules for selling and purchasing remain the same, but the purchaser should be internet-savvy to understand the system properly. Every online gallery provides useful tips for buying and selling, even if you are new to the process.

A large number of quality artworks is received by the galleries from across the world. Superb works from renowned artists that will increase the range of your collection are easily obtainable. The purchase would take place directly between the buyer and the seller, but galleries also provide assistance to obtain artwork directly from the artists. Their website links and email addresses are noted under their respective works.

Get yourself listed with the gallery so that they can send you updated emails of future events. Previews of an artist’s work can also be forwarded through email so you can have a look at some pieces at your leisure. A full record of earlier exhibitions and paintings is also maintained for your reference. In the event of exhibitions being held simultaneously, you can go online to find out where and how you can attend these exhibitions in person. These online websites allow you to surf at your convenience and, after all, an online art gallery does not have a closing time.

The possibility of dealing with fake art pieces is less likely because you are dealing with artists directly and many of these artists have their own websites where they exhibit their work. Because of the advantages posed by the Internet, auction houses have their online galleries with artworks of renowned artists. Throughout the world, a large number of people visit these galleries every day, giving artists more exposure and making it possible for artists to be contacted by prospective buyers on an international level. Online galleries are also optimized so that search engines can locate the artists and exhibits without difficulty.

When a deal is finalized, artworks are usually delivered directly to buyers through different forms of delivery services. Due to the reputability of selected art websites, art lovers deal with them regularly. As a safety measure, proof that it is the artist’s original work is also provided on completion of sale.

India is a glorious land of art and culture, and this Asian country has always been associated with amazing art objects, from the cave paintings of Maharashtra to the sculptures of Khajuraho to the magnificent murals in temples of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other places, mosques and palaces of royalties in different states and so on. It is natural that online art galleries in India enjoy a wide patronage from art enthusiasts and buyers. As an art lover interested in buying from online Indian art galleries, you must follow these tips.

Comb through the gallery with care

Many galleries are big enough in size, and you can find plenty of art objects on display. It is a good idea to go through the catalog in as much detail as possible. It is not a good idea to buy from the first set of paintings that you can find. Invest some more time, explore a little more and check the gallery items as much as you are able to. You may find a better painting on display, and go for it.

Compare the prices

It is essential to have a fair about the pricing of art objects, such as paintings, when you are considering buying any of them from one of the online art galleries in India. Check whether total cost, including the shipping expenses, can be afforded from your end. A little price comparison across different stores can go a long way in finding out more affordable sources online.

Check whether there is a sound return policy

Make sure that the online art gallery you are purchasing from has a proper return policy. There should be some type of satisfaction guarantee or return policy. Keep in mind that you will be buying the art without personally seeing it, and some type of guarantee has to be there. In case you find the art object defective or unsuitable for you in some other way, a return policy will allow you to get it shipped back. Make sure that the artwork comes with shipping insurance; otherwise you will be the one to pay for any damages occurred while shipping.

Check the authenticity

Make sure that the painting you are buying is an authentic piece of art. The one that you buy should come with a certificate of authenticity which serves as a guarantee for the purchase of an original object. You should also check the comments and feedback in the product page to ensure you are going for an authentic piece of art.

Register with the gallery

When you like what a gallery has on offer, get listed with it in order to get emails containing information about upcoming events. You can get previews of the work of different artists through email updates and take a look at them when you are relaxing. For reference purposes, you can also get a complete record of previous paintings and exhibitions mailed to you. You can surf these during leisure hours. Keep in mind that online galleries are open 24/7.

Art galleries are venues to showcase the works of art of each participating artist. Collections in art galleries are rapidly changing and there is a rapid turnover with the items being sold in the Art galleries as people rush around to buy what has been featured in the last several weeks. Special exhibits are often done and it may include an individual artist or several artists or art guilds to be involved. These individual artists work with their most priced masterpiece in the exhibit.

Paintings, sculptures and even photography can be held on exhibit. In this way, art galleries promote the appreciation of the arts. Emerging artists benefit much from the advent of art galleries. They have that zeal and enthusiasm that is strongly needed to add a little spice on their painting careers. A platform is usually provided to hive much emphasis for the items. Art galleries allow the collection of a commission on the sales done for the art gallery items. In some cases, when going out an art exhibit there is an admission fee being collected. Artists sometimes pay exhibit fees to allow each and every single artist who is interested in joining with the exhibit.

Visual art is the usual work being exhibited in art galleries. Paintings are the most featured form of visual art which are being placed in an exhibit. Other galleries feature a wide array of art forms. Sculpture and photography can also be included for an exhibit. Certain types of art galleries do have this sort of specialization in order to accommodate a certain type of art work with much attention and order. For this reason the photo galleries and sculpture gardens exist in order to provide art enthusiasts for photography and sculpture can have a fulfilling time spent in the art gallery because of the wide array of exhibits to check out and appreciate. There has been a lot of art galleries existing in the world and these art galleries has been a seat for knowledge and exploration of artistic and creative prowess.

The captivating beauty of nature from all around the world has been the general highlight for art galleries. Every single day, a lot of artists produce and create an entirely unique masterpiece with their own personal touch and creativity and all of these artworks are being placed on art galleries for the public to view or to give the public the chance to purchase any art form that they find suitable for them.

As mentioned earlier, art galleries have various purposes to serve why they held such art exhibit. Art galleries aim to promote the art enthusiasts to appreciate a mounted platform by a particular artist. The galleries have gained much popularity because of the growth in awareness that art such as painting, sculptor and alike can calm this jittery world we live in. When you try to check the internet, you will see that the demand for art and artists are getting stronger. In this regard, online galleries are available to help out those art enthusiasts to enjoy their most loved form of art right in the comforts of their own homes.

Many people may wish to visit Art Galleries, but there is a belief that, it is for the wealthy people. A place which is exclusive and not open to them. Imagine doing a task or activity repeatedly again and again without payment; people visit your gallery and none purchase anything? That is what dealers of art do, to them it is passion. Here are surprising reasons to consider planning a visit to a gallery nearest to you.

View the best current art freely

Before an art is approved to be in a particular gallery, it has passed all the processes to determine its worth and quality. They only feature the best pieces in any gallery. Visiting the art shop you will have a free admission to view the best techniques in any field.

Experience famous art

In the art shops, you will probably meet the artists behind the arts. It is the perfect place to meet up upcoming artist before they become famous. It is always a pleasant experience to know a feedback you offered made tremendous changes. Pride yourself with the experience of making arts grow to become famous. In Hawaii, there are great galleries from various artists, make it a habit to visit there.

Offers meditation experience

In galleries, you have a chance to clear your minds and forget about the situation of life. It will be best if you visit there with an expert in the art field, it is not mandatory so do not worry if you have none. It is a place full of peace for there is no noise, the arts are an education that ranges from life to scholarly. It a chance of knowing ways of handling challenges in life, get new inspirations and above all, have peace of mind.

Get some sense of creativity

The arts are a great way of inspirations, by visiting the galleries there is a chance your creativity energy will be boosted and will start to develop. By interacting with various artists, you will be amazed how much you feel like starting your art shop. It might take some time but let it grow by being a regular visitor

Encourage developing talent

You might be wondering how, but encouragement is in many ways. Yes, there is no payment or purchases that happen, but an artist is always happy when there are people who enjoy viewing their works. It will be great if an artist receives many individuals who have different opinions. The criticism makes them grow.

Art knowledge and skills

It is not only in museums or classes that art is learned, but you can also get as much education in art galleries. Any art dealer knows that being personable is a trait that the best gallery should have. Do not be discouraged by fear, just walk in any known place of art expecting to learn the best.

It is fun

Imagine a place like Oahu, Waikiki, and Honolulu; they sound funny, right? Enjoy the fun by going to those locations where the art is well acknowledged. Pride yourself in discovering the various skills in different places of the world, for they have both ancient and modern. In the galleries, you get a chance to learn about the history of a particular country, culture, people and their development stages.

When we think of an art gallery, we generally form an image of empty hallways filled with dim light and paintings on the walls. Well, to a certain extent, you may be right, but not in all cases. They can be defined as a single or cluster of rooms that serve the purpose to showcase the work of various artists in many different forms such as paintings, drawings, sculptures, photos or any other form of art. An art gallery can be a place where people share a common interest to promote and appreciate art of aspiring or established artists. Painting is the most common type of art displayed at these places.

Aspiring artists can use art galleries as a platform for them to gain recognition and appreciation for their work. These galleries also encourage aspiring artist to be confident and enthusiastic about displaying their art pieces. Many art enthusiasts visit these places to admire and purchase the work of various artists and this can provide motivation to artists. Examining of art work is most beneficial to young debutant artists as they can get feedback as to how to improve their work and see people’s reaction towards their artworks. If the art piece is good, it would gain recognition amongst the community and even the world. Some artists even visit galleries to acquire new ideas for their projects and people who wish to be one can visit these galleries to learn about the different techniques used by artists, get ideas and inspiration. These galleries also hold art fairs for artists to showcase their skills.

Art galleries can either be exclusive or open to the public. Exclusive galleries only admit people who have been invited to the showcase or people who meet the preset requirements. These galleries can have purposes such as showcasing and selling the works of either an individual or a group of artist. It is at such galleries that budding artists can gain recognition as more professionals would be there who understand art. Art galleries that are open to the public can have many advantages as well. Since the audience to such galleries is usually more, the artist’s work can gain more exposure to the public thus gaining recognition for the artist. An entry fee applies to such galleries sometimes for them to operate.

Nowadays some artists post their work on the internet on online art galleries that allow for easy viewing for anybody across the world. This also exposes the art work to a greater audience thus gaining recognition for the artist. Artists are able to sell their work piece from the comfort of their homes and so are the audiences able to view it without having to step out or traveling to another country.

Art galleries, be it online, public or exclusive, are very important in helping an artist gain the recognition that he deserves. They can even benefit the audience as they can study the different forms of art and a specific artist’s work style.