Buying art online can be a daunting task. What if the piece I buy doesn’t match my space? Will it look good in my home? With these questions weighing on your mind, it’s important to do some research before you purchase anything! This blog post will answer five questions that will help you decidehow to buy art online.
Five questions to ask before buying art online:
1. How long has the artist been selling their work?
Many artists make a name for themselves in art school but stick with it enough to keep going after graduation. Make sure you’re buying from an up-and-coming young dealer who is still passionate about their craft. This will assure you that your purchase isn’t just another dollar sign on their end but more of a long-term investment in their career.
2. Where is the artist located?
This may sound like a simple question, but your answer could tell you how much work has been sold from that gallery. If they’re based in New York and have only had one or two sales so far this year, it’s probably not going to be as easy for them to ship their artwork compared to an artist who sells their work through a gallery in Nebraska, where they’ve had 20 sales already.
3. Can I speak to the artist directly?
While this doesn’t always apply, you’d be surprised how many galleries and dealers will let you talk to the artists themselves. While they’re not there for a long conversation about international politics or what’s going on in their lives outside of selling pieces online, speaking with them can offer some great insight into the personality of their work. You can also get a better idea of whether or not you have similar tastes and what kind of art speaks to your soul!
4. What is the return policy?
Speaking with dealers, make sure you inquire about their refund policies if anything goes wrong in your transaction. Some galleries will only give a full refund on pieces that arrive damaged and may not be able to help out if it’s after some time has passed since the purchase.
5. What do other people think of this gallery?
Make sure you’re not the first person to buy from them! Please spend some time searching online for reviews and testimonials about their work. You can use sites like Yelp or Facebook to see if anyone’s left comments about their experiences with a dealer in question. While there might be nothing negative at all, it’s always a good idea to see if there are any areas of improvement on their end.
Art buying online can be scary, but you’ll feel more confident about your purchase with these questions in mind!