Ask A Gallerist: How can I make my art more valuable?

How can I make my art more valuable?

An artist offering their work for sale or for exhibit should always present the work in quality framing. Find a good framer who provides quality work for a reasonable price. Framers in malls are paying high overhead. Seek out a skilled local independent framer who has been in business a long time. The framer will have many samples of framing called sticks or moulding and may have a substantial inventory. Choosing from the inventory may cut costs considerable. An experienced framer can look at a piece of work and almost know how it should look and will often have the right framing materials

on hand. If a piece is purchased unframed, the above also applies.

At purchase time request all available information about the artist. A reputable gallery owner will have plenty of information about the people they represent. The resume should include, place of birth, education, awards exhibits. Artist who have been around a long time usually have a prepared resume. And now much can be found on line. The gallery should provide a receipt and letter including the letterhead and state the artist, title of painting, size, medium, sale price and insurance value. Have at least two copies of resume and point of sale. Keep one in a folder or now scanned copy in computer and have a pocket in back of painting where a second copy is stored. If the work is older or the artists is deceased, include all provenance information. By all means, if the artist is still living, make sure the painting is signed. There will be unsigned pieces of work where signature is not possible. Try to know to whom the work is attributed.