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Author:
Corinne Cain

Assumption: Art becomes more valuable once an artist dies.

Actuality: Prices escalate only when demand is greater than supply. Prices can increase if there was a shortage of the artist's work prior to his or her death and if the demand continues to be significantly greater than supply. Art News (November 2003) presented an article on the ten most wanted artworks. These would sell individually for more than $5 Million IF the present owners would let me them go. However, as the collectors know they could not acquire a replacement painting/sculpture/drawing, they won't be selling these artworks.

Assumption: An artist's proof is more valuable than a print from the regular edition.

Actuality: Artist's proofs are routinely consistent with the regular edition in appearance and value. On rare occasions, a color trial proof be judged to be more valuable than the regular edition or an artist's proof. this happens when the reigning experts determine the color trial proof represents a more handsome product than the regular edition or artist's proof.

Assumption: It's just a print.

Actuality: Some artist's do or do not choose to paint. Their art "translates" more successfully using an original print medium such as lithography, etching, serigraphy, or woodcuts. Some original prints have sold for more than $100,000 when done by prominent artists. The only time an art professional might utter "It's just a print" is when they are referencing a reproductive print. This is usually a photographic rendition of an existing artwork, in other words, a photomechanical copy.

Why can't you value my art from photographs?

* Liability * As long as I am a professional art appraiser, I am held to a different standard than someone functioning strictly as a dealer. * PLUS I like to be right!!!

Photographs do NOT reveal all condition issues and the public is not trained to properly describe them. How many of you can recognize light staining, mat burning, foxing, etc? These and other condition flaws significantly impact value.

* A reproduction attached to canvas virtually looks the same as an original oil painting in a photograph. Unless I know which museum is currently hosting the actual painting, I cannot be perfectly sure you are showing me a photographically generated reproduction or an actual painting when viewing a photograph. Now there are gicleé prints printed on canvas and enhanced with paint, a hands-on inspection is a must.

About the author:

Corinne Cain is the principal of Corinne Cain, Ltd, a nationally recognized firm affording expert appraisal and consulting services on Fine Art and Native American Art. Her background includes an MFA and MBA from Southern Methodist University. Ms. Cain is also the proprietor of http://Savvycollector.com, a nationally known secondary art market dealer.

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Art... 5 Places to Find Quality Framed Art Work Cheap Everyone wants to have nice looking framed art work on their walls to keep the home from feeling lifeless and cold. The problem is to have a piece of art or a poster framed at the local framing shop could cost you more then the art itself costs, I know. I took 8 pieces of art to my local framer and after selecting all the matting and framing the guy said: "That will be $3500 please" "You've got to be kidding, I only paid $100 for the 8 pieces your framing" I responded. "No sir I'm not kidding, framing is expensive" he replied. Well I picked up my art and left his store, there's no way I could afford that much. On my way home I started to think about how expensive it was to frame these 8 cheap art prints. That's when I decided to look around at what other alternatives I had and came up with my list of 5 places to find good art cheap, here they are: - Consignment Stores: In most cities there is a consignment shop that handles furniture, art work, and household items. These shops can be a great place to find older framed art for your walls at very reasonable prices. - Estate Sales: What can I say other than watch your local newspaper and go to the estate sales. There can be great art to be had at these, after all someone live in the house and they had art work. Also remember to get to the sale early for a number to get in so you can get the good stuff. - Starving Artist Sales: You can find these sales in most cities as well. You will typically hear ads on the TV or Radio for these sales, you know the ones they advertise something like "No Painting over 59 dollars". - Auctions: I love going to auctions and have found some great pieces of art at them. But one word of caution, know what you're biding on and...