I have been sitting the gallery today, alone, although the foot-trafic has been steady. I gave one woman advice on buying art and so I will pass this last half hour of work writing down the same advice for you.
Rules To Buy Art From A Gallery
1. Don’t Be Intimidated.
A few galleries will imply that you are not worthy of an artwork, not ready for it or that they are saving this artwork for someone else. Don’t give them the chance to steer you to lesser artists or artworks – art is like love – hold out for the one you love or until something better comes along.
2. Haggle
Guess why prices are so high in an art gallery? Because nearly everyone asks for a discount. You should ask for one too.
3. Hold Out for Quality and Irreplacability
Prints are cheaper than paintings because ther are plenty more of them – crappy materials fall apart, sometimes quickly. If the artwork looks nice but junky (in a junk way, not a cool masterfully-junk-like-rendering-way) make sure you are on to something. Archivability is a beeyotch and Giclees are garbage.
4. Make a Payment Plan
If you can do it for the goddamn furniture, the gallery sure as better let you do it for the artwork that will make that sofa look ten times nicer.
5. Ask to Meet the Artist
This will show you the reputability of the gallery – it is the art world equivalent of Habeas Corpus – if the gallery can produce the body, then this is the gallery to work with – if not there is a player out there selling the same artist’s work for cheaper and with acces to the better artworks.