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The art of collecting can start small
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Ever find a gigantic reproduction of Monet’s "Water Lilies" on the clearance rack, only to drop $250 or more framing it to match your decor?
Kelly Troester, head of the print department at Christie’s New York, said that money could get you started as a fine art collector instead, making what’s hanging on your walls different from the mass-produced images most people buy.
"For a little more than what you spend on framing a poster, you could buy a limited-edition original," said Troester, who will lecture on beginning art collecting Thursday in Scottsdale.
Handmade original prints — identifiable by a pencil signature, a number indicating edition size and the artist’s involvement in the print-making process — are far more likely to appreciate in value than posters, and they’re readily available at art auctions, galleries and print shops throughout the East Valley. At shops such as Gilbert’s A Change of Art, Troester said, up-and-coming artists trying to make a name for themselves often let original works go for as little as $500.
"Pick an artist whose work is selling well in galleries and shops, or who has exhibit openings in museums," she said. "But pick something you love first and foremost. That way, it’s still money well spent whether the artist ever makes it big or not."
Artists’ sale histories are available from auction houses, publishers, galleries and print shops, and you can monitor trends on the Internet. Gordon’s Print Price Annual is a resource in most public library reference sections.
Learn more
What: Kelly Troester, head of the print department at Christie’s New York, shows how to start collecting handmade original prints
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art’s Stage 2 Theatre, 7374 E. Second St.
Cost: $5 to $7
Information: (480) 994-2787
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