Fine Art Auctions 101

Broadly speaking, fine art is a term used to describe the creation and studying of visual arts. This art form is basically practiced to appreciate art in its true form and to understand its beauty and to study “art for art’s sake”. Its main branches spread out to painting, drawing, sculpting, architecture and music etc, but in modern times, film, photography and printmaking are also considered a part of fine arts.

There are hundreds of universities and institutes around the world that offer fine arts as a separate course for students to study, including one of the best Universities in the world, Oxford. Some of the earliest academies include Academy of the Art of Design in Florence (Accademia dell’Arte del Disegno) and Fine Art Academy of Rome (Accademia di San Luca).

The courses these institutes offer train the students to be and think like an artist and apply those practices in real life. Some courses even teach the students to develop a solid understanding and a superior grasp over the subject to deal with the critical debates that surround the contemporary art. Many of the students who take up the course aim to become professional artists and pursue it as a profession. These are the artists whose works come up for sale at fine art auctions.

Fine arts are a lucrative business for many artists since there are many collectors around the world who dish out huge sums of money for certain types of artwork. The sale of their creations is usually done through a fine art auction where an auction catalog is available for the art lovers to browse for their favorite artwork.

Tips for Selling Art through Fine Art Auctions

Fine art can be sold to art galleries, art museums and even online. However, selling through fine art auctions can get you the best prices for your art pieces. Considering the hard work and time it takes to make the perfect piece of art, isn’t that what every artist wants? So, if you want to sell your masterpieces at the highest dollar, there are a number of things you need to keep in mind. Therefore, go through these handy tips as they will provide you a brief insight on how you can sell your art at art auctions:

Read and Examine the Terms & Conditions before Signing
You will obviously discuss the auction house’s fees apart from the estimated value of the art you are auctioning. However, there are other terms included which are in small print. Ensure that you thoroughly scrutinize the terms and conditions before signing the legal agreement. Consulting with your lawyer can be helpful as they will give you recommendations according to your best interests.

Negotiate the Auction House Fee
The auction house, undoubtedly, plays a valuable role in selling your art, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t valuable to them. Keep that in mind while negotiating a fair deal before you sign any agreements.

Avoid Getting Too High or Too Low Estimates
You can intimidate potential buyers by valuating your art too high. Similarly, if the base price is too low, you may end up selling it cheap. Therefore, consider specific market conditions and the characteristics of your work to determine whether you should set a high estimate or just stay on the conservative side.

Sell at the Right Time
To sell your art at the best price possible through fine art auctions, you need to know as much as you can about the art market generally, as well as the highs and lows of the current art market. By doing so, you can determine whether or not your art will sell successfully or even sell at all, depending on the forces of demand and supply.

So, by following these helpful tips, you will be able to sell art through fine art auctions as effectively as possible.

Innovative Ideas To Increase Your Art Sales

One of the most difficult challenges an artist faces is making a living. While long-term gallery representation is a way to achieve financial independence, many artists do not have the resources for it. However, artists have effectively come up with other innovative methods to bulk up art sales. So, read on to learn more:

Increase Name Recognition
One of the easiest ways to perk up your fine art sale is by increasing your name recognition. The best-known artists are able to sell a lot of art because it is accessible and visible to collectors. So, you have to look at your art as a form of advertising as well. Display it in places that are frequently visited by people who appreciate art. Good possibilities are hotels, coffee shops, boutiques, waiting rooms, interior decorating businesses and so on.

Advertise & Sell Art Online
Don’t be surprised if you find out that some artists make money by advertising and selling their art online. Yes, the internet is one of the most effective ways to reach a wide audience. Advertise on trade websites or make your presence known on the ever-growing world of social media. You can even create your website and place pictures of your valuable pieces that are on sale.

Hold a Studio Sale
If you have excess art, why not have a studio sale? Invite everyone you can and cut down prices by half. However, keep your best pieces aside, but at the same time showcase a good selection. This is a good way to build up your market, but it’s advised to use this as a one-time opportunity only.

Auction Your Art
Selling your art in art auctions is always a good way to fetch a high price on your best pieces. However, since you are new, you might have to sell it for less than half its price but it would be totally worth the recognition and customers you will gain in return.

So, by following these ideas, you just might be able to boost your art sales.

4 Simple Tips on How to Sell Your Art at Auctions

Fine art is perhaps one of the most popular means of beautifying homes, and many pieces of art can be purchased from art galleries or art museums, and perhaps even online. However, the most prestigious of works of art are sold in art auctions to the highest bidders.

So, if you are an artist who wants to earn top dollar for your masterpieces, there are certain things you should know about how the business of art works. Therefore, take a moment and go through these handy tips on how to sell your art at auctions.

Impressive Résumé
Most auctioneers usually accept works by artists with a good resume and an established track record. They are in the business to make money, just like everyone else, and they want to be as sure as possible that every piece of art they sell will at least net a good profit. The fewer qualifications you have the fewer chances there are of your work being accepted by auctioneers.

Unique Art
The most important factor, however, is the art itself. If you produce unique and beautiful pieces of art, then there isn’t any reason why bidders would not buy your work.

Association with the Local Arts Community
Most cities have an art council that executes events and manages art activities. These bodies often look for artists to take on community projects. Association with the arts community will increase your recognition, and you may also get funding for your work.

Team Up with a Charity
Being recognized is another important factor for the sales of your art. The best way you can do so is by giving back to your community. You can volunteer to teach art to children, or team up with a charity organization for various events. Since most charities have a relationship with the media, helping them can earn you valuable publicity.

These are some simple tips you can follow to sell your work at art auctions.

How to Select Works in an Art Auction

Selecting artwork in an auction is not easy. Usually, art lovers purchase artwork from various galleries, but you can also get stunning and impressive ones can only be found in art auctions. So, here are some steps that can help you in selecting a beautiful piece in art auctions.

Find an Attractive Piece of Art
Firstly it is important that you find a piece of art that attracts you. You can opt for searching online through various art pieces that are going to be displayed during the upcoming auction, or navigate through various art pieces directly at the event.

Verify if the Art Piece you like is Real
After choosing the art piece you like, it is important that you know whether it is real or not. Communicate with the art seller and gain knowledge about the art piece to determine if it’s real. Ask about the history of art and which artist created it.

Place the bid
After assuring that the art piece is real, the next step is to place your bid. Do make sure that you do not exceed the amount you are willing to pay. If you can’t attend the auction, you can even place an absentee bid, in which you can obtain a catalogue online or through fax. You can also opt for telephone bidding with a representative on the other side making the bid on your behalf.
So by following these steps you can best ensure that the art piece you choose suits your style and also determine whether the art piece is real or not.

What to Expect at a Fine Art Auction

Every artist dreams of having his/ her work auctioned at a fine art auction as this would mean ample exposure and more sales than they ever expected. If you are an artist, this must have been on your agenda as well. However, before stepping into this world, the following lines are a must read.

Steps in Fine Art Auction
The first step in a fine art auction is the acquisition of the art work which is to be auctioned. Professional auctioneers often have a private collection which is presented in the art auction. The auctioning team will determine the authenticity of the art work which is being auctioned. After all, their reputation will be on the line.

The next process is of cataloguing the collections. Catalogues feature photographs of the pieces being auctioned. These catalogues are then sent to interested buyers and avid collectors of arts. In lieu of certain artwork, the obtaining of a certificate which confirms their authenticity is mandatory. The determination of a base price is also necessary, which in turn depends on the current market trend. Moreover, the auction needs to be advertised to attract many potential buyers.

Live Art Auction
If the fine art auction is a live one, all the buyers participating in the art auction will need to be registered and allotted numbers. The buyer displays their interest in the auctioned items by raising this number. Many auction houses are known to ask their prospective buyers to provide them proof of their payment ability. The highest bidder is then awarded the art work after the receipt of the final payment, which is then shipped to them.

You may want to attend an auction to get the hang of things first though. So schedule a visit right away.

3 Types of Art Auctions You Can Choose From

Buying and selling art can be an amazingly lucrative business as well as an enjoyable pastime as long as you know how to carry out the entire process effectively. If you have been to an art auction, then you know that it can be a great place to meet new people. However, because there are different types of auctions, it is important that you decide which one you’d rather opt for.

Here is an explanation of the three main types of auctions you should visit.

Estate Auctions
If an auction or art sale is being held in a residence, it will be called an estate auction. Such auctions can be held at your own personal residence or a place of business. The goal of these fine art auctions is to sell as many of the remaining art pieces as possible.

Consignment Auctions
Another type of auction that you buy your art pieces from are consignment auctions. These are mostly held in storage warehouses or other such places. The items at these fine art auctions are often paid in lieu of unpaid rent, so you can find interesting pieces at these locations.

Mixed Auctions
As the name implies, mixed auctions are those which have smaller estate pieces as well as those that belong to consignment auctions. The best thing about this particular type of auction is that even though the price is low, the art valuations will be high.

So, find out which of these will be held in your area soon and head there.

Visit Menzies Fine Art Brands & Learn Why They Are The Leading Art Service In Australia

Menzies Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers are Australia’s leading fine art auctioneers.  As such, they are a valuable resource for purchasing and selling fine art. Their website contains a wealth of information about fine art auctions. There you will find links explaining how to purchase quality works of art, or how to sell your art. You will discover that Menzies Art Brands is an excellent starting place for your journey into the world of fine art sales.

Menzies Art Brands are always accepting entries of high quality artworks for their art auctions. If you desire to sell your art, Menzies can provide a free initial estimate of its auction value. Menzies Art Brands offers a prompt and wide range of specialist valuation services to private collectors, corporations, government organizations, executors and financial advisers. Menzies’ valuation services are confidential, and come with photographic records for verification. Their website provides detailed information explaining the process of getting your art appraised and on the auction block

Also available on the website is a peek into the business of fine art sales.  Here you can download and view catalogs of previous and future auctions.  The quality of these catalogs is a testament to the excellent services provided by this team of professionals.

Menzies Art Brands specializes in Fine Art Auctions, Art Appraisals, Art Valuations, and How to Sell Your Art. You can visit them online and get the information and help you need to sell your art. Visit them at www.menziesartbrands.com

Transacting online Fine Art Auctions

For most art lovers, the subject around selling their treasured items in a fine art auction presents an uphill task given the intricate process it takes an item from appraising to sealing a sale on a given art sale. When pondering over how to sell your art through an online platform, you need to factor in a number of internet sensitive issues if you wish to succeed in virtual fine art auctions.

If you make a decision to make money from online art auctions, you are required to provide clear-cut details and listings of items. Since you will be transacting over the internet, consider having details that will not end up confusing potential clients. Mixing up your colour themes and graphics might end up puzzling potential buyers. It is advisable to package info about your artworks in a simple format.

An online venture, which specializes in art auction deals, should consider providing a factual report on the status of a given object set to trade in public sale exhibitions. If you are giving customer, wrong information about the state of your lots they are likely to find out you duped them. This way, your items or company might create a bad impression, which could push potential customer away from buying again from your items.

When selling art on a virtual platform, keep your price above the last offer. If you are selling under the last possible price, you will be cutting down on your chances of expanding. If you are not well established, do not sell before you get reliable art appraisals. Like any other business, selling art for profit should be the main objective of your online art for sale business.

Remember to include superior client response from expert art valuations given that you are transacting art sale deals without t physical interactions. Clients who get proper and timely response from online art sales, fine art dealers and auctioneers are likely to do a repeat purchase or create loyalty to your online auction site.

Getting the best out of an fine art auction

The fine art auction industry commands a huge following from individual who have a taste for antique and treasured artworks. When you decide to purchase from a given fine art auction, there are several decisions you need to make especially where sensitive items are going up for bidders to buy. If you are looking for the best deals in an art auction, you need to prepare ahead so that you do not get caught making rushed decision in the last minute. Here are some ways to help to you get the best out of an art sale exhibition.

Apply for the Auction Catalog

When an auction sets up a given lot for sale through auctions, they will have a catalogue for the specific sale. You need to acquire the catalogue prior to the sale so as to get a better picture of what to expect especially where art valuations and condition of a given item is concerned. If you are buying, you are able to get estimates rather than going blindly into a bidding exercise. Catalogues are a buyer’s best option since they will help you get art appraisals on items without stretching your budget.

Preview items

If you want to have specific items going up for sale in art for sale exhibition, consider viewing the lots in person. Most art auctions will arrange to have bidders go through a screening process before the actual sale. Having a pre sale experience with a given piece you intend to buy will help you make a crucial decision when the real bidding comes up. Most fine art auctions will offer you expert advice during such previews thus giving you the chance to get the best out of a sale.

Set a Limit and Stick to It

 When you are looking for the best answers on How to Sell Your Art, you may consider drawing up a solid plan that will enhance your success in art auctions, art sales, fine estimates and final hammer prices. Even though the item might look appealing, do not overstretch your budget.