Art Investments

Introduction to Investing in Contemporary Art in the Philippines: Getting to Know Art

Assuming you read Part 1, you’ve now done some soul-searching and head-scratching to determine your likes, dislikes, and pet peeves. You’ve crunched the numbers and determined a specific amount for how much you’re willing to spend on your art investment. You know you should go to credible, reputable art institutions and art events to find the artwork of your dreams or at least one that piques your interest enough for you to salivate and snap it up with the assurance that you are purchasing an authentic work and dealing with legitimate art dealers, not scheming scammers and art forgers. What else can you do as an art investor to up your game and sharpen your street smarts? Here are some more art-investing pearls of wisdom for you.

1) Get to know the various mediums and materials used for artworks.

You don’t have to be a studio artist to understand these fine arts facts. Here’s a crash course in the fundamentals of fine arts. Visual artists work in a variety of mediums. Drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, sculpture, installation art, video art, digital arts, and photography are all available. Drawings are typically created on specialized paper with pencils, charcoal, pastels, or pen and ink. Watercolor on paper, oil painting on canvas, and water-based acrylic on canvas or paper are all options for painting. Paintings and drawings can be either representational or abstract. Representational means that the figure appears to be true to life or that the forms are still easily identifiable. This means that the human figure, animal, fauna, or building is visible and easily identified. The subject of abstract art is geometric shapes, forms, and color.

The term “mixed media” refers to art that incorporates multiple mediums and materials into a single work. Collages are works of art that combine pieces of photographs or paper that are either plain or printed on the surface of the art work. These photographs or scraps of paper are typically glued to the surface of the work, which could be a drawing, print, or painting. An assemblage is a three-dimensional piece of art that incorporates objects.

Printmaking refers to the practice of making artwork using printing processes and techniques. Printmaking is a subset of book printing. Rubber-cut print and woodblock print are the most fundamental. A design is carved on a piece of wood or rubber. On this carved surface, ink is applied evenly. Ink is pressed onto paper on this surface. The design on the carved wood or rubber surface is thus transferred to the paper. Other types of prints, such as etching, collagraph, and aquatint, are more complex and technical, requiring more chemicals. Serigraphy, also known as silk screen printing, was originally used for t-shirt printing but is now also used for printmaking.

Sculptures are three-dimensional works of art that are either carved or cast. Marble was the material of choice for Italian Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo and Bernini. Bronze, brass, terracotta, and wood were also popular sculpting materials. There are many new materials and metals available today, including stainless steel, aluminum, cement, resin, textiles, fibers, plastic, rubber, and fiberglass.

Installations are three-dimensional works of art that make use of space. They are usually a collection of sculptural pieces or objects spread out or scattered in a specific space. The location can be either indoors in a gallery or outdoors. They can be hung, suspended, or simply placed on the floor. No art fair is complete these days unless it includes an installation as a centerpiece or a major attraction.

Video art is a new medium that combines filmmaking processes with fine arts sensibilities. Video art is more concept-driven, with numerous visual images, and is typically a short film that is looped during the presentation on a small or large screen. Video art is now commonly featured in art fairs and biennales. Computer-generated images are used in digital art. The camera is used to create photographs in photography. Nowadays, cameras can be used in a variety of ways. A photographer can choose between using a digital camera and an analog camera. Although everyone nowadays has a camera on their phone, art photography is a whole different world.

2) Research on the art scene.

It’s not enough to wander into galleries, walk and count your steps while looking at art at a fair, or show up at an auction. You must conduct extensive research. Bring a notebook and take notes at these events. Make a list of the names of artists whose works you admire. Take photographs of the works that interest you. Inquire about the medium of the work, the artist’s style, and the process. Find out the cost of the works that entice you. If the artist is present, strike up a conversation with him or her and ask him or her to explain the work. Inform them that you find their work fascinating or amazing. Be generous with your compliments. Even the most introverted artist will come out of their shell to discuss their work and the concept behind it.

Keep an eye out for the various styles on display. Is it a work of representation? Is it abstract, or not? What is the medium, and what materials are employed? Inquire with gallery owners and art fair attendees about which works and artists are popular or saleable, and why. Take a look at these works. Do this not because you want to get in on the collecting frenzy for these artists, but because you want to learn and broaden your artistic horizons. Hopefully, this information will assist you in making an informed decision about which piece to purchase as an art investment.

3) Get to know the experts in the field and pick their brains.

You’ve been to or are currently attending art exhibits and events held in art galleries, art fairs, or auction houses, right? Do not become so engrossed in the wine that you lose sight of your primary goal, which is to research and collect art. Indeed, studying art has a strong social component. With a glass of wine in one hand and canapes in the other, discover who these art specialists are, such as art critics, art writers, art curators, art professors, artists, top art collectors, and those who invest in art. It would be beneficial to conduct preliminary research on these individuals using Google. Look for photographs. Learn more about them. Get to know and befriend these subject matter experts. Take an interest in their artistic work and respect what they have to say. These experts, seasoned collectors, and astute art investors will be able to provide you with advice and insights on how to start your new art collection.

In addition, browse the catalogs of art galleries and auction houses on their websites. Read up on the subject of contemporary art online, both locally and internationally, to hear from experts, auction house directors, and art collectors about art, artists, and art collecting. There will be a third part to this series of articles. Keep an eye out for the third update.

Written by Cherry Fulgar

For more information, contact Imahica Art at +63 917 894 5646, or email thegallery@imahica.art