If so, how can you spot them?
Want to find the next Georgia O'Keffe, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol or Jackson Pollack?
Think of the money made by their early art collectors. Even early art works by living artists like John Currin, Cindy Sherman and Damien Hirst, all still alive and producing art are enjoying skyrocketing prices for their works.
Regular Joe's really do become wealthy collectors.
A British dentist by the name of Mullish made into 2005'S ArtReview's 100 most powerful people in art this year. Why? Mullish traded his dental services for artwork in the ‘90's and his patients who included Damien Hirst and Tracy Tracey Emin.
The very notion that cutting-edge artists, artists who are worth investing in might be selling on eBay is not far fetched. Ebay is cutting edge and the world's largest marketplace. As such it is a magnet for artistic cutting edge innovators. People who want to get the word out about their new ideas.
Now with plentiful web sites for artists available through online galleries that offer pre-programmed fill-in-the-blanks type sites, such as absolutearts.com (where the author maintains a portfolio also) most working artists have some kind of web presence, at least one through a gallery.
Throughout modern and contemporary art history regular Joes and Janes have made small fortunes by collecting art.
There's the local store owner in the Hamptons who traded with a then unknown artist named Jackson Pollack who wanted to buy food.
How about the postal worker and his wife, a homemaker who frequented the openings and studios of unheard of artists in NYC in the 1950's? The artists were doing art they called Abstract Expressionism and Pop. The paintings were cheap, but affordable for a mere postman. The postman and his wife ended up with one of the most extensive and important collections of Modern Art for that period.
OK, that's NYC and Great Britain. Would a soon to be hot emerging artist be found on the Internet? On eBay?
Probably! Just about every great artist is a great communicator. Contrary to popular myth of the inarticulate artist struggling in a garret, most were and are articulate. Artists want to communicate and their prime mode is visual.
The Internet has become the prime mode for visual communication. It surpasses both TV and film for ability to reach more people, and through a web site, that's communication 24/7.
Ebay is the world's largest marketplace. Without question it is the place to introduce a new product to interested buyers, especially a visual product, such as a painting or print.
So, think about it. If you were an emerging artist with a new twist, would you sell over the Internet? Would you use the web to get the word out? Would you offer small works or prints for sale on eBay? Would you want to reach all those pre-selected (because collectors are searching in your listing category) patrons to your art?
Through the Internet artists have the opportuntity to reach and communicate to people all over the world as no artists before them have! Artists, real artists, are visual communicators.
But, there's a catch for a collector looking to find the next hot artist. There are also artists selling on the Internet and through eBay and auction sites who offer art that may look great above the sofa, but is not going to catapult the collector to fortune and recognition. This can also be said for many, if not most artists who are currently selling in brick and mortar galleries, too. Try to visit all the galleries in just the Chelsea area of NYC in a day (doubt it can be done)-- can all of those artists be the next hot artist? Consider that shows change about once a month and not all shows are solo shows. Whew!
So, how do you spot an up and coming artist? Someone whose works will appreciate, even appreciate greatly over time?
Look at history. What are the common denominators for artists whose works are worth a fortune today?
First and foremost authentic fine art always inspires a new view of the world and even a new understanding about how to see the world. Any artist worth investing in has a new and unique twist on how to see the world. Think of Pissaro, Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, Dali, Warhol, Pollack, etc.
Historically, and this has always been proven at least partially correct, look for someone who's artwork has at least a individual look and even feel. Of course, this means some familiarity with what has come before. There are so many competent artists producing what has come before, and often doing it very well. But, it is derivative, not original -- and therefore not a good investment.
Also, familiarity with what is popular at the local large frame and art gallery, since many artists are copying what seems to be selling in malls, and tent art shows. So, there are many “knock-off” artists that can be easily spotted. Look for an artist who is the next step but not derivative.
There is a huge difference between being influenced by Van Gogh, Picasso or Warhol and being a Van Gogh, Picasso or Warhol wannabe.
If the work of an artist looks as if it really could have been painted by a famous artist, it is derivative. Derivative means decorative but not art worth investment. Ever. If you really want something by your favorite famous artist just to decorate your walls, buy a good quality print of their work. It's not an investment, but generally, neither is a couch or a coffee table.
The more one learns about art history and the contemporary art scene the wiser and investor one will be. It is not necessary to visit NY, London, Miami, the fairs or museums, although nothing beats being up close and personal with great art, still theres a wealth of information to be gained by visiting gallery sites on the Internet. Check out artnet.com for news and leads to gallery sites, for instance.
If an artist seems similar to great artists, yet unique -- different, take a second look! It might well be worth it.
Unfortunately for collectors looking to invest in art for a real profit, artists who cannot get good gallery representation and have very little to contribute to the history and future of art are also easily found on eBay. They have a place on eBay as people are looking for something decorative to plop up over the couch. It's art. It has a place on eBay and even on a website and it serves a need. People are happy to have it. That's a good thing. It's just not an investment or really any kind of inspiration.
Artistic vision usually includes an artistic theory and premise. Again, great artists are communicators and the best communicators really have something they want to say.
The romantic idea of the inarticulate artist painting away in a garret is cute, but not historic in relation to most great artists. Great artists (let's just go with the deceased ones) who wrote about and articulated their premise(s) and ideas for why they worked the way they did include, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Van Gogh, Matisse, O'Keefe, Dali, Warhol, Cole, Rembrandt, Gaugain, Cezanne – well, need I continue?
Again, an artist's unique look is key. Think of major artists throughout the history of art. Each has a unique look to their work. So do secondary artists. Stepping back only a tad in time wonderful artists like Marsden Hartley, Arthur Dove, and Stuart David, all contemporaries, have unique looks and visions – but nowhere equal to that of Picasso who although he also sold out for cash, had a vision – or artistic visions (he changed over time) that towered above the aforementioned artists. Dali was their contemporary too. Look it up.
Trust yourself and your instincts.
Don't be influenced by authorities if it goes against your own gut reaction. Some current artists, gallery owners, curators and critics attended universities where they learned “artspeak”. Artspeak is a way to make it seem as if the Emperor is wearing clothes. If an artist's stated reason for painting the way they do doesn't make sense to you, don't buy it.
However, it is wise to attend art gallery openings, read up on what the authorities on contemporary art are saying and gather all the wisdom and information that those in the know have to offer. There are many good art reference sites on the Internet, including absolutearts.com, artnet.com, the artdaily.com, artnews.info, theartnewspaper.com, etc.
Again, aways trust your gut.
If an artist writes that they are painting their inner reality, or expressing their inner self or some such idea that's all about self expression, pass if you are thinking of buying art as an investment. All great artists painted to convey an idea or convey realities, not just to express themselves. Not one recognized great artist painted just for the sheer joy (or angst) of self expression. People who really just want to express themselves have best friends, loved ones or psychologists who will listen to them. Art therapy is very valid but not as an investment.
Look for a new movement based on artistic theory that draws from the past and creates a new understanding.
New art movements and new ways of showing reality are hallmarks of people who become recognized as great artists. So far, all new art movements stem from movements in the past in some way. They are a next step. A really quick and almost too easy example is how Cubism -- trying to show all sides of a thing stems from Impressionism which was a huge leap forward as artists concentrated on painting the light as it hit, contacted and reflects objects (including people's bodies and faces) rather than concentrating on creating an illusion of the objects. Showing the reality of the light leads to showing the reality of spatial form and that leads to artists trying to show the expression of an object, person or thing encompassing many of modern and contemporary art movements. Look for a next step.
Finally, remember Camille Pissarro.
Pissaro is the father of Impressionism. Even so, he is not the best known of the Impressionists. That recognition would probably fall to Monet or Renoir.
Recently many of Pissarro's works were shown along side Cezanne's in a well attended show at NYC's Museum of Modern Art. I attended that show. Pissaro and Cezanne were contemporaries and friends. Pissaro's ideas influenced Cezanne, who was hands down the better artist.
Yet, Pisarro as the father of Impressionism is also really the father of modern art. Without Pissarro's ideas there might not have been a Cezanne, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso, or even Pollack, Warhol, and many of today's artists. Pissarro influenced other artists and this makes Pissaro's work important and very, very valuable.
Sure, back in the day, had one invested an a good Monet it woud be worth more that a good Pissarro -- except that Pissaro as the founder of the then new ideas of Impressionism was easier to spot.
Today there are many artists who paint in an Impressionistic style. Often, it's called Plein Air, but also artists say they are Impressionists and paint back home in their studios.. Many of them are actually better painters that Pissarro. Still, their works will never be worth anywhere near Pissarro's and the original Impressionists. Today's Impressionists are derivative even if original in image and beautifully painted. The huge and defining difference is that Pissaro was the first. His work and ideas inspired others.
If you can find a contemporary Pisarro, buy his or her art! Or wite to me so I can!
Look for an artist with unique ideas that will inspire others – and if those ideas make sense to you – buy that art!
