Artful Living

At this point, we’re all comfortable buying clothing, books, music, and even appliances online, but many people are still intimidated when it comes to purchasing original artwork. It can be difficult to figure out what’s important and what’s not, so to simplify the process we’ve put together some tips for buying art online.

1) Buy something you love. A piece that speaks to you and that you’ll never tire of looking at is a sound investment. If you buy a piece of art just because it matches your new sofa, you’ll be left with art you don’t think about or even notice over time. On the other hand, if you feel moved by a piece and it speaks to your soul or intellect, buy it. That’s a piece of work you want to hold on to for decades to come.

2) Know what you’re buying. If an art site says “we’ve collaborated with the artist to create fine art, limited edition prints,” know that you are buying a really fancy reproduction printed on an inkjet printer. A limited-edition lithograph is considered an original, like this beautiful abstract piece by Janet Yagoda Shagam, but an inkjet printout of a painting is just an inkjet printout at the end of the day.

3) Make sure it’s authentic. Be sure to get a certificate of authenticity, which states that the work is original and includes the artist’s signature, the materials used and the year it was made. Hold on to this document and any other paperwork related to your purchase, as they will greatly help in determining the value of your piece years down the road.

4) Ask questions. Never be afraid to ask for more information about an artist or a piece of art. At OAC Gallery, we are happy to provide more background information on a particular artist or send additional photos of any piece of art we carry. And if you like an artist’s work but don’t see the perfect piece, give us a call and we’ll send you additional work that’s specific to your taste.

5) Know the return policy. At OAC Gallery, we offer a full refund within 10 days and we never charge a restocking fee. Be sure to keep the original packaging the art was shipped in, just in case you do need to return it. It makes things a lot easier.

6) Use professional shipping. Before you finalize a purchase, make sure they use a reliable and reputable shipper and they insure all items.  An insured delivery via FedEx or UPS is a much better bet than “our driver, Bob will deliver it to you in his truck, and he pinky-promises to refund your money if it’s damaged in transit.”

7) Don’t be afraid to commission art. If there’s a piece you absolutely love that is the wrong size, don’t hesitate to ask if the artist can create something similar in the size and style you need. This is something OAC Gallery happily offers, and most artists are usually pleased to oblige. Besides, commissioning art will make you feel special, like it’s a one-of-a-kind piece made just for you, and it is!

Now that you know what to look for in the online art world, it’s just a matter of finding the piece that speaks to you. Happy hunting!