“She’s A Collector” Series Part 3: Interview with “Artinista”, Juanita Hardy

March 22, 2012 Posted by Chief Artinista

Artinista: Juanita Hardy, Co-Founder of the Millennium Arts Salon, Small Business Owner, Silver Spring, Maryland

AAA: How long have you been collecting?

Juanita: Since 1985.

AAA: What was the first fine art piece that you purchased?

Juanita: A Romare Bearden lithograph from his Odyssey Series.

AAA: How did you become interested in collecting fine art?

Juanita: A small piece I purchased from a street vendor in 1985. It [depicted] an African woman with a basket on her head, colored with paint and butterfly wings in hues of yellow. I had it beautifully framed in a gold frame and it felt good to hang it on my wall. The spirit of the piece warmed my heart and space. Then I decided to that I wanted to collect more art- have it around me, nurturing me.

AAA: What is the best thing you like about collecting art?

Juanita: The joy of hanging the work on my walls and experincing that feeling described in my answer to question #3. Talking/exchanging with the artists. Encouraging artists to continue painting by being a patron. Another joy is collecting/preserving history, which is what many of the artists, especially those who have made their transition, represent.

AAA: What is your advice to women who are interested in starting a fine art collection?

Juanita: Do some research – go to galleries, read books, catalogs, talk to others that are collecting. Develop a plan, [identify] artists whose work you want to purchase and what the price range may be. Then implement – purchase what you like.

Interested in starting a fine art collection and not sure how to start? We can help! Contact us today to schedule a consultation or for more information!

“She’s A Collector” Series Part 2: Interview with “Artinista”, Maureen E. Doallas

March 17, 2012 Posted by Chief Artinista | 0 Comments

Welcome to our second interview of the “She’s A Collector” blog series, in recognition of Women’s History Month and as a count down to our upcoming panel presentation “The Art of Collecting: From A Woman’s Perspective” that is scheduled for Sunday, March 25, 2012 at Morton Fine Art in Washington, DC (now SOLD OUT).

The purpose of this series is to profile women who collect original art and share their perspectives of their interest and passion for fine art. As this series will demonstrate, anyone who has the interest, discretionary income and a passion can start collecting at anytime!

We asked each of our “Artinistas” in this series 5 questions about their experiences collecting art. Each of the ladies we interviewed are at various stages of developing a collection. We hope you will find some inspiration to start your own collection as a result of hearing from these passionate collectors!

Artinista: Maureen E. Doallas, Writer/Editor, Poet and Small Business Owner, Arlington, Virginia

AAA: How long have you been collecting?

Maureen: I began cultivating an interest in creating an art collection while in college in the early 1970s. I first began collecting graphics, because of their affordability. I have some paintings and sculpture. I also have a number of artists’ and fine press books, which are a special interest of mine.

AAA: What was the first fine art piece that you purchased?

Maureen: The first purchase I made was a work on paper by the marvelous surrealist artist Leonor Fini.

AAA: How did you become interested in collecting fine art?

Maureen: In the early 1980s, I was introduced to a local gallery owner who published four works on paper annually; the artists were primarily European, and the editions were limited to 100. I became one of the 100 lucky members of the gallery’s print club and over a period of years was able, for relatively little expense, able to acquire some wonderful graphics. I also used to spend a weekend afternoon in the gallery just “talking shop” with the owner, who also was a passionate collectors and the U.S. representative of some significant artists. His deep art interests and knowledge fueled my own.

AAA: What is the best thing you like about collecting art?

Maureen: The best thing about collecting is getting to live with the pieces of art I love.

AAA: What is your advice to women who are interested in starting a fine art collection?

Maureen: My advice to anyone interested in starting a fine art collection is, look at as much art as possible, and in all media. The more you look, the more you train the eye to see and differentiate good from better to best. Figure out what you like and concentrate on that.

Don’t buy any piece of art because someone tells you it’s a good investment. Collect because the artwork moves or inspires you, makes you laugh, makes you think, or simply fills you with joy whenever you look at it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about an artist, how a piece was made, who else has owned it, and deal only with reputable galleries, which will never pressure you to buy and will take time to learn about you and your interests.

Do some research on the artist or gallery you’re interested in and then visit whenever opportunities arise. Attend openings and artist talks (there are many excellent lectures in the D.C. area at museums and galleries) to cultivate what appeals to you. And if you really love a piece but could not afford it except by making small payments towards it every month, don’t be afraid to say so; you may find the artist or representative willing to make arrangements that will work for everyone involved.

Interested in starting a fine art collection and not sure how to start? We can help! Contact us today to schedule a consultation or for more information!

ArtTip #2: Payment Plans

Art prices can be scary.  Because of this, Amy and I are sometimes asked about discounting artworks.  A little known fact is that galleries often have very little wiggle room to discount, as it is important to maintain an artist’s current market value as well as protect the collector’s investment.

But, in an effort to make art more approachable as well as help with potential sticker shock, we offer our collectors the flexibility of acquiring art through payment plans. In breaking payments into monthly installments, it is often easier to acquire that “one-amazing-piece-that-you-can’t-live-without-but-is-a- little-over-your-monthly-budget-at-the-moment”.  Moral of the story: don’t be afraid to ask!

ArtTIP.

Take the time. Take the time to invest in custom frames and matting, as each piece has its own needs based on medium and environment.  For works on paper, make sure mats are made up of acid-free material and the glass is conservation quality to prevent damaging your artwork.

To establish whether or not matting is acid free, check the inner angle of the exposed part of the artwork’s mat- if a yellow or rust colored discoloration is present, than the mat is more than likely acidic and should be replaced.