Investing in art doesn’t just add to your home décor, it makes you more introspective. If done correctly, it can also drastically increase your net worth. According to recent studies, the price of art has gone up more than 1000per cent in the past four decades. Even so, the primary question that strikes the mind of someone who has never bought art is: is it a safe investment option? The answer is simple: just like any other investment, you need to first educate yourself about the intricacies of the industry and know about the pros and cons of any niche.

So, how to go about it? First, you need to understand that ‘art’ does not just refer to paintings but includes a variety of disciplines such as sculpture, drawings, sequential art and photography. There are many more but when you’re thinking about investing in art, you should:

Study the Artist
It is extremely important to perform detailed research about the artist. Age, education, and previous exhibitions and awards should be known. This can’t be done just by browsing the internet; you will have to actually visit galleries and understand what sells in the contemporary market.

Research the Artwork
The primary question is: how to tell whether a painting is a real or a fake? This isn’t usually a problem if the artist is alive, but if it is a Picasso or a Da Vinci, or any deceased artist, you should obtain a certificate of authenticity from an expert and get it appraised.

Investigate the Dealer
Purchasing art involves a great deal of scrutiny, and the market is such that it is extremely difficult to know the reputation of dealers and brokers. It’s much more feasible to find out a gallery’s reputation.

Where to Buy Art
There are many options. Auctions are exciting, but it is extremely important to stay cautious as you’re not just paying out of passion but also thinking of it as an investment. So, you need to be certain of its value, weigh price and condition, and bid accordingly. Also, you need to know that 10% to 30% can be added to your final bid. Galleries are very different – they provide a relaxed environment in which buyers can take their time to understand, introspect and purchase.

But if you are entirely new and sceptical, perhaps you should start with art fairs as they have more variety at lower prices, and usually prove to be great learning grounds for art.

Reselling
It is extremely important to take good care of your art as it matters greatly while fixing its resale value. Keep it away from a fireplace or damp, humid rooms – these are basic. Also, a timely revaluation will enable you to know its current worth before selling it.

While investing in art, it is most important to understand whether you are buying for passion or investment. That demarcation is paramount and will lead to making the art more profitable.

Akshaypat Singhania
Chairman & Managing Director of JK International and Director of JK Organisation

We have all heard of the fantastic prices some pieces of art fetch at auction especially when created by some famous painter like Monet or Salvador Dali

The style of these two painters are polar opposite, however they have one very important thing in common – they both were the originators of a particular style of art.

Way back in 1860 Claude Monet was one of the first artists to paint in the “Impressionist” style, he was quickly joined by other artists who formed their own society to exhibit their artwork after being rejected by the traditional French salons, who deemed it too controversial to exhibit.

Today “Surrealism” paintings and digital art are extremely popular but did you know it was all started by Salvador Dali back in the 1920’s with some very controversial work that shocked the art world.

Just imagine if you had the good fortune and vision to buy an original painting from those artists. They both developed a new style of art that later went on to inspire other artists and art collectors world wide.

I am sure you would agree that would have been a fabulous investment.

There is an opportunity to do exactly that.

You may or may not have heard of “Prism-Equus” it is a new style of art that has been added to the urban dictionary. This unique way of painting horses was developed by artist Linda Finstad.

The definition of “Prism-Equus” is equine personality depicted in colour. The style and definition along with acknowledgment of her work has made Linda Finstad the founder of a new style of art. A style that is quickly gaining popularity and one which she is teaching to other budding artists.

A quick google images search will reveal exactly what “Prism-Equus” looks like. This style may not appeal to you or fit with your decor. The same was probably said of Pablo Picasso’s work in those early days. However when you have the opportunity to buy original art from the founder of an art movement that has to be an investment worth making. An investment that could make you rich.

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