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What to look for when buying art on eBay
Before buying or placing a bid on a piece of art on
eBay, make sure you know
all you can about the item.
1.) Make sure you read the item description carefully. Many sellers include
a lot of information about the artwork, others include less. Make sure you read
everything.
2.) Make sure you note the size of the painting. Check
whether the dimensions
are noted in inches or centimetres. It is probably a good idea to measure the dimensions
out on a wall or make a template with some spare paper or newspaper, to make
sure you are not disappointed. People often over estimated the size of paintings
when purchasing online.
3.) Is the painting framed or ready to hang? If the painting is on
canvas,
does the canvas have smooth painted sides (know as a gallery wrapped canvas)
which can be hung without a frame or does it have staples showing on the sides.
Some artists paint the sides of canvas black and others paint it to match the
colours in the painting or paint the sides as a continuation of the painting.
Make sure you know what the sides look like on your chosen painting. If the
painting is textured, are the sides textured too?
4.) When purchasing direct from the artist you will almost
definitely be
purchasing a brand new artwork. If purchasing from other sellers the painting
will probably be being resold so make sure you note any information about the
age and any imperfections, repairs, restorations.
5.) Will the art last? Materials used - will the
painting/print last? Many
artists will note in their auctions the quality of the materials used. If you are
purchasing direct from the artist you have the opportunity to directly ask them
about their materials sues in the creation of the artwork. You want to make sure
artist quality paint has been used otherwise colours may fade and change over
time. (always remember not to hang artwork in direct sunlight). If you are
purchasing a print make sure the print has been created on acid free
paper/canvas and lightfast inks have been used.
6.) Take a close look at pictures many artists will include several photos of
the artwork taken from different angles. Make sure you look carefully at these
photos and examine every detail. If you are unsure you can ask the artist/seller
if it is possible for them to email you more photos. Most artists selling their
work are very helpful - make sure you give them enough time to respond before
the end of the auction.
7.) Colour matching - was the photo taken in daylight?
Different screens and software can slightly alter the colour and tone of pictures so you should always expect a
slight difference between the picture shown and the actual artwork. Most artists
will make sure that the colour representation is accurate but it is advisable
to make sure the artist has photographed the painting in daylight but out of
direct sunlight. Photographs taken with a flash directed at the painting or
taken in artificial light will probably not give good colour representation.
8.) Postage and Packing - make sure you check the delivery price, many
artists offer a selection of delivery options and you can choose depending
upon the speed of delivery you want. Always make sure adequate insurance is
included, even for small purchases, to protect both yourself and the seller.
9.) Check if the artist will send as soon as payment arrives or do they post
all purchases on the same day each week. If in doubt ask. If you are going away
many artists will be happy to hold your purchase for you and send to arrive on
your return. Try not to be too impatient for your art to arrive, some artists
try and post the painting the day after payment others prefer to wrap all on one
day - remember an artist is a one person operation, they handle all aspects of
their business. If your painting takes a couple of days to arrive don't take it
out on the artist and remember that parcels often get delayed during transit for
no apparent reason.
10.) Returns? Are returns accepted and if so what is the time scale? Always
make sure you check the listing. Many artists will be happy to help if the
painting gets damaged or goes missing in the post. Some artists accept returns
if the item is not as described. Many will not accept returns if you decide the
painting is not quite what you want or does not go with you settee/furniture/decor,
if the artist does accept returns if you decide that you do not want the
painting you will probably have to pay all postage costs associated with the
return and probably only receive a refund of the bid price. If you think you may
return a painting make sure you know all these details before you bid.
11.) Ask questions. You want to feel secure and happy with your purchase, so
if after reading the auction description, you still have questions, just ask.
you will find the link for this at the top right hand side of every listing
and some artists make a link inn their auction description or include a contact
email address.
12.) Local collect? If you live near the artist you may be able to collect
the painting in person, this may save on delivery charges, particularly if it is a
particularly large or heavy painting. Be aware that a large painting will still need
protecting in your car on the way home so the artist may charge for this
packing, if they don't you may wish to offer to pay for this extra service. Make
sure you check the item description, many people, for all sorts of reasons,
state that they do not provide local pickups and to be asked can be a bit
awkward/delay despatch of your purchase by a day while the seller replies.
13.) Buying direct from the artist means you have the chance to ask them about
their inspiration, materials and history. You can also ask if they have a
website, take commissions and if they have a newsletter that you can join
14.) Enjoy it. EBay is supposed to be fun. All artists paint because they
enjoy it, many sell their work to allow them to paint more. They want to enjoy
the transaction and know that you will get enjoyment out of the painting. If
something goes wrong always keep an open mind - no artist wants their work to be
the cause of a problem and most will do everything they can to sort our a
problem.
(c) WheretobuyArt.co.uk 2006. You can use this article free
of charge on the condition that you acknowledge www.wheretobuyart.co.uk and link back to this
site www.wheretobyart.co.uk
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