A Unique ProposalA Unique Proposal

As an art collector, finding a particular work that really speaks to you is exciting. If you want to build more of your collection using this piece as a base, you have many choices about how to approach it. Here are three easy and successful strategies to harness what moves you and design a great collection. 

1. Focus on the Style

When they love an artwork, many owners then look for other pieces by the same artist. This is a good way to start, but don't limit yourself too much. If it was the artist's style that drew you in, look for elements of this style in other people's work. The trick is, of course, identifying the specific things that define the stylistic aspects you found appealing.

You might need to learn about subtler distinctions, such as between post-Impressionism and Fauvism. This may require a little research, but that will only add to your collecting skills.

2. Look for Themes

If you look for a particular theme or emotion in the piece, you can use this to expand your collection into new territories. With this strategy, rather than becoming too focused on the media, technique, or materials, you consider how it makes you feel or what it's trying to convey.

This thematic approach means you can then add artwork in different media or using different expressions to follow these themes. You could marry portraiture with landscape scenes with metal art, all due to their messaging rather than their appearance.  

3. Consider the Media

Sometimes, the medium used is key to bringing a work to life. Artists throughout history have had a wide variety of choices about materials, and you can build a vast collection just highlighting these media uses. How you choose to do that highlighting gives you a great deal of freedom within your own artistic collecting work.  

You could, for instance, trace the history of a medium—such as wood or textiles—throughout the ages. Or look at how different regions use the same options. You might even look for related materials, such as expanding a collection of sewing-based art to include fashion art as well.

Which area of the art process—style, theme, or media—would you like to use as inspiration? No matter what you choose, you're sure to have more success and enjoyment when you have a goal in collecting. If you want to learn more about choosing and portraying art collection pieces, start by consulting with an art gallery or art dealer like Hyphy Art today.