Is Purchasing Art Reproductions Worth The Investment?

Is Purchasing Art Reproductions Worth The Investment?

In case you are not aware, the fine art market has seen a steady increase. It seems like almost every day, there is another auction record that is being set for an artist’s work being sold to the highest bidder. So, what does this uptick in bidding mean for the new painting that you purchased to match your living room decor? It could actually increase in worth, or it may only be as much as your child’s latest noodle craft project.

What is the best way to know if your artwork is worth anything? As with any type of investment you make, it is important that you do your due diligence when researching. This also means that you may have to go out of your comfort zone.

Keep in mind that the fine art market is extremely fickle and unpredictable so there is no guarantee you will make a profit on your investment. However, with some forethought, planning and some legwork, you will be able to fill your home and office with pieces of art that can prove to be valuable assets later on.

With that being said, consider implementing some of the following tips when selecting fine pieces of artwork and understand the difference between a macaroni masterpiece and Michelangelo.

Giclees And Paintings – Original Ideas

You decide to walk into an art gallery and you instantly fall in love with a painting that costs $3000. However, the price is out of reach for you. As you turn to walk out, the owner shows you another collection of art by the same artist, but the average price for these pieces is only $300.

The gallery owner explains the lower price is because the pieces are giclees. Giclees are prints that are created by machines. They are reproduced on canvas or fine paper with clarity and color that can easily rival the original print. However, the piece is only a reproduction, not the original.

Art obtains its value depending on its rarity, and this means that an original piece will always be valued higher than a reproduction piece of art.

There is no denying that giclees will always place fine art well within reach of many art enthusiasts. Even though a certificate does not offer much value to a reproduced piece of art, an original artist signature can significantly increase value.

Auctions For Cruise Art

Cruise art auctions are exactly what they sound like. It is a cruise that sells and displays fine art. Name brand prints, paintings and drawings that accompany certificates of authenticity seem like the perfect venue for new art investors. The artwork on these cruises changes daily as pieces are sold off, and many have written appraisals that are a tenth of their value. It is easy to see as though you have stumbled into an investment paradise on the sea.

These auctions are genuine, however, this does not necessarily mean they are good investments. Cruise auctions work on one simple principle. Buyers have the belief that by simply being authentic, the artwork has a high value. Sadly, being authentic does not guarantee that the piece of art is rare. The critical guideline for these pieces of art is that art that has value is art that is rare.

Once again, you will need to do your research prior to purchasing any art from a cruise auction. Take the time to do some online searching about the artist, the piece of artwork. You should also check art websites in order to get an idea of pricing.

Posters And Prints

In the middle part of the 19th century, art was brought into American homes by Currier and Ives. These prints were mass-produced. During the 1950s, 25% of the households in the country owned prints that were created by Maxfield Parrish. These are the images that were the predecessors of the artwork that is currently seen in museums and malls.

Some people are able to distinguish an artist’s print on a poster with their naked eye. Although in some instances, you may need to use a magnifying glass.

Art gallery owners will tell investors that purchasing artwork is usually an emotional choice. However, it is important to not do that if you want to see a return on your investment. Visit museums, galleries to learn more about local artists and to also find quality art.

Music Mixing in a Professional Way

Probably, one of the main concerns of other people who are into music mixing is to know how to make their mix sound more professional. Well, there are no short answers to this, yet you may always start with the basic rules.

When it comes to music mixing, there are several golden rules you should follow. When followed properly, such instructions will improve your sound significantly. Some of the tips you can follow include:

Do Your Bus Routing

Divide your arrangement into sections and make a bus for every section. It makes mixing much easier and will help you keep everything under control.

Do Gain Staging

Always consider leaving enough headroom when recording and never max out the channels whenever you are mixing.

Compress in the Stages

Oftentimes, compressors never like to work very hard, unless you’re aiming for a compressed sound, you must always compress in the stages. For instance, rather than compressing track heavily with a compressor, you can have a compressor on the channel, on a group bus, and one in mix bus. It’s probably the most crucial rule if you like to make the mix sound more professional.

Use Plugins and Gear to Give Character

There are numerous software and hardware plugins available and they must be used not only to correct the sounds but to give character also to your mix. It is this character that would make your mixes more unique.

Filter Out Any Unwanted Frequencies

More often than not, there are frequencies in the mix that you cannot hear, yet still, occupy lots of headroom. For instance, you do not require low end on tambourine, so EQ out all unnecessary low frequencies. It would keep all low-end noise as well as rumble from polluting the track and will leave more space for low-end instrument tracks.

Sort Out Low End

Decide which instruments must dominate frequency spectrum’s low end. If required, you may use EQ and side chain compression to ensure any low-end sounds aren’t fighting for the same space.

Never Produce Messy Arrangement in the First Place

Consider planning in advance and never use more channels when needed. It helps keep mixing the sessions productive and focused and keeps the arrangements under control.

Use Delays and Reverbs for Space

Delays and reverbs can be used for adding a sense of depth to the sound when used wisely, yet be subtle. If you can hear the reverbs, you’re using them properly.

Do Spatializing and Panning

Each sound must have its own space, so consider keeping important tracks in the center and pan all some tracks out of the way through different amounts.

Do Parallel Compression

For essential tracks, create a copy of channel and compress it. Then, you can blend the compressed version with the original channel, which brings more focus to the track without reducing its dynamic range very much.

Using the best tools or equipment can also make a difference. Yet, it doesn’t mean that you should spend on expensive mixing equipment.

Work!

Why do the work yourself? Let the Sales Representative do the property search for you. Buyers do not normally pay the commission payment. This is paid by the Seller through his Brokerage. When Sellers sell and close their property deal, a portion of the sale price goes to pay the commission. This commission payment pays the Listing Broker and the Buying/Selling Broker. It is shared through a Co-operation agreement. The respective Brokerages then pay their Sales Representatives.

Some Buyers think that they have to pay the commission, so they avoid signing a Buyer Representation Agreement, thinking that it will “force them to pay because they have hired a Brokerage”. The only time a Buyer would have to pay their Brokerage a commission is:

  • If they want to buy a property, in which the Seller refuses to pay a selling commission. This can happen on an unlisted property.
  • If they want to buy a property, that the Seller and/or listing Broker pay a co-operating commission that is less than the normal market rates. An example could be 1%, or a low flat fee.

In either case a Buyer’s Brokerage has to ad