Here is my art collecting resource list for the fall art season!
 
BOOKS:

The Art of  Buying Art: 
How to Evaluate and Buy Art Like a Professional Collector
by Alan Bamberger
                        
Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton
"An indelible portrait of a peculiar society." - Vogue
                         
An Object of Beauty: A Novel by Steve Martin
 
FILM:     “HERB & DOROTHY” - (A wonderful documentary about Art Collectors Herbert Vogel,
a postal worker and his wife Dorothy Vogel, a librarian) 
 
“HERB & DOROTHY tells the extraordinary story of Herbert Vogel, a postal worker, and Dorothy Vogel, a librarian, who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history with very modest means. They lived off of Dorothy’s salary and used Herb’s to collect art. They only had two requirements when purchasing art: the piece had to be affordable, and it had to be small enough to fit in their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment.
 
Over the decades they collected over 2000 pieces of art, (keeping all of it in their tiny apartment) and became patrons of artists including Sol LeWitt, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Richard Tuttle, Chuck Close …and Lawrence Weiner.”
 
The L.A. Art Show – Presented by the Fine Art Dealers Association every January
http://www.laartshow.com/
 
U.S. News & World Report – Art Collecting Articles
http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2008/05/08/art-collecting-is-not-just-for-the-rich
 
American Art Collector Magazine
https://www.americanartcollector.com/
A monthly art magazine specially written for collectors, galleries and painters of traditional fine art.

Art Talk by Edward Goldman on KCRW – Newsletter & Podcast
Also provides classes in collecting contemporary art – visit artist studios
http://www.kcrw.com

John Moran Auctioneers in Altadena – www.johnmoran.com

The Norton Simon Museum and The Norton Simon Website
Excellent information about the collection and full provenance listings of collected works.
http://nortonsimon.org/
 
AskArt.com has information about 52,000 artists
www.AskArt.com       

© 2018  The daughter of artists, Art Rep and Curator Margaret Danielak is the author of the highly rated handbook for fine artists:
​A Gallery without Walls: Selling Art in Alternative Venues (ArtNetwork Press).
Her website is www.danielakfineart.com. 
​

​
Have you purchased so much artwork over the years that your walls are full?  Are you interested in acquiring new artwork, but do not want to part with the pieces in your collection? One solution is to rotate your art to correspond with the changing seasons, and learn how to take care of and store pieces not currently on display.  ​             
 
As the daughter of artists with a pre-existing, and ever increasing art collection, my husband and I long ago ran out of wall space.  We wondered what to do with each new piece we acquired.  Then it occurred to us that we could enjoy our artwork more by storing some pieces, and then rotating in new work every three months.

Now, in the summer we hang paintings of lovely farms, koi-filled ponds and rushing rivers in our dining and living rooms.    

​In the fall we un-wrap and display acrylics featuring golden aspens, and then change the tablecloth and other accents around the house to fall colors.  We clean, wrap and store the “summer themed” paintings until the next year.  Each season we create a fresh look simply because we take some pieces out and introduce previously stored and new artwork. As an added benefit, by rotating our collection, we are able to dust each piece and then check the wall to see if natural or artificial light has caused the wall to discolor. 
 
     Below are a few tips to help you take care of your artwork as you rotate your collection:

• Too much light can destroy your art.  Investigate conservation framing (or reframing) utilizing UV glass and rag mats for light sensitive pieces, like watercolors. Ask your framer about new products and techniques he/she can use to protect the pieces in your collection.   Remember - protect your investment!
  
  
• Sometimes people will spray glass covered art directly and then dust it like a table. This practice should be avoided as the fluid may seep into the cracks and cause damage to the mat and possibly, the art.  Rather, use a micro fiber dust cloth to dust around the glass and the frame. 

 

• When displaying an art piece, keep in mind how heavy it is. Consider using weight-rated wall mount picture hangers (hooks) as they tend to minimize wall damage. Weight-rated hangers are found both online and in most hardware stores. If you are displaying sculpture, make sure the table or podium is sturdy enough for the piece. Consult with the artist about how to keep the work in place in the event of an earthquake or other accidental occurrence.
  
  
• Consider acquiring an adjustable art rack to store your framed pieces when they are not on display. This type of rack has slots wherein you may “file” your smaller sized pieces.  Remember that for framed pieces, the corners will be most vulnerable to damage.  Before storing, wrap each piece in clear, clean plastic, and then put corners of extra bubble wrap or padded paper on each corner. 

 

• If you do not own an art rack, or you own large pieces that won’t fit into the rack, wrap each piece as described above and store in a cool, dry closet or room being sure to position the piece in hanging (display) orientation.  For additional protection, “file” the piece in your closet using a sturdy cardboard art box.  Another option is to wrap the piece in padded paper, like the kind currently used by furniture movers.  Padded paper is easy to use and especially effective in protecting glassed pieces.  

By rotating your art with the changing seasons, you will be able to care for and appreciate more of your collection over the course of the year. Most importantly, you might find space for that next, new exciting art acquisition.
         
 Image above is The Red Echo by Robert G. Stevens
 http://www.danielakfineart.com

Note: This article was originally published in The San Marino Tribune.  Copyright is with the author.