Michael Corbin is a writer and avid art collector.


THE ART COLLECTING BUG

I have a disease. It's not really a physical or mental ailment. I call it, "The Collecting Bug." More specifically, "THE ART COLLECTING BUG."

I think it's the same sickness that collectors of comic books or snowglobes or antique cars have, but only a different strain. I think that I may know how and where I got it, but I don't know how to get rid of it.

Did I catch it as a schoolkid when I attended class field trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York? That was many (and I stress many) years ago. I didn't feel sick back then and surely the disease went into remission over the years.



"Coral Roses" by Robin Street-Morris, ebay seller streetmorrisart

Hmm. I think it may have come back when I lived and worked in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia is loaded with flea markets and shops that sell old paintings that have lost their way to greatness. I remember buying a couple of those, which I still have. Did the disease hit then?

Maybe. I think I really got, "THE ART COLLECTING BUG" when I accidentally logged onto an art website. I couldn't believe it! Art that I could actually afford? You gotta be kidding me!

Yup. There it was. Clear as day. My first real painting by a real artist. Not one of those, "Velvet Elvis" creations. (Although Velvet Elvis has his place as well. Just not in my home). As I recall, it was a blue, red and yellow abstract piece. 16" by 20". Looking at it now, I don't know what the heck I was thinking. I think that I was in love with the price more than the actual painting. Anyway, that MUST BE when I truly caught the bug.

Funny, because looking at the painting now, I almost get sick all over again. Fortunately, my taste has improved. I guess I'm holding onto the painting on the chance that the artist will make it big one day. I doubt that will happen, but if I get rid of the painting and the artist becomes famous, guess what?

I'll really be sick.

 

HOW I BECAME AN ART COLLECTOR

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in an art gallery?

I don't anymore, because I do!

My home is now a "living art gallery." It's filled with paintings by living, working artists from all over the world. Great artists whose work I feel quite honored to have in my possession. I own about 90 paintings, most of which I've acquired directly from artists online. I have two paintings from eMOMA's own Michael Bailey. His work is visionary.

Isn't the Internet great? More on how I got the paintings in a moment, but first I want to tell you a bit about the road I took toward becoming an "art collector."

I grew up in New York City. I attended public schools. For as far back as I can remember, my classes would often go on field trips. Field trips in New York City are heaven for a kid. The city is literally your oyster! Anyway, we would often visit museums. The Museum of Modern Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, to name a couple. I loved looking at all of the masterpieces. Very inspirational. I suppose I fell in love with art in the second grade. As I got older, I somehow lost touch with the power art can have in one's life. I took a couple of art history classes in college and even sat on the board of directors of an art group when I lived in Virginia. Still, I never thought that I could become a collector. That's until I learned a new "four-letter" word.

EBAY!

EBAY is great. It's like a world marketplace on your computer. Log onto EBAY, click on "art" and you'll get hooked in more ways than one!



"Every Day Specials" by Anne Buffum, ebay seller lucidita

There are so many talented artists out there who are struggling. They paint or sculpt or take photographs because they feel it's what they were born to do. Many of them aren't represented by galleries and all they want to do is make a decent living by selling what they create. Many of them create beautiful, expressive work that is worthy of being displayed in some of the finest galleries. For a variety of reasons, they sell their work on EBAY. It's really a win-win situation for both the artist and the buyer.

In most cases, the art is quite affordable. The most that I've paid for a painting is $265. The artist gets to sell his or her art quickly without the interference of galleries. Galleries often charge artists commissions of 50-60% on paintings sold. Who wants to pay that? It's unreal. With EBAY and with online artist websites in general, artists get more of that money and the buyer gets an affordable, original work of art. Clearly, I'm not a wealthy collector, but whenever I buy a painting from an artist online, I really feel that I'm really supporting them.

What could be better than that?

 

TIPS FOR COLLECTING ART ONLINE

One of the best gifts that anyone could buy is an original work of art from a living artist. It enriches your life in ways you never expect.

My paintings are like old friends. They're always there. They're beautiful, they're expressive, they nourish me and they challenge me.

Whenever I visit someone's home, the first thing I notice is whether or not they have original artwork displayed. Sadly, in most cases, they do not. It's a shame. One artist once told me that people are more than willing to spend a couple of hundred bucks on an IPOD or TIVO, but they won't spend that amount on an original painting!

There are so many artists out there who are struggling for their art. We need to support them. Yet, let's face it, many of us get intimidated when it comes to art. How do you put a price on a painting anyway? Can you negotiate a price if you're dealing with an artist directly? How can you even ask without insulting the artist or making yourself look like an idiot?

Well, wonder no more. Now, I'm no expert, but I have been buying art online long enough to pass on a few tips. Here we go!

1. BUY ONLY WHAT YOU LOVE. Would you buy a television or sofa or coat that you didn't like? So, duh! Don't buy a painting that you don't like! Of course, you might be thinking that the artist whose work you're buying may one day become famous like Picasso. If so, great! But the truth is, even the most knowledgeable museum curators and art gallery owners don't know who'll become famous. No one has a crystal ball. Besides, famous doesn't mean good. Buy what you love and even if the artist doesn't become famous, you STILL own something you love! Happiness is a good investment. (See tip 5)

2. SUPPORT LIVING ARTISTS. I think that it's best to buy works online from artists who are alive and working. There are so many of them! Thousands and thousands worldwide. They deserve to make a good living creating their art. It's what they were born to do. I have forged online relationships with artists. The relationships with the artists are just as great as owning the artwork. Trust me on this one!

3. PURCHASE ART THROUGH ESTABLISHED, TRUSTWORTHY WEBSITES. Look for the "gold lock symbol" at the bottom on the right-hand side of your computer screen when purchasing or "HTTPS" in the address line of the website when buying. That lets you know it's secure. Also, I LOVE PayPal. PayPal is the intermediary payment service that keeps everyone on both sides of the transaction honest and efficient. I rarely buy art online without using PayPal. Everyone should have a PayPal account.



"Night Owl. Navel Gazer" by Kim Richardson, ebay seller (keek)

4. DON'T BE AFRAID TO NEGOTIATE. This is a tricky one, but here's the deal. We negotiate for so many things in this world. Why not artwork? Artists live in the real world like the rest of us. They WANT to sell their work. But, keep in mind that they work hard like the rest of us. They're not going to give their work away. Nor should they! All they can do is say no! If so, respect that and move on. There are plenty of fish in the sea! I think the best approach is to just send the artist an email saying that you love his/her work and ask if they sell anything in the $100 range, for example. Some artists even let you PAY IN INSTALLMENTS. Try it! I've done this. I have yet to be disappointed. However, keep in mind that we're talking about artists who represent themselves. Gallery-represented artists are a whole other ball of wax. We don't want to go there!

5. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. A painting isn't good just because it's posted on some website. Anyway, what's good art to you may be bad art to someone else and vice-versa.

6. DON'T JUST BUY PRETTY PICTURES. Who doesn't love beautiful art? Still-lifes, landscapes, portraits of attractive people are all nice, but art is about more than just, "pretty pictures." BE BOLD! CONQUER DOUBT! Buy art that challenges and stretches you. Buy art that makes you think. I have some paintings that aren't traditionally beautiful, but I was moved to buy them. I believe I'm a better collector for having done that.

7. READ AND RESEARCH. Read art magazines, visit museums and galleries. This will help you determine what you like and don't like. It'll refine your eye. I still have a long way to go, but I find that this helps.

8. TALK TO ARTISTS. I always like to ask artists what inspires them to create. Knowing what inspires an artist and relating to that inspiration can often help you when it comes to purchasing a piece online.

9. DON'T SPEND MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD. I cannot stress this enough. If buying artwork means that you're neglecting that badly needed brake job on your car, I certainly hope that you'll put off buying that painting and get your brakes fixed!

10. THERE IS ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE. If you miss out on a painting for whatever reason, just remind yourself, there is enough for everyone. If you fell in love with one painting and someone else got it, you'll fall in love with another painting and maybe you'll get that one!

Again, I'm still learning myself, but I hope some of this helps. Good Luck!

Michael Corbin is a writer and avid art collector. He loves visiting galleries and museums in addition to viewing art online and talking with artists.