As vice president and director of American and
European painting and prints for Boston-based auction house Skinner
Inc. and an appraiser on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, Colleene Fesko looks
at 10,000 paintings a year. In her career, she has come across
incredible deals, ridiculous overvaluations, and everything in between.
Fesko has five recommendations for people who want to put their money
where their art is:
Brush up on the subject. Don’t just
buy what you love – educate yourself first. “People in New England are
lucky, because we have such wonderful museums and galleries and
auctions and schools.” Take advantage of those, Fesko says.
Get to know the artist next door.
Regional markets are doing well right now, she says. The Cape Ann
School, for example is a community of artists in Gloucester and
Rockport; some of its members have seen their work increase in value
from $500 to $5,000 in the early 1990s to $15,000 to $25,000 today.
Seek out diamonds in the rough – and on paper.
Look for work by any artist “studying with the finest teachers and who
hasn’t hit yet,” she suggests. Drawings, watercolors, and fine-art
prints tend to be undervalued, so you might just get a real deal on one
of those.
Beware of bargains. You should “buy the best of
what you can afford,” Fesko advises. That means look for the highest
quality in the medium that interests you, and also pay special
attention to wear and tear. “If something is in bad condition, it’s not
a bargain.”
Embrace changes of art. Collections should be
fluid over time. That heart-stopping landscape you bought when you were
25 won’t necessarily speak to you when you’re 50. When your tastes
change, so should your collection. This advice applies no matter what
your budget.
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.
