Do you want to buy art online? Whether it is the first time or your tenth time, it can be a fear-inducing experience. While there is no 100% guarantee you will buy art you like, there are factors to consider to help you feel more confident about your purchase.
The internet is a place full of scammers and people who want to take your money. Sometimes the trick is to get you to purchase something different than expected. Take the precautions below before handing over your hard-earned money.
Choose a Reputable Site
When your web blocker indicates a site shows red flags, “listen” to those warnings. Never purchase from a site that shows the domain was created recently, has shady links, or with art being sold at prices “too good to be true.”
Art worth it’s value can be pricey, so always check out a new-to-you website with a domain verification checker, such as Norton Safe Web.
Get to Know Your Artist
Before buying art, learn about the artist. Explore their (now verified) website. Follow them on social media. Subscribe to their email newsletter. Artists that share about themselves on social media are an indication that they are sharing themselves and want to create a friendly relationship with you. They want you to know who they are.
If you find yourself on a website for an artist with no other online footprint, take a moment to consider why. There are legit artists without websites, but they are few and far between. It is a challenging and competitive industry. Most artists are aware that social media is to their benefit. Proceed with caution if you see an artist who cannot be found with a general internet search.
Fraudulent Art
This point is closely tied to the two points above, with the focus on how and where the art was created. In this age of the internet, a lot of art is stolen. Scammers pull images off of the internet and sell prints that are not theirs to sell.
Look out for marketplace style sellers who sell art from a variety of artists. Sometimes that art is created from stolen images and the actual artist receives zero recognition or funds from that purchase.
The best way to avoid mistakes when you buy art online is to buy directly from the artist. By doing this, you can expect better customer service, the story behind the art, and avoid being scammed.
Look Closely at the Details
Sometimes avoiding disappointment is as simple as reading carefully. Communication and paying attention to detail will help prevent an experience where you buy art online that is not what you expected.
In many cases, confusion can occur, not because the artist intends to misrepresent something, but because the marketing of the piece confuses the reader.
Is a frame included?
Even if the image of the artwork shows a frame, looks closely at the details to confirm if the sale of the frame is included with your purchase.
In today’s world, artificial intelligence (AI) is sometimes used to help collectors visualize that art in beautiful “real life” spaces. This AI visualization can also include a frame as part of the image. So read the details carefully to confirm if your purchase includes a frame or if that is something you would need to purchase separately on your own.
Are the dimensions listed?
When you buy art online, never make an assumption about the size of the art.
Images can be misleading. While most AI visualization tools, such as ArtPlacer, scale images to give an accurate representation of size, do not assume they all do. In addition, just because an image shows a sofa, you still have no idea what the dimensions are for the “AI sofa,” and sizes can vary widely.
That means going back to the details. Does the description include the measurements, including depth? If a frame is included, are all three measurements for the frame included also?
Once you have the dimensions, pull out your measuring tape and create a visualization. Cut out a piece of cardboard to size and tape it to the wall where you intend to hang the piece. Does that size actually suit the space?
This is a helpful exercise for many types of online purchases, as I have read a countless number of comments on Amazon from people who made purchases from individuals who even admit in their review they saw the dimensions, but “thought it was bigger.” Don’t expect your brain to “imagine” the size accurately. Give this a try and help avoid disappointment and inconvenience for yourself and the artist.
What is the weight?
When it comes to placing art on walls, knowing the weight of the piece is critical. The last thing you want is artwork that rips out of your wall and ends up damaged.
The weight will determine the type of screws or other supports you use to hang your art. Tied to this, knowing the substrate may also impact the tools needed for the job.
Canvas art is also often sold unstretched (without the support bars in the back), which will also mean the weight shown is underweight. You will need to have the painting professionally stretched first and then consider how to hang the piece appropriately.
Are the colors you see on your screen “accurate”?
The answer to this question is no. The colors will never be exactly the same. Your computer monitor is interpreting the colors for the image. Sometimes the colors will be similar and sometimes they will not.
This is the area of buying art online that is the most difficult to navigate. If you can, view the art in person if available locally. If not, since I am assuming you are working with an individual artist, ask the artist to send you pictures in bright and low light conditions.
Aside from that, I ask that you consider that what you are doing is buying art online. Original art that in some way has spoken to you so much, that you want to buy it. If the critical function of this art is that it matches your sofa or your rug exactly, you will likely end up disappointed. What are the realistic odds that it will match your furniture exactly? Likely, pretty low.
Instead I encourage you to buy art for its personality and how it speaks to you, and let that be what is important about it.
I also have other tips for how to navigate around this scenario, but that will be shared in a future blog post.
Confidence to Buy Art Online
Buying art online can be challenging. The way to avoid disappointment is to not rush into a decision. Ensure the website is reputable, and get to know the artist first. Then, before you buy, look closely at the details to ensure this is the piece you want in your home.
By following these tips, you can buy art online with confidence and have a purchase you will display with pride.
Thanks for reading!
