Friday, January 25, 2008

The Art of Collecting Art - Part 1

Art 3 Gallery is a retail art gallery and we are in the business of selling art. If you are a first time buyer or an experienced collector, there are still things to know before buying a piece of artwork.
  • Decide why you're buying artwork - are you interested in starting (or adding to) a collection of work by major (collectible) artists or are you looking for something that goes with the sofa?
  • Educate yourself by reading art magazines, art history books, books about collecting, and checking internet resources with regards to pricing.
  • There is an old adage regarding art work "Purchase what you love." There's no guarantee that what you buy today will increase in price so that you can sell it and retire on the proceeds. (And your kids may not like it either.)
  • Visit art galleries in your home town and when you're on vacation. Although intimidating to some people, galleries want your business, so feel free to ask questions about what you're seeing.

Art 3 Gallery located in Manchester, NH is open from M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Evening and weekend appointments are always welcome. Come and visit us and maybe there's something here that you'll fall in love with.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Caring for Art

Buying original artwork is not only a unique and satisfying experience, but also an investment that requires some care to ensure its preservation, longevity, and value. Whether you own art, are thinking of beginning to collect, or just have an appreciation, these points will prove useful. There are many factors, seemingly benign, that can affect the life of a work of art. Here are a few of the more important ones:
Humidity - A relative humidity of 50% is most beneficial for any type of artwork. A dry environment (45% or below) will accelerate deterioration and aging, while a more humid environment (65% or higher) will proliferate mold and mildew.
Temperature - Avoid extreme shifts in temperature. Ideally the environment where art is stored or displayed should stay with the 68 to 72 degree range.
Heat & Light - Light, both natural and artificial, creates heat which can be damaging. Illumination should not be excessive nor should any work of art be placed in direct sunlight. Avoid hanging works near windows, heating vents, or radiators.
Framing Works on Paper - Works on paper include prints, watercolors, drawing, pastels, and photographs. Always separate the art from the glass by an acid-free matboard or spacers. This will prevent mold and stainging damage which can be created by condensation on the inner side of the glass.
Art 3 Gallery in Manchester, NH, is open M-F from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Evening and weekend appointments are always welcome.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Beat the Winter Doldrums with Color

During the gray days of winter when the trees are bare of leaves and the streets are coated in mud brown slush, the least bit of color catches our eyes, making us yearn for the warm days of spring. One way to add color to our lives right now is to update a room with paint and new fabric. Another way to add color to our lives is with artwork. At Art 3 Gallery we work with several designers who are expert at choosing color, furnishings and accessories to complement your home and life style. If you are in the Manchester NH area, please stop at the gallery to look at what we have hanging on the walls, something colorful might just catch your eye.

Below is a brief overview of how an artist might use color:

Decorative color tends to provide a pleasing background for daily life. Decorative colors are chosen for their stylistic properties and are often flat in nature, meaning there is little or no modulation of tone.

Realistic color forms a natural record of life, depicting things as our eyes would perceive them. These colors tend to be literal and descriptive, utilizing a range of tomes to create the illusion of three dimensions.

Symbolic color moves away from realism with the aim being to express feelings and ideas about the narrative of an artwork. Color then becomes a symbol for allusions, emotions, thoughts, etc.

Impressionistic color can be described as realistic color reinterpreted. Often pure colors are juxtaposed on the surface - rather than mixed on a palette - where the eye mixes them visually.

Abstract color has no agenda to render appearances as they are witnessed, therefore colors are chosen to create visual movement, space, form, or dynamic relarionships.

In any style of art, color is of primary importance, and it is vital to recognize that none of these applications of color are mutually exclusive. Often within a single artwork, several modes of color will exist. Some colors will dominate, thus influencing the overall effect of the piece.

Art 3 Gallery is open M-F from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Evening and weekend appointments are always welcome.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Traveling with artwork

As gallery owners and residential and corporate art consultants, we are always traveling with artwork in our cars - framed and unframed canvases, paper pieces, as well as frame moulding samples. How do we do it safely and professionally? We use Tranzporter International portfolio cases and tubes. Made of 1000 denier Cordura nylon, these versatile cases and carrying tubes are available in a wide range of sizes and dimensions. Perfect for a single piece of framed artwork or many paper pieces of varying sizes, the portfolio case has interior straps to hold everything in place. For really heavy loads, there are optional wheels that strap on and then store conveniently in the front pocket - large enough for paperwork, too. Visit their website at www.tranzporter.com
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