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Question, can art really be priceless? There are many pieces of art that some consider to be “priceless”, but what exactly does that mean? The term can be applied to any work of art no matter the market value. For example, the painting The Card Players by Paul Cézanne, which many consider to be priceless, sold for approximately $273 million – looks like it had a price after all. On the other end of the spectrum is a child’s first drawing which the majority of parent’s would consider priceless despite the fact that the market value for such a drawing would be zero. What gives?
I’ve recently been working with a local artist in Dallas and was going through some of his finished pieces. One particular piece caught my eye. Tucked away and surrounded by other works, I found a beautifully sculptured figure being released from alabaster rock. I spoke to the artist about the piece and asked if he would sell it to me. He told me to speak with his business manager. Of course the business manager told me that was the artist’s way of saying he’s not willing to sell it for any price. That particular older piece was considered priceless to the artist. While disappointed, I must say it was refreshing to hear.
As you can see, the term priceless is really a person’s point of view. It can be applied to anything from a painting of great importance to crayons on construction paper to a current sculptor’s early works. A buyer can always put a price on something but it is nice to see an artist place value in experience not dollars.

Let’s say you are on the hunt for a piece of art that will fit perfectly in a certain space. Not just from a size perspective but also the material and message. You can certainly search for a piece that will work but with such a specific set of criteria, your best bet may be to commission a site specific work of art.

Many artists, including the ones represented by 3 Sixty Art, are open to working with you on a custom piece. Don’t get me wrong, the artist will of course utilize his artistic style and vision (after all, that’s why you chose them)but generally they are willing to work with you on the size, material and messaging of the piece. Have a general idea but still need some guidance? You can send some photos of the area or even invite the artist out to the site so they can get a better feel for what would work best and the ideal positioning of the piece as well.

Commissioned art is not always the way to go but if chosen, the process allows an individual to really connect because they are involved in the creation of that piece. Commissioned pieces make for great stories and allow an individual to purchase the perfect piece for their home or office.

Will this artwork appreciate – well….. Most artwork is purchased for personal and aesthetic reasons but there is also an investment angle. No one can say with 100% accuracy if a piece of art will appreciate significantly in the future as there are many variables that play a role in determining that. However, if you are evaluating a piece for future value, here are a couple of basic factors to consider:

What has the artist accomplished?
Demand for the artist’s work, Official Recognition, Number of Collectors, Visibility of his art. These are all thing to consider. Ideally, you would like to check all of these boxes with a favorable rating. For example, if you are reviewing an artist that has been around for 30 years, his pieces are selling briskly, he has been recognized by numerous organizations both public and private and has many collectors, there is a very good chance that his work will appreciate significantly over time.

Is this a one of a kind or a duplicate?
A simple but important distinction. Is the artwork an original, one of a kind piece or is it part of a duplicate series. Artists will create these series in order to make their artwork more affordable to the art buying community. While this is a very positive action, it does reduce the value as it is not an original. Again, this is a simple thing to consider but an important one.

There are no guarantees when it comes to art as an investment but if you consider the bare essentials mentioned above, it should help you make a reasonable determination. If you would like to see one of a kind art by very accomplished artists, please call us for an in person viewing.

A common phrase spoken by most of us at some point in time. “We need a splash of sophistication in this room,” or “My office needs an art piece that can bring it all together”. Art certainly has the ability to meet these needs but how do you go about choosing an art piece? I mean there are all types of artwork for sale – how do you choose?

For the purposes of this article let’s focus on great but neutral art that won’t ruffle any feathers. I’m sure everyone has heard the saying “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder,” this phrase is certainly true when it comes to art. So try and avoid anything that may cause an uncomfortable feeling from viewers.

Focus on size and color. Depending on the size of the room, you will need to be selective on the size of the art you are looking for. A 3 foot high piece in a gallery will shrink significantly in a large room with a large wall as a backdrop. Also, pay attention to color. While you do want the art piece to pierce the background, you don’t want it to take over the space. Art should enhance an area not dominate it.

We have all types of artwork available at 3sixtyart.com. Browse our pieces and find a great neutral piece for your space. Don’t see anything you like? Commission pieces are available.