Protecting original paintings from environmental damage is actually quite difficult, even if you have resources, framing materials, and good storage space. Old, original paintings, particularly those drafted during the early days of the Renaissance Era or before, have already been subjected to extreme conditions throughout their history. Paint may be chipping off, frames may be warping, and so forth. Restoring original paintings can add thousands of dollars to their values. However, a botched restoration can achieve the opposite effect. Restoration isn't simply about "de-aging" a painting. Damage to art takes place at the molecular level, so there's really no way to "turn back the clock" entirely. Professional restorers employ chemical preservatives, scrapers, and canvas epoxies to ensure the integrity of artistic works on the large scale. An intuitive way to build your collection is to gather original works from up-and-coming artists. This is more fun and less expensive than restoring old works. By touring art shows, talking to people on the scene, and visiting artist websites, you can zero in on styles that you really like. Bear in mind that original modern paintings tend to appreciate in value only ever so slightly as they age. When appraising originals for value, don't trust the first judgment. Triangulate your appraisals to average out "outliers." Examine the sale values of other originals by the same artist. Remember that art styles and genres go in and out of vogue with a certain degree of regularity. So if your painting doesn't appraise well now, preserve it for another few years and try it again at auction. |
