Valuing art work?

[cj_eds]

First of all, I doubt this is the right bit of the P&P but we don't have an Art section. Mod's feel free to move it!

We recently saw a painting we really liked, with a reserve of £35k in the auction (too much for us to pay). I know there's a print available, of which there's not many. Anybody here have any idea how to value something like that? First of all I have no idea how genuine artwork is valued other than what someone is willing to pay for it, so to do so for a print I'm really not sure.
We'd be getting a print with the original artist's signature for a 3 figure sum, instead of a 5 figure one of the original.

[nick_bbb]

If the print is signed it should also be numbered, the number of the print and the total number printed have a baring on the price

[Simpo Two]

And the fame/desirability of the artist.

Hi-run printing is litho printed; low run often uses giclee, a posh kind of inkjet.

[LongQ]

Simpo Two said:

And the fame/desirability of the artist.

Hi-run printing is litho printed; low run often uses giclee, a posh kind of inkjet.

I thought these days giclee was just a posh name for inkjet, technology having moved on since the term was first coined.

Not so?

[Simpo Two]

I think you may be right. 'Giclee' sounds better than 'We crank them out on an inkjet'!

[LongQ]

cj_eds said:

First of all, I doubt this is the right bit of the P&P but we don't have an Art section. Mod's feel free to move it!

We recently saw a painting we really liked, with a reserve of £35k in the auction (too much for us to pay). I know there's a print available, of which there's not many. Anybody here have any idea how to value something like that? First of all I have no idea how genuine artwork is valued other than what someone is willing to pay for it, so to do so for a print I'm really not sure.
We'd be getting a print with the original artist's signature for a 3 figure sum, instead of a 5 figure one of the original.

Hmm.

As someone who knows what appeals to him but has little appreciation of 'art' from an academic perspective .....

Are you buying because you like the image or because you think of it as an investment?

If you like the image then a print makes some sense, though whether the price of the print makes sense is for you to decide. If you want the investment .... sorry, can't help there, except to observe that a very limited print run may just have more long term value than a larger run but really you are dealing with the vagaries of the market and it's your judgement call.

However, if a 3 figure amount is justifiable under any circummstances because that's how you value the image in relation to your life then buy it. Let's face it you will spend many times that amount on other items that you never use/wear/get out of the box as your life progresses so a few quid on something you will see and enjoy every day for .... a while ... is likely to be money well spent.

All of that said, if you have to ask that sort of question here on PH you may want to re-evaluate your motives for purchasing this 'art'.

I'm not having a dig saying that, just trying to be realistic. What does your gut tell you? Do you want this poster or would a few meals out somewhere be more satisfying?

That's what it comes down to.

[cj_eds]

LongQ said:

cj_eds said:

First of all, I doubt this is the right bit of the P&P but we don't have an Art section. Mod's feel free to move it!

We recently saw a painting we really liked, with a reserve of £35k in the auction (too much for us to pay). I know there's a print available, of which there's not many. Anybody here have any idea how to value something like that? First of all I have no idea how genuine artwork is valued other than what someone is willing to pay for it, so to do so for a print I'm really not sure.
We'd be getting a print with the original artist's signature for a 3 figure sum, instead of a 5 figure one of the original.

Hmm.

As someone who knows what appeals to him but has little appreciation of 'art' from an academic perspective .....

Are you buying because you like the image or because you think of it as an investment?

If you like the image then a print makes some sense, though whether the price of the print makes sense is for you to decide. If you want the investment .... sorry, can't help there, except to observe that a very limited print run may just have more long term value than a larger run but really you are dealing with the vagaries of the market and it's your judgement call.

However, if a 3 figure amount is justifiable under any circummstances because that's how you value the image in relation to your life then buy it. Let's face it you will spend many times that amount on other items that you never use/wear/get out of the box as your life progresses so a few quid on something you will see and enjoy every day for .... a while ... is likely to be money well spent.

All of that said, if you have to ask that sort of question here on PH you may want to re-evaluate your motives for purchasing this 'art'.

I'm not having a dig saying that, just trying to be realistic. What does your gut tell you? Do you want this poster or would a few meals out somewhere be more satisfying?

That's what it comes down to.

Buying it because we like the art. I wouldn't care if it's an investment - ie price wouldn't matter as much because I'd expect to 'get it back'. In terms of valuing it in relation to your life then that probably answers the question - yes it is worth it to me but I'd have said that before starting this thread. The question I guess is looking for peice of mind that I'm not paying a relatively large amount for something anyone could produce with a decent scanner and inkjet printer!

[Kermit power]

Simpo Two said:

I think you may be right. 'Giclee' sounds better than 'We crank them out on an inkjet'!

Not if you have a rudimentary knowledge of French slang, it doesn't!

To give you a clue, the verb "gicler" literally means "to squirt".