To the uninitiated the prospect of buying fine art for investment can be as daunting as being asked to paint the Sistine Chapel or construct St Paul’s Cathedral out of match sticks. A glimpse of the plush interiors of the major auction houses or trip to one of central London’s sometimes intimidating galleries can give the casual visitor second thoughts about purchasing a piece of art. Alternatively the individual might be unsure about the value or authenticity of the painting or drawing they are proposing to buy, but press ahead with the transaction anyway on the principle that they may not know much about art, but they know what they like. And the gallery assistant has gone to all this trouble and seems to know what they’re talking about, so it would be churlish to pull out now.
The best way to make the subjective practice of buying a piece of fine art is to be as objective as possible. In other words, to ensure that you get what you pay for, it is worthwhile learning a bit more about how the art market works and gathering as much information about the particular artist or style or period that you are interested in as you can. There are two principle ways of doing this. You can research the artist’s output and historical significance in art books and exhibition catalogues or read reviews by local and national art critics, and you can look through the sales records available in most major public libraries and art galleries to determine how much their work goes for.
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Over the past ten years, the Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association (CFADA) has grown from just a handful of founding members to 13 member galleries that helped transform Charleston’s art market. Adhering to standards of professionalism, CFADA member galleries represent a diversity of fine art and talent; this fine balance of history and tradition combined with contemporary and modern pieces creates a unique art scene in Charleston. New and modern rub shoulders with the traditional; the appreciation of history allows for development and growth in a new direction. CFADA will celebrate its 10th anniversary this November with the Charleston Fine Art Annual.
Charleston has had a long lasting love affair with the arts. As early as 1708, the first documented professional artist in the United States, Henrietta Johnston, arrived in Charleston. As a widow, she supported her family by creating pastel portrait commissions. William Aiken Walker was a Charleston born artist and in the early 20th century, Charlestonian Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, who studied all over the world, became well know for her etched and pastel scenes.
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