A Good Season For New Collectors
02-Dec-2010
If you have always wanted to own an original work of art, but worried about the expense or wondered what to collect and how to collect in a tight economy, now might be the time to visit the gallery to find out how you can own an original work of art by a recognized artist without ”breaking the bank.”
Fine art galleries are known for works by top artists, but often novice collectors don’t realize that it’s possible to own a work of art by a top tier artist in alternative mediums. Works by good regional artists are often within reach of the budget-conscious collector. For example, paintings by Edward Bannister are scarcer and more expensive each year, yet similar paintings by his friend and colleague George Whitaker are still surprisingly affordable. Whitaker and Bannister frequently painted together and often painted identical subjects. As the recent exhibition at the Providence Art Club (“Our Founders: Bannister and Whitaker”) showed, their work can be quite similar. Though he may be best known for sumptuous still life paintings, some of Whitaker’s finest works are his miniature landscapes - absolute jewels and more affordable than his larger works.
Other good opportunities for the beginning collector and for gift-giving are drawings, prints, and watercolors. Many artists preferred making prints and drawings to executing paintings in oils. Works on paper showcase the artist’s creative process, highlight special skills, and often represent work done for personal satisfaction. These works are usually a fraction of the price of an oil painting.
Artists like James McNeill Whistler produced some of their most creative work in print form. While most of us will never own an original oil painting by American Impressionist master Childe Hassam, an etching by the artist is available for a few hundred dollars. Hassam was intrigued with the possibilities of printmaking and produced many etchings and other prints throughout his career.
Experienced collectors know that watercolor paintings represent one of the most difficult of all mediums. Unlike oils, “mistakes” in watercolor cannot be corrected or repainted. A skilled artist who can manipulate and control watercolor is a true master of his craft.
Stop by the gallery to see our new selection of prints, drawings, and watercolors by American and European artists including Sydney Burleigh, Gabriel D. Clement, William Halsall, Childe Hassam, George Hitchcock, Thomas Meteyard, Winthrop Pierce, Gordon Grant, William T. Richards, Charles Stetson, and others.
Most of the prints and drawings are priced well under $1000 and many of the watercolors are under $5,000. These small works are not on our website, so the only way to see them is at the gallery.
Artist: Sydney R. Burleigh
Title: Golden Twilight
Medium: charcoal and pastel, 7" x 5"
Artist: George Hitchcock
Title: Near Whetstone
Medium: watercolor, inscribed lower left, signatures (*15) verso. 11-1/4" x 15-1/2"
Artist: Rolph Scarlett
Title: Abstraction
Medium: gouache on paperboard, signed lower right, 4" x 7.25"