Learn how to spot obvious fakes and fraudulent deals.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 21, 2014
Like just about everything else in life, the Internet has changed how people encounter, appreciate, promote -- and most especially, collect -- works of art. Although photography is very much a part of the main conversation on 21st century fine art systems, and far from a monolithic genre, fine art photography presents its own unique set of freedoms and challenges for artists, dealers, and particularly for collectors. Whether avid or novice, How to Buy and Collect Photographs Online offers a rare opportunity to get up to speed on the state of the arts.
Led by Duncan Miller Gallery’s owner and director Daniel Miller, who is also the founder of the email-based collectors service YourDailyPhotograph.com, this 2-hour seminar will teach you how to ask the right questions to make informed, confident choices when it comes to purchasing fine art photography through online resources. The Internet has increased the scope and accessibility of the arts, but navigating the maze of sites and sellers can be daunting and fraught with peril at the hands of unscrupulous or amateurish sellers. Pitfalls like unauthorized reproductions, high-quality outright fakes, unsigned works, and uncertain provenance abound; and there are even ordinary posters being offered as valuable photographs -- that’s a true story, and you’ll never believe who the criminal is!
Collectors need tools and guidance to have a successful, pleasant, legitimate online experience. To that end, while general information on dealing with eBay, auction sites, and so on will be provided, much of the seminar is based on Miller’s experiences in developing “the Daily” as a means to get exceptional value on collectible photographs. It is his belief that while the future of art collecting must inevitably include the Internet, the traditional role of the gallery in providing not only curatorial vision and trusted advice, but also acting as a gatekeeper protecting both the artist and the collector from missteps, is more necessary than ever. As Miller says, “In the end, people want someone they know and trust -- and can get on the phone with!”
Miller starts with a brief history of photography’s 175 year history; covers the terms and technical specs on the many kinds of prints, papers, inks, processes, and archival materials that are out there; explains how pricing works, particularly when it comes to how editions work; breaks down the vintage/contemporary divide; offers strategies for building a collection and creating its focus; provides resources for staying educated and involved in the critical dialog; and includes details of Miller’s soon-to-be-gospel basics: “Daniel’s Seven Rules of Diligence.” Which are -- 1) Exactly who are you buying from? -- 2) What do you know about the artist? -- 3) Who made the print? -- 4) What kind of print is it? -- 5) Is the work signed? -- 6) What is the price? -- 7) What are your return options?.
ABOUT DANIEL MILLER: Owner and director of Duncan Miller Gallery and founder of YourDailyPhotograph.com, Miller created the wildly popular exhibition series “Collector’s Favorites” for the Photographic Arts Council at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), currently in its fifth smash year. He received an official proclamation from the City of Los Angeles for developing The Los Angeles Collection photography exhibition that was shown in LA, Madrid and Seoul. He developed the “American Icons” exhibition concept, bringing art to unlikely venues in search of exciting new audiences, which with 40,000 visitors in just three days, had the city’s highest daily attendance for any photography show in history. Duncan Miller Gallery’s substantial inventory includes rare blue-chip classics and a variety of contemporary photographers working in all aspects of the medium.