Buying Art: Trying a Work at Home (On Approval)

When a new client comes to the gallery and expresses an interest in a particular work of art, the conversation usually turns to how will it look in their home? I am always amazed when they tell me that some of our competitors do not allow clients to take works home ‘on approval’.

It is important that the galleries you deal with offer this service since there are times when you just cannot be sure how a particular work will look in the space you have in mind. Not everyone needs to do this and many of our clients are very comfortable buying a work and then determining its proper place once they get it home --- these are usually the people who are buying because they love the work and not to fill a specific spot. Even if you are a seasoned buyer, here are a few things you should remember:

The first, and probably most important, is lighting. Most home interiors do not incorporate advanced track lighting systems and instead often feature recessed lights or individual picture lights. On the flip side, most galleries have advanced lighting systems; giving them the flexibility to adjust the position of their lights (depending on the size of the painting), and allowing them to regulate the amount of light (depending on the style or type of painting) so that they look their best. If the gallery has the ability to adjust their lighting, ask them to lower or raise the levels to those similar to your home; or have them move the work to an area in the gallery that has similar lighting.

The second thing to keep in mind is that many galleries are open spaces with minimal amounts of furniture, allowing the viewer the ability to see a work from different angles and distances. The painting you saw in the gallery will have a different look once it is surrounded by your furnishings. In all honesty they usually look better in the home, as the right work of art will usually ‘finish’ the room.

Finally, it is important to know the basic measurements of your space before you start the hunt. One easy way to determine the correct size painting is to take some newspaper and create different sizes. Then take those pieces and hang them in the areas you are looking to fill… this will give you the flexibility to try different combinations – filling the spot with just one piece, or grouping together a number of smaller works.

Even with all the proper preparation, there may be times when you are just not sure and the gallery should afford you the opportunity to see the work in your home.

Three points to consider when taking a work home 'on approval' are

1. Most galleries will allow you to keep a work 'on approval' for 2 or 3 days. This is all the time you should need to make your decision. I always recommend that people take the work/works home over a weekend so they have enough time to look at it. If after 3 days you are still not sure, the work is probably not for you.

1. Make sure that you do not let other people make the decision for you. The worst thing you can do is have your friends stop by to see the work while it is ‘on approval’. You are bound to get one or two who do not like it. Who cares? Art is very personal; some people love Realism and hate Abstraction, while others have just the opposite taste. There is no right or wrong and you are the one who is buying the work, and you are the one who is going to live with it, so buy what you like!

1. Discuss the costs involved. Most galleries will be happy to send the work at their expense; but, should you decide to return it they may require you to cover the round trip shipping costs.

 Enjoy your hunt!