Is Luxury Original Art Too Expensive for Art Buyers?

ILFORD, ENGLAND, August 26, 2012 (Press-News.org) Many people have traditionally shied away from purchasing original artwork, assuming it is out of their price range and while it is true that 'high end' pieces can run into ten of thousands of dollars, entry level (and upwards) pieces are more affordable than you imagine.

We caught up with the team at www.pictureperfectgallery.co.uk of London and asked them for some guidance on 2012 original prices.

(all prices are in $ dollars for the purposes of this article, exclusive of any appropriate tax, refer to framed pieces and all sizes are 'image only')

Picture Perfect Gallery, tell us about the originals available by some of your limited edition artists?

"I think its easier if we deal with four of our most popular and well known artists as examples: Rolf Harris, Doug Hyde, Sherree Valentine Daines & Henderson Cisz; we are known for selling their, signed, limited edition paper prints and canvases but we also have access to their in demand, original paintings."

Starting with Rolf Harris - probably the most famous artist on our site, yes, some of his originals are $52,900 e.g. 20 x 24 inches & upwards depending on size. However his small pencil sketches can be as little $1,250 e.g. 1.5 x 2 inches or $3,999 for e.g. 8 x 10 inches.

The UK's top naive artist, Doug Hyde's bigger pastel original art, typically 40 x 30 inches can vary between $19,500 - $26,500 but some small pencil sketches can be as little as $1,300 e.g. 6 x 4 inches. His small charcoal originals can be $7,900 e.g. 18 x 12 inches.

Sherree Valentine Daines, portraying the English social calendar - painting exclusively in oil - her largest original art is usually no bigger than 24 x 28 inches and these can reach up to $52,900. She does however do smaller oils, usually of children on beaches, typically 6 x 4 or 6 x 7 inches, these come in at $3,300 - $3,950.

Lastly we have the ever popular cityscape artist Henderson Cisz - he doesn't paint as prolifically as other artists but he has been known to produce very large pieces & some of these can reach $15,900 e.g. 96 x 48 (although this is an exceptionally large painting). Again he does have a more cost effective range e.g. 20 x 20 inches are around $2,500 with 40 x 40 inches circa $5,200 - $6,500.

Thanks for the info, that is very eye opening for the art buyer, just as a comparison can we have a typical price for limited editions by these artists?

"Good idea, I have picked some of the most recent pieces by the artists in question, these are the signed limited editions and are typically priced pieces, they offer a good comparison:

Doug Hyde - 'I Just called to say' - $575 (Giclee on paper, framed)

Rolf Harris - 'Crisp Cold London Morning' - $920 (Giclee on canvas, framed)

Henderson Cisz - 'Morning in Times Square' - $920 (Giclee on box canvas)

Sherree Valentine Daines - 'Magical Memories'- $790 (Giclee on canvas, framed)"

Thanks, any closing advice to art readers?:

"Yes, definitely buy artwork that you can afford and that you will enjoy seeing on your wall, it is important to get pleasure from seeing the paintings and that they are not stashed away in the attic somewhere - that includes the limited editions as well!"

Many buyers are not aware that galleries, such as ourselves, have access to originals by artists, that they won't always be on websites or that a 0% Interest Free Credit facility is often available for UK customers.

Thank you to Russell from www.pictureperfectgallery.co.uk for taking the time to answer the question presented today.