The Intrepid Art Collector: The Beginner's Guide to Finding, Buying, and Appreciating Art on a Budget

Ready to upgrade your artwork from framed Monet posters but intimidated by what you see in galleries?

In The Intrepid Art Collector, Lisa Hunter shows you how to start a fine art collection without spending a fortune. This accessible, jargon-free resource contains up-to-date information on the most popular original arteverything from photography and posters to African art and animationincluding where to find it and how to buy it at a fair price. Easy-to-use checklists help you evaluate original art and steer clear of clever fakes. In addition, Hunter has interviewed top dealers, curators, arts lawyers, and appraisers to bring you the best advice on:

Advantages to buying real art instead of reproductions
Determining if a piece of art is fairly priced
Predicting if an artists work will go up in value
Techniques for negotiating a price with a dealer
Developing your artistic taste, so youll know if youll still love your purchase ten years down the road
How to preserve art in your home
Resources, websites, and magazines that will help you learn more about the market and where to find different types of art