Shop online for the perfect painting

The art of buying art on the web

By Deena Waisberg

Nothing gives life to four blank walls like art. While the Internet isn’t necessarily the first place you’d think to shop for your next great find, consider it a giant online gallery. Chances are your computer can connect you with the perfect piece.

Shop for unique art worldwide

Auger explains that when you shop online you have a greater selection to choose from than if you visit a gallery, and you can truly shop the world.

Browsing through the sites of larger online art sellers reveals thousands of original pieces for sale. These sites offer a pressure-free way to explore art or learn about an artist’s work. For example, MyArtClub.com in Coquitlam, B.C., offers more than 8,000 works from Canadian artists, New York-based artnet boasts 36,000 works, while PicassoMio, with offices in Florida and Spain, features 10,000 contemporary artworks.

Visit galleries and artists virtually

Galleries and artists also have their own web sites. “If you’re familiar with an artist, the Internet allows you to expand where you can collect from. You can access limited-edition works local dealers may have sold out of,” explains Brian Liss, owner of Toronto’s Liss Gallery. Search the extensive database at the Artists In Canada site for artists or galleries located near you.

Browse works of art

With a vast selection of art online, there is something to suit every budget. “You can find a print for $50 or a large original oil painting for $19,000 and lots in between,” explains curator Sharon A. Norman.

Most web sites usually arrange their art by category. For example, at PicassoMio, you’ll find tabs for media such as paintings, sculptures and photographs and then subcategories within each. Use a site’s search function to narrow down your choices.

Beside an image of the work (usually a thumbnail, which you can click to enlarge), you are customarily provided with the size and description of the work, an artist biography, the price and a link to buy (or gallery contact information).

Buy or bid

You can buy directly online at PicassoMio (which will ship work to Canada). MyArtClub and Artnet provide gallery contact information for purchasing. Many individual galleries will ship to Canada, but be sure to confirm before ordering.

You can also go the auction route with sites such as eBay or charitable GoBid, based in Victoria, B.C. GoBid hosts more than 130 Canadian organizations and their auctions, including Parent Support Services in Vancouver and Raise a Reader in Victoria. “People enjoy buying art and supporting a charity at the same time,” explains Cathy Noel, CEO of the site.

Follow a buyer’s checklist

One of the disadvantages of looking for art online is the lack of personal help. However, many online art and auction sites encourage you to send an e-mail if you have questions.

Read the return policy

Shopping online does have its drawbacks. Some people can’t imagine size, and colour on a monitor varies. Depth and texture are also distorted online. Norman agrees these are issues and so she offers a seven-day return policy. “I’ve only had one piece returned in three years,” Norman says. If you’ve found a piece you want to purchase, make sure you check the return policy, fraud protection and delivery procedures before you hit “buy.”

Protect yourself from fraud

How can you prevent fraud? “Ask for a signed authentication certificate,” advises Norman. This will help ensure you don’t end up with a reproduction (if you paid for an original) or a work that isn’t created by the artist.

With online auctions you need to be extra careful. To help mitigate the risk, eBay posts seller information, including previous buyers’ feedback and a satisfaction rating (look at the positive feedback percentage). Additionally, eBay has a buyer protection program, which explains what to do if you don’t receive your item and how to file a claim.

Finally, if you’re paying by credit card, make sure that the site has a secure server known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) that encrypts your credit card information.

Verify the delivery time

Sometimes your artwork will arrive quickly, sometimes not. Delivery time from the Liss Gallery is anywhere from one day to four weeks, depending on where the buyer is and if the work is in stock. If you are ordering from overseas, it may take longer. Auger waited almost three months for his digital prints. Ask, so you’re prepared.