Collecting fine art is quickly becoming a more common method of investing and saving money. Putting your money into artwork can result in more of a return than a regular savings account, which is contrary to what most people believe. Many people don’t think of fine art collecting when it comes to managing their money — but nothing could be further from the truth. Here are some common myths about fine art investments and financing.

Some of the biggest myths concerning fine art collecting and finances are that it doesn’t appreciate quickly enough to be a good investment. Also, a widely-held assumption and falsity is that art doesn’t do well in a down-turning economy and that prints aren’t valuable. This article dispels each of those myths and proves that art can be a suitable way to improve your investment portfolio.

MYTH: Art Doesn’t Appreciate As Fast As Traditional Investments

TRUTH: This couldn’t be further from the truth. A piece by Andy Warhol worth $1,000 in 2005 is worth about $3,250 today. Simply put, the art market is consistently showing impressive returns, often beating out traditional investments. Two business professors from New York University agree. Michael Moses and Jiangping Mei have complied and tracked the performance of fine art. The Mei Moses Index covers Impressionist, Modern, American (before 1950), and Old Master artists. “From last year, through the end of 2007, all our index was up 20% while the S&P total return was up 5%,” says Michael Moses (co-founder, Beautiful Asset Advisors).

MYTH: Art Investments Don’t Do Well In A Down-Turning Economy

TRUTH: Fine art collecting is known to be a recession-proof method of investing. Because art values aren’t dependant on any country’s stock market or currency, they can continue to appreciate over time, regardless of the current state of the economy. For example, foreclosures have crippled the real estate market, but fine art investments continue to do well. Well-known artists like Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol are some of the many whose works continue to appreciate in value. The reason for this is simple: these artists are no longer living, limiting the number of original pieces available for sale.

MYTH: Prints Aren’t Valuable

TRUTH: An original, authentic, limited fine art print created during the artist’s lifetime carries with it the value of being printed by the artist’s hand. That is impossible to reproduce, and that is why it will always be valuable. When most people think of prints, they think of mass-produced posters that can be found anywhere. In the art world, a print has a completely different definition. An art print is usually produced in limited editions that are often hand-signed by the artist. Usually you can find a number such as 15/150 which means that your copy was the 15th numbered out of a total edition of 150 (frequently there are also a few artist proofs). Collectible works were printed under the artist’s direction and with the artist’s approval. The plates used to make the prints were almost always destroyed shortly after the printing run. This means they are in limited supply and it impossible to recreate an original.

When it comes to fine art collecting, there are many myths regarding art and investing. Art has proven to be a unique investment opportunity that is sure to appreciate while you enjoy its beauty every day.

About the Author:

Christine O’Kelly is an author for Masterworks Fine Art, Inc., an online art gallery featuring works from artists like Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol and many others. Masterworks caters to both art enthusiasts and those looking to use art as an investment.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Three Common Myths About Investing In Fine Art

How to Stretch Fine Art Canvas Painting Gallery Wrap

Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill (CCM-16PC1) $40.06 Why get a burr grinder? Burr plates uniformly grind whole coffee beans, protecting delicate oils and releasing more flavor. This grinder can handle everything from ultra fine espresso grind to extra coarse percolator grind. It holds a full 1/2 pound of beans and dispenses grounds into a removable hopper….

Bormioli Rocco Selecta 7-Piece Whiskey Gift Set $19.83 Classic Cut look Whiskey set…

Cuisinart DLC-2 Mini Prep Plus Food Processor $75.00 Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Processor Perfect for small food preparation from chopping herbs or bread crumbs, to finely grinding hard cheeses, the Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Processor is the perfect little helper, available in your choice of color. Its versatility lies in the special Auto Reversing Smart Blade, which makes it easier to process both soft and hard foods. The Mini-Prep Plus’ sleek touch p…

Cat Stevens – Greatest Hits $4.14 Before Cat Stevens changed his name to Yusef Islam, he had a slew of hits built around his soft, yet sometimes coarse, vocals. Stevens utilized a variety of instrumentation and rhythms in his predominantly acoustic arrangements, and songs like “Peace Train,” and “Another Saturday Night” had a multi-cultural feel to them. Greatest Hits provides a decent overview of his more popular work, including …

The Beatles 1 $14.93 Proving yet again their willingness to dice ‘n’ slice their burgeoning legacy into new–if not exactly fresh–product, the Fab Four Minus One have released this single-disc compendium of their No. 1 hits. Though obviously superfluous to the faithful (who may also find themselves quibbling over the precise definition of “No. 1 hit” and the exclusion of seeming contenders like “Please Please Me” an…

41 Original Hits From The Soundtrack Of American Graffiti $21.78 For those of us who grew up in the ’70s, this drive-in compilation of ’50s and ’60s rock and doo-wop, complete with Wolfman Jack introductions, was our introduction to this music. There are 41 jukebox hits here, and every one of them is a classic of its time (although two tracks–”At the Hop” and “She’s so Fine” are covers by the revival band Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids). In his 19…

Hand-woven Natural Fiber Arts Natural/ Rust Fine Sisal Rug (6′ x 9′) $152.14 Complete your home decor with a hand-woven area rug Transitional rug features rich shades of natural and rust Rug is constructed of 100-percent natural jute

Hand-woven Natural Fiber Arts Natural/ Rust Fine Sisal Runner (2’6 x 16′) $91.79 An elegant sisal weave highlight this handmade rug. This rug has a natural background with natural and rust accents.

Hand-woven Natural Fiber Arts Natural/ Rust Fine Sisal Rug (3′ x 5′) $35.69 Add functional beauty to your home decor with an eye-catching rug Transitional rug adds warmth and texture to any room Area rug offers natural and rust background

Hand-woven Natural Fiber Arts Natural/ Rust Fine Sisal Runner (2’6 x 12′) $71.39 An elegant sisal weave highlight this handmade rug. This rug has a natural background with natural and rust accents.

Fine $3.69 Use for removing stains, marks, rust, corrosion, and oxidation.

Fine Art $23.43 Fine Art

Lascaux Fine Art Fixative $19.99 Lascaux Fine Art Fixative is the most versatile fine art fixative you’ll ever find — and the only one you’ll ever need. It fixes or seals virtually everything, including pastels, pencil, charcoal, crayon, ink, gouache, or watercolor. Lascaux Fine Art Fixative won’t yellow. It resists aging, and is non-matte. Use it on photos, prints, lithographs, proofs, lettering, and gold leaf to make them scratch resistant. It makes an excellent initial sizing on wood panels and other rigid supports. It comes in a 12 oz aerosol can, and contains no flourocarbons.

The Art Of Fine Art $33.5 The Art Of Fine Art

Batik As Fine Art $39 Batik, the alternate waxing and dyeing of cloth has been practiced as a folk art for ages. In this video, art instructor Helen Carkin makes it accessible to everyone by demonstrating the batik process from start to finish. From the initial design to applying the wax and dying the cloth to removal of the wax and mounting the finished piece for framing, Carkin leads the way through a beautiful batik design of an iris. This video’s running time is 60 minutes.