Posted by Lydia Kutko on July 12, 2010 03:25 p.m.
Art Style is the go-to guide to intelligently and thoughtfully building your personalized collection of art and objects. Geared specifically to women and written by a woman, Art Style is a monthly series covering the ins and outs of collecting. Join Lydia, art consultant and LVCMag's Arts Contributor, as she shares the experience of her years advising and curating art collections in New York's gallery and auction world. We all deserve beauty for body and brain!
Where do you go to find that artist whose artwork kicks all discretion to the curb, convincing you to ditch the coveted monthly fashion splurge in lieu of a canvas brimming with color and intrigue? That's where Art Style Guide is heading this month.The best way to become art savvy and keep informed about what art is available without stepping foot in a gallery (hold tight, ladies, that day will come) is to befriend the art publication. Many avid collectors swear by them, using the latest issue to catch up on market data surrounding a "hot" artist, read reviews of current museum and gallery exhibitions, become familiar with the latest trends in contemporary art making, or read a well-informed article on the life and death of a lauded 19th-century French landscape painter. And, most notably, they are ideal resources for the new collector seeking a bounty of high-resolution images of artworks covering a myriad of genres, media, and periods.
Where to purchase and/or subscribe to these monthlies is thankfully a no-brainer. The largest circulations are easily found at nationwide booksellers such as Barnes & Noble and Borders. Head to the Art and Architecture sections for a comprehensive selection of the most popular titles. If a quick thumb-through leaves a lackluster impression, consider visiting a smaller bookseller near you. The bonus is that you will likely come across smaller publications specializing in art and artists from your region, many of which larger retailers are forced to pass up. The shop may carry publications that appeal to a specific niche, exposing your burgeoning Art Style to a greater range of artistic sensibilities. Finally, supplement the in-store search with an internet search and you will have a good handle on the quality, quantity, and scope of arts-oriented publications available today.
Check out these five art publications worthy of your art arsenal:
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ARTnews Founded in 1902, ARTnews is the oldest and most widely circulated art magazine in the world. Its readership of 200,000 in 123 countries includes collectors, dealers, historians, artists, museum directors, curators, connoisseurs, and enthusiasts.
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Art in America Established in 1913, Art in America covers US and international contemporary art, including a extensive coverage and criticism of sculpture, painting and photography.
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Artforum Founded in 1962, Artforum is an international monthly magazine specializing in contemporary art.
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Art + Auction A print and online resource, Art + Auction includes special features & art news stories, art & collector profiles, reviews & auction reports, calendar of art events, art market trends & insider market information, and art transaction prices.
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American Art Collector In addition to the print addition, American Art Collector offers several online applications aimed at taking the confusion out of collecting. Virtual Art Walk, an interactive tool helps collectors find out if a favorite artist has prepared new work, locate new artists, and stay up to date with the latest art coming up for sale.
To begin, consult your aesthetic portfolio for clues about what art publication may best suit you. Do your fashion and shelter magazine tear sheets suggest you collect contemporary? For example, Juxtapoz, available only as a digital subscription, scours the underground art movement with the mission of connecting seminal modern genres like psychedelic and hot rod art, graffiti, street art, and illustration, to the context of broader, more historically recognized genres of art like Pop, assemblage, old master painting, and conceptual art. OK, not really your thing? Perhaps photography captures your fancy. Aperture, a quarterly published by Aperture Foundation, a non-profit based in New York, provides an eye-opening look into the realm of fine art photography and the artists and their dealers. The more art publications you peruse, the more refined your Art Style will become.
Throughout the month, try on as many artworks as you can for size, tearing or printing them for safe-keeping in your new Artworks Portfolio. As before, jot notes about your first impressions of the piece, keeping in mind the basic tenants of the
formal analysis (color, line, subject, etc.) as your guideline. In the upcoming fourth installment of Art Style Guide, join us as we stride confidently through the doors of the art gallery, crossing the threshold from art curious to art collector. With Art Style Guide in hand, it will be picture perfect.