ART OR THE ENVIROMENT, AN AGE OLD QUESTION ?

In some ways just as cloths make the man, and for me that is Brooks Brothers,so does framing also help to define a work of art...Here are two "frames of thought"! Sorry I couldn't resist.

Most designers and decorators I follow in(Town & Country,Connecticut Cottages magazines, etc.) like to match frames and matting to the environment and that is a common sense approach. However, if you have a real valuable work of fine art "forgetta bout it"! Why ? No question that the right framing enhances art work and that's just the point. If you remove that valuable Picasso from that room or even change the color scheme or the furniture,not to mention style,what happens ? Now the art doesn't fit the new environment or new palette. Example, Louis XV to Modern furnishings doesn't necessarily work with the art work. To many variables ! I'm also not buying into "eclectic" groupings...SOLUTION ? AWAYS FRAME VALUABLE ART WORK TO THE ART ! Why ? Styles,furnishings and popular color schemes come and go, but there was just one real Picasso !

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BACK TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME....

REGARDING THOSE TRAVELING AUCTIONS !

I began writing my book about three years ago, so I thought this year I would return to an advertised "Fine Art Auction" that was held in the Palm Beach area, at a"Shiny Sheet" place to be seen hotel. Well I wanted to see how my chapter on "Traveling Road Shows/ Smoke And Mirrors" held up. When a friend of mine read that chapter he thought I was fooling. Well guess what? I missed the mark by about one hundred percent! It was even worst than described,the first time around ! Yes, it was held at a posh hotel ... Yes, there was a rushed pre showing... And yes ,there were some big art names there . However, the only thing missing was the cheap wine and cheese ! Hey folks it's hard times. Well with the lights dimmed the auction began with a non descript work, but then quickly with much fanfare moved to a "Major Work"by the world famous Spanish artist Miro. Actual it was a small work (about) 11"by 14"plate signed $75 sheet, with the usual beautiful "frame up " and combined, PROBABLY WORTH ALL OF $200 DOLLARS ! After a long presentation regarding: Miro, color ,framing, and one lucky person who would own this masterpiece, which led to a bidding war, it sold for around $2,200 ! NOW YOU KNOW WHY THEY CALL IT PAPER CRIMES !

BETHENNEY, BRITTO AND THE HOUSEWIVES OF NY !

Have you seen the Housewives of NY on Bravo TV and it's very popular spin off, Bethenney's Wedding ? My wife informed me that my life was incomplete, unless I tuned in! Right now I want to go on record and praise poor Jason, Bethenney 's then to be husband, for standing up and defending the importance of "March Madness". More to the point! Bethenney selected for Jason's wedding present a painting by Romero Britto and the theme was the runaway bride.I remember uncovering Britto's work and visiting his newly opened gallery in Miami when he first emerged as a hot young artist in the last two decades of the twentieth century. Which brings up the topic, why hasn't he faired as well with museum curators as he has with the general public? For those who are not familiar with his work, it is a happy combination of cubism and bright fauvist colors done up in a "Pop Art" presentation. Well it is just a theory, however I feel that museums shied away from him because he was pushed more commercially first, rather than through traditional museum exhibits. If that's the case, what about Warhol to Koons? Didn't they follow that same path ? In any case Britto has a large following that may not be balance from an art investment view point but he deserves a second look. Not to mention the fact that he has done a lot of humanitarian work and is a decent human being!

If you can build an addition on your house, you can learn how to buy good fine art for the wall!

If you can build an addition on your house, you can learn how to buy good fine art for the wall!
By Leonard D. DeMaio

That is one of the intents of this self help book "The Artful Dodger" is presented in step by step fashion, based upon fact! And here is the proof. The fine art original by deKooning (pictured) was acquired for far, far, far less than the million dollar+ value. Why is it valued as such? One, it is from the family's foundation (provenance) second, size/medium and finally auction prices. Recently, a former private banker CEO sold a deKooning small pencil drawing for over two million dollars at auction...

"What's in your Wallet"?

Painting by: Devil On The Keyboard by Willem deKooning

Have you Read “The Artful Dodger”

Have you Read “The Artful Dodger” by Leonard D. DeMaio

Because my book 'The Artful Dodger Fine Art of Investing,' has just come out I would love some reviews. The sales have been great and I thank you all for your support.

BABY STEPS – In the Beginning Dealing with Fear of Collecting Fine Art…

BABY STEPS – In the Beginning Dealing with Fear of Collecting Fine Art

by Leonard D. DeMaio

I decided to write this book because there are thousands of books on fine art and few if any on how to get started value investing and collecting. Also based on actual experiences I try to remove the two largest fears and they are finances and how to start from scratch! I welcome comments regarding my approach and is it easy enough to follow?

To find out more;

The Artful Dodger: Collecting and investing in fine art without a spare million in pocket change