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THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP

The cheapest thing you can buy is knowledge. It is a good investment, and finding the right professional should be done in advance of the need. Allowing sufficient time to find the person with the right credentials. Just as you have a doctor for your family, you should also have professional care for your art. You might start with choosing a picture framer, and asking for recommendations, to others. Never hesitate to ask questions and check on your candidates.

The question " What is Art" is often ask but never universally defined. The scope of things referred to as art may encompass almost anything. In this expanded field of art information can be confusing and sometimes misleading. Finding the proper source of any specific information can be a long and frustrating search, especially when it is about an unknown artist or an infrequent problem. The answerer may be found in a combination of information acquired from several sources, some what like collecting the pieces of a puzzle and fitting all the information together piece by piece until the problem is solved or the question answered. Information is more easily found, when you could clearly identify the specific area, period or condition for which you need help. That is to say you need to know enough about your artwork to explain what it is you want from your professional. Or you must find an individual who can help you.

I have many times heard knowledgeable persons in the art field answer questions out of their area of expertise just because someone insisted that they should or they thought it was expected of them.

Experts sometimes get fooled, even when they are in their area of expertise, but most often it happens when they venture from their area of special knowledge. This is fortunately the exception, but remember all the news articles about finding fakes in our museums. Paintings once thought to be great masters work now attributed to a lesser artist even of a different time. At one time someone thought they were right.

Whether you are building a collection or only wish to maintain what you have, it is wise to consider the fact that, sooner or later, you will need help either with normal maintenance or an unexpected problem and it will be prudent to at least know where to find help. Because of the infinite variety of art periods, styles and composition, each being special you will at some time have a need for authentication, evaluation, conservation, restoration and framing.

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