The World of Online Painting Trade

Gone are the days when the only sources of purchasing art and paintings were exhibitions, auctions and galleries. As the time is changing and people are becoming more tech savvy, online services are becoming the new rage. Internet based services have changed the way trade was conducted. Internet has put literally everything in reach of man. Educational degrees can be earned online, thousands of monetary transactions are conducted over secure gateways online and people like to purchase stuff like clothes, cosmetics, groceries and even paintings over the internet. In this article we shall gain some insights into the world of online trading of art.

The arrival of web galleries has made it easy for a layman to buy paintings online. Online galleries are websites that indulge in trading of art relics of all kinds. They are just like traditional art galleries except everything, right from viewing the art to the payment process, is done virtually. It is also more convenient and better than their offline counterpart as they can be accessed from anywhere anytime. Most of the art galleries online have tie ups with famous national and international artists so that they can make available their work to the common men. Other than this, there are other benefits that an art gallery online offers:

• Affordable: Traditional galleries and exhibitions charge heavy commissions from the artists and as result artists are bound to sell their work at higher costs. While online galleries charge as little as 10% in the form of commission from the artists. The customer gets the paintings at affordable prices and it is due the economic nature of web galleries only that people like to frequent them in search of more stuff.
• Direct interaction: Visitinga traditional art gallery can turn out to be a very intimidating experience for first timers. In case you are purchasing from an art gallery online, you can get in direct touch with the artists. This allows a layman to understand more about the art he is interested in by interacting with the most credible people.
• Varied options: Since there are no physical restrictions, a virtual gallery can accommodate literally hundreds of thousands of paintings. Customer gets an exhaustive database to choose from. To make sure that it is not too confusing, filters and customized keywords search options are provided on the website.
• Provision of art advisories: Many people like to buy paintings online for their art collections while other like to purchase them for interior decoration purpose. Online galleries have the provision of seeking art advisories from people who have years of experience in curating art.
• Free home delivery and handling: The worst part about purchasing art from exhibitions is the problem to carry it home. Paintings and art relics are bulky and it is not easy to handle them all by yourself. They need to be tenderly treated and delivered safely. Many web galleries provide free home delivery, shipment and handling. So after placing your order you can rest assured that your artwork will be delivered right at your doorstep without you having to even lift a finger.
• Round the clock availability: As they say, internet never sleeps. You can place order online anytime you want to, even in the middle of the night. The shipment is delivered within 3-5 working days. It is better than actually visiting a gallery to look at a handful of collections and then purchase one in case you find something that you like.
• Customized paintings: You can get customized paintings made through web galleries that too at affordable costs. It is an option widely exercised by people who purchase paintings for home decor purposes.
• Educational purposes: Online web galleries provide with ample study material in the form of information resources, blogs, and forums along with the details of the paintings on the website. This way art students can educate themselves on what is new in the world of art.
• Good chance for young artists: It is not difficult for seasoned artists to sell their work as they have got their admirers all across the globe. It is the upcoming artists that face problem when it comes to gaining global exposure. By endorsing young talent and displaying works of budding artists, web galleries make sure that they gain global recognition which is much needed for every artist’s growth.

Having said that, not all people are comfortable with the options of buying paintings online and they require much more convincing before they realize the ease and comfort it offers. They say that nothing can beat the feeling of strolling in an art gallery amidst the masterpieces created by geniuses. True, but is not a feasible option for many. People weigh the pros and cons, and the case of purchasing stuff through an art gallery online pros certainly out number the cons.