This article will discuss why art goes up in value over time. It will also go over when collecting is not beneficial to a person's long-term financial goals.

Art can bring in a considerable sum of money over a time period. Most people can appreciate fine art, and may even consider acquiring some pieces for themselves.

Additionally, art often has something that transcends the art itself. Popular artists are most likely not the only ones who appreciate their work. These art lovers are likely appreciating the creativity of the artist as well.

The sentimentality is not exactly lost, but it's sometimes just forgotten. It has been estimated that most of the artwork ever made has not been seen by the artists who created it.

The bulk of art in existence simply has not been seen by the general public. So, if the artist ever does become aware of the value of his or her work, it's only because someone comes along and notices it.

This is where all art gets its real value, especially that of visual art. A painting like "Self Portrait with Monkey" or "The Scream" goes up in value based on the number of people that see it.

How many people see it? Does it sell for millions? Does it make it into the Museum of Modern Art? Does someone even recognize the artist?

What really determines whether or not an art piece is worth its actual worth is a complex combination of things: the artist's skill, its originality, its unique presentation, and the relevance of the piece to a variety of events, people and ideas.

The truth is, nobody actually owns the paintings that they love.

As with any investment, art investing must be approached with caution. Long-term investing is critical, especially if purchasing the art or auctioning it off.

How is art a good investment?

There are several key factors in a person's interest in collecting art that will determine if it is a good investment for them. A person must be interested in the business of art, and have the ability to plan ahead for the future.

There are three key factors to consider when looking at the value of a painting over time.

The print quality

Art prints, such as paintings or lithographs, are usually made of paper or aluminum. Most pieces of art are non-controlling; the artist may have an agreement with a gallery to sell their pieces, but may not have rights to certain parts of their work.

This leaves the owner the rights to create new images and, if desired, recoup their investment.

There are, however, differences in quality from one piece to the next. A higher quality print, such as a metallic or photorealistic image, is generally more expensive.

When a person is looking to invest in art, they should look for the highest quality pieces that they can afford.

Price

The value of art tends to go up over time, especially with a good print quality. Paintings, in particular, have a tendency to appreciate the most. A piece of art with a great reproduction value will usually have a good monetary value as well.

The second factor of value is the image quality and the quality of the piece. When a piece of art is reproduced, the seller takes out part of the buyer's profits.

Price tends to increase over time, and most good art is normally not that expensive. Depending on where the artwork was from, prices can vary considerably.

Art is typically priced by the number of prints made of that work, which can vary greatly, even within a particular genre. A piece of art might be listed in the art market for $20,000, and be on exhibit at a gallery, costing more than $1,000,000.

In general, it is best to make an initial purchase of high-quality art and then look to improve on it, so that a buyer can make a good profit for the piece.

Time value

An artist can put their time into a painting, taking the necessary time to create it. This is considered one of the factors of the value of art.

Art that took a long time to create, such as an oil painting, can appreciate, as it shows someone's belief and care in their work. However, other artists are taking their time to create low-quality work.

Art that is not highly valued or unique takes more time to create, but may have a higher monetary value, as the artists do not put in a lot of work.

The above factors, when combined, will usually show a person the value of an artwork over time. Painting or print quality is usually the most important factor.

However, other factors, such as the age and condition of the art, the value of the piece, and a good deal of skill in the making of the piece can also affect the value of the piece over time.

As well, the type of art can change over time, even within the same genre.