It is commonplace to hear people talking about buying art as a financial commitment, but should this be the true reason we buy art? Big auction houses and bigger galleries encourage this particular kind of thinking because it will help them to sell art to the upper crust of contemporary society. They treat art more like a investment than what it truly is, which is loveliness to be enjoyed by anyone.You might be asking yourself why you should buy art. Well, you should only really buy art because you love it; because it moves or inspires you and gives you pleasure from looking at it. The primary purpose of a piece of art is to bring joy to those who see it; if you are buying art solely as an investment and do not think you will be displaying it, then consider why you are really looking to buy art if not for the beauty of the piece?If you are considering buying art as an investment for the future, here are some things to look for that will ensure that you make good choices in the art you buy.Firstly, make sure the artist is committed to their career. A sign of this is often the pursuit of an art-related degree from a college or an art school, or even a mentorship with a more seasoned artist in their specialty. Something to prove that they are serious about their future as an artist. An artist’s exhibition history is also a clue of how their career might grow and develop, and also how their work can be expected to appreciate in the near future.Another thing you can look for is the level of promise an artist shows early on in their art career. It can be more difficult to judge the talent of an artist because it takes an eye for skill and ability, but start with attending the year end shows of local colleges and art schools. If you think you have spotted a real gem amongst the works you see there, it may be worth the investment to buy a piece from that particular artist, and support them in the coming year as they grow in their skills and talent.This leads us to the main caveat of caution against the idea that you should buy art as an investment; unless you find a long-lost Picasso in a thrift shop or someone’s garage sale, you are not likely to see a short-term return on your initial investment.Another thing to consider is that the art market is artificially controlled by the prices that are set by the same galleries and auction houses mentioned earlier in this article. This means that some truly great artists won’t appreciate significantly if they don’t pander to the galleries, even though the quality of their work may be better. It’s not particularly fair, but that is how the traditional art industry operates.The fact of the matter is, there are more artists and works of art than there are spaces on a gallery wall. This means that the galleries have to be very picky about the works they take in, because they are in the business of making money by representing artists whose work will sell quickly. If you want to buy art and avoid the hassle and outrageous prices of galleries and auction houses, read on! A savings of 50% – 60% awaits you!A new online platform is on the rise, and has recently launched, and it is being designed to allow art buyers and collectors to buy art direct from the artist at 0% commission. Only showcasing art that has been approved and evaluated by the committee in charge of curation, this website ensures that anyone seeking to buy art will have a truly satisfactory experience while browsing the site. Buy art from the comfort of your own home with ease!What you should take away from this article is the simple message that art is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, especially those who own it. If you are buying art as an investment, and you happen to make some money off of it, well done! However if you do not, make sure to enjoy the art for what it is and ensure that it at least has value because it is beautiful. Browse art online through virtual galleries and deal with the artist direct!