Investing in art is a great way to save money for a rainy day or pass down something substantial to future generations! Once purchased and affixed to a wall, an art investment painting will require little maintenance in order to appreciate in value.

It's hard to predict trends, but one thing is for certain, no matter what the country's economic situation may be, people's love and appreciation of it and attendance at art auctions have not diminished. However, one should understand a few rules of the game, such as bidding practices and categories.

One category is the estate sale. You can often find great bargains here since purchases are made directly and most of the items from a deceased person's estate must go. Recently, a woman in Canada found out that the painting she had selected from her grandmother's estate sale, when she was ten years old, was actually a $300,000 original painting! Now you see why they sometimes refer to it as "treasure."

Secondly, consignment art auctions sales operate under strict guidelines and set minimum prices. As an informed buyer, you'll want to check out the commission on these before you buy. For example, Swahn Galleries

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