Six Strategies for Buying & Investing in NFTs Like a Real Art Collector
The act of buying, selling and cherishing art goes as far back farther than the cave paintings. We’ve been making and trading art ever since, but this epoch, there’s a new wrinkle: NFTs, or non-fungible tokens. The traditional art world was already mystifying enough, but when you add the complexity of the blockchain, well… it all gets disarmingly confusing, very quickly.
This guide is not a blockchain primer, but rather a guide for those who have always been fascinated by art appreciation and art collection… and just happen to have a bit of loose Ethereum in their pocket. This guide is also loosely split for those who want to collect NFT Art for their own enjoyment, and for those of you who wish to become profitable Art traders.
Obviously there is no dividing line between a Collector and a Dealer, and you’ll learn much more about one by indulging in the other. So whether you’re here to hang your art high on the wall or sell it at an equally high value — I’ve got you covered. Let’s discover six strategies for buying and investing in NFTs like a real art collector.
NFT ART STRATEGY #1 — Understand the NFT Marketplaces
If you’re looking to buy an NFT, the first question is invariably, “Where do I start looking?” First, let’s talk about the two types of NFT Art Marketplaces: Public and Private.
Public Marketplaces are places where anyone can mint and sell NFTs. Quality tends to be lower and inventory, much higher — so buyers beware, there’s a lot of chaff for every bit of wheat. The equivalent non-blockchain marketplace would be Etsy: a clean experience with wildly varying quality of wares and subjects. Some of the best known Public Markets for buying and selling NFTs are Opensea, Rarible, Mintable and Cargo — but the most popular by far is Opensea.
Private Marketplaces, by contrast, are heavily vetted like traditional Art Galleries. Most Private Marketplaces are invite-only, unless you happened to apply in the neonatal stages of NFT growth. There’s an appreciably higher quality of craft here, but the prices are equally symmetrical. Popular Private Galleries include SuperRare, Maker’s Place & Foundation — though who owns the top spot today jockeys wildly.
Now that you know the two great Markets, let’s talk about why you’re buying the NFT art you’re buying.
NFT ART STRATEGY #2 — Have an End-Goal for your NFT Investments
Buying Art for Art’s sake is a time-honored tradition and a fine reason to buy art in and of itself. But the utility of NFTs are much greater than traditional art and their potential as a financial investment is beyond imagination. As such, there are two strategies you can take: Dealing NFT Art, and Collecting NFT Art.
THE NFT DEALER
BUYING & SELLING
If you plan to buy and sell NFT Art regularly, slowly turning a trader’s profit, I would classify you as an NFT Art Dealer — a role that’s almost 1:1 with an Art Dealer in the traditional fine art world.
To maximize your trades, you’ll want to be a known quantity in the crypto-art space with a working relationship between artists and other buyers. That means networking, holding liquid Ethereum and scouring the market for hidden gems and Social Media for up-and-comers. You’ll also want to focus on Collections over individual pieces for maximum profitability.
Gas Prices are going to be a near-constant thorn in your side, though — and will serve as the major difference between you and a Collector. You’ll need to balance your timing between low Gas Prices and Fear of Missing Out.
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THE NFT COLLECTOR
KEEPING & CHERISHING
If you plan to become an NFT Art collector / hoarder, you’ll definitely want to be an intimate part of the Crypto Art social space. Your promotion of small Artists and their drops is an essential part of the Art ecosystem — and the more you can add back into the mix, the more it benefits you as a named Collector.
Since your NFTs will be for your own pleasure, you should look into how to maximize your enjoyment of your Art. That can mean everything from forming a close-knit Patronage with an Artist you admire, to looking into physical frames for your digital art. You’re not hoarding Art, quite the opposite — you’re encouraging it’s growth!
The greatest separation between you and a Dealer is that nobody quite knows what the future of Art NFTs will be. As there popularity increases, so too will the need to showcase and utilize them. But who knows what shape that will take, and how that will spur further NFT growth.
NFT ART STRATEGY #3 — Buy What you Love
No, no, no — don’t leave.
It’s a tired cliché because it has withstood the test of time: your Love is the best place to start with your Art (collecting or creating). But beyond just a weathered axiom, collecting what you Love has quite a few additional benefits.
For one, it’s easier to become an expert at concepts, themes and styles you are have familiarity with — thus ensuring a deeper appreciation and a more refined eye for the things you Love.
Additionally, you’ll attract or be attracted to peer groups that gravitate to that beloved artform; making networking, reselling or humble-bragging that much easier.
Remember: Love isn’t just an emotional quantity, it’s a tactical one, as well.
NFT STRATEGY #4 — Avoid Memes, Clichés, and Derivative Work
Crypto Art is in a primordial state right now.
That means lots of growing pains for the Medium in the form of memes, aggressively derivative work and some of the lowest-effort artwork this side of MS Paint.
And incidentally, it’s all gorilla nonsense because of the phrase, “Ape In” — or going all in — a common Crypto Bro theme.
The mimetic quality of this Artwork will inevitably cheapen it in the long term. Slight variations on popular trends takes no effort, and therefore, profits you little. Besides, the popularity of hungover primates can only last as long as the delay before the next trend hits.
NFT STRATEGY #5 — Sidestep NFT Norms and Expectations
Alright, so we’re not going all in on Crypto Kitties or Hungover Apes. Does that mean I have to buy-
-No. No it doesn’t. Don’t even finish that sentence.
Not every NFT Art acquisition needs to be 3D art. Not everything needs to be a rotating object. Not everything needs to animate. Go outside the digital bounds of what you think an Art Non Fungible Token can be.
NFT Art can be exquisite traditional fine art, an especially important note if you’re much more comfortable in that arena. You can also fine-tune your search to mediums you know like Photography, Acrylics, Carrivagiasm, etc.
NFT ART STRATEGY #6 — Form Symbiotic Relationships with Up-And-Coming Artists
The novelty of NFTs means that most Artists are new to the Crypto space. Only a handful of Artists can be considered industrial “Titans”, and even then, they have been titanic only for a few years. But wherever an Artist is on the totem-pole, all NFT Artists are dependent on buyers and sellers like you.
Many NFT Artists will link to their Wallet Address, personal site and/or Social Media. See if you can engage the Artist (please don’t harass the Talent!) on private sales, bundles or even NFT commissions if they’re work is especially striking. The Artist is there to make a sale and a name for themselves — your approach only accelerates their goals, so be friendly and be bold. Everyone contributes and everyone benefits.
If you like an Artist, you’re probably attracted to their style and subject matter. Learn just a tiny bit about Art History and Design to know what genres, styles & techniques are seducing you through the work. That way you can expose yourself to an ever-expansive list of Artists similar to the ones you like.
And at that point, well — the art never really stops. Does it?
