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Vintage
Ink & Paint

Informational Articles

Vintage Ink & Paint was among the first animation art dealers to provide solid, useful information about animation art to collectors. Our articles have appeared in numerous publications, and are used as reference by many serious collectors. Below are excerpts from some of our articles. If you would like us to send you the full versions of these via email, you can request them by using the Information Request Form.


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ADVICE FOR
BEGINNING COLLECTORS

In general, beginning collectors should try to avoid the temptation to purchase too much too soon. Usually, the pieces that appeal to a novice are completely different than the ones that appeal to a more seasoned collector. Decide on a theme or focus for your collection. If you don't, it's entirely possible that in a few years you may be stuck with a lot of artwork that you regret ever buying. It is also important to do your homework. After all, that's most of the fun of collecting! Read animation magazines, join animaiton groups, and attend gallery exhibits, conventions and auction viewings. Study animation history, rent cartoon videos, and attend screenings of animated films at your local revival theater. Study the process of animation to discover what the various types of sketches were used for.

Before getting in over your head financially, you should try to get a feeling for relative prices between different dealers and types of artwork. The best way to accomplish this is to take notes on any artwork you see that interests you. Jot down the date, name of the dealer, price, attribution and a brief description, and compare entries to try to figure out the characteristics which make one cel more valuable than another. Contact as many dealers as possible to request copies of their current price lists. Order every animation art auction catalog that you can afford, and be sure that you remember to request a listing of prices realized after the auction takes place. Once you have information from several different sources, you can discern which dealers and auctions have the widest selections, the highest level of service, and the most reasonable prices.

It's important to make informed purchases. Avoid dealers who pressure you to buy because "it may be your last chance!" Some artwork is truly rare, but most things turn up again eventually. Ensure that your purchases are guaranteed to be authentic. The only thing worse than finding out that one of your favorite pieces is a forgery, is finding out that you can't return it for a full refund. Don't fall for the "animation art as an investment" scam. If cartoon "gold" was lying in the streets ripe for the picking, somebody would have scooped it up by now! The only reason to collect is for the love of the art. As long as the joy of collecting is guiding your purchases, you cannot make a bad investment.

This text is excerpted from our article "Advice for Animation Art Collectors." For a free copy of the complete article via e-mail, please use our Information Request Form



THE CARE OF
VINTAGE ANIMATION ART

When it comes to preserving the artwork in your collection, a few general rules of thumb apply. Use acid-free matting materials to protect drawings and nitrate cels from becoming brittle. Drawings may be kept in acid-free folders or clear mylar envelopes (available by mail from many comic book archival material suppliers), but it is best to frame every vintage cel in your collection to protect it from short-term moisture loss and physical damage. Nitrate cels may need to be aired out every few years to prevent destructive gasses from building up, so make sure the frame is easy to open. If your artwork is going to be displayed in a sunny room, it is vital that you use UV filtering plexiglass as well. Any good framing shop should be able to take care of all this for you.

Avoid putting cels in stacks that place an excessive amount of weight on the bottom cel. Exposure to humidity will make the paint slightly tacky, and it will most likely end up stuck to whatever is placed next to it. Do not attempt to separate cels that have become stuck; however, you'll only further damage the paint. If a cel is enclosed in a vintage mat and frame, and appears to be in good shape, do not attempt to re-frame it unnecessarily. Any handling, flexing or bumping around could result in paint separation or loss. If handled carefully, a vintage animation cel should survive relatively intact for a hundred years or more, but rough handling can turn paint to a pile of chips in a matter of seconds.

Display vintage cels in a cool, moderately humid environment, away from sources of heat or direct sunlight. The optimal temperature range for vintage cels is between 60 and 80 degrees fahrenheit with a preferred relative humidity range between 50 and 60 percent. Monitor your display area carefully to avoid any sudden cold, hot or dry spells. In extremely hot or cold weather, a hygrometer and a room humidifier may be necessary to replace the humidity removed from the atmosphere by continual heating or cooling. A perfectly intact cel can deteriorate in the space of a few hours if the air is dry enough, so if you notice any radical changes in the condition of your artwork, contact a knowledgeable animation art conservator immediately to see if there is anything you can do to slow the process down.

This text is excerpted from our article "The Care & Restoration of Vintage Animation Art." For a free copy of the complete article via e-mail, please use our Information Request Form



ANIMATION ART
RESTORATION

As time passes, more and more collectors will be needing the services of experienced animation art conservators. It will become difficult to find vintage cels in good condition, and pieces which have never before shown signs of damage will begin to exhibit the effects of mistreatment that may have taken place many years earlier. Most seasoned collectors realize how delicate their valuable collection is, but when one of their treasured pieces begins to deteriorate, few collectors are aware of the processes involved in restoring artwork to its original beauty.

The most common misconception about animation art conservation is that cels become less valuable after they are restored. This is not the case. Once a cel has suffered considerable damage, it is often quite undesirable. Dealers and collectors will only be willing to buy it for a fraction of its restored value. The truth is, if properly done, restoration can only enhance the value of a damaged cel. Sometimes, collectors also express concern that restoration might impact the "authenticity" of their artwork. While in some cases, restoration may involve replacing chipped and flaking paint, the historical and artistic value of an animation cel is not embodied in the materials used to create it. Rather, its value is in the design, composition and combination of colors used to create an image that is full of life and personality.

Restoration of animation cels can be a very involved and time-consuming process. It is important to carefully research the techniques and reputation of an animation art conservator or restoration service before entrusting a valued cel to their care. Undoubtedly, color matching is the most important, and least appreciated aspect of restoration. Custom color mixing can be quite time consuming, so some restoration services pull colors from a stock palette of colors on hand, under the mistaken impression that "one green is just as good as any other one." When combined, these mismatched color choices clash, and don't even remotely resemble the original colors. At Vintage Ink & Paint, every color is custom mixed to match the original paint on the cel. Since the degree of yellowing encountered on vintage cel stock can vary greatly from cel to cel, the only way to accurately swatch colors is on the cel itself. Swatches can be compared by removing small areas of the old paint, so the newly mixed color can be applied directly along side the original for comparison.

Some restorers refer to various machines that test color reflectivity and speak of microscopes that look at individual particles of pigment, but there is no device known to man that is as effective at judging a good job of restoration as the human eye. Small variations in line, hue or shape can detract from the image and compromise the original intent of the artists who carefully created the piece. As time goes by, it is inevitable that more and more collectors and gallery owners will train their eyes to be able to discern the difference between a good job of restoration and a cosmetic hack-job. It is the responsibility of all animation art conservators to preserve this valuable art form for future generations, without sacrificing its artistic integrity.

This text is excerpted from our article "The Care & Restoration of Vintage Animation Art." For a free copy of the complete article via e-mail, please use our Information Request Form



APPRAISING
ANIMATION ART

The recent popularity of animation cels, drawings, and background paintings began in 1981 when an exhibition of the art of the Disney Studios was displayed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Since then, prices and excitement have continued to rise. Galleries spring up every month, joining the hundreds of retail dealers in animation art across the country. Auctions offering this material are now operating on both coasts, and prices have skyrocketed, with some pieces fetching well into the six figures. But this does not mean that all animation art has appreciated in value.

In order to determine the fair market value on a specific piece of animation art, one must compare it to similar artwork sold recently. Studying auction and dealer catalogs is the best way to get a clear idea of the variety and scope of animation art offered for sale. Most legitimate auctions publish a listing of the prices realized for each lot sold, and this can be a good source of information. However, one needs more than just a knowledge of recent market trends to accurately appraise animation art. A set of criteria for the comparison of different types of artwork is necessary. The four basic elements for evaluation are:

Authenticity
Unfortunately, there are a number of outright forgeries on the market today. Most are produced using modern materials and techniques, making them easily detectable to the seasoned collector, but some are more sophisticated, and many dealers and auctions have been fooled. The only sure method to protect yourself from questionable cels and drawings is to buy from a reputable dealer who will back up the authenticity of the art he offers for sale. Every dealer should offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity with a full refund if questions are raised. If they don't, shop elsewhere.

Attribution
The most common problem currently encountered by collectors in the area of attribution is misrepresentation. Because of the lack of established authorities in this field, many auctions resort to making educated guesses, usually biased in the favor of the house. Artwork from linking scenes, educational filmstrips and later productions can look very similar to the vintage cels used to produce the original film, and usually only a trained eye can detect the difference in materials. Misattribution is not always deliberate, however. It takes a great deal of experience to sort out all of the various sources of animation art, and even the most well meaning dealer or auction can mistakenly misrepresent artwork for sale.

Collectors' Value
The area of collectors' value is less "cut and dried" than the other factors affecting the value of animation art. The recent surge in sales of animation collectibles has been the result of a wave of nostalgia for the memorable characters and stories shared by a whole generation through the medium of the animated cartoon. The highest priced pieces are consistently those that are a part of our collective childhood memories. Artwork from minor studios like Iwerks or Van Beuren may be beautiful or rare, but because their films are not as widely distributed, they do not have as large a following. Public awareness and popularity are important factors in judging the value of animation art.

Image
By far, the most important criterion for evaluating animation art is its appearance. If a pose is poor or the cel is badly damaged, the price can be significantly affected. Although judging appearance is a subjective matter, it is possible to come to an accurate appraisal of the desirability of a piece of art. Typically, large centered images with open eyes and lots of personality are the most valuable. The condition of a cel can greatly affect the selling price as well. A certain amount of aging is expected in older pieces, but when the damage interferes with the image, restoration is often called for. A good job of restoration can make a cel much more valuable, but a poorly done job can render a cel worthless.

Appraising animation art involves many factors, but the most important one is the enjoyment that the artwork brings to its owner. There has been a lot of discussion about animation art as an investment, but no one should buy art for that reason alone. Collectors should choose their pieces with care, not just to insure that they are paying fair prices, but because they are likely to be hanging the artwork on their wall and living with it for many years. As long as the joy of collecting is guiding your purchases, you cannot make a bad investment.

This text is excerpted from our article "Appraising Animation Art: Fine Art or Cartoon Collectible?" For a free copy of the complete article via e-mail, please use our Information Request Form



ANIMATION ART FORGERY:
A GROWING PROBLEM

The most common question asked of us by beginning collectors is, "How can I tell if my cel is real, if I don't have a certificate of authenticity?" These fears are widespread because several large distributors of limited edition and recent production artwork have found that, by tapping into their customers' insecurities, they can make them afraid to shop anywhere else. The only thing that a seal and certificate indicates is that the artwork was originally purchased directly from the studio, or through one of its authorized dealers. Serious collectors consider certificates and seals to be nothing more than packaging, like studio issued labels, copy backgrounds or mats. Even though they may enhance the "collectibility" of a particular piece, they don't make it any more valuable.

Although many collectors are terrified of being fooled into purchasing a fake cel, most of these fears are unwarranted. Outright forgeries are extremely rare, and most are produced using modern materials and techniques, making them easily detectable to the seasoned collector. Most animation art dealers are discriminating enough to avoid questionable merchandise and offer lifetime guarantees of authenticity to their customers. If you have purchased a piece that you suspect may have been forged, show it to a few knowledgeable dealers and collectors to get their advice. If they also express concerns, you might want to solicit the opinion of an expert authenticator.

Recently, several forgeries have surfaced on the market with numerous copyright and production stamps. It is no great trick to get a rubber stamp made these days, so don't assume a piece is real simply because it has official looking stamps. In the early days, animation studios used a small number of stamps for very specific purposes. The expert authenticator should be familiar with these and be aware of any changes that may have taken place over the years. The techniques and materials employed at the various studios are also an important aspect to consider in authentication. By examining the peg configurations, cel stock, paint types, watermarks, marginal notes, drawing style, handwriting, and signs of aging, a skilled authenticator can glean a great deal of information. Expert evaluations can often detect anomalies that would escape even the most sophisticated dealer or collector.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself From Animation Art Fraud

  • Always buy from an established dealer. Never buy from individuals who are reluctant to give you their phone numbers and addresses. Establishing a good relationship with several reputable galleries in your area can be very helpful when you need advice or objective opinions on authenticity.

  • Always get a receipt with a full description of the artwork, the attribution (the film it came from), condition, a full disclosure of all restoration work performed on the piece, and a lifetime money-back guarantee of authenticity. No reputable dealer should refuse to do this.

  • Do your homework. Ask questions. Research the art, so you know what it should look like. If you are unsure, get xerox copies of the artwork before buying, and run them by a knowledgeable collector or dealer. Never buy "sight-unseen."

  • Never jump to conclusions. If you suspect fraud, gather all the information and professional back-up you need before confronting the seller. Get an objective opinion from a recognized authority in the field before demanding a refund. Most good galleries can reccomend an expert authenticator.

  • If you discover fraudulant artwork, report it to the law enforcement officials. Art fraud can be stopped if collectors work together to remove questionable pieces from the market.

This text is excerpted from our articles "How Can I Tell If It's Real?: Authenticating Animation Art" and "Collector's Alert: Recent Animation Art Forgeries." For free copies of the complete articles via e-mail, please use our Information Request Form


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This page is maintained by Stephen Worth. Its contents are copyrighted and may not be duplicated or redistributed in any manner without the prior written consent of the authors.