Congratulations!

You whizzed through that quiz! And it’s no surprise.

Based on your responses your personality results reveal that you’re a:

Conscientious Collector!

You have a calculated and detail-oriented approach to art collecting.

You are meticulous and informed. Your analytical mindset and precision in navigating the art world is your innate advantage!

Your methodical nature allows you to do a deep dive into all the options for your collection. You take the time to gather information, analyze, and ensure that each piece aligns with your discerning standards.

Your attention to detail and thorough research sets you apart in the art market. Others might make impulsive decisions, buying in the heat of the moment, or buying from the first place they find.

Not you!

Your methodical approach to art collecting ensures that every piece is a deliberate addition, chosen with precision.

Whether you:

You’re driven by the desire to create a collection that is intellectually stimulating and artistically significant.

Encountering challenges or uncertainties in acquiring a desired piece only strengthens your commitment to curate a collection of the highest caliber.

The art world thrives with individuals like you: a conscientious collector with a meticulous eye for detail and whose collection emphasizes quality over quantity.

Your diligent networking skills create connections within the art community, uncovering pieces that align with your precise and thoughtful vision.

By leveraging your strengths, you can enhance your art collecting experience, build meaningful connections, and create a collection that reflects your individuality and preferences.

Yet, for a conscientious visionary like yourself, there are a few things to keep in mind.

⭐Listen to your heart. If you researched every single element of each piece of art you liked, it would be your full time job. Sometimes, it is best to just go with your gut and love a piece simply for its aesthetics and the way it makes you feel at the end of the day. If it’s speaking to you, it has a place in your home.

⭐Embrace “wabi-sabi”. In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi is a world view of embracing perfection in the imperfect. Realizing when you are consumed about making the “perfect” choice can lead to analysis paralysis. If you hold off purchasing to investigate other artworks in various themes or mediums, others may purchase the art before you do. Will waiting to research and analyze the options give you a clearer path, or will it limit your choices over time? Finding balance between the two will give you more options and more time to enjoy the art instead of still researching it.

⭐Be clear about your budget. You have a budget in mind, so be clear and let the gallery know. Here’s how to do it in a way that won’t make your palms sweaty or insult the artist or the gallery with your request: simply start with “is there any flexibility in the price? I am looking for something in the {your budget} range.” There is no need to be uncomfortable in negotiating; galleries have typically arranged some flexibility into their agreement with the artist and will also be likely to discount more generously if more than one item is being purchased.

Now that you understand your art collector advantage, here are 5 more things to consider when you’re buying art.

1. Hang investment pieces away from direct sunlight, and avoid placing valuable works in the bathroom! For moist/wet areas, we recommend a sealed photographic print on metal or plexiglass that can easily be reprinted or replaced if damage occurs.
2. Keep a folder of documents for all the artwork in your collection so that you can easily obtain appraisals for valuation or for legacy planning. You can keep these in digital or hard copy format.
3. Get a legacy plan in place so you have control over who will inherit your artwork.
4. Request more time to make a decision. Even if you feel like it’s a right-choice purchase, reputable art sellers will appreciate your need to think about it. And if you feel pressured to purchase, then it’s best to walk away. A pushy salesperson could be a sign of larger problems in their business, like artificially inflating pricing to try to cover their increasing expenses.
5. Measure your space properly. Simply measuring the wall that the art will go on ahead of time, and knowing the dimensions of the artwork, will allow you to imagine the scale of the piece in the space. If you have a photo of your space, Galleries may also mock up the artwork inside the photo for you to see what it looks like ahead of purchasing.

Finding the right piece of art can also be difficult,

no matter how strong your vision is.

How many times have you struggled with questions like….

Is this a fair price?

Will I love it forever?

Will it fit in my space?

Will it match my aesthetic?

Is this really an original work?
Will I find something in my budget?

While it may take time to seek out artwork on your own and learn how to navigate the art world, imagine if you could….

…Be “in the know” and get first access to artwork by galleries and dealers, and quickly see the work in person or through online videos.

…Find galleries and art platforms where the pricing is transparent and reasonable at different price points, and where negotiating is welcomed!

…say all the right things to close the sale quickly and easily instead of wondering if there was something else that should have been said.

…Feel completeness in your home because you finally have the perfect piece of art with a story that brings the space to life.

…Be assured that you have purchased something that holds value for investment and comes with the proper documentation to confirm its authenticity.

…Discover a professional to handle, pack, or store artwork for so that you can free up space for your next acquisition. (Of course, no one wants to have art stored away when they would rather enjoy it, but it’s an option for serious investors!)

Your Art Collector Advantage can get you there.

By taking this quiz, you’ve already used your collector advantage and discovered another resource to get you closer to your next acquisition.

Remember, one of your superpowers is your ability to approach art collecting with a careful and methodical eye, ensuring each piece aligns with your precise standards and contributes to a meticulously curated collection.

Pause for a moment to paint me a picture of the creator behind this quiz…

I’m Sonya Sparks, owner and chief curator at Sparks Gallery in the vibrant heart of San Diego, CA.

My mission is to pair clients with affordable, accessible, and thought-provoking artwork, so that their spaces weave compelling narratives.

Each year, I have the privilege of collaborating with hundreds of diverse clients who are on a quest to acquire original contemporary artwork. Collectors are welcomed to our gallery to enjoy artistic activations and art parties, as well as original contemporary art.

For those outside of Southern California, we showcase and sell all of the artwork in our gallery on our website.

If you live in Southern California, you may have seen my curated exhibitions for: the Oceanside Museum of Art Artist Alliance, Allied Craftsmen of San Diego, Cannon Art Gallery (Carlsbad, CA), and the Escondido Arts Partnership.

Listen to me speak about how my curation style is both design-forward and purposeful, while supporting local artists.

Why trust me to guide you in your art-collecting journey?

Hear it from my community:

“I have known Sonya for many years and know her to be a focused person in pursuit of her goals, while at the same time exhibiting a zest for life. She always begins projects and events with the end result in mind, which always results in high quality and aesthetic brilliance. Her tenacity to stick with complex and difficult challenges through to completion of her goals has been most recently exhibited in the completion of the Sparks Gallery in San Diego.

Her vision has come to life in this new Gallery which displays a rare mastery of the balance of both technical complexity and artistic taste so typical of her character.

I can recommend Sonya as well for being well-connected with the San Diego contemporary arts community, which will be exhibiting in the Sparks Gallery.”

-David Buell

Now let’s focus on what a Conscientious Collector
like you does next:

Browse our collections of available artwork from the Sparks Gallery catalog that we think are the perfect fit for your personality:

Book a 1:1 art consultation with me, Sonya Sparks, for your personal collection in your home (in-person within the Greater San Diego Area)

Whether you are just starting your collection, or have a large collection, I am here to support your personal curation project. I will meet in your space to provide guidance for your overall collection and provide visual recommendations to curate your space. Interested in full-circle support for your collection?

I provide guidance so you can have clarity on any needs for your collection, and you receive a support system from me personally.

We will discuss:
➡️ appraisals for insurance,
➡️ packaging pieces to store,
➡️ expert curation for physical display of the work,
➡️ cataloging the work in your collection along with documentation, and
➡️ legacy/estate planning.

This session is ideal for collectors who would like to feel confident that their collection is visually and/or thematically cohesive, presented appropriately, and would like guidance on what is recommended for the health of their collection.

You will receive:

Guidance based on your existing collection
Placement suggestions based on visual rhythm throughout the space
Recommendations for maintaining and servicing your collection
Your artwork may be curated digitally from photos of your space, and provided to you to help guide your visual planning. (This is an additional hourly rate; please inquire during our session.)
Recommendations for full-circle support for your collection.