Erin Marie Wallace

Assessing Fine Art

  • Recommended

    $130

    Includes personal feedback and tuition. More

  • $75

    Learn in an online classroom with no more than 20 classmates. More

Course Description

Learn the techniques of the trade to quickly and concisely evaluate a painting, print or drawing from Erin Marie-Wallace expert dealer, auctioneer, appraiser and practicing artist.

Erin-Marie will teach you her first-hand knowledge which has been gleaned from over 20 years working in the field and will share with you the processes that she has refined, that will enable you to make a logical, rational assessment based on materials, age, condition and provenance.

The most important thing you can learn in this field is how to distinguish and describe the major painting and print-making mediums. An oil painting, versus a lithograph versus an offset lithograph, all have a different value and the first step is to know what you are looking at.

This course covers the mediums and genres most commonly seen in the Western tradition of Paintings, Prints and Drawings dating from the Renaissance until the present day. With each medium, you will learn about its history and development so that you become confident in recognizing them.

At the end of this course it will not matter where it’s lurking, in a crowded market, a busy auction house, dusty attic or online venue, you will be equipped with a tried and true way of classifying ‘Fine Art’; and to separate it from ‘Just Art’. Erin-Marie will share how she has found fine art lurking in some of the most unsuspecting of places, and will give you the tools to help you assess a great find.

This course is suitable for anyone starting out on investing in art or the enthusiastic collector who is keen on firming up their knowledge. Assessing art starts with the requirement to be able to distinguish the major painting and print making mediums. An informed buyer is a smart buyer.

You'll learn:

  • How to distinguish between mediums
  • What makes fine art
  • How to establish materials, age, condition and provenance
  • Understanding print values

Time to complete this assessing fine art course:

Every student is different but in general we think the whole course will take around 3 hours to complete including:

  • Video lesson: 60 minutes in total
  • Assignment: at least 1 hour per lesson

You'll need:

You don't need any special equipment, but you will be identifying and analysing art works.

The course is suitable for all levels - beginners to art experts who want to learn from a specialist.

The course includes:

  • On-demand video lessons - presented by Erin-Marie Wallace
  • lifetime access to the video, notes and interactive class
  • flexible classes - join and learn when and where you like
  • downloadable lesson notes
  • practical (optional) art assessment project
  • access on your mobile, PC, Mac or laptop
  • small interactive online classroom chat online to students from around the world

Ready to get started?

Just add the course to your basket above - choose the 'Expert' option for personal feedback from Erin-Marie and questions.

Any questions? Contact us by clicking on the orange speech symbol - we'd love to hear from you.

CPD Accreditation

Course activity has been accredited by the CPD Standards Office (CPDSO). The course equates to 3 hours of CPD learning.
The CPD Standards Office. CPD Provider: 50276.

Course outline

  • Distinguishing the Different Painting and Drawing Mediums

    This lesson will teach you the necessary knowledge and tools to recognize the difference between paintings and drawings; oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache, graphite, charcoal, chalks and ink. You will learn how to recognise the mediums by learning about their development in history and be equipped to understand their relevance in evaluating a piece of art.

  • De-mystifying the Print Mediums

    In this lesson Erin-Marie will unveil how to recognise the different print mediums, the process, the types and the edition numbers. You will learn how to recognise the major print-making techniques and their relevant value in the market. Erin-Marie will cover Intaglio, Stone Lithograph, Stencil, Offset Lithographs so that you can have a deep knowledge of the difference between the good, the bad and the utterly worthless. You will learn the difference between Limited, Original and Reproduction prints, and specific edition types such as Hors Commerce, Printer’s Proof, Épreuve d'artiste and bon á tirer. Crucially you will learn to compare and contrast the market desirability of these mediums and how to spot the uncommonly rare from the commonly common.

Choose how you want to learn

  • The Expert option

    Recommended

    Develop your learning further with marked assignments and personal tuition from Erin Marie Wallace

    • Start course whenever you like
    • 2 weeks tutor access for personalised assignment feedback & coaching
    • 2 assignments marked by Erin Marie Wallace
    • Certificate of completion and CPD hours
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 2 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • Group chat & direct message with tutor & classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
    Learn more
    $130
  • The Peer option

    Discover the benefits of group learning in an online interactive classroom of no more than 20 people. Get the most from shared knowledge and community study

    • Start course whenever you like
    • Practise what you learn with your peers
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 2 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • 2 course assignments
    • Group chat & direct message classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
    Learn more
    $75

New
Buy this course for a business or group

You can now buy this course through your business or organisation for individuals and groups up to 20

Antiques classroom - how it works

  • Start anytime

    Watch video tutorials led by expert tutors

    Watch video tutorials led by expert tutors
  • Test yourself

    Practice what you learn with inspiring assignments

    Practice what you learn with inspiring assignments
  • Personal tuition

    Get assignment feedback from expert tutors

    Get assignment feedback from expert tutors
  • Share ideas

    Collaborate and chat directly to classmates

    Collaborate and chat directly to classmates

Meet Erin Marie Wallace

Erin Marie Wallace - Antiques
Erin-Marie Wallace BFA, MA

Erin Marie is an experienced arts professional with an infectious enthusiasm for clients and collections. She holds a master's degree in fine and decorative art and design from Sotheby’s Institute, London, and is a USPAP certified appraiser. She has extensive, international experience evaluating fine and decorative art for fair market or insurance values; she can teach you how to tell the difference between ‘Fine Art’ and ‘Just Art.’

After completing her master’s degree, Erin-Marie guided an international roster of clients as they acquired and developed collections of British ceramics and art pottery. She then worked as the Director of the Fine Art Program for a nationally televised auction house. In addition to presenting on-air, she was responsible for collection management, cataloging and evaluation of all fine and decorative art. Following that appointment, she was the CEO and lead auctioneer of Rare-Era, an international auction house and appraisal firm that she founded. The firm specialized in buying and selling fine and decorative art all over the world. Additionally, her cataloging expertise was consulted by auction houses and businesses (i.e. Jasper52, Lofty). She is a subject matter expert (SME) in fine art and ceramics and has managed and advised private and public collections worldwide.

Presently she works for an independent, international appraisal firm assisting clients who need valuations of items for estate, donation, gift tax and insurance purposes.

Her background includes first-hand knowledge of paintings, prints and drawings, ceramics and fine art mediums. Erin-Marie wants you to know that, “These experiences ensure a comprehensive knowledge of the art market and art history; I welcome you to the class and look forward to our conversations.”

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Awards & Accreditations

  • CPD Accredited (provider 50276)
  • Good Web Guide
  • Red Herring Winner
  • Education Investor Awards 2021 - Finalist
  • Royal Horticultural Society
  • Digital Education Awards 2023 Winner for Digital Health and Wellbeing Learning Product of the Year
  • Digital Education Awards 2023 Winner for Adult Home Learning Product of the Year