What types of paintings are worth buying? A collector's guide

Every collector answers this question differently, and rightly so, because it's very personal. But some considerations apply regardless of taste, budget, or the kind of collection you are building.

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Start with the gut reaction

It all starts with how your body reacts to the artwork. Sometimes you come across a painting and you're instantly hooked. Even if you don't know why, even if you don't even understand the emotions it stirs in you, you can't ignore that your body has a strong reaction to that piece. All good collectors recognise this feeling and follow their instincts.

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A coherent body of work

Beyond the personal connection, the paintings worth buying over time are those that come from a practice with a specific core theme developed and expressed consistently across a body of work. That is different from work made for broad appeal or to fit in with trends, and this difference is what makes art stand the test of time.

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Documentation of the painting

A painting worth buying comes with a certificate of authenticity, a materials record, and the artist's signature on the work. These do not create value in the work, but their absence undermines it. They connect the object to its maker and verify its identity as a collected piece.

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Works that linger

The most enduring acquisitions tend to be paintings that do not resolve fully on first encounter, work that let you in more over time, that shifts slightly with different light and different moods, that raises questions you want to return to rather than settle. These paintings tend to carry themes that resonate deeply with the collector and that express feelings you wouldn't be able to artculate.

In David Roman's work, the main theme is reimagining the human spirit at a critical time when human value is rapidly reduced to data extraction. Roman operates as an independent artist, with work available directly from the artist, across a range of formats and price points. Each piece certified and documented by the artist directly.