Plan ahead - you're not getting out of here alive!

I've just had a client come in with 4 original paintings done by her mother. The paintings were involved in a family dispute and somehow were handed over to this person so she could have the works copied and make copies for other family members. I would love to show you the images because they were absolutely gorgeous portraits of girls with dogs and landscapes. The originals were over 70 years old and not in very good condition but that wasn't what was important to the family. It was that these were Mum's paintings and they were going to lose them forever!

As a typical artist, I imagine you've painted hundreds or thousands of artworks. Again, like most artists, you've sold pretty much everything and made your fortune, haven't you? If this is you, then this post won't interest you, just go off somewhere and figure out how you're going to spend all that cash!

If you're still reading then you must be one of those very few artists that don't sell everything they produce right? If that's the case, have you thought about what's going to happen with all your art when, well, you know, it's all over?

What would you like your family to do with your art when you're gone? What value will your art hold with family members? Who gets what? Who doesn't get anything? Well that all depends on how you document it and prepare now.

I would suggest that the first place to start is to do a stocktake of your creations. If you already have a catalogue system in place then this will be pretty easy. Make sure someone else knows about and can find and understand your system. No good having a complicated system with codes only you can understand, and having it hidden away where nobody can find it! Share it with those that will need to know.

I don't believe I've seen anything in any software package that talks about Estate Planning, which is what we are talking about here. You can probably add categories to some of them that should help sort out the problem.

Anyway, here's a few ideas on preparing for the inevitable…

Sign it! Make sure all your originals are signed, even if you don't like them all that much and may have even considered painting over them or throwing them out. They will be worth more signed than being attributed to that great painter A. Nonymous.

Title It! Give it a name and in your catalogue system, give it a description to make it easier for others to find.

Explain it! Have you ever looked at a painting and wondered what the hell the artist was thinking? Leave some clues. Tell the story behind the painting.

Price it! Give it a value from your perspective so that others have a guide as to what it might be worth to a collector. The person handling your estate may have no clue about your contribution to society as an artist and how your works might be valued. This could make a big difference to what's left to share around the kids.

Well that covers most of the art stuff, now, what about you?

Is your biography up to date? Go through what you already have, fill in any gaps. Again, tell the story from your perspective. Nobody can tell your story as well as you. These days, there are some exciting ways to record your own personal information. The old fashioned way is to write it in a book, you can get creative on a blog, create your own ebook, write a simple word document or go all out and create a video of yourself talking about your art history as part of your legacy.

Think the video thing is a bit vain? Get over it, think what it would be worth to your kids if nobody else.

A few other points…

* Be sure you have a list of where your art is displayed so the family or executor can find it.

* Never assume people will know what to do with your art, leave clear instructions.

* Talk about all of this before its too late - let others ask questions so they understand your wishes.

* Decide who will be responsible for the copyright of your art - it can be transferred to them so they can carry on selling your remaining originals and any reproductions to earn an income for the family.

If everything is clearly documented and explained, it will prevent infighting, arguments, legal disputes over who controls what, like the situation that instigated this post. Take charge now and control of your life's work.