The guides are practical texts for anyone who works with art: how to document an artwork, what to review before signing with a gallery, when an artwork ceases to be protected. They differ from the articles in the Public Notebook in their function. The Notebook analyses and interprets; the guides explain how to do something and which rules, data or documents each step relies on. That is why they are updated when what underpins them changes, and each one shows the date it was last checked.
Verified indicates that on that date, I checked every fact, rule and link against its primary source. Reviewed indicates that I re-read and updated the text without repeating that full verification. When only Updated appears, the date corresponds to the most recent edit.
The guides offer general information. They do not constitute individualised legal, tax or professional advice: for a specific case, consult a qualified professional.
Featured resource
Master artwork record
An open-format template for keeping a consistent inventory of your work from the studio onwards. The ODS workbook brings together four sheets: master record, restricted data, gallery deposit and key. It includes validations, filters, frozen headers and an example row.
The gallery deposit sheet fills in the title automatically from the inventory number. It is a record of the works delivered, not a contract. Terms of custody, insurance, sale, commission and return must be agreed separately.
The restricted data sheet contains personal, financial and location information. It must not be published, nor shared together with the general record.
The ODS is the main resource. The CSV files let you import the master record, the restricted data and the gallery deposit record separately.
The guides are currently searched and indexed in Spanish.
50 guides
Images of public domain works: what is free and what may be charged for
What happens to a faithful reproduction of a visual work in the public domain, what museums and image banks may charge for, and how to find files that are genuinely reusable.
Verified on 28 September 2026
- copyright
- research
- cultural heritage
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My work has been copied: how to document it and the available avenues
What to do if you find a copy of your work: how to preserve evidence, check the rights involved and choose between direct contact, the platform, the administrative route or legal action.
Verified on 28 September 2026
- copyright
- cultural work
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How to authorise the reproduction of a work
What an authorisation should specify when the image of a work is used in a catalogue, in the press, on a website, in advertising or on a product.
Verified on 28 September 2026
- copyright
- cultural work
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How to care for an art collection at home
How to reduce the risks at home from light, humidity, water, hanging, cleaning, handling and storage, and the risk of losing digital files.
Reviewed on 28 September 2026
- art collecting
- conservation
- artwork documentation
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How OBJKT works: publishing, buying and preserving digital art on Tezos
What happens when a work is tokenised on OBJKT, what the buyer receives, how editions and royalties work and what you need to keep outside the platform.
Reviewed on 27 September 2026
- art collecting
- digital infrastructure
- art market
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Authenticity, attribution and forgery: what a collector can verify
How to distinguish authenticity, attribution and provenance, weigh signatures, certificates, catalogues and technical analysis, and act when doubts arise.
Reviewed on 28 September 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- provenance
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How to start an art collection: criteria, budget and documentation
How to move from one-off purchases to a collection with criteria, a complete budget, due diligence, documentation and conservation from the first work.
Reviewed on 28 September 2026
- art collecting
- artwork documentation
- art market
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Restitution and responsible acquisition: what to do when provenance is problematic
How to spot provenance risks, research before buying and act prudently when faced with a claim or a possible illicit export.
Verified on 28 September 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
- provenance
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Why a gallery may ask for your ID when you buy a work
Why a gallery may ask for your ID, the beneficial owner or the source of funds, what obligations it is meeting and how to send documents in a proportionate and secure way.
Verified on 28 September 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- cultural work
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Corrections and contributions
If you find an error, outdated information or a better source, please write to me via the contact page. I correct confirmed errors and update the date of the affected guide.