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 means that on that date I checked every fact, rule and link against its primary source. Reviewed means that I re-read and updated the text without repeating that full check. When only Updated appears, the date corresponds to the last edit.
The guides offer general information. They do not constitute individualised legal, tax or professional advice: for a specific case, consult a qualified professional.
Total: 145
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 It must not be published, nor shared together with the general record.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.
31 guides
Authenticity, attribution, and forgery: a guide for collectors
Who may authenticate a work, the weight of committees, catalogues raisonnés and technical analyses, the value of a certificate, and how to proceed when suspicious.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- provenance
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Why a gallery asks you to identify yourself when purchasing an artwork
What obliges galleries and auction houses to identify their clients, what data they may request, and how long they retain it.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Buying art at auction: estimation, commission, and delivery
Understanding estimates, additional costs beyond the hammer price, VAT application and essential checks before bidding at an art auction.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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How to sell a work from your collection
Gallery, auction, direct sale, or platform: how to sell a collection piece, what documents will be requested, and how the gain is taxed.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- art market
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Paid open calls and vanity galleries: how to identify them
How to distinguish a vanity gallery from a commercial one, when an entry fee is reasonable, and what to review before paying to exhibit.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art market
- cultural work
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Determining exhibition fees: artist remuneration and best practice
Fees, production, and copyright assignment in an exhibition: what best practices in Spain state and how to request terms in writing.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- copyright
- art market
- cultural work
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Valuing a work of art for insurance, inheritance or donation
Una misma obra puede tener valores distintos según la finalidad. Quién puede tasarla, qué debe contener el informe y qué cambia entre seguro, herencia y donación.
Reviewed on 20 October 2026
- collections
- taxation
- art market
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How to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in an artwork, sale or open call
Cómo declarar IA distinguiendo obligaciones legales, bases, contratos, plataformas y decisión voluntaria, con un modelo factual adaptable.
Verified on 18 October 2026
- generative AI
- art market
- regulations
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How to prepare a certificate of authenticity for an artwork
Qué debe contener un certificado de autenticidad, quién puede emitirlo, qué datos conviene reservar y cómo tratar ediciones, duplicados, pérdidas e intervenciones.
Verified on 29 October 2026
- artist archive
- artwork documentation
- art market
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How to certify a digital artwork and its editions
What a digital work certificate must encompass: identification of the work and its files, edition characteristics, assigned rights, migration rules, and the rationale for a token…
Verified on 17 October 2026
- digital art
- artwork documentation
- art market
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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.