Replies: 18 Comments
on Sunday, August 27th, megchelse@gmail.com">Jason Megchelse said
Great blog mate, has really got me thinking about how original, affordable art can be made available to the general public and valued by them.
Thanks a bunch.
on Tuesday, August 22nd, Michael S Fenton said
Re the cable guy...I've had similar experiences. My cable guys like the nudes, mostly. Even sold one. We've had great discussions, too, but I've found that the market seems to be nudes for the single guys and cute landscapes for the family guys. Lots of the other stuff is worthy of a discussion ("How'd you get the idea for that?"), but that's all. Perhaps there is a market out there, but in New Jersey the cable guys have a limited scope of interest.
on Thursday, August 17th, jose said
I think the schedule has been changed, Mark, we now get a new one on Mondays and Thursdays I believe.
on Thursday, August 17th, Mark said
This has been an interesting blog, lots of good comments. So when are we going to see a new blog? I think all has been said that will be said with this one. Take care all and keep creating.
on Tuesday, August 15th, walt said
This is an old subject with some simply boiler plate answerw. Prints have always been an alternative item for those with less to spend. Whether original hand pulled limited edition prints or digital reproductions which can be done on call these are the simplest place to begin. Also, if someone wants an original hand made work small works on paper can be done. Sketches or studies for larger more important works (or variations of of those works can be produced-- sometimes even in front of the buyer which often turns them on to no end.)I recently was commissioned to do a portrait for a friend who ended up in a larger painting. She saw herself in the larger work and then we negotiated the smaller portrait since she couldn't afford the larger work.
There is absolutely no need for good friends, aquaintances or the cable guy to not own something of your work. However don't get your hopes up. The general public will never buy enough to keep you afloat. Remember, they are just as likely to frame a copy of some famous football (or futbol)jersey! It's all the same to them and that because we've pretty much told them that it is all the same...you know, art is in the eye of the beholder and all that.
I know this because I live just like your average guy, in a lower to middle class mixed race/ethnicity neighborhood. And worse, near enough to a more upscale part of town where I often ride my bike and know a few people so that I can see that they too have the same jersey under glass as well--of course they pay a lot more for their frames than in my neighborhood.
Michael, don't kid yourself. You're a rarity. One that we'd like to see more of.
on Saturday, August 12th, josé said
i have no qualms about my dentist making more money than i do, if he shows an interest he gets the same quote as the 'cable guy'. this, too, is something we have to overcome.
on Friday, August 11th, Mark said
Olga, very, very good idea. After you have the money you could then smack the dentist in the jaw. Then the dentist would know wit feels to pay all that money and to leave hurting.
on Friday, August 11th, Olga said
Mark, you are right... Of course!
Just one thought, maybe funny. If I'll get a dentist-buyer, I'll overprice my work! That's for sure. Why I have to work for several weeks to pay for just one root-cannal! - let's dentists and lawers go to galleries and pay in full to artist, gallery ..whatever.
on Friday, August 11th, Mark said
P. S. Are we not all average guys/gals? Some just have more money then others.
on Friday, August 11th, Mark said
The trouble with pricing art and selling it is that there can be so may people involved, the artist, dealer, gallery, and buyer. If an artist sells a work for $200.00 to someone but the same sized work is $400.00 in a gallery the gallery gets upset, so to can a buyer who paid the $400.00 at the gallery, they may wonder maybe the work is only worth $200.00. Artwork is not like a car where you shop around for the best price for the same car, but then again a car is not usually a one of a kind, it is more like a reproduction. So what are we to do to make work afforable to the "average guy" and not undersell the gallery or dealer? One way, I have done this, is that I give permission to my gallery and dealers to sell a work for up to a 20% discount, better to make less money then none at all. So if I sell a work at a 20% discount I am only doing what they might do, and they know this as I explain it to them. What helps is not giving a gallery or dealer exclusive representation, making it clear to them that you also sell your work.
This could be a whole different blog but to give a gallery or dealer exclusive representation is usually a bad deal for the artist unless they know that the Rep. can sell what they promise or you have a contract that protects you and ensures you steady income. Which is not likely to happen.
so be it, back to the studio.
on Friday, August 11th, Olga said
Jose, I thought about this. But still I feel that I am pricing my works that I sell to people directly from my studio not according to their "reasonable" prices but according to what I know people can afford. And you know, I felt that when they bought my paintings they did not think that paintings can cost more. Again, I am talking about "averege" class, who does not buy originals from galleries. For instance, parents of my neighbor-student came and bought one of my best painting (at least it was my favorite) for 200 USD (I said this price because I knew how hard they work to make their living) and they were really happy to write this check, very proud, I would say. And to me their 200 was equal 2000.
Should I price my work higher? In this case - NO! I am happy that this painting ("Masks") is in their "hands". Moreover, when I've had reception for my show, they came first, and they'll come always.
on Friday, August 11th, josé said
sure, i know what you mean. but remember this, if you are satisfied with yourself that you are not giving in to the hype of over-pricing and feel your prices are reasonable the people making the extra effort to get a painting of yours will feel happy inside for making that effort, all the more so if their budget doesn't usually allow for something as unusual as buying a work of art. we artists often tend to forget that the buyer also gets satisfaction from the transaction and that the effort put into securing it is an important factor in this satisfaction. ever thought about that?
on Friday, August 11th, Olga said
Thank you, Jose, for your advice. I have no any kind of contract of exclusivity with a particular gallery. I am free and I make my living from chemistry, not from art. But as many of us are, I have my ambitios and I do not want to sell my works cheap from this point of view... but from the other point of view, related to this discussion, I do understand that my art should be affordable to people like me. I am also that "average guy" and I can tell - I can spend 100-200 USD on art piece and only if I need to make an expensive :) gift to sombedy.
It's very contradictive situatioin: we want that someone likes our art, but because of carrier, ambitios we sell not to that average someone but to rich someone. It's unfair in someway and fair in another way..
on Friday, August 11th, josé said
Olga, here’s my view for what it’s worth. Keep your prices affordable or within reason, keep them at the same level at the studio or at a gallery or exhibition, and be ready to part with the percentage if the sale goes via gallery – this, considering you work with a gallery and have agreed upon the possibility of taking people to your studio with a view to selling on the side. If, however, you have succumbed to a contract of exclusivity with a particular gallery such a visit could be seen as a breach of contract and the results would not be good for the career choice you had envisioned. But if, like the majority of us, you go it alone, occasionally hooking up with this or that gallery then I would think the policy of keeping prices accessible and standardized wouldn’t stop a gallery from wanting to do business with you on the grounds that you undermine the deal by selling behind there backs at a lesser price. But don’t ‘give them away’ for too cheap.
on Thursday, August 10th, Mark said
Michael, how very true. I agree with you, in fact I have been thinking of lowering my prices on the midsized and smaller paintings to make them more affordable, I have to keep the big guys at present prices due to a relationship with a corporate dealer.
I had a similar experiance. My wife and I bought a brand new house three years ago, as with new houses they settle and we needed painters to come in and fix cracks and such. One of the two painters was impressed by my work and mentioned he might like to buy one (now he did not come across as very educated by his speach, not that it matters but the point is made for a reason, read on) before I could say a word his partner (sounding MUCH more educated) told him it would probably take his whole check to buy one. The potential buyer got grimmed faced, I later told him if he was interested we could work out a deal, but I think his partners statement made him afraid and he never brought it back up. So one can see it is not just the artists and galleries that often hurt themselves but the average guy does too because he/her does not understand and fears art. I will often sell work on time just so as to allow the buyer a chance at buying a work, I have even given some deals with buyers, even, dare I say, OH GOD, a discount, shudder, shudder.
There is a whole market out there, I hope to get a piece of them, with more affordable originals, and yes, perhaps reproductions too, but originals would be my preference. So here is to the average guy (and I am one of them) and trying to bring them into the fold. Good blog Michael.
on Thursday, August 10th, Olga said
Great posting, Michael. I am sure, you'll get comments about producing prints. But how to get people to appreciate originals, not prints, to make them buy and be proud of possesing originals? What I do... I sell for quite affordable prices my works here, in town where I live. I know, people are not reach here and most part of them are students. My summer show in the Coffe House consisted of couple of high-priced paintings and a lot of works cheaper than 100 USD. Only one relatively expensive painting was sold, and about 6 or 7 low-priced. I am sure I put the beginning of the collection for those people (one buyer from California wrote me about this. He just came to Delaware for a business trip and he bought my framed 16x20 painting!). Ok, I am not living from my art, so I can afford to lower the prices.
Also, if somebody buys my work directly, saying, from my studio, it's way much cheaper since I do not spend my time and energy on getting it to somewhere.
What do you think, colleagues - am I wrong doing this?
on Thursday, August 10th, josé said
Very funnily put, Michael, but sadly very true. As you say, it all boils down to snobbery and the pursuit of status most of the time. How many of us have the guts to invite ‘the cable guy’ to an opening of our work – and I don’t mean to see the show after opening night, I mean have him there to share in the major ‘fire-works’ and show him he’s welcome? The people who provide domestic services and whom we – in Europe perhaps even more than in the US – tend to look down upon, may not aim for our most expensive pieces but you’ll be surprised how faithful and supportive they are. A good blog, Michael, good of you to keep reminding us to stay human and not get carried away.
on Thursday, August 10th, mattbeall@yahoo.com">Matt said
Michael,
Can you contact me please?
Thanks!
