I was asked to post about art collecting from the vantage of
an artist . I am happy to do so and will describe
what I have learned from my three years of renting a studio in the arts
district of NE Minneapolis.
A little back ground so you know where I am coming from. I
am an architect by day and an artist by night. Each has a lot to do with
creating and drawing in ways that hopefully affect people. I love both of my jobs, yet they are
two jobs so I run a double life and that double life goes well into the
evenings! I also teach art once a
week at White Bear Center for the arts.
My advice on collecting and obtaining art is going to have
less to do with galleries but more with artist working studio, open studio
events and commissions. Most of my
work is primarily shown in my studio and in local restaurants and not galleries
primarily because my art life is in the evening and it is hard to network
galleries outside of business hours.
As I get closer to retirement I will go this route but for now I paint
or draw every day and have my studio open at every opportunity.
There are online galleries such as Invaluable :http://www.
There are online galleries such as Invaluable :http://www.
Open studios are a great place to see how the art is made,
meet the artist, and visit repeatedly.
I will often get 3 or 4 visits before someone makes a purchase, but even
on these non-purchase visits an artist will thrive on the conversation and
encouragement. It is also
interesting to see which pieces get attention! It certainly changes.
When visiting this is your chance to ask questions and by
all means negotiate. When an artist has work in a gallery they have to add the
galleries 25%-50% (and higher) commission. So many people are afraid to throw out a number because they
might offend. This not the case and can be fun. I tend to be firmer on art that is framed because of the
work I have in it, my options of where to market it, and your ease of just
driving nail and hanging it.
HOWEVER, at least in my studio, make me an offer on what I
haven’t yet framed. I believe that is where the deals are. You will need to go
and get it framed and there is expense there, but I love it. The art is my take
and the frame makes it fit your house. I am in a constant struggle of what to
get framed, and what to just plastic bag.
My wall has a portion of simple clipboards for this work. My happy
medium is to matte frame and hinge a piece. It’s affordable to me and allows
you to by a stock frame that matches your house.
I believe I make more off of commissions than art off the
wall, but that varies through the year.
In NE Minneapolis all of the studios are encouraged to be open on the
first Thursday of the month. I believe St Paul does something similar on
Fridays. We have an ever growing
ART-A-WHIRL in the spring that will bring 2,000-3,000 people through our
studio. Sales are strange and the
crowd is there for the live music and beer as much as art but I typically sell
20-30 small pieces and pick up repeat visitors that turn into commissions
through the year.
Also, if you don’t see anything in your price range, tell
the artist what your price range is. I promise in a working studio they
probably have boxes of studies, or partials that you may dearly love. Some studies
are among my favorites but I am not sure others like it enough to give it wall
real estate.
Commissions are fun and funny. It is the difference in seeing something you love and buying
it versus paying for something you hope you will love.
Honest advice on getting the best commission? Give simple
direction on what you want and what you love about the artist work but little
else. The more freedom you give the artist the easier it is for the artist to
do something that sings. Also even
if you see high dollar work on the wall but your budget is $100, be upfront
about it. Most artists can work backward on size, or details, etc while still
producing something you love. Your
house probably only has so many walls capable of large art anyway. Even if you can’t come to an agreement,
ask away. You have no idea how much the encouragement and interest mean.
BUT, DON’T ask any one to do work for exposure. Especially here in the cold north you
can die of exposure.
Honestly when you buy an artist work, and especially if you buy straight from the artist, you are helping to make this part of persons life possible.
By what you love, and tell the artist you love it. (I also
give a discount if I can tell someone is floored by something). If you are
going for the working studios route you are more likely to get on the ground
floor.
Also I love the quote, “ Please buy from a living artist,
the dead ones don’t need the money!”
Links
In my part of North East Minneapolis you can visit a dozen
or more great studios but the 3 I am most familiar with are
My own – Solar
Arts Building – http://solarartsbuilding.com/
- about 20 artists and a great community. Indeed Brewery is on the first floor
and a great place to start.
Northrup King Building – http://www.northrupkingbuilding.com/
- Huger than Huge and amazing stuff.
Casket Arts building – http://www.casketarts.com/
There are ton more, but one disadvantage of having an open
studio is that limits you ability to wander to other peoples studios.
I hope this was helpful. Love open studios so come and visit and take something home!
My door has the big T-Rex on the second floor of the solar arts building. I draw or paint every day so it is always changing. I am a bit buried in artwork right now and would love get more work out there so don't be afraid to make an offer!