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Fine Art

I thought it would interesting to start a discussion on the creation and marketing of fine art. This is different than craft work. Fine art marketing and selling is very different and has its own unique set of problem, especially in rural areas where the number of buyer's and collector's is small. Fine art does not sell at arts and crafts shows, flea markets, or other such venues. The cost is too great. A fine bead work, basket, or wood could be selling for $35.00 and next too it may be plein air oil painting selling for $350.00. Guess which ones get the most potential buyers? Fine art must have massive exposer, aggressive marketing, and good reviews. One tube of paint can easily cost $35.00. So fine artists have problems. Perhaps we can share tips, even though we are competitors, on how we can get fine art going here and perhaps turn this area in to another Santa Fe or Taos art center.

Tags: Art, marketing, selling

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Martin Hanlin on December 4, 2009 at 11:54am

Once the all B2B's are done accross the State any business can jump from one to another. I think the more exposure artists have the better potential they have to find new markets. Also, we have a several free shopping carts under the apps on members pages (sell it) I think Etsy and Cart Fly only take a small percentage from processing credit cards. The store can shown on the members pages as well a storefront on Etsy or Cartfly or both. Cafe Press is a free store as well and images can placed on at least over 5 items and again another store front.

I would like get enough artists in the SEOB2B and let them function as a copperative. I spoke with someone in Pittsburg who heads a 1/2 million dollar a year artist copperative. Appreciate you sharing Jeff.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Skinner - REALTOR on December 4, 2009 at 1:17pm

Jeff also has proposed what I think is an absolutely wonderful idea - a virtual studio! Sounds perfect and I can see it doing wonders for our local artists.

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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Risner on December 4, 2009 at 1:52pm

A coop sounds like a good idea. It has worked elsewhere. One of the problems of selling fine art via the net is the price and the desire to see the actual work before making the deal. No photo is a good as the real thing and unless the artist is of national renown, like a Richard Schmidt, than the buy is rightly hesitant to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars. I see the web as a first stop to get the buyers interested and involved in the artist which will then lead to visits to local gallery or personal commissions and sales. Having said that if an artist can make smaller works affordable, i.e. less than $100, the web customer may take a chance on a direct buy.

Martin Hanlin said:

Once the all Bab's are done accross the State any business can jump from one to another. I think the more exposure artists have the better potential they have to find new markets. Also, we have a several free shopping carts under the apps on members pages (sell it) I think Etsy and Cart Fly only take a small percentage from processing credit cards. The store can shown on the members pages as well a storefront on Etsy or Cartfly or both. Cafe Press is a free store as well and images can placed on at least over 5 items and again another store front.

I would like get enough artists in the SEOB2B and let them function as a copperative. I spoke with someone in Pittsburg who heads a 1/2 million dollar a year artist copperative. Appreciate you sharing Jeff.

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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Risner on December 11, 2009 at 1:33pm

One idea I have had for a while is a community art studio center for artists to work in. A place with good facilites, lighting, room to work in, that can be rented reasonably to artists to have their own studio. It has been done in may places like Columbus and Cleveland. I think its worth a try to locate space and see what we can do as a group by pooling our resources.

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Permalink Reply by Martin Hanlin on December 11, 2009 at 6:25pm

Think about an artists cooperative. Pulling their resources and networking together. I know in the Roseville area there is the Applachian Pottery Guild. They have been able to revcieve funding from serveral sources for projects. There is funding in this area for the arts.

Jeffrey Risner said:

One idea I have had for a while is a community art studio center for artists to work in. A place with good facilites, lighting, room to work in, that can be rented reasonably to artists to have their own studio. It has been done in may places like Columbus and Cleveland. I think its worth a try to locate space and see what we can do as a group by pooling our resources.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Sams on December 19, 2009 at 12:52pm

Jessica, the @Lab at OU is part of the College of Fine Arts and a partner in the WIRED program to develop interactive digital media resources in the region. I have invited Katherine Milton, Director of the @Lab and Phillip Marllory Jones, artist in residence and a world expert in art and virtual worlds to join the B2B network.

Also if you have a Second Life Avatar please visit our WIRED 1 island. My colleague Tom Stead is doing some incredible proofs of concept.

Jessica Skinner - Athens Realty said:

Jeff also has proposed what I think is an absolutely wonderful idea - a virtual studio! Sounds perfect and I can see it doing wonders for our local artists.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Sams on December 19, 2009 at 1:37pm

Hi Jeffrey, combining a fine art co-op with the folks that Marty is training along with some support from the Voinovich Center's MBAs for marketing I think that a real sales effort could be put together to connect with high end design centers in the top urban areas. I am current sitting in Newport Beach CA at my sister-in-laws and the folks in this neighborhood can write $10,000 checks without checking their bank balance. They also go big time for custom work. If we could establish a high end brand that it was the in thing to have Southeastern Ohio custom art works that could really be big time. It has always frustrated me to see the prices local top end artists are changing for their work. Most of it deserves to hae another zero added to the price.

Jeffrey Risner said:

A coop sounds like a good idea. It has worked elsewhere. One of the problems of selling fine art via the net is the price and the desire to see the actual work before making the deal. No photo is a good as the real thing and unless the artist is of national renown, like a Richard Schmidt, than the buy is rightly hesitant to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars. I see the web as a first stop to get the buyers interested and involved in the artist which will then lead to visits to local gallery or personal commissions and sales. Having said that if an artist can make smaller works affordable, i.e. less than $100, the web customer may take a chance on a direct buy.

Martin Hanlin said:
Once the all Bab's are done accross the State any business can jump from one to another. I think the more exposure artists have the better potential they have to find new markets. Also, we have a several free shopping carts under the apps on members pages (sell it) I think Etsy and Cart Fly only take a small percentage from processing credit cards. The store can shown on the members pages as well a storefront on Etsy or Cartfly or both. Cafe Press is a free store as well and images can placed on at least over 5 items and again another store front.

I would like get enough artists in the SEOB2B and let them function as a copperative. I spoke with someone in Pittsburg who heads a 1/2 million dollar a year artist copperative. Appreciate you sharing Jeff.

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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Risner on December 19, 2009 at 2:20pm

Bill its sounds good. In art an "high end brand" is a subjective thing. Some people buy art because they like it, others as an investment. If as an investment then high end would mean a known artist whose art is in demand and can be turned around at a profit. Thomas Kinked comes to mind, uggg! That takes time and what the current art fad is at that moment can determine what is going to sell and for how much. A Van Gogh was not worth much till he became a fad and than later when serious art collectors began to buy because of the greatness of his work. Of course he was dead by that time. :) What we need are connections to the high end markets and an opportunity to show our stuff. How to proceed??

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Permalink Reply by Bill Sams on December 19, 2009 at 4:09pm

Hi Jeffrey, actually we have an excellent model in our community. David Hostetler in Athens, http://www.hostetlersculpture.com/
David's work goes for from a few thousand to over a hundred thousand. He has spent his entire life in the region and has an international reputation. Susan Hostetler, wife and marketing and sales department is probably one of the most knowledgeable people in high end art selling that we could find. At the right point she would probably be more than willing to provide advice. We are a long way from the right point.

From my perspective one of the keys would be to connect with top end interior designers around the world. OU has a department of this that should be able to provide some info on this area. Provide these designers with a catalog of capabilities for custom work. Here is probably a key distinction. Most artists make something and hope someone wants to buy it rather than finding first someone that wants to buy something and then making it for them. I am in the second camp on the belief that if you want to make a lot of money then find someone with a lot of money and make them what they want. David's most expensive pieces are done that way. His less expensive go the other way so it is good to do both.

If I remember right Melody Sands set up a web site a couple years ago to take a shot at doing something in this area. She was putting together a regional artist catalog. I will see if I can find out what happened with that.

Another person who I met at ACEnet did custom solid wood doors and fireplace mantels. I think his doors started at about $5,000 and went up from there with stained glass. He had more business than he could handle. He had one order for something like 40 doors for a single custom house.

I would suspect that ACEnet has some efforts underway in this area. I will see if I can get Angie connected here.

Jeffrey Risner said:

Bill its sounds good. In art an "high end brand" is a subjective thing. Some people buy art because they like it, others as an investment. If as an investment then high end would mean a known artist whose art is in demand and can be turned around at a profit. Thomas Kinked comes to mind, uggg! That takes time and what the current art fad is at that moment can determine what is going to sell and for how much. A Van Gogh was not worth much till he became a fad and than later when serious art collectors began to buy because of the greatness of his work. Of course he was dead by that time. :) What we need are connections to the high end markets and an opportunity to show our stuff. How to proceed??

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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Risner on December 19, 2009 at 6:06pm

I am familiar with David's work and reputation and his model is the traditional model of most artists. Certainly most of the Renaissance and Baroque artists did it this way. Major commission via the Church, city government and rich patrons. This is why I have posted some many of works on this site so people can see what it is I can do and promote interest in either the painting or give someone an idea of what they may commission me to do. I had that happen recently. The Sistine Chapel is not only great art but great advertising!