Comments on: Dan Fone, Post 3 – The Vicious Circles http://blog.artweb.com/2009/05/vicious-circle/ Artist Centric Art Blog Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:37:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Helen Nock http://blog.artweb.com/2009/05/vicious-circle/comment-page-1/#comment-26100 Helen Nock Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:58:50 +0000 http://www.theartistsweb.net/news/?p=1941#comment-26100 Morning Dan, Your circle metaphor hasn't got a viscious bone in it! More spontaneous and fluid. I was going to add more Zen but praps that's pushing it. Thinking about what art sells I think Wendy's 'get real' just about sums it up in relation to art as commodities to grace a private, public or corporate space. Something attractive and accessible and maybe a talking point too. When I'm in a direct selling situation potential buyers like to know as much as possible about the work particularly as my work is slow to produce and therefore not often readily affordable. Buyers like to have a more personal understanding of their investment and be able to talk about it to others. I like Dave Beckermans' work too. I reckon it hits all the buttons, a commercial line of good quality work that doesn't snuff out the credibility of more intangible creative pursuits for less mainstream investors. I've been looking at Alan Bamberger's art business site. Some interesting discussions on marketing art and what and how to sell. It's interesting in terms of the current climate and persuading artists there's no shame in selling cheap right now in order to survive. It's a fun read with some interesting suggestions and insights to the realities of selling to laymen from whom we get the briskest trade. On a cautionary note, I'm not sure whether this is tough love or spin on behalf of the broker end of the pot ! http://www.artbusiness.com/osord.html Anyway, I've gone off track......I really like Sarah's tips. Making note to myself to be more pithy and clear about how I go about my daily round. I really enjoyed your notes on theory too - love the analogy with play rather than rule. Morning Dan,
Your circle metaphor hasn’t got a viscious bone in it! More spontaneous and fluid. I was going to add more Zen but praps that’s pushing it. Thinking about what art sells I think Wendy’s ‘get real’ just about sums it up in relation to art as commodities to grace a private, public or corporate space. Something attractive and accessible and maybe a talking point too. When I’m in a direct selling situation potential buyers like to know as much as possible about the work particularly as my work is slow to produce and therefore not often readily affordable. Buyers like to have a more personal understanding of their investment and be able to talk about it to others. I like Dave Beckermans’ work too. I reckon it hits all the buttons, a commercial line of good quality work that doesn’t snuff out the credibility of more intangible creative pursuits for less mainstream investors. I’ve been looking at Alan Bamberger’s art business site. Some interesting discussions on marketing art and what and how to sell. It’s interesting in terms of the current climate and persuading artists there’s no shame in selling cheap right now in order to survive. It’s a fun read with some interesting suggestions and insights to the realities of selling to laymen from whom we get the briskest trade. On a cautionary note, I’m not sure whether this is tough love or spin on behalf of the broker end of the pot ! http://www.artbusiness.com/osord.html
Anyway, I’ve gone off track……I really like Sarah’s tips. Making note to myself to be more pithy and clear about how I go about my daily round. I really enjoyed your notes on theory too – love the analogy with play rather than rule.

]]> By: Sarah McIntyre http://blog.artweb.com/2009/05/vicious-circle/comment-page-1/#comment-25947 Sarah McIntyre Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:22:54 +0000 http://www.theartistsweb.net/news/?p=1941#comment-25947 For me, I think it's best when I make art that makes ME happy. And then other people seem to like it. The trick is finding people who will also spend money, not always easy. So I usually end up doing commissioned artwork for the money and I try to do at least one sketchbook item a day that's just for me, so I don't get stale. This is often the stuff that gets me the commissions, so it is a bit of a circular pattern. So I guess the challenges, for me, are 1. finding people with similar aesthetic taste to me who will commission work 2. finding avenues of selling my own personal work (involves networking) 3. making sure I don't get so overwhelmed with commission work that I neglect personal work 4. making sure I don't spend so much time on personal work that I don't earn enough money 5. taking time to get out and about so I'll have something to say with my work and be aware of what's out there; not holing up with my computer and desk all the time. For me, I think it’s best when I make art that makes ME happy. And then other people seem to like it. The trick is finding people who will also spend money, not always easy. So I usually end up doing commissioned artwork for the money and I try to do at least one sketchbook item a day that’s just for me, so I don’t get stale. This is often the stuff that gets me the commissions, so it is a bit of a circular pattern.

So I guess the challenges, for me, are
1. finding people with similar aesthetic taste to me who will commission work
2. finding avenues of selling my own personal work (involves networking)
3. making sure I don’t get so overwhelmed with commission work that I neglect personal work
4. making sure I don’t spend so much time on personal work that I don’t earn enough money
5. taking time to get out and about so I’ll have something to say with my work and be aware of what’s out there; not holing up with my computer and desk all the time.

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