Collectors Are People First
"Aspiring Chickadee" finds a home.
"Aspiring Chickadee" finds a home.
One of my favorite books for the professional artist is Maria Brophy's,
Art Money, Success.
It's so genuine in
a world where art marketing advice often feels contrived. The writing
style and philosophy of selling art shows great respect for the
collector. So also do many of the articles I read on the blog, Fine Art
Views. This commitment to respect resonates deeply with me. My whole
life motto, socially speaking, is that one should always seek to love
people and use things, not the other way around. When we keep this
always at the forefront of our thinking, then getting to know the
people who express interest in our work and the reasons for their
interest become more important than the art itself. So I'd like to tell
you a little about some of the folks who have gone beyond simply
hitting the "Like" button to actually handing me their hard-earned
bread in order to own it. Here are some of their stories.
The Art Teacher
Beth Brown, an art teacher and fine artist in her own right fell in
love with and laid claim to "Aspiring Chickadee" just as it was being
hung in an art show we had both entered. You might recognize this story
because I've told part of it before. She said it made her want to cry.
But I only recently found out why. Beth had taught art for many years
in Dearborn Public Schools, but had not yet tried to promote her own
work. This show represented the first time she entered her work in a
competition so she was understandably surprised and elated to find that
she'd won Best In Show. She had just been informed about her win when
she saw my painting of a chickadee precariously balancing on the handle
of a paintbrush. This aspiring artist has since shown several more
times and has won three awards that I know of. I love that she
connected so strongly with my little bird painting.
Cake Lady
Red Velvet
Red Velvet
"Red Velvet," a 6"x6" oil painting of a luscious piece of chocolate red
velvet cake with buttercream frosting, sat for years in my home. It was
one of dozens of quick study paintings I did back during the Painting A
Day movement started by oil painter, Duane Kaiser. Most of those pieces
are stored away until the right buyer comes along, but I kept this one
out because I just liked looking at it so much. It's such a happy
little piece of yum! I had tried selling it on Ebay before, so I
thought I might try again. When I asked the woman who bought it what
she liked about it, she replied that red velvet was a favorite comfort
dessert, and she felt like she could reach out and take a bite right
off the painting.
The Doctors At Indian Lake
Indian Lake Mural
Indian Lake Mural
This nice couple, both retired doctors, had a beautiful view from the
second story bedroom window of their all-season cabin on Indian Lake.
When his wife became terminally ill, the man determined that he would
care for her himself for as long as he could. Since she would soon be
completely bedridden, he commissioned me to paint the scene from
outside across the nine feet of folding closet doors so she would still
see her beloved lake. We included things that she loved about the
scene, like the blue heron that visited every day, the swan with her
signets, the movement of the water, and the sunlit tree line across the
lake. Knowing that I was able to bring pleasure and comfort to these
people as they faced such great loss is something I treasure deeply.
People are always more important than things, and things like art can
make people feel important. It's the thing that keeps me painting.
There are as many reasons people buy art as there are people who buy
art. These are only three of many back-stories surrounding the
wonderful people who have found a connection with mine. Perhaps I'll
share more in future newsletters. Until then, thank you for reading. If
you can relate to anything here, tell me. I'd love to know about it. I
read all communications from my subscribers and try to respond
personally soon after.
If someone already bought a painting you had your eye on, tell me. I
may have something similar. If not, I do accept commissioned work. You
have only to ask. That's how "Her Grandmother's Sewing Machine"
launched a series that is currently in progress.
Be well. Be safe. You are important!
Jan
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