Hand-embroidered quilt patch, Snoopy Dancing, by Tammy Vitale (1970s), Tam’s Originals

Yes, but it is art?

I embroidered Snoopy here at "lunch" (my shift was 3 pm to midnight) at American Bank Stationary Company where I ran the linotype and managed the typesetting of checks for a year or so.  I was painting then, too, but embroidery was portable and made my bluejeans very cool.  Needless to say the bluejeans are long gone and on many squares the material is falling away from the embroidery stitches which remain almost as good as new (at least in these densely packed works.  Outline works are showing wear). 

"Thick Paint" blogger, Shan Bryan-Hanson, also has a good post on Art and Point of View about defining (or not) what art is and isn’t using the analogy of blind men feeling different parts of an elephant.  There is always great conversation around her blogs in the comment section, so click on over and check it out.

I use this by way of introducing more talk on this past week’s subject of "What is art," and expanding it to who buys art.  Because once you know who buys (and what they consider art), then you can market.

I fed "selling art" into google and came up with a lot of eBay feeds, Amazon books and other on-the-web sellers.  I also came up with an very good article, Selling Art,  written September 2, 2002 by Constance Smith for ArtistsRegister.  You know, you just gotta love the Internet.

Here is most of the article since I’m afraid you won’t click over to read it and I think it’s worth reading.

"Think of sales as introductions. "Sales" usually implies luring someone into a lair and selling them something they don’t want. This is not the approach you want to take as an artist. It will surely backfire.

"Most people will say that it’s hard to sell art, that no one wants to buy art. They are wrong. There are plenty people who want to buy art, want to improve their life-style, want to feel good about themselves and like art in their life. You need to find these people-where they hang out, what they do for their livelihood and hobbies. That’s what marketing is all about-finding and contacting the right people.

"People ask all the time, "Where is the most active art market in the U.S.?" When I tell them their own city, they get really mad. They want to hear some magical answer, like Santa Fe, New York, Seattle. It’s ridiculous to think that there is a better city than your hometown for starters. Within each city many persistent and active artists are selling lots of artwork, but they’re not the artists asking that question! The term ‘marketing’ is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for selling. Marketing is the sum of several different kinds of activities: promotion, intelligent research, planning, pricing, studying competition, as well as selling.

"The art market’s down," is another commonly-used excuse. "You mean the auction market?" I ask. They don’t know, they just heard somewhere the art market is down. If we’re talking about the $20,000+ range, this could be true. Are you in this category? No? Well, then don’t believe this myth about the art market being down. Art has been made out to be a thing for the rich. How absurd! I’ve bought many art works for under $250. Generally small, I still value them, even after many years of viewing them. When I go to outdoor shows, there are beautiful pieces in the $100-750 price range.

"You need to instill confidence in small-time buyers who approach your artwork. It could be their first such purchase. They’ve been under the myth of "investing in art" and just don’t know if they’re making the right choice. At this level, a customer is not investing in art and needs to be told this. He is simply purchasing a piece of art to improve his life-style, to enjoy, to receive energy from. Indeed, the works might increase in value, but if he wants to invest in art, he will need to make larger monetary purchases.

"The author, Constance Smith, has devoted the last sixteen years to publishing art marketing information, researching and networking with art world professionals nationwide. Previous to that she represented fine artists in the San Francisco area. Art Marketing 101, distributed by F & W Publishing, is available at bookstores nationwide or you can order directly from the publisher, ArtNetwork at 800/383-0677 or 530/470-0862; by fax at 530/470- 0256; PO Box 1360, Nevada City, 95959. artmarketing.com/books Latest edition publishing date: 2001; 8×10" format, 336 pages, $24.95 + $4 shipping, ISBN: 0-940899-32-9."  [emphasis mine]

Thought for the day: Go outside in you yard and find some art.  If there isn’t any that you can see, gather together some random objects and make a piece, just for fun. No one else ever has to know…