What is an Art Collector?

Today’s post is prompted by a question that was posed to me by a client, Mr. Jose Arce. The painting I want to post here was commissioned by Jose for his private art collection. Unfortunately, Blogger is having a problem accepting image stonight so I will post it at a later date. Jose asked if there was a difference between a piece listed in a “private collection” and a “sold” piece on my website. I didn’t have a ready answer for him because I hadn’t really given the matter much thought. Sometimes I will quickly slap a SOLD note on a painting just to let potential buyers know it is no longer available. And while it’s true I have used different terminology to note the same information on my website it isn’t always by design. I do like to keep track of where my paintings are though. Each Certificate of Authenticity includes a space for the item to be re-registered if it is changes hands. I issue a new certificate at no charge if the new owner contacts me to register the painting and requests one.

Our discussion then turned to collections and the many different kinds of art available for purchase. In the past year I have worked with many buyers both privately and through auction sites like eBay, Yessy and ArtByUs so I might be qualified enough to at least offer an opinion. I think a true collector is someone who is focused on ‘building’ a collection of work, whether it is original art or prints, in contrast to someone who is just buying art to match their current sofa. The collector may build their collection based on a favorite theme or style, although not always. One woman who won a horse painting auction from me on eBay told me she bought only drawings and paintings of horses. Another lady loved cats so much that she covered her walls with them. Yet another buyer collected only small still life subjects. I think the majority of my sales are to people in this category. The buyers may not even consider themselves art collectors, but they truly are in the sense that they know what they like and they are consciously looking for and acquiring art based on a theme or subject.

Another type of collector is someone I call the “art speculator”, for lack of a better term. She looks for art that is priced cheaply and hopes the work will appreciate in value so she can sell it and make a profit. Art is an investment to this type of collector and she may even find herself buying things she doesn’t really like just because she thinks she may be able to sell then for more money later on. She enjoys some pieces more than others, and will hang some of her art in her home but her primary motivation is to make a profit. Collectors in this category will sometimes purchase a piece by a particular artist just because everyone else is buying from the artist. The gift shop owner who purchases work at a discount on auction sites to resell in their store would also fit into this category.

Some art buyers may be a combination of the two collector types listed above. I see these folks as mature collectors. They are discriminating and have strong opinions about what they like and don’t like, although they may enjoy several different styles of art. This type of collector visits museums and/or art galleries on a regular basis. He makes an effort to learn a bit about art history and different movements. He appreciates beauty for the sake of beauty and has the artist’s “eye.” Although he may be drawn to particular styles and themes, he focuses on acquiring a collection that inspires and pleases himself first, and others second. He has learned how to identify quality and it is important to him. Another important consideration to the mature collector is how his collection appears together as a whole. These are the best collectors an artist can sell to, in my opinion. These collectors are true “patrons” of the arts and a rarity in this day and age.

Study for "Carousel" 9 x 12

Another study for a painting in the Fair series.

Study for "Shake Stand"

If I'm not really sure about a color scheme or composition I do a series of small paintings to work things out before I begin the big painting. In this case the painting will be a snapshot of rural teens at the County Fair. I took the reference photos last year and have just now made time to work on the painting. This small 8 x 10 study is a limited palette painting done in ultramarine and cerulean blue, transparent red oxide, yellow ochre, cadmium red and yellow and alizarin crimson. I do like the wau this one turned out but I need to work on the figure locations a bit more.

Visit the Art Show at the Wauseon Homecoming

A few of my oil and pastel paintings will be on display at the Congregational Church during the Wauseon Homecoming July 13-15. I have chosen five pieces to display.

Max Ginsburg
is an inspiration to me. At 75, he continues to paint masterpieces that delight and amaze millions. He survived the "dark years", what I define as the era beginning in the early fifties and running through the late nineties when minimalist modern art was embraced by the universities and galleries and academics were discounted. Dribbles and drips of paint, along with large rectangular "compositions" became the norm and realism was scorned. Finally the tide has turned and galleries realize that people actually prefer to own paintings that look like something. And Max is selling his stuff for record amounts of money.

A recent article in the July issue of The Artist's Magazine detailed Mr. Ginsburg's methods and they're actually pretty similar to mine (when I take my time and do it right). His cityscapes have inspired me to paint my own ruralscapes- the first of which I will share with you here when it's complete.

In the meantime, I painted a few other works this month. The Chief (right) just sold on eBay this afternoon. Banjo Charlie is a large painting inspired by a photograph by Tracy Kolenchuk.
I changed the model's location and gave him a banjo instead of a guitar, but otherwise he is the subject in Tracy's photo (and he looks like he is singing because he was in the photo.) The flag represents our society and the people in the background are looking at Charlie as if they can't quite figure him out.
I listed Charlie on eBay but I don't have high hopes that he will sell because he is just a bit too edgy for what the current element are buying.

The painting of Charlie is shown above along with a close up.