Do you know who welcomes your artwork into their home?
I was thinking about this tonight after exchanging emails with one of my collectors. Sometimes I wonder if people that sell in galleries know their buyers. Do they have any clue why someone wanted their painting? Where was that person from? Where will they hang it in their home? Maybe some artists don't care about these things, maybe the paycheck is all they need. But that's not good enough for me. Many of my collectors have become my friends. I guess I can say that, right? I remember when I first started selling I thought it would be so cool to keep a map, and place a pin on each location I sent a painting to.
I remember the thrill of discovering a lady in Tennessee, just an hour away from my hometown, was buying my art. We exchanged emails about the scenery, the weather, the differences from state to state. I remember the time a lady wrote me to say she was buying a painting for a friend whose husband had just passed away. She said the painting would hold so much meaning for her friend, like I created it for her without even knowing it. I think about the lovely lady from Istanbul that has purchased several pieces from me. Pieces for herself, a piece for her mother. She takes the time to tell me what my art means to her, how it has significance in her life. There's a lady in California, a collector from the beginning of my art journey, that I exchanged pictures with. She longed for snow & I for sunshine. So from opposite ends of the country we swapped weather. Oh, yes, and Kecia, who I first met through ebay when she snatched up a few of my paintings. We are now attending Artfest 2008 together! And now I have a dear collector, anticipating the arrival of her first little one. She's sweetening up the nursery with my art.
I like knowing these things. Is that so wrong? Sometimes I wonder if I should be all business and no play? Is all this friendly conversation professional? But, alas, I can't help myself. I've asked my husband what he thinks about all this...He says, I shouldn't pretend to be someone I'm not. If I want to chat with my collectors, and they want to chat with me, so be it. I think he's right, he usually is. (Did I just say that?)
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8 comments:
i think you are right on the mark about wanting to know what your art means to people and where does it exist in their lives. your work is a part of you and you can see how much thought and prescence you bring to it. what spoke to the collector about a piece is very interesting. i'm glad you are like that. i don't enjoy cold and impersonal people who are "professional". to me i lose interest in that sort of person. lose the "airs" and become real! i would love to see photos of where my collectors have hung my stuff, how it interacts with their lives,etc. One lady told me that she hung a piece i did in a spot where she can look at it all the time. That means a lot! and it has a lot of power - how confident will i feel knowing that? !
Your husband sounds like my husband. And my husband is awesome so yours must be too. I hope I meet you guys at Artfest 2008.
I think one of the things about being an artist is wanting to share your art- not just sell it. Having a relationship with a buyer/collector must be very sweet- you know your pieces are going to be loved. What a great perk as an artist! Whenever I make something for someone, it does make me happy to know they love it and will cherish it.
I appreciate your thoughts greatly. I too have made some wonderful friends because they happen to like, buy, or collect my work. I am often amazed at how much my thoughts and prayers go out to these wonderful people, and vice versa. Perhaps these relationships and personal meanings are truly more valuable than any piece of art could ever be just hanging in a gallery and admired from afar.
I totally understand what you mean and I feel very much the same way. I often wonder about the customer who buys a lot of my art...are they giving it away ?? do they have a grouping of my work ?? I am always flattered that someone thinks enough about what I make to actually want it gracing the walls or shelves of their home...I think it is wonderful when you make a personal connection with a buyer. You are not alone in this way of thinking !!
I was just telling another art friend yesterday how alot of my art has been purchased by men. The most from them I get is yeah I like it,or nice work. Dag I sure want more outa them. The women have raved nicely to my face,(the ones I met). You wanna be a fly on the wall don't yu?
I love getting to know my customers! I think your husband is very wise. :)
Di
Lindsay, again I must give kudos to your husband. How lucky you are to have someone so supportive.
I hear you on this blog. I feel very sad about pieces that I sold before I got a digital camera and have no record of. I am very protective of my art, I only want people who love it to have it. I was devastated when I found that someone had put one of my paintings in a garage in a pile of other stuff. I dug it out of there.
I want my art to be loved like I love it. They are my children afterall.
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