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“Small or Large”

When we as artists have a vision for a new piece of art, many of us attach a size, vertical or horizontal and a myriad of items before starting. As I have found in the eventual marketing of your art, size does matter in one more very important category, cost. Today more than ever the cost of original artwork has become an issue of major consideration for art buyers. The overall economic circumstances of the past eight years have indeed brought this subject to the forefront of our minds. There are of course exceptions to my statement and many buyers are fortunate enough to still afford great art of their choice. That said, I firmly believe this group of folks is smaller today than it was before. I talk to other artists, galleries, buyers and collectors alike and the central theme of a “buyers’ market” is prevalent everywhere.

Many artists simply don’t produce larger pieces for art fairs, private showings or even galleries at the ratio previously offered. The reason seems to be cost and nothing else. My own experience in the showings I’ve been involved with has been the realization that the larger pieces while serve as attention or impact pieces, don’t sell often. Of course I am not a well-known artist at this juncture of my art career, but have occasionally sold much more expensive and larger pieces as other artists have experienced as well.

I am addressing the “new norm” that I feel is today’s market and not the exception. I am also talking not about the well established artists that routinely sell work for several thousand or even several million dollars for a piece with several folks bidding on the work, rather the article is exploring the “why” of the receding art market as I see it today. Why are galleries closing all over the country at an alarming rate? Has the internet created a marketplace so vast internationally that it has diluted the personal and emotional connection to a fine art piece? Are the increasing amounts of art festivals and plein art events bombarding the public with too much affordable art, good and not so good, that folks are becoming insensitive an uneducated as to what constitutes really fine art? All valid questions, and I really don’t have a complete and correct answer. I have asked the same set of questions to many in the art world and each has opinions but no concrete answers or solutions to this dilemma.

I do know this about business, professional change is inevitable in order to survive. Every industry I know must change in order to maintain and grow. The old axiom of “grow or go” is absolutely the truth in any business. Think of how many mom and pop shops have been lost simply because they couldn’t or wouldn’t change to meet the new demands of their customers’ requests.

We have emerged as a society of ever changing desires. The average homeowner changes their home every 5-7 years, buys a new car every 2 ½-3 years, new computer every 2 years, mobile device every 1 ½ years, etc. See where this is going? Artwork is not immune to this changing appetite of the consumer. People want to change their environment frequently, and more now than ever. Discouraging sure, but not an issue that cannot be solved with new ideas, creative thought, research and just common sense product offerings. Adjusting ones thinking or personal philosophy about our individual preferences or desires can be hard, but can be and indeed must be adjusted to fit the ever changing marketplace. And the good news is we can alter our thinking, we can respond to the needs of our buyer as a profession. Move out of our comfort zone, explore, research and development, new and exciting ways beyond all that you know now, to put your art in front of the customer that will appreciate you, your work and make the purchase. This is totally achievable folks. I had to make many adjustments to my architectural design business over the many years, and each while a little scary at times, had to be considered to maintain the success we were able to attain.

I would appreciate your input, both artists and buyers of art. Offer your thoughts on what I’ve said. I am trying to understand the “new norm” as I truly do not know.  

Until next time, have fun and enjoy the journey-
May God Bless-

Ken Pieper
http://kenpieper.fineartstudioonline.com/