Saturday, January 01, 2011

Artist's conundrum

The library is going to show some of my photographs in their gallery throughout the month of Janury.  I asked them if they'd let me display my Imaginary Portraits paintings and they said yes.  Now, they also asked me to put prices on everything and give the library 15% of whatever I take in.  For the photographs, I don't care at all! It's all digital printsso I'm never actually losing anything; I can print infinite copies of the photos.  But the idea of handing over one of my paintings is a different story.  I made them just for my own artistic expression.  I think they look great on my wall and I'm proud of them.  I could always replicate them to an extent, but they're truly one of a kind because of the imperfections and unpredictability of watercolor and my own unprofessional hand.  
I can't even fathom Dali painting something like Persistence of Memory and then selling it.  But I guess that's what makes a professional artist.  I never set out to be a professional artist, but the idea of someone I don't know looking at my work and saying "I'll pay you for the privilege of owing that " is pretty damn enticing.
So what do I do?  Sell my paintings for a high enough price that most people won't buy it but those who do give me enough to assuage my personal attachment? Do I sell them for a reasonable amount to get my work out there and try to build a reputation? Do I not sell them at all?
Am I such a true artist that I created the paintings for the sole purpose of creating?  Well, yeah.  Does that make me more of artist than one who lives solely from selling their art? These are questions I never thought I'd ask.  
I'd be grateful for any advice anyone has to offer.

3 comments:

Paul G. said...

Hi Rob, Happy New Year!

Which library is doing the display?

I would select answer A. Price it for $50,000 as a 1 of a kind. Especially if you're ambivalent. Plus you would always have the opportunity to entertain other offers.

The real question is if the library is going to ask you to reprice it for display since they really want/expect the 15%.
Paul

Rob said...

Paul,
It's the East Islip Library and I'm their first experiment in selling artwork. They left the prices totally up to me.

John said...

You can scan them and sell prints of them for cheap. Or you can sell them and use it as inspiration to create new art for your walls.