7/24: Questions
A young couple in their mid to late teens dropped-in today and took a good look at everything. If one judged them by their looks, they probably wouldn't fit-in to the usual stereotype of someone with a great interest in art, and yet they lingered quite a bit longer than most lookers. When I finally asked if they had any questions, it turned out that they did.
The girl asked,"Are you one of the artists?"
I get this all the time. "No," I explained. "Being an artist ought to be a full-time job. Running the gallery is a full-time job too, so I try to give the artists a chance to do enough work to make a living.
"Do you sell a lot of art?"
"Sometimes. It's like the lottery. The right person has to come in and find the right piece of art. "
"Who's your favorite artist?"
"That's easy. Rebecca Daugherty, my wife."(After all, she reads this- I do want to eat dinner tonight.)
"Who's your favorite famous artist?"
I had to think about it before I came up with a couple of names, which didn't seem to ring any bells.
"Do you like modern art?"
"Yes."
"How about Jackson Pollock?"
On and on. I found it oddly inspiring after seeing so many adults zip through the gallery in less than a minute without taking their sunglasses off. Later, a woman came in, glanced at a couple of paintings, and asked us what gallery commission is these days. I can't imagine walking into a retail store and asking what their mark-up is; it just seems rude. Fortunately, Rebecca was there to answer politely without actually sharing our figures.
"Forty to fifty Percent is standard," she said.
"That's incredible. So the artist is actually getting less than the gallery. I mean, they've gotta buy frames."
I looked around at the gallery we've put so much work and money into, not to mention time, and I thought about advertising, insurance (yes, the art is insured) the high electric bills to keep the lights on for twelve hours a day, and all the other expenses, and I was flabbergasted that anyone would think the artist is getting ripped-off because he or she has to buy a frame. Amazing.
Not only that, but most artists who have tried to sell their own work realize that it costs them money and time, and understand what they get for the commission, which is time to devote to their art.
Fortunately, Rebecca was there to answer politely.
The girl asked,"Are you one of the artists?"
I get this all the time. "No," I explained. "Being an artist ought to be a full-time job. Running the gallery is a full-time job too, so I try to give the artists a chance to do enough work to make a living.
"Do you sell a lot of art?"
"Sometimes. It's like the lottery. The right person has to come in and find the right piece of art. "
"Who's your favorite artist?"
"That's easy. Rebecca Daugherty, my wife."(After all, she reads this- I do want to eat dinner tonight.)
"Who's your favorite famous artist?"
I had to think about it before I came up with a couple of names, which didn't seem to ring any bells.
"Do you like modern art?"
"Yes."
"How about Jackson Pollock?"
On and on. I found it oddly inspiring after seeing so many adults zip through the gallery in less than a minute without taking their sunglasses off. Later, a woman came in, glanced at a couple of paintings, and asked us what gallery commission is these days. I can't imagine walking into a retail store and asking what their mark-up is; it just seems rude. Fortunately, Rebecca was there to answer politely without actually sharing our figures.
"Forty to fifty Percent is standard," she said.
"That's incredible. So the artist is actually getting less than the gallery. I mean, they've gotta buy frames."
I looked around at the gallery we've put so much work and money into, not to mention time, and I thought about advertising, insurance (yes, the art is insured) the high electric bills to keep the lights on for twelve hours a day, and all the other expenses, and I was flabbergasted that anyone would think the artist is getting ripped-off because he or she has to buy a frame. Amazing.
Not only that, but most artists who have tried to sell their own work realize that it costs them money and time, and understand what they get for the commission, which is time to devote to their art.
Fortunately, Rebecca was there to answer politely.
isalos fine art