Gallery VS Generic art pieces

An agent priced my paintings at $744.00 each... (Thought it was $477.00)... all the while i thought the $744.00 price tag was too much for a piece of work... but considering that most artists sell their paintings no cheaper than $1,000.00, mine would be considered a steal. I am talking about art pieces exhibited in galleries and not the generic artworks sold at the malls... mall artworks are priced lower since they are just copies printed on canvas or paper and framed... art gallery paintings are priced at much ("very") higher prices since they target specific buyers (art collectors, investors, etc), and the gallery gets atleast 40% or more of the selling price... the agent gets a cut... puhunan sa materiales... labor... and how much would that leave the artist?

In manila, art pieces (exhibited) are sold at a minimum of P25,000.00 each... Mall artworks are sold at a minimum of P4,000.00... Gallery paintings are exclusive works that are not reproduced and on the other hand, mall pieces are all reproduction (copies) hence the pricing. An exclusive and personal work will cost more than a piece which is seen all over the metro. An art enthusiast (collector) will invest on a exhibited piece because they see it as an investment and would later be sold (auctioned off) to get a higher price than it was first bought. A mall artwork (repro) cannot be sold at a higher price but can be sold at a 50% discounted price. A price comparison.

Tips for artists...

An apathetic point of view

I have come across a lot of people who go to an art gallery without any knowledge or whatsoever about paintings. And for some people, an exhibit is a place for socializing, drinking a glass of wine, cigarettes, showing-off new gadgets and for some artists, self-promotion. Have you seen an artwork that you wanted but would never buy unless you have talked / heard / read a review from a art critic or the artist? You buy an art piece because you want it and not because other people say so.

The artist:
If you talk to the artist, you would probably hear an out pour of heavy emotions. To simplify it, you will hear drama. No artist can work with a bad mood. NEVER! This is a whole lot of crap. Artists paint because they ENJOY and LOVE what they are doing. So how come some of these artists would say that they painted a certain piece during a very difficult time in their lives? Bullshit.

The art critic:
Yes, art critics hired by prestigious galleries to sell their paintings. Art critics will tell you what you want to hear and not what the artist wants the audience to see. I am wondering why these people know more than the artist as if they have painted the pieces with their own hands. Art critics use tactics and dictate what the people must see. This is very VERY misleading. Remember, critics are hired to sell - just like companies hire advertising agencies for product promotions. There is NO TRUTH in advertising.

If buying an art is an investment, buy works of notable masters and never trust a review from critics alone. If you buy a painting just because you like it, buy one and hope that someday it would cost a ton of fortune. Fingers-crossed. This is just my personal opinion. No offence to my art critic and artist friends though, I still love you all! :)

Art critics

 

I have recently been looking at art pages via facebook. Some of the comments are written by so-called "art critics". Why do i read and waste precious times on these pages? So i can pick-up with what is being created by fellow artists. I studied fine arts and i paint. When artists paint, it does not have to represent a feeling or situation. One cannot feel a painting. People look at things differently. It all really depends on the person looking at the artwork. Art critics are people who specialize in writing or reviews for art collectors and potential buyers. They write reviews about an artwork about how they view it and not what the artist wants the people to see.

Art critics want drama and in particular... gimmicks. I agree with the fact that people always want something new. Something out of this world. Something unique. But as a matter of fact, gimmicks fade. It is a fad. A fad is any form of behavior that develops among a large population and is collectively followed with enthusiasm for some period. There you go, SOME period. This not apply to all art critics. This is just my personal opinion.

So, what's my point? Art is an investment. Who would want to waste money on a "biodegradable: art that would last for merely a week? It is a shame how some critics endorse these kinds of works. These types of works degrade art pieces of artist who spend time on working on a masterpiece for a month. Critics should not endorse artists based on gimmicks alone. I even heard about an artist who puts paint on his shoe and steps on the canvas and signs it. how stupid do you think people are? Art is something beautiful, valuable and timeless. I don't have a little bit of respect for artist who thinks that art is purely business. Art is a connection between a painter, the artwork and the buyer. It is a part of the painter that is given to the buyer to be handed down from generation to generation.

I personally don't believe that art should have emotions. I paint something beautiful, period. Before college, i used to cut out magazine pictures that i like and paste it on the wall. No particular meaning, just something i like. I bet most of us did the same when we were younger. In college, we had art criticism as subject. We had to critic paintings of some of the master painters like da vinci and picasso. The whole class had this very long discussion as if they had time traveled and got to meet the artist and so on...

Do we have to rely on art critics alone or on something our eyes want? Art critics are the advertising agents of prestigious art galleries. Do you believe all the commercials you see on tv's and magazines? Are you the person who jumps at the latest fad and regret a spur of the moment purchase? I am a painter and graphic artist and I specialize in advertisements such as those you see on prints and tv's and i can say that there is NO TRUTH in advertising. and if so, I ask you, would you rely more on art critics or your own eyes.