Selling Artwork

[masao626]

i often see pieces for sale that crop up here and there that don't seem to move. they're repeatedly marked down and disappear for awhile only to come back for a lower price and still not sell.

i've noticed it a lot with Amy Sol and Joe Ledbetter's work.

how does it make you feel - owners of amy and joe work (and others where this occurs)? do you get worried about the future value of your pieces or do you write it off as the current market and not give it a second thought?

(note: i've never sold an original from my collection and would probably ask for some obscene price if i did based off sheer sentimental value - so i don't really worry too much about value of what i own - but i'm curious about what others feel).

[sleepboy]

i think it's safer to only buy very desirable paintings from each artist. don't settle for a lesser work just because you want something from them (i have made this mistake before and regretted it later). the desirable ones will always sell (we can all tell which pieces those are). now, if you just happen to like a piece personally, go for it but don't expect it to sell well if you decide not to keep it later.

also, older works from artists don't sell as well either so don't expect market prices for them even though the newer work sells for a higher price at new shows. usually an artists will go 2-3 shows then make a evolutionary jump from what i've seen.

[drunkmunky02]

admin said:

i don't settle for a lesser work just because you want something from them (i have made this mistake before and regretted it later).

same here. when i first started collecting i would jump at the chance to buy almost anything from an artist i liked. but have regretted it later when a piece i liked much better came a long. you gotta have patience!

[masao626]

that's been my challenge, when artists change their styles - examples: kathie olivas and amy sol. you couldn't pry the sol pieces out of my cold dead hands and i wouldn't take a newer piece over the ones i own - but i adore her new stuff and just can't justify the cost (especially after having so many already, even if they are earlier works).

i buy what i love and never look back - but i know folks sell and i was wondering if they kick themselves later or if they expect it as part of the risk in art collecting/investing.

thanks for the responses guys - really good insight into your perspective and experiences!

[drunkmunky02]

while i'd love to keep everything that i have, if a "better" piece comes along and buying it forces me to sell something, then i do. if i sell something, i think.. what is replacing it? and will it make me just as happy as what i sold or even happier in the long run?

[devilgirl]

drunkmunky02 said:

while i'd love to keep everything that i have, if a "better" piece comes along and buying it forces me to sell something, then i do. if i sell something, i think.. what is replacing it? and will it make me just as happy as what i sold or even happier in the long run?

I agree! Also, if I ever get 'sick' of looking at a painting, then it is definitely time for it to move onto another owner that can appreciate it. I did love it at one time, or else I would not have gotten it, but if it does still not inspire me like it once did, then using to offset my art addiction is not out of the question.

[highbrow]

I see the problem with jumping at a piece from an artist I do find myself however if I like an artists style ( Luke for example ) I love his style and when a piece in my price range cam up at the time I purchased it , I love it but sooner or later will look for another larger piece if that means parting with mine to upgrade I will. I do not really see lukes style changing like Sol or Biskup has in recent.

[sleepboy]

masao626 said:

you couldn't pry the sol pieces out of my cold dead hands and i wouldn't take a newer piece over the ones i own - but i adore her new stuff and just can't justify the cost (especially after having so many already, even if they are earlier works).

yes, i notice that you never sell stuff lol. nice that you can find pieces you love and never want to get rid of. for me, pieces that are untouchable seem few and far between. even pieces i love, i would trade for something i love more. also, i seem to tire of some pieces after a while...

[marcusslo]

i don't worry about the future value of my originals too much... what concerns me more is the future value of my favorite artists' future work ... in the sense that the value gets out of reach and i can not afford to collect any more of the art

[ck]

great topic! i pretty much agree with everyone that's already posted. i'm currently selling pieces to raise funds and make room for new purchases. i thought i was going to be "done" with purchasing new work awhile ago, but i've finally come to realize that i will never be done. as long as i keep bringing in new pieces in i'll be selling older pieces.

[rhinomilk]

i think marcusslo is the only one that actually answered the question. hehe

[ck]

rhinomilk said:

i think marcusslo is the only one that actually answered the question. hehe

oh, good point. hahah. ok then....i'm more concerned about the artist's future market if i want to sell pieces. if i have no intention of ever selling then i don't really care as much.

[masao626]

there's this part of me that truly wishes i could approach collecting "smartly". i buy what i love and rarely, if ever, consider future value.
i'm very sentimental about my purchases and probably makes me a giant idiot.

tastes definintely change and mine have over the years but i'll cross that bridge if and when i ever come to it.

my two cents on pricing are much like the ones stated above: i worry about the future pricing of artists i admire who're "on their way up" because it prices me out of owning their work. and that sucks.

i won't ever own an audrey (unless someone gets a case of the "desperates" or the "stupids" - which won't happen).

[irsk]

Yeah, I worry. I try to only buy things I'm positive I want forever, and that means being picky and not buying the first piece by an artist to come along.

So far I've been lucky that I've only lost $50-$100 when changing my mind.

I think that even if individual artists crash, the "movement" overall should stay ok so if I ever have to liquidate completely, it should all balance out.

I definitely worry about being priced out though.