Subscribe to www.ArtPrintIssues.com It’s Free—Tell Your Friends About It
infamous S.W.A.G.
Factor, I’m going to say
that 2005 brought many
new faces to the market. I
judge that from reading
the trade pubs and noting
new hopeful advertisers in
their pages. It’s non-
scientific to be sure, but I
do put some stock in an
activity I’ve maintained
since 1988 as being a fair
barometer for this sort of
thing. Such hopeful
promise is a good sign. It
means there is confidence
and optimism being felt.
When those things are not
as palpable, you can be
sure ad pages fall away
dramatically. What
remains to be seen is how
many of those new faces
become industry
veterans…time will tell.
Tradeshows on the other
hand are not as robust or
abundant as they once
were. At one point, Decor
put on eight regional and
national shows, the PPFA
put on two shows, and
ArtExpo put on two or
more shows. Granted, that
was too many and there
was fallout.
The new Art & Framing
Showcase that debuted
last October running
concurrent with the House
& Home show in New
York appears not to return
this year. It’s a tough
market for tradeshows.
ArtExpo Atlanta will not
return either to run
concurrent with Decor
Expo Atlanta. Too few
shows now perhaps to
help new artists and
companies break in.
Outlook for 2006 (continued from page 4)
(Read more on tradeshows
elsewhere in this issue)
I believe it is harder now
than ever to break a new
artist nationally for a
variety of reasons with
industry consolidation and
rising marketing costs as
chief culprits. Those that
do are talented, driven,
well funded and superbly
marketed.
Outlook for 2006
Who knows? That is the
most accurate and non-
S.W.A.G. Factor answer
you will find anywhere.
Whether we’re talking the
art market or the stock
market, you can find an
intelligent argument for
things being rosy or ready
to fall apart. Some say we
are headed for a recession,
while Wall Street pundits
are predicting a record
year. Some say the
housing bubble is about to
burst. This while others
say, “What bubble? There
is more demand in every
area where prices are
rising.”
The adage, “Prepare for
the worst, expect the
best,” is apropos for our
times. It’s not a time to sit
still and wait, nor is it a
time to be overly
aggressive and risking too
much. A well reasoned
marketing approach based
on realistic expectations
drawn from the best
assessment of your
situation and current
market conditions should
serve you well in the year
ahead.
Page 5
Art Print Issues
I’ve written about
this before and will
continue to make a
case for open edition
giclée prints. Limited
edition giclées that
are not made unique
by overpainting,
remarquing, etc.,
should not be
limited. It is only a
marketing gimmick
and every
sophisticated
collector knows it.
So why do it?
Why not let galleries
and artists earn all
the potential a giclée
print has to offer.
What other form of
the arts puts limits
on how much will be
sold? Movies,
recordings and
theatre all sell as
many tickets and
CDs as buyers
want. This is they
way it ought to be
for reproductions
of visual artists
work too! Focus on
the quality of the
art and the artist’s
reputation as the
key selling points
and the limited
edition factor can
be negated.
Still want limiteds?
Try a small edition
of embellished
prints with the
caveat that the
same image will be
available as open. I
believe in the long
run, artists,
publishers and
galleries will profit
from going this
route.
SAY NO TO LIMITING
GICLÉE PRINTS
Paint en plen air in Las Vegas!
Here’s something that happens in Vegas
that doesn’t stay there. Success Pleasure
Painting takes professionals and would-be
artists on a catered half-day field trip to
allow them to paint to their heart’s content.
Everything is provided; paints, canvas,
easels, frame, dining, scenic tour and art
instructors to help you or family & friends
awaken the artist in you. Experience a new
way to enjoy the outdoors and art in Vegas.
888-302-8882 Toll-free – tell Loretta that
Barney sent you. She’s a great old friend
who is sure to take good care of you.
 |
 |
 |