Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Offened or glad?

I sent a spy to a local art dealer's shop because I heard that a painting the owner had bought from me a few years ago was on display. I needed to know if he brought it to work with him to view it eight hours a day, or if it was for sale.

As it turns out, he is asking $2000.00 for the cover piece of my first solo show which I sold to him for $850.00. I was hurt. I wanted him to love it and keep it.

Then I decided to buy it back. My friends told me it was good for me that this was happening. More exposure, plus, as an art dealer this man saw in my work something he believed could make him money as well.

He told my spy that two people already showed interest in it.

I loved that piece. So did the editors of the Baltimore Sun. They put a color image of it in the "Best Bets" section of their paper.

2 comments:

Alan said...

When you sell your art, is it business or personal?

Like a dog adoption, do you screen your buyers to determine if the art is getting a good home, or do you just look for the maximum price?

Combination of both?

If this dealer thinks that you are worth having because they can make you a profit, does that lessen the art because they don't personally feel the value so much they must retain it? Isn't it more interesting that they believe that others will enjoy or value (i.e. pay for) this art more than they did?

Carl said...

Alan, In this case, because it was my first solo show and that was the cover piece, I didn't want to sell it anyway. I knew this guy and possibly eroneously believed he would buy art the way I do.

I was riding on the fact that 'an art dealer' bought from me at my first show.

Now I think I understand him and me, but I suppose I am glad for the exposure and that he believes in me.