Collectors -Art Enthusiasts
During one of the many events and talks I participated in during the last few days, I learned a very interesting thing – that many collectors are allergic to that word and prefer the term art enthusiasts.… Art enthusiasts. Why is that important? For me, it’s because of the SEO and the terms I have probably been using when trying to reach the people I hope will be attracted to similar ideas just don’t seem to work very well. My trial reels keep getting 15-24yo as my main audience. I showed it to my daughter who simply shrugged and said that it’s probably the main age group on the platform. But it dawned on me that Collectors also collect Labubus, PopMart figures, Nendoroids… many of the fandoms you see at Cons are around that age group. How do I know? Weeeeell…. Hmm.… Eyes.
Now there are many types of art enthusiasts, but perhaps not all of them become collectors, or somebody who can attend a Sotheby’s auction and spend $236million on a Klimt. In November, a van Gogh that hasn’t been seen in over 60 years called “Chestnut Trees in Blossom” is going to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in New York and is expected to fetch around $180million. It is currently doing its rounds and is on view at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. As a contemporary artist who is still very much alive, I don’t expect those collectors to even look twice at my art. I am not going to go into details as to why. I am not even sure some of those collectors are art enthusiasts.
Headlines like those is what puts art enthusiasts with tighter budgets to not consider buying an original work of art from an artist. They will happily enjoy going to museums, buying art books, and maybe even purchasing a postcard from the gift shop. Sometimes a more expensive print, which is usually affordable but of dubious quality. I considered buying a Van Gogh print at the Tate after an exhibition, but the blues were all wrong and the yellows didn’t pop. It was not at all faithful to the original vibrant painting. I was so disappointed that such a huge institution couldn’t bother at least getting a print right, I left empty handed.
As a professional artist who has to multitask and basically run an entire business solo, I pride myself in the quality of my prints – and any product I decide to launch. I want them to be as faithful as possible to the original because I don’t want someone who buys it to compare the two and decide that the print is lacklustre. I don’t want them to be as disappointed as I was when I held the Van Gogh print.
I also believe all art enthusiasts should have access to original pieces that make them happy, no matter the size, which is why, in November, I will be holding a small artworks sale. More information about that coming soon.
For more previews, please check out my Instagram.
Comments