apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

At some point, can you talk about how the number of prints determines price, and the differences in limited editions and open series?

I've seen some instances where the more editions that sell out form a series, the higher the price goes on the remaining editions.

And god bless Gemini Gel for actually listing prices on the site. Too few galleries do that.

form a series = from a series

I also think that people who look to collect emerging artists are sometimes equally as "label whore-ish" as those who collect the more established big names. But they are after the Alexander McQueens and not the Giorgio Armanis. And they are doing it so they don't have to PAY the Armani prices... they just hope to SELL at those prices, somewhere down the road, if they are in it as an investment strategy.

Okay,

So here I go again on my 'Japan' tangent again... One of the great things I love about traditional Japanese woodblock prints is that there is so much mystery involved in how many of any print were made. And after centuries of fires, using them for packing material, and other factors such as copying, there is always an uncertainty as to the commonality or rarity of a print. And when Japan opened its doors to the West, and saw the potential to earn money in the Westerners' print market, they began to adopt the edition numbering system. Before that point no one cared about what number it was - only how it looked. The great thing is that once the printers began using numbers, it still was mostly for decoration and not strictly adhered to. You can often find multiple copies of the same print with the same edition number on it. But at the time, it helped Westerners feel that there was more value to the piece and the sold better that way.

I know that we have an idea of value placed on edition numbers, but sometimes it is nice to just buy something that you like.

For those speculating on a budget, please look around at local colleges and inquire about senior shows. You will find INCREDIBLE artwork and can usually get it for a bargain from an artist that may be at their peak for productivity and focus before they go out into the real world.

If anyone is in Providence, RI, please look into the RISD student sales. They have a very strong print and painting department and the students sell INCREDIBLE works at very good prices. When I was a student there I often saw beautiful works but never saw the need to purchase. Ten years later, and now seeing some of these same people in galleries, I have finally seen the connection. And to be honest, many museums taht collect contemporary art are also buying in these areas. So you can feed your artistic AND your financial pioneering soul with the same mouthful.

Hey Matt, we missed you!
Go RISD!!! (my alma mater!)

What!!?? RISD is everywhere.

Yes, I am missing in action. Too busy to even snap pictures.

I seem to rise from the dead, though, whenever I see a chance to vent a little through a posting...

Last year I saw a young man from China selling his original, traditional, ink paintings around the New York Public LIbrary. They were gorgeous, very cheap, and I think he also was a very passionate young artist. I regret not going to the ATM and buying some of his work.

Grab the opportunities when they come along, support someone while they are alive, contribute to their art before (or in spite of the fact that) it turns into artistic real estate.

Matt--
Make time for what brings you joy.
We'll only be *slightly* offended if that doesn't include us here on AT. ;)

But I for one do miss those flower pics, and your other site contributions.

But NO REGRETS allowed about art unpurchased!

The other thing I like about prints as art is that the actual creation of multiple prints is an art in itself (above and beyond the original image/idea), and sometimes (often) involves incredibly talented master craftspeople who work with the artist to pull the images.

At a recent art fair, I discovered Philadelphia-based The Print Center:
http://printcenter.org/pc_home.html

Coincidentally, I ran across this site this morning:

http://www.graphiccollectibles.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=2

I realize my post above is not about prints, specifically.

So now I've got another one that's not about prints, either. About 20 years ago, a friend of mine needed money. He had a painting by Nancy Nye that he had bought from her to encourage her career, and right after he bought it, she stopped painting. So we made a deal--I would buy the painting from him, and then when he had money and I needed money, he would buy it back from me.

Well of course that deal fell through, and I still have the painting, though I've needed money several times since then. Has anybody heard of Nancy Nye? I've Googled her, and there's a good chance she's a set designer now. I've toyed with trying to sell the painting, but feel as if I don't have enough information about it at the moment.

I say sue your friend's a$$ of for reneging on your deal, AND keep the art. ;)

of = off
:(

:)

Unfortunately, you have to buy all 19 prints in the Serra Notebook series. So it's more like 19x$2200. Oh well.

Joan, I came across your note above about a painting by Nancy Nye. We knew each other during childhood. Are you trying to sell the painting, still. I may be interested.

Chris at StGeorgePublications@msn.com

I'm adding a note to my recent email. "Joan" posted a note 7/1/05 about a painting by Nancy Nye. She is a set decorator, and has worked on a number of films. We grew up in Omaha, NE. I'm stunned at coming across your note about one of her paintings! Chris

StGeorgePublications@msn.com