Barb.. I just had that discussion with an artist friend of mine who is sick of doing free portraits for friends.. I had a friend ask me to do a portrait, I got a dumbed down look after I told him it would run $200. I said $200 because he's a friend, which I think is a steal for a realistic painting. But for whatever reason he thought maybe it would be for free. I told him whenever I needed my car fixed then I should be able to come into his shop free of charge. It didn't translate.
Barb.. I am getting paid for this fund raiser. It's only to raise money for a town celebration coming up..nothing really important. I have donated work to auction for our Orpheum Theatre restoration project and also raffled work for the Ronald McDonald House. The payment for those two was in gratitude. Every time I go to a show at the Orpheum I know that I had a small hand in it's resurrection. And God forbid my children get sick.. but someday I may have to stay in a Ronald McDonald house. There's very little gratitude in contributing for the town to be able to get an extra ride during carnival night.. so I charged them.
Someguy.. You are right. Who cares about a non-celebrity's signature. It's still the same artwork whether it's signed or not. But there is something to be said for quality assurance. Signed means the artist personally "stamps" his approval on every print, he has seen and handled that print, it is inspected for any flaws and signed. You know you are getting the artist's work as he/she intended it to be. You know you're not getting a poster or cheap print that will turn yellow in a year. If I'm going to spend $150 on framing I want to know I'm not framing a copy on laser paper. There is a big difference between a poster and an art print. A signature is the only insurance.
Some people get wrapped up in the prestige of signed work. But to me it's communication, letting the buyer know that my name is on it - therefore it is quality.
Here is the suspect painting. NOT a masterpiece by any means. A lot of artists could do better. But they wanted a local to do it.. so I gave it a go.
www.DrewHackett.com
|
|
