Art Collectors – What do they really want?
As an Artist, you are a hunter. You didn’t know it, but you are. You are hunting elusive and rare game called the ‘Art Collector’. Mostly solitary creatures, roaming the plains of the art gallery establishment they need very tasty bait if you want them to come out of hiding, cheque books in hand. If you actually manage to figure out how to sell art and snag enough of these collectors with your tasty wares then there is the potential for more of them to head your way, demanding all the morsels you can feed them. But, as an artist, do you have enough fresh carcasses in the cupboard?
What do collectors want?
Okay, enough already with the selling fine art safari adventure. Lets leave the Land Rover and gun behind and check out of the Treetops African resort to examine what it is that art collectors really want from an artist and their artwork.
Most people who buying art are not art collectors. They are just people who like to decorate their homes with nice things. If you and your art have a good name and that certain je ne sais quois then these home decorators will buy your art, maybe even lots of it. There is money to be made there.
Real Art Collectors on the other hand (of the serious variety) are also ‘art investors’ to varying degrees, and when I say ‘investor’ that can mean not just in terms of money. Art Collectors want much much more than a pretty picture when they are considering buying your art, but of course they may also be in the business of selling fine art themselves (ie buying your art with a view to selling your art in the future when your stardom climbs to the stratosphere).
My own art has been mostly been bought by home decorators; the people who just love it because its a beautiful thing to behold, and it makes them happy when they see it in their homes. I have though on occasion had my art purchased by the real deal collectors that artists dream about having on their exhibition mailing lists. I once delivered one of my paintings to a client who had a collection in his multi-squillion dollar home that almost made me weep with joy at seeing it (after all it’s not everyday you see a Gauguin hanging in someone’s living room.) I wish I had more clients like that, but he is the exception rather than the rule in my customer Rolodex.
So what do these elusive collectors want from us?
Read on…
This is a comment for your whole site in general. I have been struggling with my art for the past year especially with the failed economy of late. I’m always searching the internet for direction. Well I finally found it in you my friend. You pretty much hit on all the subjects that I’m dealing with.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Scott
After reading your article it brings up a question for me – is the work of an artist diminished to the “art investors” if some of the work is priced for the “art collectors”?
Thank you for the words of wisdom. Wood art rocks.
Michael L.R.
I was searching for a sufficient answer, and I got one. I live in Arizona and I go to the art walks in Scottsdale. I’ve met the professionals and legends there. Not always impressed by their work, but always noticing collectors huddling around the artists. Which sucks for me at times, because even though I’m a digital artist, I like to get tips on what paints the artist used and so on, but I get shoved off because I’m not a buyer. Or sometimes ignored by an artist..how rude…lol!
They probably dont want to talk shop while they are in the middle of a sale
Thats wise!