The art of commerce, part 2

A friend asked recently in despair,

When you can buy these posters so cheaply – how do we price photos???   Click here: Natural Landscapes (Photography) Posters at AllPosters.com

I’ve struggled with that for a long time.

But, the biggest factor is that people are never just buying art as a “product” – they are buying a feeling, or a story, that means something to them.

Many people will buy a piece of art because of their personal feeling about the scene, the artist, or even the place where they’re shopping for it. Or because it tells a story that they can relate to.

It is very hard to convey feelings and stories with photos on a monitor.

One of the women at the office where I have my gallery space told me that she wasn’t too sure she liked my work when she’d just looked at my web site. But she LOVED it in person – especially in canvas, but also when matted, framed, and on a beautiful wall.

There’s also the “expertise” factor, which is a major thing that small retailers have going for them in the face of the Big Box retailers. If someone don’t know what they want, the web site just feels overwhelming, and they will appreciate the personal attention and guidance that they get at a gallery.

Don’t despair, fellow artists – we have much to offer that will never be available online.

We must take the time to share our personal stories, about why and how we do art, with people who believe they cannot be artists.

The price is right.