It%92s interesting to watch visitors at an outdoor art fair. I am referring specifically to the Mikleson Art Festival in White Rock, where I was showing for the past 2 weekends, but my comments apply to most shows.

There are some who walk by without as much as a glance at the artwork; they%92re on their way somewhere else. There are those who look as they walk past, but don%92t slow down or take a good look; they%92re just not interested in this particular display. There are those who stop and look for a short while, and then move on; the work clearly did not hold their interest. There are those who are interested and will talk to the artist about the work, the techniques used, and so on; many of those are artists themselves, or art lovers; sadly, they also move on after a while, but usually not before making some nice comments about the work. Then there are a few, very few, who make it all worthwhile: they take a very close look, want to know everything, they make wonderfully positive comments; some may even buy something; when they leave, the artist feels uplifted and will concede that perhaps the whole experience was worth it: worth it to get up at 5 am, travel for an hour, set up tables, easels, paintings, etc.; worth it to stand in the sun (or the rain) all day, for 2 days, or 4 days, depending on the show.

Why do we do it, you might ask. I believe that, for most artists, there%92s a need to share their work and to receive feedback from others. It%92s not enough to paint, we must show it; we must see a reaction to the work. For us, that completes the creating process. Outdoor shows are a great way to do just that in a most direct way.

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Suzette

This past weekend, I was showing at the Mikelson Art Festival in White Rock, along with 100 other artists. I had the pleasure of meeting several artists whose company I enjoyed very much. I was reminded once again how artists stick together and support one another, and what a wonderfully warm and friendly community artists make.

Artists are not only willing to talk about their work with other artists, they%92re not afraid to discuss their techniques and share tips and how to%92s. No guarded secrets here; nothing but openness and generosity of spirit. Artists willingly trade information on methods, materials and their source; they even share tools and supplies someone else may have forgotten.

Artists, for the most part, commiserate and sympathize with each other over problems while maintaining their sense of humour. They share joy in successes without jealousy. They demonstrate trust, honesty and generosity. What a great community to belong to.

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Suzette

Why buy an original painting, as opposed to a more reasonably priced reproduction such as a giclee (pronounced jeeclay) or lithograph print, or an extremely cheap mass-produced open-edition print? What are the differences between them, and does it matter?

Well, an original is of course a one-of-a-kind piece, conceived and executed by the hand of the artist. Though reproductions may be made, there is only one original. (There are some processes that create original prints, but that is a topic for another time).

A limited-run reproduction, such as a giclee print (an inkjet transfer on canvas or paper), is often bought directly from the artist. Few prints are made, and you can still have the feeling of having an original but at a much reduced price.

An open-edition print is where prints are made by the thousands and sold very cheaply in chain stores like Zellers or Home Sense; even stores like Rona are now carrying a selection of inexpensive prints. The quality is usually not as good as a more expensive print.

Why buy an original?

When you buy an original, you have something unique and are able to see the artist%92s hand and work in it. There is something to be said about the craftsmanship and the love that an artist puts into his or her work. Non-painters may not understand that every painting has its difficulties and that painting is, for most of us, always a struggle. The final result IS our ‘blood, sweat and tears%92.

By buying an original, you have the knowledge that this work IS the fruit of the artist%92s labour. You know that you have encouraged one artist, financially and emotionally. In our world of mass production and ‘throwing away anything no longer useful because something new and better is now available at a cheaper price%92, buying an original work of art is making a statement that there is still room in our lives for something real, a work that has required thought, planning, slow and sometimes-painful execution, the use of skills learned and practiced over a long time, and most of all, love, dedication and commitment.

Share your thoughts on the subject by clicking on ‘Comments%92 below.

Suzette