Why We Hesitate to Buy Art

Just read a fantastic article this morning sent to me by one of my artists (thanks, Eric!). The article speaks about how we experience a natural hesitancy to purchase art and it mentions some very specific points on how to handle the process. I found it really interesting because it covered some points that I often mention to my clients.

Like the author of the article, I have managed a gallery for almost eight years and still find it amazing that people hesitate to purchase things when it is obvious that they really want a piece and they really love it. Some points to consider when we stand in our own way before an art purchase:

Don't be afraid to buy art on impulse. Most art is purchased on impulse and one should not beat themselves up about this. This is absolutely okay. Art evokes emotion and emotion is what attracts you to the piece. Over-analyzing that emotion is pointless. It's like trying to over-analyze any other emotion-generally it doesn't work. You're also supporting a local gallery and an artist with your purchase and both of these entities will continue to be around because of this support. Every little bit helps.

Now, let's say you don't go for the impulse buy. If you are still thinking about a piece the next day, call the gallery back and purchase it. You will kick yourself if a one of a kind work of art escapes you because you hesitated. Creative Genius offers clients the ability to hold a piece for 24 hours with no deposit to help you avoid this pitfall. And you might not realize how many times someone has called back for a piece, only to find that it went home on an impulse buy. If you like it and you are thinking about it after leaving the gallery, buy it. Most galleries, including Creative Genius, offer payment plans like layaway and other methods to make purchasing the piece easier. 

Don't worry about what others think about your choice of art. Your choice is what speaks to you. It is truly irrelevant if it speaks to anyone else. There are plenty of genres of art that some folks find confusing, disturbing or just plain weird. Those same genres attract many collectors. You just never know what will appeal to people and therefore, when choosing your own, stick to what appeals to you. Your neighbor/sister/ best friend can worry about what appeals to them and should not have anything to say about your choices.

When it's time (and you'll know when), give the piece away or sell it to someone so that someone else can enjoy it with a fresh set of eyes.Sometimes art will stay with you forever and sometimes it just won't and either way is okay.

Thank you to  Meegan Holland | The Grand Rapids Press
Great article!

One of my new favorites...

I definitely have a lot of favorite artists and a lot of interesting choices to pick from. My list is a long one...because I DO have a ton of really great choices. 

The latest addition to my favorites list is an artist named Tari Zarka. Her work has been at Creative Genius for the past year or so and has become a new favorite among our clients. Her works have been purchased as gifts and as impulse buys. They are one of a kind and the price is right which instantly translates well for all kinds of people. It also makes it very easy to convince yourself you just NEED to have it. And lots of folks do just that!


An except from Tari's Bio:

What drives me to create is what motivates me to be the best person I can me: mood enhancement. When I create something – whether it is a piece of glass, a painting, or a smile on someone’s face – my life’s burdens are lifted. I am also driven by the knowledge that my creations enhance the moods of those who receive them.

I find inspiration everywhere – in the glorious landscape, through the face of adversity, within the cashier at a convenience store, etc. Everything and everyone offers a chance for us to learn and grow.

Ever since I started creating art in the far away corners of my family’s hosiery mill in Bucks County, I have searched to find ways to love what I do each and every day. If something from me inspires another to move toward a life of happiness then I feel that I have done my job. This is the current in my artistic evolution. 

Another artist on the list is Abbe Gold, who recently brought in some new mosaic works from her large collection of creations. These are interesting, decorative or functional and well-done. We appreciate adding more of her works to our assortment of American creations. She splits her time between Colorado and New Jersey and perhaps next time she is in NJ for a while, we'll ask her to be a guest mosaic workshop instructor. Here's a peek at some of her latest creations...

     

A new way to look at wood...

We're very lucky here at Creative Genius because we get to work with some truly high level folks who excel in their craft. Today's selection of additions come from Andy DiPietro. We already carry his hollow forms and now we've added his wall art to the mix. And folks, this artist's work is quite an assortment to view and appreciate.

We've already featured some of his hollow forms on our facebook page and today's blog entry features his wall pieces, which are fabulous and right up any collector's alley. There is a fluid quality to the wood in these pieces that is even more striking in person than any photograph could really depict. The inspiration was from sails and it is evident, especially when viewing the pieces together that this is the case.

A little glimpse of Andy's wood turning resume includes featured articles in WoodTurning Magazine, Creative Wood Magazine and the Burlington County Times. He has exhibited in shows from New Hope and Philadelphia, PA to Delaware to MN to Trenton to right here at Creative Genius in Medford, NJ. He has provided instruction at numerous workshops and wood turner events and also provided demonstrations. And his professional affiliations are listed below:

2006 – Present, Member of the American Association of Woodturners
2008 – Present, Executive Vice President, Del-Val Woodturners in NJ.
2010 – Present, Collectors of Wood Art
Member of Bucks Woodturners in Newton Pa.
Member of First State Woodturners, Delaware
Member of the Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

And Andy is no slacker by day either....by trade he is a Senior Mechanical Engineer!

I have seen a lot of engineers succeed in the arts...it must be something about attention to detail that attracts them to art forms like wood turning, pottery and photography where there is a measure of science entwined with the art medium itself.

We're happy to have the new additions from Andy and we're sure some very lucky collectors will be very happy to take these new additions home.