Okay–the next question from my Art FAQ list is “How do I get this home?”

Finally, a question with a simple answer!

If you are local to me (within an hour’s drive) I have no problem either arranging a convenient pick-up time for you or delivering and installing the work in your home for free. This is a nice thing I like to do, especially for people who don’t have a vehicle large enough to transport the work themselves.

If you are not local, I will ship you the artwork. Depending on the size of the artwork, shipping may cost anywhere from about $10 (for a small piece) to $100 and up if you are buying very large pieces. If a person buys multiple pieces, I often provide a discount on shipping or sometimes even free shipping.

For large pieces, I always build custom shipping crates. I pad all the edges of the painting with a type of foam tubing normally used for insulating copper pipes.

Then I build a crate that fits very snugly around the edges of the painting so it cannot shift at all. I use pine 1×2s or 1×3s for the 4 edges and Masonite hardboard for the front and back. I assemble it all with wood screws.

When the painting reaches its owner, he or she simply removes a few screws to open the crate.

I started using this method for shipping artwork a few years ago when I read a helpful tutorial by a fellow artist in one of my online art communities.

Click to read his tutorial:

For small pieces, I still usually pad the edges of the work with foam, but I will build a box out of sheets of cardboard instead of a wooden crate.

Never has one of my paintings failed to reach its destination safely.

When buying from any responsible art gallery, getting the artwork home should likewise be an easy process—it is standard for galleries to arrange for shipping or delivery of large artwork for a reasonable fee.

But once you get it home, how do you hang it? Next time I’ll explain in detail my simple formula for hanging any piece of wall art at eye level!

In personal news…

I recently went to New York City for 4 days to visit my brother.  It was awesome!  We saw a great improv comedy show, ate falafel and pizza, and went shopping for books and candy.

This is me with the brother in question, circa last year:

During my trip, I lost my glasses somewhere in the buzzing hive of the city.  There’s no telling what happened–did they slide out of my purse onto the floor of a shop or restaurant when I pulled out my wallet?  Were they crushed under hundreds of feet in the crowded subway?  I only need glasses for driving and watching movies, but they were my only pair.

I have since been to the eye doctor and ordered new glasses, which I will get this week.  The new frames I picked out are snazzy and stylish, and I’m pretty excited about them.  This time I am also getting a cheap backup pair.

While I was in New York, I also managed to pick up a nasty cold virus, which flattened me for several days last week and still has a grip on me, although I’m out of bed and working now.  Sadly, I missed Thanksgiving day with my husband’s family because I was sick.

My puppy, now going on 5 months old, has suddenly become more destructive than ever before.  My vet predicted that he was about to enter a bad “chewing phase.”  Apparently this is typical, although I don’t remember it being this bad with my first dog.

Oh man.  He has begun chewing on the corners of all the books on the bottom 2 shelves of my bookshelf.  He destroyed his own bed, pulling out all the stuffing.  He is methodically pulling up strands of fiber out of the rugs and chewing them.  He steals clothing from the hamper and chews on it–heaven forbid we forgetfully drape a shirt over the back of a chair!  He has now started stealing brushes and tools from my studio.  He found and destroyed all my wooden coasters.  He even ate my chapstick.

The only thing keeping me patient is the knowledge that he is just a teething baby, and it’s temporary, and he will respond to our training if we are consistent.

Ahh!  Stress!!  C’est la vie.  Christmas is coming up and I am feeling the crunch of deadlines.  I’m just going to be as productive as I possibly can this month, and that will have to be good enough.  I’m working on a couple commissions as well as additions to some of my ongoing series.

Here are a couple pictures of my studio today:

Canvases awaiting paint.

Messy desk.

I seem to have a lot going on at once right now.  I’ll have new paintings to show you soon!

To watch the press conference live, you must go to this URL: www.bakerartistawards.org at 12 noon today.

I’m not sure if I will be shown, or interviewed, but there is a possibility.  Please go watch today at noon if you are able!

I apologize for the extremely short notice–I just found out that I was selected to be there as one of 10 artists who are representing the contestants for the awards.

My next posting will be after Thanksgiving, so I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  Have fun & safe celebrations with your loved ones and try not to overeat! 

I am so thankful for all of you.

I’ve found that most people feel they’re not qualified to be art collectors.  There is a common misconception that art is for an elite class of people—that you have to be extraordinarily knowledgeable, cultured and rich to be able to buy original works of art.

There is definitely an established stereotype of what an “art collector” might be like.  You may picture someone who was born into money, and lives in a large house with a butler.  You may imagine this person going to black tie events, sailing on a private yacht, or speaking with great eloquence about fine wines.  This person went to an Ivy League school, is well-read and probably speaks more than one language.  These are all lovely images, and while it’s true that knowledgeable, cultured, and rich people do tend to buy art, the average art collector does not fit that stereotype.

People get this image in their minds because it’s usually the only one they’re familiar with. Everybody hears about the Van Goghs and Picassos selling for millions at auction. Rarely do you hear a news story about a middle-class person buying a piece of art made by a living artist–but it happens every day.

The truth is all kinds of people from all economic classes and professions buy original art. The only thing art collectors all have in common is that they love art enough to buy it. If you would like start an art collection, but you don’t know where to start, click here for a few pieces of general advice.

I’ve launched a new page on my website to honor my collectors and give the rest of you a glimpse of what kind of people own my work.

Click here to see notes and photos from some of my collectors!

I just finished a new pet portrait.  I think this dog is so adorable.

Joey in the Sun

16 x 12″ Acrylic on Canvas

This was commissioned as a companion piece for my earlier painting, Rainy in the Sun.

I’m going to the Big Apple this weekend to visit my brother, and I’ve also got plans to spend Thanksgiving with family.  I hope you are all enjoying the season and staying warm!

You know the kind of fall day where the branches of the trees are a wet-looking charcoal gray against the bright colors of the leaves?  And the air has just the slightest bite of cold to it?  And the sky is bright and gray at the same time, and just a little stormy?

And there’s enough wind so the leaves fall down all at once around you in great big gusts, and you can hear your feet making crunching noises and the many tiny sounds of dried leaves hitting the ground?  It was that kind of day.

It was late in the afternoon but still light out, and the gray sky was broken up by streaks of peach-colored light near the horizon, hinting at the beginning of sunset.

Here is my attempt to paint the magical feeling of that day.

Falling Leaves, 40 x 30″, Oil on Canvas

Hanging art with fall colors like reds, oranges, and browns can give a room a warm and stimulating atmosphere.  I particularly like to use these earthy tones in the living room area.

Designing a bedroom around fall colors can also make for a sanctuary both cozy and uplifting.

I have a couple of new paintings finished, but I’m waiting for a day with enough sunlight to photograph them.

Meanwhile, here’s the next Frequently Asked Art Question I’ll attempt to answer for you:

Will my art be valuable someday?

Of course I would like to say, “absolutely!” but the truth is, art’s value over time is a tricky, if not impossible, thing to predict, so you just never know. The value of my art has approximately tripled in the past 3 years, which is pretty amazing when you think about it. Even so, the dramatic short-term appreciation of my artwork may not mean all that much, say, 50 years from now.

I can certainly make predictions, but I can’t make any guarantees, especially in a time like this, when the value of money itself is so iffy.

When I take into account my level of commitment to my work, and the favorable results my work has seen so far, I predict that this upward trend will continue and the price of my paintings will increase over the course of my life. And after I die, chances are the value of my art will skyrocket—as long as an artist is fairly well established during his or her lifetime, this is usually the case.

I predict that I will be a pretty well established painter by the time I die. I am only in my 20s, I’ve been selling my art full-time and professionally for less than 5 years, and I’m already represented by multiple art galleries, have had my work in multiple reputable exhibitions, and have a good track record of sales—these facts are all very promising indications of my future success. (Click here to read a few juicy tidbits about my credentials.)

But still, my general advice to art buyers would be this: Don’t buy art (mine or anyone else’s, excepting very famous dead artists) only as an investment. Buy it because you really want it and love it, and then you will never regret it. You will have the pleasure of living with the art and enjoying it as long as it is in your possession. If the artwork ends up making you money years down the line, that will be an added bonus!

I found a good article on an investment site called “The Art of Investing in Art.” The whole thing is worth reading if you are interested in the subject:

http://www.greekshares.com/art_of_art_investment.php

Here’s an excerpt:

Art speaks a language-subjective and unique. Most people who have made money over the years, haven’t bought art as an investment. Nearly everyone, from art experts to gallery owners to financial advisers, emphasize that investment should never be the sole-or even the primary-reason to buy art.

I. E. C. Haramis feels, “Collecting art can be one of the most enjoyable ways to spend money. An engaging work can provide its owner with a lifetime of visual pleasure-and then fetch cash! But investment in art should not be solely financially motivated! Buy what you love, because even though it might go through a transitory devaluation, the intrinsic value of the work will always be there!”

Recent news about the economy is pretty depressing—all doom and gloom. But I’m not too fazed by it.  The economy goes through constant fluctuations—yes, things will probably get much worse before they get better, but they will get better. I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen next in the grand scheme.  Based on what I’ve heard on the news, even economists seem bewildered, and I’m no economist.

However, I’m optimistic about my personal success even in the face of tumultuous changes in the economy. I have yet to see any decrease in my recent art sales. Meanwhile, the value in what I do will remain, in part because art is valued not only quantitatively but qualitatively as well. It’s the kind of thing that can be sold now, or 10 years from now—it will always have value as long as there are viewers who connect to it.

As my friend Alyson B. Stanfield says, “Artists are vital to every economy and contribute to the elevated spirit of great civilizations.”

Also, 3 Things:

• First: Don’t forget to get your 2009 Art By Cedar calendars! The Christmas decorations are up in the stores, which means the holiday shopping season is officially upon us. Calendars are both beautiful and practical, so they make nice gifts for family and friends…and my calendars are made in USA and support small business (mine!) So you can’t go wrong.

This year I have 2 options, “Cats & Dogs” and “Trees.” I ordered copies for myself and I assure you they are high quality and look great. The pages are thick and glossy and the colors are vivid. Last year’s calendars were cool, but these are definitely a step up!

Cats & Dogs

$19.99

Trees

$22.99

I can’t believe it’s November already. Before we know it, we’ll be in December with 2009 fast approaching!

• Second: I am competing for a major local arts award and I could use your vote!

The Baker Artists Awards celebrate Baltimore’s artists on the Web with an ongoing exhibition of its diverse artistic practice, and the Mary Sawyer Baker Prize will establish Baltimore’s reputation as a creatively rich and vital place to live with a civic commitment to value its individual artists.

Please take a minute to visit my work on the Baker Artist Awards web site. As a Baltimore artist, I am eligible to win the significant Mary Sawyers Baker Prize or maybe bragging rights as Baltimore’s Choice.  Please go to the site and sign up for an account so you can vote for me!  (Click “Vote for Cedar Lee” on the right of my profile page.)

Click:

http://www.bakerartistawards.org/nomination/view/cedar_lee

• Third: I would just like to say that I’m looking forward to seeing what President-Elect Obama’s future administration will do for this country.  I hope and believe the future holds good things for us!

]]> http://www.artbycedar.com/blog/2008/11/07/calendars-baker-artist-awards-meaning-of-art/feed/ http://www.artbycedar.com/blog/2008/11/07/calendars-baker-artist-awards-meaning-of-art/ http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/CedarsBlog/~3/442358684/ http://www.artbycedar.com/blog/2008/11/04/new-sunflowers-why-art-is-expensive/#comments Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:19:56 +0000 Cedar http://www.artbycedar.com/blog/?p=122 There are 4 new additions to my Sunflower Series.  All are 16″ x 16″ x 1.5″, oil on wood panels.

Red Sun IV

Sunspot

Floristan

Ring of Fire II

Some close-up details:

Video!

I have not forgotten that I promised to answer some common questions about art.  So, why is art so dag nab expensive anyway?  Click here to read my answer!

Another thing I commonly hear from people is something along the lines of: “Isn’t art supposed to be deep and meaningful?”  “I don’t get it.”  “I don’t understand art, but I know what I like.”  These statements really apply to abstract art, but they apply to my work as well.  So next time I will attempt to answer another doozy: “What is the meaning of art?”  (And more specifically, my art, because that I can talk about.)

Today is Election Day!  I voted about an hour ago–everyone please get out there and vote!!

But there was one topic in the lecture that I needed to be reminded of—that it is important to anticipate the client’s questions and answer them before they are asked.

This is good advice no matter what business you’re in, but it’s of particular importance in the business of selling art, because we live in a culture that does not value art enough.  Because buying original artwork is not perceived as a mainstream activity, it is not seen as a safe thing to do.  Many people believe that if you don’t know exactly what you are doing when buying art, you may make a mistake and end up wasting your money.  This is a valid concern, but it is based on a lack of information.

As a creator of art, I have an insider perspective, so it’s easy to forget that everyone else does not.  But part of my job is to de-mystify the whole process and make people more comfortable about becoming art collectors.  So I’m going to attempt to answer some of the most common questions that may be running through your head when you’re considering the purchase of a piece of art.  (And it should be interesting information, even if you’re not considering any such thing.)

Common questions from clients include:

• Why is this so expensive?
• Is price negotiable?
• What does it mean?
• Will it be valuable someday?
• Who else owns one of these?
• How do I get this home?
• Do I have the wall space?
• How do I hang this?
• How do I frame/display it?

If you’ve got any questions that aren’t on the above list, please send them my way so I can add them.  In my next post, I will attempt to answer the first question–why art is expensive.

I’ll be finishing some new paintings in the next week as well!

My other part-time job, installing gallery shows at an arts center, is also giving me a lot of work.  I’m trying (with partial success) to maintain some semblance of a workout routine, I have started meditating more regularly, I’ve been taking weekly voice lessons, and I’ve been working hard on puppy training every day with little Blake.

On top of all that, I just returned home from 4 days out of town to attend the wedding of a friend.  It was a beautiful wedding, sweet and full of humor, and I’m glad I went.

But now I find myself at the end of the month already, and I wish time would slow down.

I’ve got 7 paintings in progress right now–almost all are still in the planning stages.  I’ve got to get a move on, especially since a few of them have deadlines.  I have some bulbs that urgently need to be planted before it gets too cold, and I still need to do some research on local judges and referendums before Election Day.

And Halloween is only 4 days from now–when I was little, I used to wonder why more grown-ups didn’t dress up for Halloween.  Now I know it’s not because grown-ups are no fun.  It’s because some years, they don’t have time to even think about Halloween until it sneaks up on them.  My 11-year-old cousin is dressing as the ocean goddess Yemaya this year, and I think her costume is awesome.

Despite my hectic schedule, I have managed to find the time to do some walking outdoors and appreciate the leaves on the trees turning golden, copper, bronze, and scarlet against the backdrop of a cloudy fall sky.  Seeing these beautiful things now will give me creative fuel as the nights get longer and colder.

Much of my time has been going towards the administrative side of my business–staying organized, paying bills, marketing, corresponding, etc.  I’ve got a lot of things to juggle at the moment, but never fear, fresh paintings are on the way.  Stay tuned!

This is Cosmic Dance II.

As you can see, the sun, the moon and the swirls of color are all in the same positions in the sky, but the color scheme is quite different–in place of reds and oranges are soft purples and peach tones.  Overall, I think the resulting effect is quite feminine.

The bands of color in the sky were painted with detail and precision.  I think it’s interesting to paint light–one of the most intangible substances I can think of, in such a solid way.

As I painted these wispy ribbons of light reaching their way across the sky, some of them told me where they wanted to go.  Some of them began to twist, curl, and reach in delightfully unexpected ways.

In the inky blue-black parts of the sky untouched by the dance of the sun and the moon, you can see a thick sprinkling of stars.  (Which I literally splattered onto the canvas!)

This painting includes the constellation Pisces, which I intended to stand out prominently from the rest of the stars.  I like how the wisps of color to its right resemble two delicate little hands, showcasing the constellation Vanna White-style, or perhaps cradling it in a motherly manner.

Unlike the rest of the paintings I’ve made recently, this one is a seascape.  The colors of the sky are reflected off the gentle waves of the ocean.

The closer you get to the painting, the more you can see how the individual brush strokes come together to create the larger image.  I wish I could convey how much better a painting is in person than in photographs.

This is how it looks on a wall:

I’ve made a video of the painting process for this one, at the request of the collector who commissioned it.  If you’re interested in these videos, then this is for you–but it’s not for everyone.  I think it’s cool to watch it all come together in super-fast motion, when in reality it took many hours of work–but then, I’m a painter.  So, please watch according to your level of interest:

The YouTube link, should you wish to pass it on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmnhtppPvoU

(If you like my videos, do a search for “speed painting” on YouTube.  As well as videos like mine posted by other painters, you can find a lot of cool videos of digital painting, in which the artist uses Photoshop to “paint” an image.)

Change is on the horizon.  With election day less than a month away and the economy looking dire, there seems to be a lot of freaked-out energy floating around.  I’ve turned introspective.  Re-assessing my life, making plans, and counting my blessings seems more productive than getting caught up in all the negativity that’s out there right now.  Of course I’m not immune to it–but I figure consciously resisting it is better than nothing.

My new puppy Blake, at 12 weeks old, now eats more than my full-grown dog, and appears to be growing exponentially.  Life is good.