Dreaming...

I had an opportunity to dream a little today. To explore what I considered unattainable, what I would accomplish if fear were not a factor. I saw the possibility of a growing body of work, of making inspiring connections, of having a sunlit studio and little collections of the things I love scattered among unfinished and finished canvases, open paint boxes, the smell of oil and spirits and a thin dusting of charcoal over a work table filled with projects in various stages of completion. I heard the chatter of friends, clinking wine glasses, saw dark purple grapes and an assortment of crackers artfully arranged on unique platters. People chatted about process and intention, about years and transitions, about work and passion...we talked about art.

Today I visited the studio of my dear friend Dennis Sirrine. Dennis just opened the doors to his fabulous studio in the Velvet Mill in Stonington, CT. He has a long Curriculum Vitae which details a career replete with honorable mentions, gallery exhibitions, directorship positions and memberships to premier artists groups. His formal education in the arts started in the late 60s but when asked how long he has been painting, he gestures with his hand at waist height and says "since I was this tall." When I first met Dennis, his work was on display at the Maritime Art Gallery in Mystic, CT where I worked in the printshop and later as a gallery assistant. I always admired his craft and meticulous brushwork, something that I found painstaking and elusive in my own work. But Dennis held my attention because his work was more than the sea or boat or landscape that he was portraying. I always felt that there was emotion or feeling or a little bit of soul behind his serene depictions of marshes and beaches. As I walked through his gallery, I was immediately drawn to a wall full of abstracts hanging in a corner of the studio. These transitional pieces were recently completed and are, in Dennis' own words, paintings that "were a release of emotions" from his recent transformation and move to the Velvet Mill. He has opened up his soul and has painted it for all to see.

He has only occupied his space since March but is well situated. The studio is warm and inviting. He has a pleasant view of a small pond and bubbling fountain. The windows are open and allow in the salty smell of the ocean which is nearby. He welcomes people with open arms and says his goodbyes with hugs and a warm smile. His space is just perfect and is worth a look if you are interested in seeing a working space transformed by the spirit of creation and the passion of the artist. Congrats Dennis and may there be many more glimpses into that colorful soul of yours!

You can visit the Velvet Mill Studios and Dennis' space on July 9th during their Summer Open Studio Event.

Velvet Mill Studios / Dennis Sirrine

22 Bayview Avenue, Studio E

Stonington, CT 06378

Making Money...The business of art

I just read an article in the business section of the June 11th edition of The WEEK in which it briefly states that "Art is on the Upswing." According to the write up "the market for fine art dropped off a cliff last year...but in 2010...auction sales for old masters and contemporary art have bounced back (from the 35% fall in the first quarter of 2009." This is according to report in the MEI Moses All Art index which analyzes art sales and auctions. Bottom line is that this new influx of sales indicates that there "could be more upside later this year." The article goes on to suggest that although sales are up, investing in fine art is still a tricky thing. Apparently (and this is something that I did not know). "Besides being subject to violent price swings, art is highly illiquid and expensive to transport, store and insure. Art purchasers must pay sales tax, while sellers incur a 28% capital-gains tax--nearly twice the current long-term rate for traditional investments."

So what do I conclude...what does this mean to me as an artist trying to make a living from her work? Well, first of all, as an emerging artist I am not in the category of the old masters or for that matter in the premier list of contemporary artists (that is on my goal sheet). But what this does to my business is that, like real estate, buying and selling art fluctuates with the market (we all have an inkling of how this works). If investors have no money then investments decline. But art is not a house that you can live in, you are not purchasing a stake in a company that borrows your money and then compensates you for your investment. The value of the work that I do is determined by what people are willing to pay for it not necessarily for services rendered. We all say how art is an investment, how it has value and how that value will only increase with time but in reality the value that I want to give to someone is the emotion of owning something that speaks to their soul, that brightens their walls, that sparks imagination. Can you really put a 28% capital gains tax on something which should place its value on the amount of JOY it brings to owner and seller? Wow, that is a steep price to pay for a little piece of heaven! Why don't we do that same for Jimmy Choos or for that Dooney & Burke bag that cost more than some of the pieces on my gallery walls? Do they not bring JOY to the wearer? And why can't we base the value of our work on amount of hours and materials used? Isn't there a way to determine value without the "violent price swings"?

The sad part about all of this is that the artist (while still alive and working) never seems to achieve the financial compensation that he/she deserves. Part of the mystique of being an artist is that the labor is truly one of love or obsession. Think about Van Gogh whose portrait of Dr. Gachet sold in 1990 by Christies for $139M. Considered one of the most famous Dutch artist (after Rembrandt), he had very little success throughout his career and only achieved recognition 11 years after his death following a show of 71 of his 1001 paintings in March of 1901 in Paris. What does this say about our chosen work? If the work is valued by someone, shouldn't success be appreciated during our careers, why must the artist be punished and labeled as starving? Our work is just as important as anyone providing goods and services, the only difference is that our work attempts to feed the spirit.

This is a difficult debate and could go on forever. I am not well versed in all matters having to do with markets and finances. What I do believe is that my work and the work of the artists that I know IS valuable but not for the reasons the market leads us to think. The value is soulful and indicative of an appreciation for a craft that is well done. My question is...how do we market and place a value on a job well done when we are competing with stocks, bonds and real estate?