So that’s the purpose of this post, to help appreciators of art to understand just what goes into it and why the price tag is worth it. Of course we artists love knowing our work has made an impression or is appreciated, but at the then of the day it just won’t pay the bills. Consider this: not only do the artists have to buy the materials to create, but they need to pay the bills to keep the lights on and the water running, buy the promotional materials (business cards, for example), but they also need to make a profit from their work just to continue living, let alone to continue creating art.

In today’s world especially, art is not exclusive to the rich or the educated. You don’t need to have a knowledge of art and art history to become a collector, all you need to know about art is how it makes you feel, why you are drawn to it or just the fact that it stirs something in you. Contemporary artists go to great lengths to see that their work is affordable to the general public in many ways: prints, t-shirts, postcards, pins, patches. While these things are inexpensive and small, the sale of them absolutely helps support the artist (otherwise we wouldn’t offer those things).

All I ask is that the next time you’re admiring the latest work of your favorite artists, you take the time to consider the time and energy that went into that thing. Sometimes, if you show you’re appreciation to the artist and their work, they might even consider giving you a discount or a deal just for being a dedicated fan. If you’re confused about the price of a piece, you can ask the artist why it is what it is; as long as you’re polite and not accusing the artist of overpricing, they’ll probably be appreciative that someone has taken an interest in the process of their work and not just the finished product.

Thanks for making it this far! I hope this hasn’t come off as accusatory and I hope it has helped bring about a bit more understanding. My next blog post is going to add onto these ideas; I will discuss why art is essential, why it moves us, and the benefits of not only viewing artwork, but of owning it. What are your thoughts? As buyers? As artists? I’d love to hear anything you have to add, until next time!