Understanding the Other: it’s one of the basic challenges of
humanity. Getting to know someone is a process of discovery
and in some ways easier than the never ending quest of self-discovery. In general, the best way to do that is to find
out what drives the other person, what their passion is, and if you can
understand that, you can come to some kind of common ground.
Artists are tricky, though, especially with personal
relationships. Most artists do all they
can to obscure their actual personas, speaking primarily through their work. So the best way to make friends with an
artist is help them. Tangibly. Artists
need help. They live on the borders of
society and frequently fall through the cracks. Don’t assume self-sufficiency
because the work may be strong. The biggest
difference between successful and unsuccessful artists is the quality of their
Ask yourself: Will I sit idly by and merely appreciate the
life’s work of an artist I know, or will I do something to help them and make society
a better place?
A few tips on artist friendship:
-Begin by acquiring their work and experiencing
it first hand.
-You could also host an event, showcasing their
-If you have acquaintances who work in or run
galleries or other venues you could make a pitch for them (you have no idea how
impossible it is for an artist to pitch their own work).
-When you have people over for social occasions,
you could be sure to mention the work in your home and encourage others to
check it out.
-When you attend other artist openings or museum
exhibitions, you could talk about your friends’ work.
So don’t just press “Like” and forget about it. Pressing “Like” and being social media “friends”
isn’t really making friends with an artist.
If you don’t own even a print of a painter, you’re not their friend.
art doesn’t have to be a giant leap of faith.
Some artists, especially the ones you may know, will let you try a piece
of work you fancy in your home or office or public space before you buy
it. This will allow you to really enjoy
the subtleties, detail and actual size of the original work. If the piece is of quality, your
appreciation will do nothing but gain over time.
A few things to consider in this
- - A percentage of the full price as a deposit. A small show of faith, even 10-15%, can go
- - Packaging shipping should be paid for by the
potential buyer. The artist will take
care of the work of shipping, typically to very expensive.
- - The collector may want to consider how the work
fits into their insurance, or be ready to pay for the painting if damage occurs
while it’s in their possession.
- - To avoid uncomfortable relations, a definite
period of loan should be agreed upon. I’ve
found 6 weeks to be a good sweet spot