|
Well the death of realism in art has been a prediction ever since photography came along. Photography has even been given as one reason for the rise of abstraction and the modern art movement of the 20th century.
I for one think that those who make such statements do not understand why people by art or those that buy it.
Automated looms have been making mass-produced oriental style rugs for over a hundred years now but the market for Antique and traditionally hand made Oriental Rugs is as strong as ever.
You can purchase a dresser to put your cloths in from a discount furniture store for a $100 Or you can purchase a hand made 18th century High boy reproduction for $5,000 to $20,000. Those with the skills to make these reproductions have no shortage of customers.
You can build a 1800 Sq. ft home. for $70,000 or you could spend 2 million. Builders who build luxury homes over 2 million have no shortage of buyers. In fact Real estate brokers will tell you it is easier to sell a five million dollar house then a $900,000 house. It is because of the economic gap. The majority of buyers can't afford a $900,000 home but those few that can most often could also afford 1-2 million or more. Also there are a lot more $900,000 homes competing for the few buyers looking in that price range. Homes in the 5 million plus range are exclusive and there is never a shortage of those with the money willing to pay for exclusivity.
No one tells a builder that because you can build a house for less that he should stop building luxury homes and only build what most people can afford.
But many say that because most people can't afford a painted portrait that it is a hard way to make a living. But I feel contrary to that belief the more exclusive the market the less effected by economic down turns it is.
I will admit that the economy does have some effect at all levels but for the most part sales of luxury items that traditionally are purchased by the wealthiest members of society are mostly unaffected by economic down turns that primarily hit the middle class the hardest.
History also bares this out. Although even the very wealthy were effected by the depression of the 1930s they were far from becoming poor and in fact the wealthiest at the time benefited by the low cost of labor and materials to construct grand homes that today would cost billions.
Yes only those artist who are established enough to demand high fees ($10,000 or higher) normally have such clients as Rockefeller's but most of the artist in that range have waiting list years long and are for the most part unaffected by the past few years of stock market down turns.
Now for those starting out who's clients include the middle class to upper middle class yes we are very effected by economic slow downs as was every industry selling luxuries to the masses. But although many have done a lot of belt tightening when it comes to their necessities often people will still splurge on luxuries if they can still afford them. Obviously if you are struggling to pay your rent or put food on your table you are not going to be buying art. But except for the rare occasion those vulnerable to such hardships are not traditional art buyers.
For those who have the money they are just as likely to go ahead and commission that painting even if their stocks are no longer giving the 20 percent returns they had before the bubble burst. They also still buy diamond rings, Bentley Auto's and Yachts.
The key is to become skilled enough that your work is in high demand. Those who's have achieved this level of skill are few. Exclusivity equals price.
Other artist have found ways of increasing their exposure and the demand for their work.
But regardless of how one creates this demand be it marketing, connections, great skill or a combination of them all. The fact is those artist that are in demand no matter what the economy does will always have clients willing to pay for their art.
And Photograph is not a issue or even considered by those who want a painting. Anyone can buy a photograph (or even Take one them self) So there is no exclusivity so it will can never replace the painted portrait.
Saying this may sound like I am being elitist. In some ways I guess I am in the same way that public television is labeled elitist by some because they choose to feature culture and art over mass media television you find all over the dial that chooses to show the lowest of human achievement. The Jerry Springer's of the world can have the masses I for one will choose those that appreciate the finer things in life those that appreciate the arts and the greater of human endeavors. They may be fewer but they have deeper pockets.
|