The Plein Air Diaries

While our Plein Air Paint-Out is on May 5th, artists are already hard at work rendering scenes from within and around Sonora. Today we had a brief thunderstorm, which probably interfered with painting plans for some, but the rest of the week is mostly sunny, and Saturday should be clear, giving our painters so many different skys to work with between now and the reception on Saturday.

Ed Terpening has already brought in some fresh paint, and we'll have more every day, from all of our artists. Ed is also sharing his experience on his own blog, with his first post of the event, dated yesterday, right here.

Things are looking great, and we hope to see everyone on Saturday.

Good Negative Feedback

I sometimes think that I over-analyze aspects of the gallery business. Even as I write that sentence I worry that maybe I haven't given some thing enough thought and I am going to be caught unprepared. There are days in the gallery that are intensely busy and other days that are very quiet. On the quiet days I get enough, or maybe too much, time to think. Those are the days I come up with some good ideas and occasionally some really bad ideas. It was one of those days that developed the questionnaire I sent out four or five years ago. It was fun and the responses were interesting. We got a couple of very useful ideas from that. On the other hand, the 'focus group' idea died a quick death due to lack of interest.

Recently someone asked to be taken off our mailing list. This happens rarely enough that I was worried. Had we done something wrong? The best form of positive feedback for the gallery are sales. But, good negative feedback is truly difficult to obtain. It would be so handy to peer into the minds of people who come into the gallery and just learn what the issues are and deal with them as best we are able. Unfortunately, a good discourse on improvements rarely happens.

Again, I could be over analyzing. But it seems to me we have some very good policies as a result of some comments. For instance, we sell any painting without the frame having learned that framing can be as much a personal choice as the art work. The gallery is open every day of the week as a result of other comments. And just for your information, being open every day of the week is our response to not being open during the evening.

So if you have any advice, please comment here. If you have anecdotes from your own experience we would love to see them here. Or, since criticism should be done in private, while praise should be public anyone can email me with complaints at vaultart@goldrush.com.

Kristen Kestly

owner of the Vault gallery

Are these all local artists?

Well, no one commented on "How to Buy Art", so here is a new idea to discuss: "What is meant by the question asked as people walk into the gallery, "Are these all local artists?"

It is by far the most frequently asked question in this gallery. And the answer is obvious to me, but what we don't get is why the question is asked. The artists in the Vault gallery live all over the state and in a couple other states as well (Montana and New Mexico for example.) Many, but not a majority live in Tuolumne County. When I spend time answering the question accurately I see the eyes of the person who asked the question begin to glaze over. Yet, saying simply either "yes" or "no" doesn't seem truthful enough.

The artists and I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out what is meant by the question and how to best answer it. So if you have any insight please let us know.

Six Rules of Buying Art

Six Rules of Buying Art For Fun and Profit
(anyone is invited to comment by activating the "comment" button at the bottom of this page.)

1. Have an honest discussion with yourself (and partner.):
This discussion includes practical and philosophical questions and answers. Sometimes the answers to the practical questions also solve the philosophical questions and vice versa. Taking this step first will help you focus your efforts.

We will start with the practical first.
a. Why are you buying art? Is it for home decor? Or investment? Do you care about investment? Is it a little of both?
b. Where will you put your new art? How important is this question?
c. What requirements do you have? Color, size, degree of abstraction? Do you need the neighbors to swoon or do you only want to please yourself?
d. How much money do you want to spend? How much can you spend? If you add 10% to your budget does it make it out-of the question? Can you spend less if you love it?
e. Does it need to be an investment piece for you to feel right about it? What IF the neighbors think you are an idiot? Do you need to love it? Or could you buy it because it is an investment piece?

Philosophy: There has always been two main purposes of art: decoration and status. Of course this is looking at art from the perspective of the buyer. Artists look at art much differently, but we are not talking about the process of creation here just consumption. a. Status defines our position in society. Art as a luxury item is often used as a marker.

2. Look Alot Before You Leap:
Looking at art is the single most important step in making good decisions about the art you purchase. Developing an eye is a matter of seeing and sifting through galleries, museums, studios, magazines and other venues filled with artwork.

The contemporary art market has a lineage like that of a racehorse. Most artists themselves can trace their artistic ancestry back a couple generations. Because of this deep historical root, a true understanding of art, especially your art, is improved by an understanding of where it came from.

a. The first step is to go to a large museum and choose which type of art appeals to you most. Is it detailed or abstract, bright or muted, is the style romantic or realistic, are the subjects things or landscapes or people? Now go to a gallery and see what appeals to you, and then to a different museum. This can be a process that takes a lifetime if you are lucky. If you want to have a lot of fun with this take your child or grandchild through this same process and plan to purchase one object of art on each birthday. Children have have an absolutely amazing relationship to art.
b. The shortcut to this step is to go to an art district of a major city, Seattle for glass, Union square in San Francisco or art center like Carmel or Santa Fe and spend a long day going to lots of galleries and looking. Play the game: what did you like best? At the end of the day, you probably will only be able to remember one or two pieces of art. That’s what you should focus on. “Tell Santa Fe story.”
c. At some point in this process you will have activated an inner voice. This inner voice will chime in when you see something you like. It will also help you evaluate whether the painting is authentic, whether it is well-done, whether it is appropriately priced. Now all you have to do is learn to listen to that inner voice.

3. Learn More About Your Choices:
a. As you can see, this is a process of elimination. By now you have looked at a lot of art. You have learned some of the jargon, met some artists, found some nice galleries. You are feeling more comfortable, but still haven’t bought anything.
b. Get to know the artists who created the work you like. What kind of training do they have? what kind of awards have they won? How long have they been painting? How old is the artist?
c. Get to know the galleries that carry the work of artists you like. How long have they been in business? Do you like going into the gallery? What are their policies? Which other artists do they represent? What types events do they sponsor?

4. Have some fun:
Enjoy this process of building a collection piece by piece. Go to openings and receptions. Subscribe to some magazines. Get your kids involved. You should meet some really nice people, find yourself drinking some good wine, and looking at many intriguing forms of art work.

5. Decide What’s Next:
Before you make a purchase consider mapping out the future. Is this piece part of a larger collection? If so what is the theme? What forms of art complement this collection?

6. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake:
This is just like anything else. Be sure to ask to try a painting in your home before committing to it. Objects look different in different places. Your taste will change through the years. You can resell your art.

Call me if you want some help:
209-533-1384
Kristen Kestly Gallery Owner