Comments on: Donating Your Art: the Good, the Bad and the Reality of Giving http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/ It's never easy but... Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:47:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: admin http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-12 admin Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:47:22 +0000 http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-12 Wow, the took the unsold work to the Goodwill? How disrespectful. I hope you didn't donate work in that case, better to pass or give-what- a pile of used clothing? We really ought to get the word out to the public on the etiquette of asking for donations. Wow, the took the unsold work to the Goodwill? How disrespectful. I hope you didn’t donate work in that case, better to pass or give-what- a pile of used clothing? We really ought to get the word out to the public on the etiquette of asking for donations.

]]> By: beverleeolson http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-11 beverleeolson Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:37:07 +0000 http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-11 Suz I love your self portait!! Have just been asked to donate art and was told that last year they got rid of a whole row of paintings -- pointing down along the hall where they had been displayed on the floor leaning against the wall. (Items that did not sell were were dropped of at Good Will the next day.) This was a fund raiser--- with garage sale prices marked on items. This was not a very uplifting experience to be asked to donate. I am willing to give garage sale type items and glad to pass them on -- but not works that I have created that hopefully will speak and connect to others who view them. It is a joy, however, when a friend loves something that I have done and I sincerely want to make it a special gift to them. (And they actually take pleasure in it.) I have traded with other artists and have some lovely creations placed through out my home. Suz I love your self portait!!
Have just been asked to donate art and was told that last year they got rid of a whole row of paintings — pointing down along the hall where they had been displayed on the floor leaning against the wall. (Items that did not sell were were dropped of at Good Will the next day.) This was a fund raiser— with garage sale prices marked on items.

This was not a very uplifting experience to be asked to donate. I am willing to give garage sale type items and glad to pass them on — but not works that I have created that hopefully will speak and connect to others who view them.

It is a joy, however, when a friend loves something that I have done and I sincerely want to make it a special gift to them. (And they actually take pleasure in it.) I have traded with other artists and have some lovely creations placed through out my home.

]]> By: suzirhae http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-10 suzirhae Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:25:10 +0000 http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-10 Nice Job Janie...a wise old artist once said, "Never make art just for exposure sake...you can die from exposure!?" Hee hee, Suz Nice Job Janie…a wise old artist once said, “Never make art just for exposure sake…you can die from exposure!?” Hee hee, Suz

]]> By: janie9 http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-8 janie9 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:07:57 +0000 http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-8 The 100 lithos were going to a state wide event and had hoped the marketing would be worth it...but like I say...I think people believe if I could give that much away, there is either something wrong with it or I am rich! Ha! Lost on both counts. It just seemed like a wonderful way to get my name out all over. I did it again as well for a large event in Alexandria...as I have not ever heard back...not even thanks...well you know how much that got me as well. People will take but the thanks is a long time coming. Artists are far to generous with what little they have. I think we have to realize that if stores gave away things they would not be in business long. I want to continue trying to make this a business and so therefore, I guess I had better treat it like one and not give things away. It is sad though. I think we all enjoy giving our work to people...but the reality is, in these situations, the person receiving it might not even like it! Ha! The 100 lithos were going to a state wide event and had hoped the marketing would be worth it…but like I say…I think people believe if I could give that much away, there is either something wrong with it or I am rich! Ha! Lost on both counts. It just seemed like a wonderful way to get my name out all over. I did it again as well for a large event in Alexandria…as I have not ever heard back…not even thanks…well you know how much that got me as well. People will take but the thanks is a long time coming. Artists are far to generous with what little they have. I think we have to realize that if stores gave away things they would not be in business long. I want to continue trying to make this a business and so therefore, I guess I had better treat it like one and not give things away. It is sad though. I think we all enjoy giving our work to people…but the reality is, in these situations, the person receiving it might not even like it! Ha!

]]> By: admin http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-7 admin Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:42:37 +0000 http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-7 I agree with everything you say. When you gave 100 lithos you might have thought about how much money and publicity they should make for the cause. I bet you didn't even think about what they would actually be sold for, or if the people who asked for them would appreciate what your efforts cost you. I know that you regularly donate. I read on your blog that you made 160 blankets for police and social services. http://watercolorist.blogspot.com/2005/10/life-has-seasons.html. Wow, it is impressive! Did the blankets got more thanks than the lithos? People sometimes understand the value and cost of a simple hand made item far easier than understanding what art is worth. I had held off on blind auctions until this year then caved because I had no cash to give. As usual, it almost made my costs. I won't do it again, I'd rather give what I can afford at the time. I agree with everything you say. When you gave 100 lithos you might have thought about how much money and publicity they should make for the cause. I bet you didn’t even think about what they would actually be sold for, or if the people who asked for them would appreciate what your efforts cost you. I know that you regularly donate. I read on your blog that you made 160 blankets for police and social services.
http://watercolorist.blogspot.com/2005/10/life-has-seasons.html.
Wow, it is impressive! Did the blankets got more thanks than the lithos? People sometimes understand the value and cost of a simple hand made item far easier than understanding what art is worth.

I had held off on blind auctions until this year then caved because I had no cash to give. As usual, it almost made my costs. I won’t do it again, I’d rather give what I can afford at the time.

]]> By: janie9 http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-6 janie9 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:49:09 +0000 http://artmark.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/donating-your-art-the-good-the-bad-and-the-reality-of-giving/#comment-6 Viv, You have written this extremely well and covered the bases. I suspect some artists have had a good response with donations but I have not. I have given up to 100 lithos to some causes and nothing has come of it. I realize that I have not made a name for myself in this community so that might be part of it but I now believe that donations tend to cheapen our work. If we are willing to give it away, then what is it worth? Is it a blue light special...maybe there is something wrong with this piece so the public thinks it might not be worth bidding on if it was free to begin with. It is a very hard call and one artists need to consider before donating. I have always asked myself that question as well about asking artists all the time to "give" something. My thought was never the plumber however! HA! But I did think...when was Naylor's asked to give a refrigerator? Perhaps they have been asked but I bet that question doesnt come in the door all the time like it comes to us. With todays society being one of disposable everything, I believe they want cheap things so that they can change their color scheme often. Art is not thought of as something to keep forever like it use to be thought of. Donating seems to put us with Walmart or something like that. We as artists have to value what we do before others will. In the marketing workshops I have taken, they even say beware of putting things on sale as you will find people waiting for the next sale rather than buying now. Sorry if I have rambled on. You pretty much answered this puzzle and I hope everyone will consider their donations carefully to see if it actually is benefical to them. I donate to causes I believe in but often that is with case as you said. I value my art and do not give it away anymore. Viv, You have written this extremely well and covered the bases. I suspect some artists have had a good response with donations but I have not. I have given up to 100 lithos to some causes and nothing has come of it. I realize that I have not made a name for myself in this community so that might be part of it but I now believe that donations tend to cheapen our work. If we are willing to give it away, then what is it worth? Is it a blue light special…maybe there is something wrong with this piece so the public thinks it might not be worth bidding on if it was free to begin with. It is a very hard call and one artists need to consider before donating.
I have always asked myself that question as well about asking artists all the time to “give” something. My thought was never the plumber however! HA! But I did think…when was Naylor’s asked to give a refrigerator? Perhaps they have been asked but I bet that question doesnt come in the door all the time like it comes to us. With todays society being one of disposable everything, I believe they want cheap things so that they can change their color scheme often. Art is not thought of as something to keep forever like it use to be thought of. Donating seems to put us with Walmart or something like that. We as artists have to value what we do before others will. In the marketing workshops I have taken, they even say beware of putting things on sale as you will find people waiting for the next sale rather than buying now. Sorry if I have rambled on. You pretty much answered this puzzle and I hope everyone will consider their donations carefully to see if it actually is benefical to them. I donate to causes I believe in but often that is with case as you said. I value my art and do not give it away anymore.

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