Comments on: Should Your Older Art Be Put Out to Pasture?

By: Aleada Siragusa

Sat, 26 May 2012 19:53:27 +0000

If the IRS is taxing older art work and art that has not been sold yet as inventory then they should deduct the whole price of the value you place on an art work when you donate it. Other products are valued this way. Currently art work donated by an artist is only worth the value of the paper it is placed on. This is not legal because we are being taxed a certain value for it unsold. Either do not tax us for our art work that is not sold, (our inventory), or allow us to donate it for the value you wish to tax the art as inventory. The Arts Council has lawyers that donate their time to helping artists and art issues, they should look into this and advocate for the artist.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:28:51 +0000

In reply to Robin Neudorfer.

Robin: I agree that most buyers don’t give a horse’s pa-toot what the date is on a work.
I do think there are serious contemporary collectors who do.
Glad you could make that sale! Being there in person is so valuable.

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By: linda billet

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:56:51 +0000

In reply to Sari Grove.

Here is my plan: I don’t really care about the monetary value. I care about the historical value. So I want to become an artist that people would want to know the history of my work. If I don’t become that, I will die trying.
I hang on to certain pieces but I also have some works that are in places that I believe I could loan from if I were to need them for an exhibit like this one- http://museumofglass.org/page.aspx?pid=531&srctid=1&erid=564257
Never know, do you?

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By: Robin Neudorfer

Thu, 17 May 2012 03:13:32 +0000

I just sold a pastel that was 3 yrs old. The collector had no idea, and I certainly wasn’t advertising that it was dated…. though I don’t feel 3-5 yrs as being “old” or “early” work.
He was interested in the making of the work. I am glad that I was at the Artist Reception in order to tell him about it.

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By: Sari Grove

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:56:43 +0000

In reply to Karine Swenson.

Karine…Alan Bamberger who wrote the article is a great resource…He also is a lovely person & answered me right away when I was conflicted about an art issue…

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By: Sari Grove

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:54:17 +0000

In reply to linda billet.

Linda…I made one sculpture last year…One…But it is a really good
one…I don’t think how many you do is a problem- more, how good is the
one you do manage to do…
I love what you said about the tip about raising your prices across
the board when a big something happens…
I’ve been trying to understand how Jasper Johns preserves his prices
so well- I know he controls his art by keeping it under his own roof,
but I realize, by keeping it in his own inventory, he can raise prices
whenever he wants…He’s not calling up galleries to tell them to
inflate a price…
Thanks…

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By: Karine Swenson

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:45:18 +0000

This is such interesting dialogue. I loved the article Sari Grove linked to. (thanks, Sari!) I recently had a sale of works created before we lived in our current location. Most of those works had never been shown here before. The prices were reduced, and I marketed to my collectors and local patrons. I didn’t sell as much as I had hoped, but I met my financial goal and I am happy to have more space. I do think it’s important to hold onto the best works from each period of my artistic journey, but it’s impossible to keep everything – especially if you are prolific.

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By: dorothy

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:05:06 +0000

What an interesting discussion. My work has “evolved” (improved) since I started painting 3 years ago and I don’t think my older pieces reflect my real style or ability. Newer pieces are more representational and the color is more complex. But the earlier pieces have a nice direct, fresh painting quality that I still appreciate. So I have them on a page on my website called “fresh colors” and that feels right to me. For larger shows I group those earlier paintings together and price them slightly less. They go well together and sometimes sell as “pairs” or companion pieces.
Thanks for all the good ideas – I will look into ebay as a option too!

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By: Jerry cable

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:54:41 +0000

Ive recently sold two works that were created more than ten yrs ago. I brought them into the studio to fill empty spots due to multiple shows I was in. My savy collectors commented right away on the difference in style. But it proved once again that I believe there is a home for every painting.

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By: linda billet

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:18:03 +0000

In reply to Sari Grove.

Sari, I wholeheartedly agree with you and and am SO glad you posted that article saying exactly what I thought. Obviously, we will not hoard every unsold work we make. Odds are great that we will not attain Warhol stature, true. But chances are better if we do act like we will, believe that we will and keep moving in that direction. I’ve saved a few pieces of works that have been published and certain faves from different styles. If you don’t become an art icon, it is easier to remedy the mistake of having too much work than it would be to remedy the mistake of not having kept any if you do become an icon. One class that I took told us that if an event happens in your career that makes your work more valuable, then you should contact every gallery carrying your work and “up” the prices across the board….no matter how old. Maybe I think differently because I cannot make 365 great works a year. I’m lucky if I can get 12 in a year. AND about “old” work? If it is still work that I can stand by, I will sell it. If I am not proud of it, I will not sell it old OR new.

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