The Art of Collecting

This week finds me musing about collectors, collecting, and the true appreciation of those who choose to support artists through the purchase of one or more paintings. Speaking from first hand, personal experience, there is little that happens in the life of an artist more gratifying than the sale of a painting, unless it is the successful accomplishment of a challenging painting. Throughout most of my career, I have sold primarily through galleries. While that has been satisfying, of course, when a sale occurs, for the most part I rarely meet the collector and notification comes through an email or phone call. Since I've taken more control over the promotion and sale of my work, primarily through my website and social network sites, I've been able to connect closely with collectors. As a result, the culmination of a sale takes on a much more satisfying conclusion. At times, and thankfully, I have the exquisite privilege of meeting the collector personally, when the sale takes place here in my home and gallery, or when delivering paintings to the home of the collector. Being more "hands on" in the sale and delivery of paintings has been one of the most delightful and surprising benefits from representing oneself to the collector. It's truly a win/win for both artist and collector as the price paid and money received are also more to the liking of both parties. And the feedback from the patron always exceeds the mere financial satisfaction of the sale.

This week, I had the great privilege of completing two sales to collectors in person. One was a couple visiting our home who purchased a piece of original art for the very first time. How honored I am that they chose one of my paintings for their maiden foray into the Art of Collecting. The other was a painting purchased by a promising student of mine and her husband who have collected my work before. And that, unequivocally, is the peak experience for an artist, having multiple paintings purchased by a collector or couple collecting for their beautiful home. It's exhilarating to think that someone treasures your work so much as to surround themselves with multiple images created at your hand.

Here's the feedback I received by the student/collector about the painting she and her husband purchased:

"Hey - just wanted to let you know that your painting has been transformative!
[my husband]  loved it on your website and when he saw it in person was blown away and often walks into the room just to sit down and gaze at it (I also find myself doing that).

Found a great place for it and, without going into too much detail, to open up that wall space needed to go thru most of my books, paperwork, and memorabilia and reassess what is important and meaningful to me and let go of the rest - have meant to do this for 5 years or so and wasn’t expecting to accomplish this for another 5 - is [the painting] imbued
with magical powers?  

I really love looking at this painting - I’m finding, as with the other 3 paintings, that it transforms a space and fills it with possibilities, inspiration, and warmth.  Feel very grateful to have this painting in my home - thank you Denny for painting!

much love, M.S. " 

That had me beaming! And it's every artist's dream that their work not only hangs in a collector's home, but transforms it.

I've also had the privilege this year to deliver nine paintings to a couples' home that might be the most magnificent interior space I've ever witnessed. And to see my paintings hanging in such a space gave me a humbling yet exhilarating pause. Likewise, I've worked with another collector to design and create several personalized commissions for their home, another supremely emotional experience. She even wrote poetry to create a narrative for some of the pieces purchased.

I don't have words to express how all of this makes me feel. I simply want to say "Thank you" to anyone who has ever purchased a piece of art, mine or anyone else's. You may be buying something you like or love, but you are also touching the artist in ways you could not have imagined. 

"Wherefore Art Thou" oil on canvas 20" x 16"