I need some advice on an artist

[Magrus]

I've offered to pay my younger brother to do some sketches for my new apartment. He is a broke college student who cannot get a job in his college town because they are all taken. He has changed his major from art to music this past year, and although he loves music, and I think with training (which he just started this past year) he could be a good musician, he is a brilliant artist. I have asked him how much he would charge for 8x10 paintings, and he tossed out a figure of $150-$300, depending on the type of paint and detail involved with the painting.

Now, this kind of money is a lot to me, and would be a months worth of savings/spending money for me with my new job. However, given how good he is, I would gladly pay it to see he has money, and the paintings would be more than worth the money. However, I was curious to see whether or not anyone else here has experience as an artist and would have any advice in where I could start a way to advertise what he does for me in his batch of sketches to see whether or not others would be willing to pay him for his work. He is proud, and won't ask for help unless he is bleeding or starving. So, I would like to take it upon myself to do something for him, and if the opportunity arises to be able to call him up and say "I have someone who wants a painting done, would you be willing to do business with him/her?" and see if that could help with his financial troubles.

My friends all are amazed by his work, including the girls I have dated who were/are art students. They have asked him to do pieces of art for them, however he never had the time between work and school. Now, he has the time, but needs work, and those people happen to be broke. Knowing there are people who love his work, I am hoping I may be able to find people who actually have money who would be willing to pay him for his time and efforts and be of mutual benefit to him and the other people involved.

So, would anyone have any experience as an artist, or be involved in anything of the sort to be able to help me find a way which would be proper in going about this?

[Lasher]

I've sold one, and my friend has sold many by taking some artwork to a library or office building and asking to talk to somebody about "purchasing some grade-a artwork"... It was fun, passed time, and helped us meet new chicks(secretaries ). Although... we live in a pretty rural place, and I'm not too jive on city folk procedure...

[Magrus]

That might be a good idea to try out.

The big problem with this is, he's the guy doing the art, and with the art connections. However, he went to the 2nd best art school in the country, and in order to get the students to keep doing better work, they beat it into the students heads that what they ARE doing is crap, so that's what he thinks his work is. He doesn't have the confidence to do any of this himself in his work. Everyone else thinks it is good, it's why he got accepted and had a $36,000 scholarship for the school. He just would never think he's good enough to go out and try selling his work unless someone straight out offered to buy it off him.

[Lasher]

I'm sensing a money-making opportunity here. Buy Art low.... Sell Art High... Rake in dough...It's foolproof!

[Fiona]

Magrus, some of the galleries here will take art work on a sale or return basis. But they put a huge mark up on the work and take a huge cut of the price if it sells. That's annoying, but it does mean the work is seen by people who actually buy pictures. Perhaps your brother could showcase sketches this way? That might be less work for no certain return, and he has little to lose because he wouldn't be showing really finished work, which he might be shyer about? Just a thought

[Patrick]

You should try and post a few picts here, I may be a potential buyer, but not necassarily. I don't collect paintings, but I am somewhat affilated with local artistry and have a recent interest in a few pieces for my self, but they were not available to the public. There is art all over Phoenix actually.. I go to clubs or show or bars and often there is a secton reserved for artist to post a gallery for money or display. Great fun.
I don't know what kind of music your brother is into but check out some gothic clubs or art feast when you can. There are exibits from the college too, they sell pieces if they can.
What kind of art is it, because if it is classified adult or erotic check out the kink side like fetish events or dance clubs

[dj_venom]

eBay, and I am not kidding.

Advertise a work on eBay, and if it's good, it can be bought. But it doesn't stop there. That person will either want more, or their friends will want some, and then he's got 4, 5 orders coming in.

It's worked for someone I know, who had a stack of orders after selling one piece, so just give it a go.

[Magrus]

Hmm, if I was going to see if there were any buyers, I'd get samples of his actual paintings. That or the work he has done with charcoal, which I think he is best with. Unfortunately, there isn't a large art crowd in this area at clubs and such. It's just not a city geared that way.

The E-bay may work however if I could scan the pictures he has left in his room. That, or I may be able to find an art dealer around here. I think he's thrown out most of what he brought home from art school when he left that place though unfortunately. What I would be finding lying around is stuff prior to his schooling there.

[Athena]

Mag, my advice would be similar to Fiona's. Exhibit the art at a gallery.

[Magrus]

Unfortunately, there is only one true art gallery around here, and that one is small, and snooty. They don't deal with amateurs and only with dead people's art. As if artists weren't once live people too.

[Athena]

That sucks. Maybe we could write them a letter. The place down the street from me has members and a school and so forth. There is a member's gallery and an annual member's exhibition, where they get to submit 2 of their best works for sale. But their other work can always be on sale there. The annual exhibition is just more popular and publicized.

Mag, maybe the gallery near you can be convinced to start a member's gallery? :worried: :concerned: :hopeful: (Did you fall offline there?)

[Magrus]

Maybe I could do that. If I can't get the E-bay thing to work I may. Sorry, I had to get dressed.

[dj_venom]

The problem with exhibits is you have to pay. That's why you try to really impress your lecturer and have them show people the art, and you can receive free entry into exhibits, and if you are good enough, be paid for simply loaning your work.

If he could make an exhibit, that should pick up an offer or two.

And yeah, scan or take a photo, but you might as well give it a go.

[TonyMontana1638]

eBay's a great way to go... I personally have bought from an artist who sells all his work on eBay (it's fabulous stuff): search him there, Sam Hawtin. He's centered in England I believe and if you email him or something, might be willing to give tips. If nothing else, maybe just check out how his auctions operate for ideas.

[Lestat]

Random thought: if you know a more posh restaurant or another place were arty-farty people sometimes go for a drink or a meal, ask the manager whether he's willing to put up some of the work. This can generate some interest, especially if the work is really original. And have the manager put discreet little tags with a text that more or less goes like. "These works and similar works can be purchased, for more information contact the management". And if your brother as a fair bit of works, he can easily replace those that are purchased.
So it's a win-win situation: the manager gets to put some original art on his walls that might appeal to his clientele, and your brother gets exposure.