Post #240465 by kooche on Fri, Jun 30, 2006 8:04 AM

i am in the midst of a growth spurt for sure and I'm loving it ...thanks for the encouragement!

the real problem with doing tiki art is that we as a community are vagabonds and hobos with no money whatsoever... NONE! (maybe that has something to do with the fact that we are all artists at heart here?) paintings that sell for $250 (keep in mind as an artist showing in a gallery 50% of that goes to the hand that paints) are priced too low (as in lowbrow) to feed a family ... but having said that i am the kind of guy that spends maybe $3500 a year on art and i expect to get 3 pieces for that much...most folks see a measly $250 painting (YES I SAID MEASLY $250) as a whopping misappropriation of funds especially the straight men in the world and those are the people who'll push an artist for what i call a "bro-deal" - well after painting 75 plus tiki images and selling to collectors and more than a couple of celebs i am not interested in bro-dealing anymore - i want to paint whatever it is i feel like at that moment ... i say no more tiki art as have many who are over painted and undersold for years in a row (aka Flounder) ... it sucks - you come one the scene - you get to know folks - they like you and you sell for peanuts and popcorn that make your lips smack and then the people who can't afford the art ask you to compromise the integrity of the previous sales by lowering the price bar for them - here's the real catch in the scenario ... IF you lower the cost then you make a friend at the expense of those who have paid a fair price for your art - if you DON'T undersell under the table then those who can't afford your paintings speak about the inflated ego and tired graphic nature of the art they once coveted - i saw it happen to Shag - it's BS... so now if someone wants a tiki piece i'll take a commission but that's it... i say no more tiki art but what i mean is no more freebees... i still dig tiki i just hate being loved up by people that want something for nothing that'll kiss and tell tales about cost after they get a discount... i can't fault someone for trying to save a buck but i sure don't have to cater to them either - i buy art i LIKE and want to hang rather than expecting to get a return on it - after 5 years of painting tiki art i think it's fair to fold - yes - it's been that long!

then there is this - "make prints" or "make shirts" so you do one or both and maybe you pre-sell and take names on a list and then when the product show up almost nobody is actually interested in BUYING they just wanted to appear supportive and enthused about the scene - this leaves an artist FLAT BUSTED and the funny part about it is folks imagine you as all loaded and successful because you sold a few paintings and can afford to make prints or shirts ...it's futile and it's enough to make an artist's attitude change - my prints are so beautiful you almost can't tell that they are repros but most people expect to get an original for $200-$250 - fat chance baby! i have a box full of guys and gals shirts which are BOUND to be collectors items in my studio that i give to friends and visitors ...i won't stop painting just because most tiki exotica fans can't afford my art - hell i can't afford my art so cry me a river and i'll use your salty tears as solvent to save $

coulda shoulda woulda kids - the iron was hot 5 years ago - thanks for the support ESPECIALLY to SIRGINN!