Comments on: Cheap Art or Thrifty Treasure? Does Cost Really Equal Value Anyway?

By: Ian Aleksander Adams

Ian Aleksander Adams — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:53:49 +0000

I don’t understand what you’re talking about

By: abdulrazzaq alarbash

abdulrazzaq alarbash — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:13:38 +0000

i want to ask if the book (classic hotels of the world 6) available in any new york book shop?

and how much is it?

By: Cheap: Polished Turds? « Prison Photography

Cheap: Polished Turds? « Prison Photography — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:13:29 +0000

[...] It is true that we should all live with good art, but it is our discernment that decides what is good or not. If enough buyers support an artist through purchases and both parties are happy then so be it. As Ian Aleksander Adams put it, “The real question about cost should only be ‘Is it enough to support the artist?’… [...]

By: Ian Aleksander Adams

Ian Aleksander Adams — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:49:58 +0000

Thanks Elizabeth!

By: Elizabeth Fleming

Elizabeth Fleming — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:50:05 +0000

This is a great post. I have loads I could say in response, but you put it so well I simply quoted you on twitter. Thanks for this.

By: Ian Aleksander Adams

Ian Aleksander Adams — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:39:30 +0000

Yup! I suppose that’s the important part, right? The real question about cost should only be “Is it enough to support the artist?”

If the artist is well known and doing fine, I don’t feel bad buying their book used at Strand. If they’re an emerging artist, I like to pay more to get it right from then. Bonus, it’s usually signed.

Basically the same for prints, etc.

By: dstrohl

dstrohl — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:37:48 +0000

there I go generalizing again…

of course every artist has his/her own solution to a particular problem…

By: Ian Aleksander Adams

Ian Aleksander Adams — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:34:34 +0000

I think a book can hold its own, especially if it's the original work or the more important work in the artist's eyes. But of course you're right about everything else.

By: dstrohl

dstrohl — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:42:12 +0000

To say that book form can hold it’s own to a finished print isn’t quite fair. There is an artform in and of itself to creating a finished piece. Many artists thrive in this area, letting their attention to detail and unique presentation skills elevate their work to another level.

A lot of artists can justify their prices based on their presentation. Just like any other business, the seller needs to price their product correctly in order to gain more market share (and yes, the fact that even art has to be boiled down to business concepts has me jaded beyond belief).

If you have an excellent presentation, nice print, large size, good frame, etc…, then SHIT YEA you can charge a lot for it (and yes this is often something worth having!). And of course you have to take into consideration your audience. If you’re showing at your local indie coffee shop, then yes you should keep your prices low. But if you have beautiful mural sized prints up in SOHO, then damn straight it’s going to be expensive! You get what you pay for. Of course, great art can be found for cheap, and shitty art can be found for lots of money. Buyer beware…

Simple supply and demand, no?