Starving The Artists

It has been a short while since one of these groups has graced the Dallas/Fort Worth area, so brace yourselves for their next media onslaught. I’m referring to the charlatans that call themselves the “Starving Artists”. You’ve probably seen their commercials advertising the event at a hotel in your area. The ad promises a great selection of hand-painted canvases at amazingly low prices. This is actually a deception in more ways than one.

First, you will not find anything in their stacks of canvases other than prints. Granted some of these have been “embellished” by hand with small strategically placed dabs of paint. Still, these are all still technically mass-produced prints.

Secondly, the only starving artists involved are either the poor artists that produced the original painting and sold their image along with their rights to some publishing house, or an aspiring student artist hired at below minimum wage to daub those dabs onto prints.

The damage these merchants do to artists and subsequently to our culture is a devaluation of art and the artist. Their tactics deceive the public into thinking that art should be cheap and that artists should be poor. The only good thing coming from this is that people with a love for art but no budget for art can obtain some art. That is certainly understandable given the current state of the economy. But, I must add that saving your pennies for one genuine original piece of art is much more rewarding than filling your walls with cheap knock-offs.

Artists deserve to make as good a living as anyone else. They are the teachers, guides, and prophets of our culture. Their expressions should be honored.

It is true. A genuine artist will produce fine art regardless of whether he or she ever sees a dime for their efforts, and sadly many do starve or otherwise suffer for this passion. That does not excuse those who perpetuate a cut-rate mentality towards art by making a commodity of their beautiful work.

If you would indeed like to acquire exquisite artwork, but not pay what some galleries feel they must charge, I would like to suggest a couple of alternatives to putting money into the pockets of yet another faceless corporation instead of actually feeding the artists.

Many new and emerging artists find opportunities to exhibit their work as well as draw support (if you will forgive the play on words) from their community art center. These exhibits are generally open to the public and well publicized in your local media. These exhibits not only provide the artists much needed exposure, but also afford the public the chance to meet and get to know the artists. This is a very real and meaningful way to grow in understanding and appreciation for the art, and generally speaking since these artist are in the early stages of their careers the prices for their work is much more affordable. However, if it does not sink to the level of starving the artist, keep in mind that these will tend to be original paintings as opposed to mass produced prints.

Another alternative way to purchase original artwork at reasonable prices is to become acquainted with local charity functions. Many local charities put on art auctions as fund raisers for their causes. These charities often call upon artists to donate their work for these auctions. Artists generally donate their work because they believe in the cause, they are usually very generous, and because it is a way to share their work with the world. However, this is yet another way to starve the artist. The artist gets no remuneration for their valuable work, despite the excellent value afforded to the buyer and the benefit to the charity. The artist, under current tax code, cannot even write off the donation for its full value, but must only cite material costs as a deduction. Consequently, many artists get to a point where they can simply not afford to donate to a charity regardless of how much they believe in the cause.

The solution that I would like to propose to charities, artists and art collectors alike is a collaboration for whatever the cause might be. Charities should be willing to host exhibits where artist are invited to showcase their work, but also share in the revenue. The events could still be held as an auction with the individual artists setting a minimum limit on their work.

If you really love art, or maybe even an artist the next time you receive notice of a charity art auction, contact the chairperson and ask, "What are you doing for the artists involved?" Then if the answer sounds like someone has forgotten to feed the artist, make a suggestion similar to the one above. Remind them that no one wants to starve.

Ken O'Toole is a abstract expressionist painter working in the Dallas Fort Worth area.