What's Hot?

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Kirstie

Kirstie

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Jan 16, 2007
Posts
8,395
Loc
Berkeley, CA
I tried asking this on another thread on the Grumble, but it may not have been noticed. I would like to know what art is selling in your shops on a regular basis. By art, I mean anything from posters to expensive paintings. Is there a certain type of art that sells in your area? If so, why? Is there a price point beyond which you cannot sell art? In other words, I would like to know, What's Hot!
 
Art that has sold regularly for the last five years are photos, open edition prints, limited edition prints and original paintings of local landscapes and landmarks.

All other art sales have paled in comparison. We are in the mountains and the natural beauty and old buildings are just a hit. Folks identify with what they know, at least here.

Price point range: Low end has been $40 unframed photos to original paintings up to $6,000. Average sale in this category is $300-$400 framed prints.
 
Our best-selling art for the past 6-9 months has been a Montana photographer who does great work, but has priced it quite reasonably. A 15 x 32 panorama sells unframed for $130. His photos are various Montana scenes, which are a hit with tourists, but locals have identified with them as well.
 
Right now I would say that as print publishers go, Canadian Art/Winn Devon are our most popular ones. It always seems to change every 6-9 months but right now the abstract and contemporary images from these two seem to the the "Hot" ones
 
What Jack says, open or large edition (doesn't matter!) photo prints of local landmarks and landscapes but in very glorified guises shot mostly at sunset or in dramatic weather.

Vindicates people's choice to live in those locations, plus gives them bragging rights to visitors. And are familiar and accessible to John Does, unlike most art. And touches synapses needed to reach for the wallet that are not normally activated by merely pretty pictures.

Especially giclee prints on canvas with a more-or-less classic oil painting framing treatment, they're sooo classy! I expect to sell 20 or more large pieces like that this weekend at an art fair. Local hotels like them too. And dentists. And doctors. And lawyers. And community boosters...the list is long. But scratch real-estate agents for the next year or so.

Let's see, dramatic poly frames will do for a lot of these, but have a few genuine veneers for the select few.
 
Prints...selling lots of local flavor and local artists prints..anything to do with wildlife and cattle and horses...(we are in ranch country)
Original art....selling mostly local artists featuring local scenery, fishing and the same cattle/citrus/horse subjects to the ranchers and citrus grove owners...

Also lots of local wildlife art and photos ( birds/gators/fishing/etc) to the winter residence who decorate there seasonal homes with Florida themes.

art sales for prints from $50 to 250 plus framing
sales of canvas art ( originals and giclee's) from $75 to 5000....average is about 400 plus framing
photo art is all over the place..$10 to 500
wall decor (mirrors/wood and metal wall
sculpture from $50 to 500.
Top of the line silk plants and trees from $50 to 500.

We have lots of small lakes and sell a good deal of waterscapes in all media...

hope that answers some of your questions..obviously it is a unique local market and not representative of coastal Florida which has totally different clientel.
 
Interesting replies. It seems that most of you have unique locations in which it is easy to sell local themed art. Those of us in the big cities who are not on tourist routes have a more difficult time of it. Golden Gate bridge scenes are not best sellers!

If anyone has other ideas, I'd love to hear them! I am very careful with even poster purchases these days. It's got to be different enough to catch the eye of either the student or local resident. Art and Crafts, even better.
 
I'm right outside of Philadelphia and it's the same thing here, most of our art sales are of the local landmarks and sights. We are still occasionally sell some posters from the Phillies winning the World Series but the volume of those purchases has dropped off. I can always sell Wyeth's Master Bedroom but I am near Wyeth country. I stopped stocking art not related to my area, it just doesn't sell. Most of the local art are limited editions so an unframed print averages $100.00 and framed usually sells for around $350. The posters framed up are usually around $100.
 
Being on the east coast, we sell a ton of NY Yankee prints. (" Yankee Boys" mostly) Next would be prints with dogs ("Master Bedroom" and "Big Dawgs")
 
I don't sell art, but from art coming into my store needing to be framed, I have seen a lot more colorful abstracts in the past few months.
Since this is a harbor town, sailboats and waterscapes always do well as does 'african' art.
 
Not much changed here in the last quarter. Giclees on canvas don't sell, but I am having another go with Artaissance this month. Posters are weak. Ansel Adams sales have disappeared. Ed Hardy has tanked.

Our main artist, Yoshiko Yamamoto sells well, as do the Ork Neighborhood prints. In fact, if you are near any of the cities she makes neighborhood maps for, I highly recommend them. Keep Calm and Carry On is still selling. We also sell some Motawi Tiles and are about to bring in more, but then arts and crafts is big here.

That's about it. I am still always looking for suggestions, especially for Craftsman style homes. We have Vicorians and some modern homes here, but there is a preponderance of Craftsman bungalows.
 
Local originals and prints always sell (aside from this economy). Brightly colored art, almost whimsical in nature sell also. Those that buy those always say it makes them happy. People want happy on their walls right now.

I also get one or two NOAA local maps to frame each month. I had thought about stocking some, but I run into dead ends on finding a supplier wholesale.
Does anyone here know of a wholesale source?

ATC's also sell fairly well.
 
Kirstie said:
It seems that most of you have unique locations in which it is easy to sell local themed art. Those of us in the big cities who are not on tourist routes have a more difficult time of it.
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Hm. We are in one accord on this topic more than any other I have seen in years here on the G. I live in Whogivesacrap Ky and sell local art 10 to 1 over anything else. I find it impossible to believe that you cannot find local images that resonate with visitors and locals alike.

I can't give away some of my best work. I have an ever growing collection of fantastic landscapes. I can't give those images away. Why pay a premium to buy a generic scene from me when you can get a 24x36 from allposters for $12? The interenet is flooded with amazing anonymous imagery for dirt cheap.

I took a mediocre shot of our local bridge at twilight. I've had a few people order a copy "as big as I can print it". Lucky for them my printer is only 24" right?

A few months ago the city blew up a local landmark hotel. Another photographer shot a b/w of the collapsed building. I sold three that week.

I gained access to a local abandoned distillery just before renovation of it. Who knew people loved photos of old rusty tanks and abandoned factories?

A hobbyist photographer took a pano of our river front at the peak of construction. There were cranes and dirt and garbage galore. It's good photography but not “beautiful” by any stretch of the imagination. He made $1000 off that photo in about a week.

I have to agree with so many in this thread. Local images sell. The internet isn't flooded with images from Soggy Rock Wherever. Infact they are quite rare. Nobody comes to my town to visit. I've done more business with the visitors bureau than visitors.

I have to believe that what works for so many here can work for you as well. I strongly believe that when it comes to art "local" is the way to go. If people see an image that is captured well, it resonates with them on a much deeper level than some random landscape. They are attached to it. It's part of their history. They buy it.

Fly me out there and put me up in a hotel for about 3 days as commission for 30 or so images that you're free to print like money. Price em right and print em well and they will sale. I'll guarantee you that.

Outside of that semi-serious offer I'd just encourage to not disregard these suggestions without a little more examination. Local art sells to locals. Yea it sells to tourists in touristy areas but they sell to locals just as well.

I guess what is selling in art is what sells land. Location, location, location.

Good luck.
 
As an artist myself, I am really happy that my work, as well as the local art is selling so well. Our area went through a rough time, but we have had some wonderful art groups form and the work of our artists is selling!!!!! I think its the personal touch, and something different that people are looking for.
:thumbsup:
 
I absolutely cleaned up on my locally themed photographs this year. From two art fairs and three galleries and a couple storefront framers, more the 120 sales since October of images specifically identifiable with Albuquerque and the surrounding communities.

Coated canvas mounted on Gator, just a frame without glazing or liners. Size ranges from 20 x 50 through typically 30 x 75 (like the attached image) through 36 x 90, prices from $300 through $1000. May not sound like much but with 40 box moulding buys and Gator by the palette, profit margins were excellent even on the gallery sales.

Also size is a big seller. Besides just being impressive there are lots of people out there with all their eye-level wall spaces filled up but with large spaces still available above windows, doors, clerestories, etc in addition to the standard above-the-sofa or above-the-bed locations.

Must reflect some change in the art buying mentality. Merely pretty pictures did not do well at art fairs this year, but those artists with a local twist were notably good sellers. All of which is nice because hotel and institutional sales are way down.


Elena_Snow_web.jpg
 
I'm listening, Jay. Maybe if I found truly exceptional images of the Bay Area I could perhaps sell them. Anything that smacks of tourism is dead in my shop. We are two blocks from UC Berkeley (Cal) and the students don't buy art. They also don't frame much. The vast majority of art that comes in to our shop is original, items purchased at art shows, in auctions, original art by the artist, and art brought back from travel. Our customers travel a lot. They don't like reproductions. They only buy select posters. However, we did not stay in business for 32 years without having an open mind, so I will be on the look out for some outstanding local images. I do like the company Dave M is using.
 
Kirstie said:
Maybe if I found truly exceptional images of the Bay Area I could perhaps sell them.
Click to expand...

You'll have a tough go at that. I think most photographers charge to much for these types of images. By the time you acquire the art from the photographer there will be little to no retail profit left.

I'd probably explore commissioning the work out and owning the image yourself. Then the images would be exclusive to your shop and you won't be paying $80 for an 8x10.

I suppose to feel the market out you could buy some stuff and see what happens. I suspect you will be surprised to see that art isn't completely dead. For a while I thought it was.

Good luck.
 
Kirstie, next time you are in SF, take some time to pop into Photograph on Chestnut. I'm guessing that stuff sells really well in San Francisco. It wouldn't sell here, just 30 minutes away, and I don't know if it would sell in Bezerkely, but they might have some less-obvious images that would interest your customers.
 
Hmmm...consistent throughout the years has been the sale and framing of images archived at the local Historical Society. They have huge archives going back to when phosphate was mined on the beach with mules, Racing cars on the beach in the 20's, ect... up into the 60's and the big dance pavilions on the Boardwalk.
The biggest problem is that they have never transfered the images to digital files, and all copies have been made using an inner negative.

There has always been a demand for local images, and there has been little work done to fill that demand.

I see some opportunities here.
 
It's interesting you mention old photos Wally. About a year ago I did a big project of gallery wrap canvases of old local photos to go into a loft apartment in an old building. The project and photos looked amazing. I so deperatly want to sell these photos. I wouldn't dare becuase I didn't collect them. Still I could sell these like funnel cakes a the county fair.
 
Jay have you checked the Library of Congress Image Library. They have photos from just about everywhere in the country and most have copyright info on them telling you whether there is any or not. Incredible resource for those who do their own printing.
 
Yea I have. I've used it for alot of Kentucky stuff but there isn't much usable stuff there for this specific little spot on the map. College libraries proved to be the best source for my client.
 
Jeff Rodier said:
Find the ones you like at this link and I will print them to size. Choose one as a sample and I will send you a free print for a sample.

http://historicalcharts.noaa.gov/historicals/historical_zoom.asp
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Thanks Jeff for the link. I will take you up on your offer as soon as I decide which image. Wow! lots of images to choose from.

I would still, although, like to find a source for the navigational charts. Those are the ones that come in to be framed.

I had a couple bring in one once for framing. They paid an artist to paint small images along the chart that was of significance to them. Really cool. The people that saw if finished thought it was awesome. I've kept that in my bonnet for some time now. Time to act.
 
I just found some gorgeous mezzotints by a local artist and we are talking about showing his work on our front wall in the spring. Progress!

Those of you from Maine should like this image. We were at Schoodic Point last May.
 
Kirstie said:
Maybe if I found truly exceptional images of the Bay Area I could perhaps sell them.
Click to expand...

Hi Kirstie,

I do find that "Localised Art" does sell stronger across the board than "generic/popular art" these days too.

I have a possible idea - How about selling older "historical" photos of the Bay area?

eg: I know a framer in a suburb of Sydney, that went to his local city library, did some research, and found some old photographic slides of landmarks, icons, streets and sites from his local area, all dating back to the early 1920's-30's (which all happened to be conveniently beyond copyright), so he arranged to get them copied, re-produced and professionally printed, and now he does very well selling them in his shop to the locals (ie: not tourists), as they are historical, rare, different and unique? Because there are no copyright costs on these images, and can sell them quite affordably too. He sells them both matted and framed, and also printed and stretched on canvas, and they don't seem to go "out of style/trend" either...

Just a thought...

Jared
 
Copyright issues?

Kirstie... Thanks for a great thread! We are doing more and more of our own stuff so this has given some great ideas.

Jeff, I went on the library of congress site, there's so much detail with each pic.. is there a quick way of searching or recognizing the pics that can be used without copyright infringement?

Thanks
Bonnie
 
There is a reference guide that explains the different possibilities of copyright. Items with clear copyrights will state that fact when you click on the individual photo page. A huge percentage of what is in the image library has no active copyright protection.

This is the page where your research begins. The page outlines issues and has links to additional information.

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/copyright.html
 
Some of the sources you all have noted would be great for corporate work as well. Companies sometimes want high quality enlargements of historic images. A few years ago I was asked to enlarge some 8 x 10 historic photos of the construction of One Post Street in San Francisco. I had them enlarged to 24 x 30 and they now grace the BART (subway) entrance to the building. Here is the installation. (We did not handle the installation, which was done by building maintenance.) The page links from our main Corporate Page.
 
Kirstie said:
... I had them enlarged to 24 x 30 and they now grace the BART (subway) entrance to the building. Here is the installation. (We did not handle the installation, which was done by building maintenance.) The page links from our main Corporate Page.
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Kirstie,

It seems that frames are not secured to the wall. How comes that your customer hasn't requested security mounting for the frames hung in the open public space?!
 
Bork said:
Kirstie,

It seems that frames are not secured to the wall. How comes that your customer hasn't requested security mounting for the frames hung in the open public space?!
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They did thier own installation. We would have secured them more firmly with secuirty hangers. This entrance to the subway is for thier building employees only and is accessed by a card key.
 
Kirstie, if you do find a source for local photographs, let me know. Maybe we should troll the aisles at WCAF and ask some of the print vendors?
 
PaulSF said:
Kirstie, if you do find a source for local photographs, let me know. Maybe we should troll the aisles at WCAF and ask some of the print vendors?
Click to expand...

There's a shop on Grant by Union Square (or within a block or so, if still there) that has the largest selection of Bay Area photography that I have ever seen. Maybe his selction is so large that he might offer wholesale arrangements? :p
 
PaulSF said:
Kirstie, if you do find a source for local photographs, let me know. Maybe we should troll the aisles at WCAF and ask some of the print vendors?
Click to expand...

I hear that UC Berkeley archives are always a good source. I have an archivist client there who has another project coming up soon. I will ask him about access. I am an alumni member so maybe I can help if you need anything specific.
 
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