One of the ongoing issues for artists is pricing their work.  In a pithy post titled “Wandering Prices” posted in “The Painter’s Keys” Robert Genn gets it right.  Artists are best served when they take control of the prices of their work and keep the final retail price consistent, and also recognize the context in which their work is exhibited.  Exposure beware!  As Genn says …”Whether your work is in the National Gallery or in Heidi Fleiss’s House of Ill Repute, your prices to the general public need to be the same. This means that only you control the final price. The percentage that various venues take is negotiated from your standard pricing. If you don’t take control no one else will, and some brigands will run over you. Wandering prices are most unfair to your collectors and spoil the steady upward progression an artist can enjoy during a lifetime of creativity.  Keep reading here…. http://clicks.robertgenn.com/wandering-prices.php 

A toast to everyone who is Irish or Irish for today.

Jay Patel  :: Enchanted Forest  ::  photography, various sizes

Ann Caywood Brown  ::  On the Way to Mom’s House  ::  pastel, 26″ x 36″

Jeanne Regan  ::  sleepwalk  :: print, 14″ x 15″

The Artist Deduction Bill would allow artists to take a fair-market value deduction for works given to and retained by nonprofit institutions.  Current tax laws only allow artist to deduct only their “basis” value—essentially the cost of materials such as paint and canvas. 

 You can go to the Advocate for the Arts website to fill out the form  that will send letters to your Senate and House Representatives.

There are a lot of reasons to artists choose to donate to art auctions, but current tax laws do not support the value of the artwork that is being donated.  (Thanks Bill for the link.)

Brian Benchek is a self taught glass artist that makes incredible chandeliers, wall sculpture, and glass objects.  But, working on commission, with a specific client for a specific place, is one of things he loves about making art.  Click on the image below to catch the video, shown on HGTV, of the installation that he completed for Willoughby homeowners, Melissa and Tom Loiczly.

 Learn more about Brian’s art and how to commission a piece for your space at RED DOT Project.

Glidden House is a beautiful boutique hotel tucked into University Circle.  Their location and size make them unique, but really what sets them apart is their art collection.  Glidden House has made a committment to buying Cleveland regional artists.  RED DOT Project is working with them as they slowly work on renovations and improvements to provide the regional artwork that helps set a tone and gives the space the look and feel that is uniquely Cleveland.

They have recently worked on the Palette Lounge.  The space is intimate and comfortable.  New work by RED DOT Project artists, Ruth Bercaw, Lee Heinen, William Peck, Damon Reaves, and Brock Winans fill the immediate area.

Damon Reaves  ::  Recent Shadows

Check out their Palette Lounge after work, they have signature cocktails, an incredible wine list, and tapas by Sergios.  AND great art by regional artists.