Monday, April 21, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Want to Collect Art?

Collecting art can be a daunting and confusing challenge for the beginner or even a seasoned collector. Few things are as difficult as choosing the art to surround your life with. Art has the ability to enrich our lives. It can conjure memories of the past, give us insight to the human condition and transport us to places far beyond the walls of our homes.
In starting a collection you should decide what you would like to collect. This can be as broad as a regional area such as southern artists or it can be very narrow and specific like the Faultless Starch / Bon Ami Company’s collection of paintings depicting farm animals and pets – mostly chickens.
For beginning collectors I would suggest staying clear of anything from the Renaissance and the Hellenistic periods, as well as the old masters. These can challenge even highly seasoned collectors. As you build your collection and your connoisseurship, you will find your taste changing and your eye more discerning, demanding ever higher quality in your art selections.
Where to start? The best place to learn about and purchase art, is an art gallery. Look for galleries that have longevity and a loyal client base. Don’t be afraid to go to these stalwarts for fear that they will be out of your price league and on the snooty side. Chances are these galleries are still around because they have great customer service and treat all of their clients with respect - no matter what their budget size. Don’t avoid the younger galleries either, especially once you have a bit of knowledge under your belt. They can be great places to find emerging contemporary artists at a fraction of their soon to be skyrocketing prices.
A wonderful way to get your “art” feet wet is by attending opening receptions or other such events at a gallery. These tend to be very social events where you can talk to other clients about the artwork and their personal experiences with the gallery. These events can also be a great chance to meet a gallery’s featured artist. Making a connection with the artist can give you a bit of meaningful insight into their art and life. These events however are more for perusing rather than long term looking. Return to the gallery during a weekday when the atmosphere is quieter and you can look longer.
On your return visit to the gallery bring some paper and a pen for taking notes. When you find a piece that catches your eye, write down your first impression of the work. Try not to think about it, just react to the art. It can be a few sentences or just a couple of words. Then take a moment to write out a detailed description of what you see. A good detailed description will get you to examine the art in a matter of fact way allowing you to see the quality and any defects in the piece. This description can also be useful later if you need to communicate with the gallery via phone or email.
If possible, ask the dealer to move the artwork into a well-lighted area, free of the surrounding clutter that can detract from the work. This allows you and artwork to have some breathing room.
What should you do now? Start asking the dealer questions about the artist. Check to see if a short biography is available. Ask about the work’s provenance or who has owned it and where it has been since it was created. This is especially important in authenticating and establishing a proof of ownership in older works of art.
At this point if you are still hedging, ask if you can take the piece out on approval. Most galleries will accommodate. Taking a piece home will help you see it in your environment, with your things, under your lighting conditions. Live with the piece for a few days. Now refer back to your first impression of it in the gallery. Does it hold up to your impression of it now? Are you in love with it? Do you just have to have it? If the answer is yes, then go for it!
Labels: Ann Jackson Gallery, art, collecting, how to, investments
Lorax, I Speak for the Trees
On Earth Day April 22, 2008, Conservation International and Dr. Seuss Enterprises launch The Lorax Project, an innovative initiative to engage individuals & corporations to do their parts to conserve places and species critical to our planet. In collaboration with this effort, a series of four Earth Friendly Lorax serigraphs will be released to promote this worthwhile endeavor within the fine arts community.
The paper used for each Earth Friendly Lorax serigraph is created at mills meeting four key
factors for environmental responsibility.
- Tree-Free
- Chlorine-Free
- Mill Certified
- Alternative Energy
- Additionally, each serigraph is printed using water-based inks (Water-based inks have the permanence and brilliance of oil based inks, without the use of petroleum).
Printed on tree-free Stonehenge paper, all Earth Friendly Lorax prints are made by certified mills running on alternative energy sources while using chlorine-free production processes.
“No trees were cut down to produce this artwork”
Additionally, a contribution will be made to Conservation International through the sale of Lorax prints over the course of this project. Support from The Lorax Project will be used for critical activities needed to conserve important plants and flagship animals around the world.
Click here to order LORAX
Labels: Ann Jackson Gallery, art, dr. seuss, dr. seuss art, Earth Day, Earth Friendly, Lorax
Monday, April 14, 2008
Italian Artist - Pino
PINO
Reception and Book Signing
2 Day Special Engagement
Friday, April 25th, 2008 & Saturday, April 26th, 2008
6pm to 9pm – Free and Open to the Public
Reception and book signing with the Artist, Fri. - April 25th - 6 to 9pm & Sat. - April 26th - 6 to 9pm
About Pino:
Born in Bari, Italy on November 8, 1939, Pino began his studies at the city’s Art Institute. In 1960 he entered Milan’s Academy of Brera where he perfected his talent and skill for painting nudes. In the two years he studied at the Academy, he came under the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites and Macchiaioli.
In 1979, he immigrated to the United States under the sponsorship of Borghi Gallery where he held several shows in New York and Massachusetts. In 1980, after knocking on many doors, Zebra Books Publishers commissioned him to do his first book cover. His interpretation was new, fresh and sensual, an illustration so successful that he gained entry into creative relationships with many leading publishers of Romance novels. His popularity grew within the literary community and he became the artist-in-demand for Zebra, Bantam, Simon, and Schuster, Harlequin, Penquin USA and Dell. To date, Pino has illustrated 3,000 books; his style has dominated and influenced the market.
Although Pino devoted thirteen years to illustrating book covers, he never abandoned his desire to return to fine art. In the United States be became fascinated with the works of Soralla, Sargent, Benson and William Merrit Chase. In 1992 he contacted one of the major galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona, the May Gallery, and sent five paintings which were well received. Since then his paintings have appeared in Morris and Whiteside Gallery in Hilton Head and Stuart Johnson’s Settlers West Gallery in Tucson. Pino has been invited to make several appearances on major TV networks and has been interviewed in national and international journals. In addition, his ability to capture the movements and expressions of his subjects has brought him private commissions to do portraits. Pino resides in New Jersey with his wife, a son and a daughter.
Labels: Ann Jackson Gallery, Book Signing, Event, Free, Illustrator, Italian, Pino, Romance



