February is the shortest month of the year, so there aren't too many days off.
Feb 1st was the grand opening of the Safety Harbor Museum's Tenth Annual Highwaymen exhibit and sale. It just doesn't seem like Y2K was a decade ago, but I actually counted on my fingers just to make sure and I had to use all ten. Math whiz, eh ?
We helped the Museum, as we have in the past, fill in some holes they had in their quest to hang paintings by each of the 26 highwaymen. This year, all they needed was a George and an Ellis Buckner, and an Alphonse Moran.
Moran, a barber, was too busy cutting hair before he passed on to the next life, I guess, so his art work is often hard to come by. I bet I've seen two hundred Harold Newton paintings for every one painting I've seen by Moran. I had sold a sweet poinciana by him last May, though, and was pleased that the collectors who own it allowed us to use it for the exhibition. It's a great one, too.
The Buckner brothers were more prolific, however, and it was much easier to find a couple of nice ones, a seascape by Ellis and a poinciana by George.
Also, on display as part of the exhibit, is the Schlesinger painting, the Harold Newton self portrait that was featured in Antiques and Art Around Florida last summer.
The museum has graciously allowed me additional wall space to display some working inventory, (stuff I've got for sale), about a dozen Harolds, four Hairs and a few miscellaneous highwaymen, including an upson Hezekiah Baker signed by Al Black and a 24 x 48 Mary Ann Carroll on canvas done in 1990.
We did the West Palm show last weekend, and again, as in January, the crowd was ENORMOUS. Larry, one of the out-front outside vendors at the show told me he has NEVER seen the line of customers so long, waiting for the show to open at noon on Friday. The public was spending money, people, fewer dealers were complaining.
I saw headlines yesterday that retail spending was way up in January and I can vouch for that based on first-time sales to new retail customers. Best show we've had since the beginning of the summer.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
News of the day, good and bad...........
THIS IS ONE REASON WHY I VOTED FOR THE MAN. HE MAKES SENSE.
HE KNOWS WE REGULAR FOLKS NEED INSPIRATION. I HAD TRULY HOPED HE COULD END THE FEEDING FRENZY. HE'S GOT A BATTLE ON HIS HANDS NOW, EH ?
FROM AOL:
WASHINGTON (Feb. 4) - Call it the maximum wage. President Barack Obama wants to impose a $500,000 pay cap on executives whose firms receive government financial rescue funds, a dramatic intervention into corporate governance in the midst of financial crisis.
"If the taxpayers are helping you, then you've got certain responsibilities to not be living high on the hog," President Barack Obama said Tuesday.
AND IN OTHER NEWS FROM AOL THIS MORNING. FEBRUARY 4TH:
They say, "You learn something new every day."
OF COURSE, I, PERSONALLY, KNEW MOST OF THESE ALREADY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE WITH YOU, GENTLE READER, FOR WHEN YOU TRAVEL THE WORLD.
In Hong Kong, a woman is legally allowed to kill her cheating husband -- but only if she uses her bare hands. The husband's lover, however, may be killed in any manner desired.
SOUNDS FAIR TO ME.
In Lebanon, men are legally allowed to have sex with animals -- so long as the animals are female. It is illegal to have sex with a male animal, however.
OH, THOSE LEBANESE !!!!
In Switzerland, a man may not relieve himself while standing up, after 10 P.M.
BROKE THAT RULE, BUT IT'S OK IN FLORIDA, I THINK.
In Thailand, it is illegal to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear.
I THINK IT'S OK HERE, TOO.
In China, women are prohibited from walking around a hotel room in the nude; a woman may only be naked while in the bathroom.
GO ELSWHERE FOR YOUR HONEYMOON, YOUNGSTERS.
HE KNOWS WE REGULAR FOLKS NEED INSPIRATION. I HAD TRULY HOPED HE COULD END THE FEEDING FRENZY. HE'S GOT A BATTLE ON HIS HANDS NOW, EH ?
FROM AOL:
WASHINGTON (Feb. 4) - Call it the maximum wage. President Barack Obama wants to impose a $500,000 pay cap on executives whose firms receive government financial rescue funds, a dramatic intervention into corporate governance in the midst of financial crisis.
"If the taxpayers are helping you, then you've got certain responsibilities to not be living high on the hog," President Barack Obama said Tuesday.
AND IN OTHER NEWS FROM AOL THIS MORNING. FEBRUARY 4TH:
They say, "You learn something new every day."
OF COURSE, I, PERSONALLY, KNEW MOST OF THESE ALREADY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE WITH YOU, GENTLE READER, FOR WHEN YOU TRAVEL THE WORLD.
In Hong Kong, a woman is legally allowed to kill her cheating husband -- but only if she uses her bare hands. The husband's lover, however, may be killed in any manner desired.
SOUNDS FAIR TO ME.
In Lebanon, men are legally allowed to have sex with animals -- so long as the animals are female. It is illegal to have sex with a male animal, however.
OH, THOSE LEBANESE !!!!
In Switzerland, a man may not relieve himself while standing up, after 10 P.M.
BROKE THAT RULE, BUT IT'S OK IN FLORIDA, I THINK.
In Thailand, it is illegal to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear.
I THINK IT'S OK HERE, TOO.
In China, women are prohibited from walking around a hotel room in the nude; a woman may only be naked while in the bathroom.
GO ELSWHERE FOR YOUR HONEYMOON, YOUNGSTERS.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
NOW POSTING AT SHOWS
I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
I DO SUGGEST THAT YOU INVEST IN ART IF YOU CAN ACCESS ANY AVAILABLE FUNDS.
SAVVY INVESTORS ARE LOADING UP ON ART
WHY ??????
THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CURRENT ECONOMY
WHICH HAS FORCED VALUES AND PRICES LOWER
WE ARE ON TOP OF THE CURRENT TRENDS IN THIS MARKET
WE HAVE BEEN DEALERS IN COLLECTIBLES FOR OVER 35 YEARS
PRICES ARE DERIVED FROM BASIC SUPPLY AND DEMAND
THE SUPPLY IS FIXED AND SHRINKING BUT THE DEMAND IS LOW
THESE KINDS OF MARKETS MOVE IN CYCLES
WE NOW FIND OURSELVES AT A LOW POINT IN THE ART MARKET, AND WE KNOW
THAT HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF IN SUPPLY AND DEMAND MARKETS, AND WE KNOW
THAT VALUES WILL INCREASE AND SURPASS THEIR PREVIOUS HIGHS AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE IN THE PAST
THE BOTTOM MAY NOT BE HERE YET, BUT IT'S DAMN CLOSE
AND CERTAINLY TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
THE ECONOMY WILL IMPROVE, MAYBE NOT TOMORROW, OR NEXT MONTH, BUT IT WILL IMPROVE, DISPOSABLE INCOME WILL INCREASE, AND VALUES WILL BE BACK ON THE RISE
THE SMARTEST PEOPLE I KNOW ARE BUYING ART
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM AT CURRENT PRICE LEVELS
I DO SUGGEST THAT YOU INVEST IN ART IF YOU CAN ACCESS ANY AVAILABLE FUNDS.
SAVVY INVESTORS ARE LOADING UP ON ART
WHY ??????
THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CURRENT ECONOMY
WHICH HAS FORCED VALUES AND PRICES LOWER
WE ARE ON TOP OF THE CURRENT TRENDS IN THIS MARKET
WE HAVE BEEN DEALERS IN COLLECTIBLES FOR OVER 35 YEARS
PRICES ARE DERIVED FROM BASIC SUPPLY AND DEMAND
THE SUPPLY IS FIXED AND SHRINKING BUT THE DEMAND IS LOW
THESE KINDS OF MARKETS MOVE IN CYCLES
WE NOW FIND OURSELVES AT A LOW POINT IN THE ART MARKET, AND WE KNOW
THAT HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF IN SUPPLY AND DEMAND MARKETS, AND WE KNOW
THAT VALUES WILL INCREASE AND SURPASS THEIR PREVIOUS HIGHS AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE IN THE PAST
THE BOTTOM MAY NOT BE HERE YET, BUT IT'S DAMN CLOSE
AND CERTAINLY TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
THE ECONOMY WILL IMPROVE, MAYBE NOT TOMORROW, OR NEXT MONTH, BUT IT WILL IMPROVE, DISPOSABLE INCOME WILL INCREASE, AND VALUES WILL BE BACK ON THE RISE
THE SMARTEST PEOPLE I KNOW ARE BUYING ART
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM AT CURRENT PRICE LEVELS
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
So, I'm at this antique show, see, and............
......the display is set up, finishing touches are all in place in my booth, and the first question I get from one of the first people through the door is, "Are you the artist ?"
I know they mean well, and they are just trying to initiate some pleasantries, but gawd, it has gotten so OLD. I mean I've heard it at least a thousand times. I just smile and say, "No, I buy and sell art created by quite a few artists, "important" listed ones, talented professionals and amateurs, as well as Florida's highwaymen."
Sometimes I'll just amuse myself and say, "Yes, I painted this one in 1925 and signed it Paul Turner Sargent", or some smart-ass thing like that. I don't do it very often, but if, like, three people in a row ask me that, I'm liable to. I'm not at risk because these people would never buy a painting, anyway. I know this to be an undeniable fact based on the first thousand who asked.
I've never seen the first nickel from any of them.
This is not whining, (remember, I promised not to), it's venting, and it's developing into a list of my personal Pet Peeves.
The second most popular question is, "Where is your location?" I get this almost as often as "Did you paint these?" I guess they want to come visit some other time, when they are not quite so busy as they are right now when all my stuff is right in front of them.
So, I tell them, "I don't have a bricks and mortar gallery, I have an internet gallery and I attend shows, like this one, around the state. Right now is the best time for you to see what I have to offer." Stock answer, no self-amusing twists on this one.
Next is, "Do you have a business card ?" "Yes, I have hundreds of them. Here you go", I say, "these are perfect for grocery lists." And I do believe 75% of my cards are used for that, especially after I give them the idea.
There is this one guy, he visits my booth at every WPB show. Little guy with a ball cap, always in short pants, maybe he's seventy. He's been doing this for at least 6 or 7 years, probably longer. He never asks a price on anything, or shows obvious interest in any paintings, he only goes right to the open "Coast to Coast" book I have on display to enhance and fortify the art I offer by the artists who are in the book, usually Blair, Stanford, Kolbe and Emmett Fritz.
AND HE STANDS THERE AND READS IT for about five minutes. Every show, every time.
He always takes a business card. He doesn't ask if I have one because he knows from experience right where they are. Every show, every time, he must have picked up fifty of them. At a nickel apiece, it's a small price for me to pay for the personal amusement factor.
I actually LOVE this guy and I'll be saddened if I stop seeing him.
I know they mean well, and they are just trying to initiate some pleasantries, but gawd, it has gotten so OLD. I mean I've heard it at least a thousand times. I just smile and say, "No, I buy and sell art created by quite a few artists, "important" listed ones, talented professionals and amateurs, as well as Florida's highwaymen."
Sometimes I'll just amuse myself and say, "Yes, I painted this one in 1925 and signed it Paul Turner Sargent", or some smart-ass thing like that. I don't do it very often, but if, like, three people in a row ask me that, I'm liable to. I'm not at risk because these people would never buy a painting, anyway. I know this to be an undeniable fact based on the first thousand who asked.
I've never seen the first nickel from any of them.
This is not whining, (remember, I promised not to), it's venting, and it's developing into a list of my personal Pet Peeves.
The second most popular question is, "Where is your location?" I get this almost as often as "Did you paint these?" I guess they want to come visit some other time, when they are not quite so busy as they are right now when all my stuff is right in front of them.
So, I tell them, "I don't have a bricks and mortar gallery, I have an internet gallery and I attend shows, like this one, around the state. Right now is the best time for you to see what I have to offer." Stock answer, no self-amusing twists on this one.
Next is, "Do you have a business card ?" "Yes, I have hundreds of them. Here you go", I say, "these are perfect for grocery lists." And I do believe 75% of my cards are used for that, especially after I give them the idea.
There is this one guy, he visits my booth at every WPB show. Little guy with a ball cap, always in short pants, maybe he's seventy. He's been doing this for at least 6 or 7 years, probably longer. He never asks a price on anything, or shows obvious interest in any paintings, he only goes right to the open "Coast to Coast" book I have on display to enhance and fortify the art I offer by the artists who are in the book, usually Blair, Stanford, Kolbe and Emmett Fritz.
AND HE STANDS THERE AND READS IT for about five minutes. Every show, every time.
He always takes a business card. He doesn't ask if I have one because he knows from experience right where they are. Every show, every time, he must have picked up fifty of them. At a nickel apiece, it's a small price for me to pay for the personal amusement factor.
I actually LOVE this guy and I'll be saddened if I stop seeing him.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Just a quick note.......
I'll follow up on this later, (after I read it myself) but it seems encouraging......
Finally, a positive spin on AOL. Again, have we turned the corner ?
THE HEADLINE : Secondhand Stores Shine in Weak Retail Market
Finally, a positive spin on AOL. Again, have we turned the corner ?
THE HEADLINE : Secondhand Stores Shine in Weak Retail Market
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Hey, this is Florida.............
............and the thermometer on my lanai is reading 40 degrees this morning. Why is it that I'm colder when it's in the forties in Florida than I was when it was often below freezing all those years when I lived in New England and worked in Boston ?
It was an exceptionally beautiful sky this morning though, as the sun was about to come up. Looking east, there was a gorgeous blush of yellow gold on the horizon behind the silhouette of trees, gradually working its way up to light blue, then the deeper blue of daytime. A few dark gray clouds drifted across the gold and graduated up to white puffy ones as they met the blue. And as a bonus, a crescent moon hung up there in the darker blue. I like a daytime moon when you can see the full roundness, the darker part as well as the brilliant white reflection of light.
Ah, but the color didn't last very long.
Of all the thousands of highwaymen paintings I've seen in the last fifteen or so years, only George Buckner seemed to be able to capture that particular "look" in some of his later works. I'm not sure even Backus could capture it the way George did. (Sorry, Kathleen). When I see one of those Buckners, it makes me think of Martin Johnson Heade, one of the great ones.
I think the skies down here are, in general, spectacular. When people comment on the highwaymen paintings I display at shows, most of the time they'll say how nice they are, how the artists have captured the moment. But sometimes, a self-proclaimed expert will still say to their friend, who they are trying to impress, " That's awful, I don't like any of these highwaymen paintings, never did. The sunset doesn't look like that." They couldn't be more wrong. They are just not aware. These are undoubtedly the same people who drive in the left lane 10 mph under the limit. They are just not aware. From the stupid tribe.
As I drive east on the way to a show in the early morning hours, or returning towards the west as the sun goes down, I have seen every color in the spectrum paint the sky, including green. When Brian was with me, he'd often say, "There's a McLendon sunset over there" and there it was, by God, orange and yellow with a touch of sky blue pink behind the dark silhouette of a pine tree. All that was missing was the crown molding frame.
It was an exceptionally beautiful sky this morning though, as the sun was about to come up. Looking east, there was a gorgeous blush of yellow gold on the horizon behind the silhouette of trees, gradually working its way up to light blue, then the deeper blue of daytime. A few dark gray clouds drifted across the gold and graduated up to white puffy ones as they met the blue. And as a bonus, a crescent moon hung up there in the darker blue. I like a daytime moon when you can see the full roundness, the darker part as well as the brilliant white reflection of light.
Ah, but the color didn't last very long.
Of all the thousands of highwaymen paintings I've seen in the last fifteen or so years, only George Buckner seemed to be able to capture that particular "look" in some of his later works. I'm not sure even Backus could capture it the way George did. (Sorry, Kathleen). When I see one of those Buckners, it makes me think of Martin Johnson Heade, one of the great ones.
I think the skies down here are, in general, spectacular. When people comment on the highwaymen paintings I display at shows, most of the time they'll say how nice they are, how the artists have captured the moment. But sometimes, a self-proclaimed expert will still say to their friend, who they are trying to impress, " That's awful, I don't like any of these highwaymen paintings, never did. The sunset doesn't look like that." They couldn't be more wrong. They are just not aware. These are undoubtedly the same people who drive in the left lane 10 mph under the limit. They are just not aware. From the stupid tribe.
As I drive east on the way to a show in the early morning hours, or returning towards the west as the sun goes down, I have seen every color in the spectrum paint the sky, including green. When Brian was with me, he'd often say, "There's a McLendon sunset over there" and there it was, by God, orange and yellow with a touch of sky blue pink behind the dark silhouette of a pine tree. All that was missing was the crown molding frame.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
2009 Kickoff
Let's hope it's a trend.
Sales have picked up the pace at the first two shows of the new year. Great results.
We don't fool around, we went to work at 7am Jan 1, 2009, New Year's Day. What's that you say ? It was a holiday ? Supposed to sit back and watch bowl games on TV ?
So, we hammered down four hours plus on the road to West Palm Beach, unloaded the van at the main exhibition hall of the fairgrounds, and set up most of the display. Had to be ready for the crowd that we hoped would attend when the show opened Friday at noon. We were ready by then, and as I stepped out front for a breath of fresh air (read: to have a cigarette), I was astonished by the size of the line of people waiting for the doors to open. Biggest crowd I've seen for at least a year. Maybe it had to do with the magic touch of the new owners of the show.
Interest was strong, sales were much better than the previous 6 or 7 shows. I began to think,"Hey, maybe we've turned the proverbial corner. Maybe the public will loosen up and start spending again." It's no secret that small businesses have been struggling to make ends meet, just as you have been, gentle reader, and we were no exception. Especially at the shows we've attended around the state in nasty old 2008.
For the first time since I can't hardly remember, we made an actual profit from sales at a show.
Next up for us was the Community Center show on Sanibel Island, which resulted in even stronger sales than we enjoyed in WPB. Say "Hallelujah !"
We have available a group of Harold Newton paintings from his bright and beautiful masonite period, and some of them just walk and talk and could probably cook breakfast for you, too. Sorry, haven't had time to photograph and post them on the website. If the public, whether or not they have ever even heard of the highwaymen, could buy these paintings with compliments, we would definitely be sold out.
We'll know shortly if CHANGE from pessimism to optimism has actually come in anticipation of the new administration. If only the news media (damn their eyes) would shift out of their "doom and gloom" mode, we all can get off to a fresh start psychologically, adjust our attitudes from forced depression to limitless hope.
It doesn't take much to influence a relatively small market (like vintage highwaymen art) to start a new cycle. Let's hope the prices of the investment quality pieces can get off their flat line and start showing some increases again.
Next up, Ft Myers show, followed by Punta Gorda, then back to WPB.
My New Years resolution is to try and more consistantly update this blog.
Until next time, gentle reader, don't let your meat loaf.
Sales have picked up the pace at the first two shows of the new year. Great results.
We don't fool around, we went to work at 7am Jan 1, 2009, New Year's Day. What's that you say ? It was a holiday ? Supposed to sit back and watch bowl games on TV ?
So, we hammered down four hours plus on the road to West Palm Beach, unloaded the van at the main exhibition hall of the fairgrounds, and set up most of the display. Had to be ready for the crowd that we hoped would attend when the show opened Friday at noon. We were ready by then, and as I stepped out front for a breath of fresh air (read: to have a cigarette), I was astonished by the size of the line of people waiting for the doors to open. Biggest crowd I've seen for at least a year. Maybe it had to do with the magic touch of the new owners of the show.
Interest was strong, sales were much better than the previous 6 or 7 shows. I began to think,"Hey, maybe we've turned the proverbial corner. Maybe the public will loosen up and start spending again." It's no secret that small businesses have been struggling to make ends meet, just as you have been, gentle reader, and we were no exception. Especially at the shows we've attended around the state in nasty old 2008.
For the first time since I can't hardly remember, we made an actual profit from sales at a show.
Next up for us was the Community Center show on Sanibel Island, which resulted in even stronger sales than we enjoyed in WPB. Say "Hallelujah !"
We have available a group of Harold Newton paintings from his bright and beautiful masonite period, and some of them just walk and talk and could probably cook breakfast for you, too. Sorry, haven't had time to photograph and post them on the website. If the public, whether or not they have ever even heard of the highwaymen, could buy these paintings with compliments, we would definitely be sold out.
We'll know shortly if CHANGE from pessimism to optimism has actually come in anticipation of the new administration. If only the news media (damn their eyes) would shift out of their "doom and gloom" mode, we all can get off to a fresh start psychologically, adjust our attitudes from forced depression to limitless hope.
It doesn't take much to influence a relatively small market (like vintage highwaymen art) to start a new cycle. Let's hope the prices of the investment quality pieces can get off their flat line and start showing some increases again.
Next up, Ft Myers show, followed by Punta Gorda, then back to WPB.
My New Years resolution is to try and more consistantly update this blog.
Until next time, gentle reader, don't let your meat loaf.
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