UPDATED 2/28/01
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Personal Collection of Jim & Barbra Beeler by Jim Beeler (to skip the essay and go right to the art click here) |
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When we first got married, Barbie & I made the decision that we would like to fill our home with quality work from local artists. We have since expanded our collecting philosophy to include other regions, but collect heaviest artist we know well. Ask yourself; Would you like to live with original statements or the usual mall landscapes and posters? After a few minor missteps, we have defined our collecting focus as follows: Contemporary Painting; Contemporary and Vintage Photography; Contemporary Glass; and works on paper by artists who work *primarily* in small print editions. We only collect work we can both agree on, and it can be a tough battle over who and what! We also have collections of toys, antiques and certain vintage objects, but that pursuit has definitely taken a backseat to the acquisition of quality work from emerging artists. This web site exists for a number of reasons, all relating to art & collecting: 1. To make Barbra Beeler's work easily accessible. 2. To support and promote artists whom we respect and/or collect. 3. To share our personal collection. 4. To hopefully inspire you to begin your own collection. The last is the hardest to achieve, and yet, paradoxically, the most important. Remember these tips when shopping for art: 1. Artists & Galleries want you to own their work - talk to them!! 2. Negotiate!! Ask for a payment plan - almost every work we own has been purchased on a modified "lay-a-way" plan. Galleries and artists alike would like to establish a relationship. Make an offer. Its how we have sold much of Barbie's work as well. 3. If you are unsure what to buy, ask a reputable dealer or a collector friend. Very few people are comfortable striking out on their own at first, so ask for guidance: You don't have to follow it, but a variety of input is available and desirable. Artists are opinionated and will recommend galleries whose judgment and ethics they know and trust. Most art dealers are very passionate and opinionated, that's how many got into the business in the first place. 4. Most outdoor art festivals do not feature great work. Avoid them.There are some exceptions (Gasparilla, Winter Park, etc) and there are some very talented artists that do outdoor shows, but for the most part these shows feature second rate craft and are waste of time and effort. 5. Never buy a work if unless your gut says "YES!." You are NOT investing in the stock market. You need to buy for the enjoyment of the work itself. You are choosing a work of art to enliven your home and stimulate your mind and environment. Ask yourself: "Do I want to live with this work for the rest of my life?" 6. Attend lots of gallery and museum openings. Get to know the galleries and artists well before you are ready to buy. Get comfortable. Ask lots of questions. 7. Remember: If it matches your room or sofa you are probably buying work for all the wrong reasons. We decorate our rooms around the works we own. Make the art paramount!! 8. Be educated on archival needs. Ask a competent framer to use only 100% acid free cotton rag boards and mats - do not rely on an "acid-free" or archival label, as many wood pulp products with inhibiting chemicals purport to be acid free when they are not. 9. To quote Bernard Toale, a dealer I met in Boston: "Buying art is an act of philanthropy." True, you are obtaining a work of art, but you are also supporting a creative person in their individual endeavour. And while you posess that work of art, you are basically its caretaker. Treasure it, protect it, enjoy it, and share it with others. 10. Try to give your collection focus. You could decide that Folk art is your thing, or perhaps low edition (under 100 is preferable) multiples by well known artists. Photography is a popular medium for beginning collectors: You can obtain MUSEUM QUALITY vintage and contemporary artworks for reasonable sums (example; Wegman Polaroids are in the $7-9000.00 range - quite low considering his reknown). Lesser known, but equal quality work is in the 200-2000.00 range. You could focus on a particular region (say the Midwest) or country (Haitian art is quite accessible), a particular subject (Florida Landscapes or Pop imagery), or a particular era (early 19th C. Portraiture or 18th C hunting scenes). You can focus on a medium: Studio Glass, Ceramics, and other fine craft and objects are areas you might like to explore. In the case of our collection, we're a little more scattered than we'd like to be, but we're building in several catagories: We have a small Russian collection of post WWII Soviet propoganda works; Photography - other than Barbie's work...(color and black and white) that deals with the human condition; The paintings tend toward the abstract, or, in many cases, dealing with strong psychological or personal issues. A strong sense of American popular culture is evident, as well as some work that is self consciously playful and owes much to the Pop Art movement. Strong lines, colors and textures tie it all together. The common threads, as we have recently defined them, are narrative, texture and color. 11. I'm among the most opinionated people on the planet - If you want help, I'll be happy to give you my ideas on where to start!! See our ARTISTS pages for some ideas, or send me an email Thanks for your interest. Jim Beeler |