[Aquanet] Lorraine's love letters

Thu Oct 2 16:52:13 EDT 2008

I do work in water color but I enjoy working with color pencil.  prices even
lower than water color.  But I enjoy doing it.
http://www.theartistinmenow.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8012795@N05/  if you want to take a peak at
what I have been up too.

On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 2:52 PM, Gilles Durand <gilles.a.durand at wanadoo.fr>wrote:

> Hi gang!
>
>
>  I quite agree with what you say Mary on the role of watercolors being
> perceived as ephemeral in this situation. The difficulty of handling
> (glass,
> concern with moisture...) is also put forward by some galleries.
>
>  From what I hear here and there the lower status of WC vs. oil is more or
> less the same everywhere with some fluctuations in time, while everybody
> seems convinced the situation is better in other countries. Not so to my
> knowledge, except may be in the U.K. (in terms of consideration, but I
> think
> some price differential exists everywhere). Anybody to confirm/infirm?
>
>  True: A significant portion of the art market world simply scorns
> watercolor as an inferior artistic medium, hence the lower prices, hence
> the
> attitude of most galleries whose main concern is the amount of $ they can
> exhibit per sp inch of wall.
> With respect to this situation, I am grateful to people who battle to
> promote watercolor as a major artistic medium through art associations,
> shows ... Beyond trying to contribute to these actions and to produce the
> best art we can, I guess the problem solution is out of our hands, a matter
> of fashion and whatever!
>
>  On the other hand it is true that watercolors require a proper material
> selection and "manufacturing" process on the part of the artist to ensure
> longevity. Although a lot of progress has been made on this aspect, to the
> extent it is no longer an issue for watercolors properly made and handled,
> doubt seems to persist in the public. Which is understandable to a certain
> extent as the use of acid free paper may not be easily identifiable by
> dealers or prospective buyers, not to talk about the light-fastness of
> pigments used (And I am sure we have all seen more or less severely faded
> watercolors hanging in homes).
>
>  On this aspect, even if what I produce is of minute artistic value, I feel
> a responsibility and try to be very careful in my materials selection for
> example, not only out of respect for clients who purchase my work, but also
> because I feel I contribute, however little, to the way our medium is
> perceived.
> I may be wrong, but my perception is that even though my work is in a low
> price range, I play in a market where the price of watercolors relative to
> oils is partly determined, at the high end of the market, by their
> perceived
> long term investment value, of which physical longevity is obviously a key
> parameter.
> Conversely, what we do at all levels of the market contribute to the
> general
> perception of watercolors as an investment value purchase.
> To be honest, longevity problems because of inappropriate methodology are
> not restricted to watercolors as the state of some highly priced oil or
> acrylic rather recent works attest, which do not seem to deter investors.
> So...
>
> What do you think? Am I going overboard with my concern for
> "professionalism"?
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Gilles
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: aquanet-bounces at thedigitalbraintrust.net
> [mailto:aquanet-bounces at thedigitalbraintrust.net] On Behalf Of Mary E
> Whitehill
> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 2:14 PM
> To: aquanet at cleverwhiz.com
> Subject: Re: [Aquanet] Lorraine's love letters
>
>
> Watercolors are still not considered on the level of oils in the US
> either.  There has been a definite downturn on sales of watercolors
> compared to oils at every auction I have attended the past two years.
> There is a misconception that watercolors are more ephemeral.  Actually
> it is the most permanent of all mediums.  Paintings done 150 years ago by
> my great grandfather proved this.  The oils had to be restored by
> removing the darkened varnish.  Some were cracked.  The pastels were so
> fragile that many were easily damaged.  The watercolors, however are just
> like new.  Several had to be soaked to remove pasted on cardboard
> backing, which would have eventually destroyed them.
> Watercolors are much more expensive and more difficult to frame, which
> may account for the trend away from them by artists, but the fact that
> oils attract higher prices is more likely the cause.
> M. E Whitehill - Watercolors
>  wtrclr at juno.com
> Fine art paintings of flowers, landscapes, historic sites of the Hudson
> Valley
>
> Check "What's New" on my Web Site  www.mewhitehill.com
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-- 
Lorraine
http://www.theartistinmenow.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8012795@N05/
Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised
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