I FEEL ROBBED

Why it is important to know which starving artist you are supporting.
Have you ever wondered who creates those paintings that you see and many have bought in those starving artists’ shows? Do you really think it is a local American artist who is starving and needs your help and support to create more artworks? Well I can tell you that very few, if any of those shows consist of original works created from local artists.
I have studied hard and worked for many years on my education and training to be able to capture the light that God created along with the trees, people, experiences as well as that which is in my mind’s eye on to canvas, panel or sculpture. I work tirelessly in my studio capturing my experiences and thoughts grappling with how to best convey them, the proper medium to use as well as the method to best communicate the work. These other painters are provided work to copy many of which is taken from other artists’ sites or artwork. They replicate over and over the same subject matter, flooding the market with mediocre images convincing people that they are supporting the arts or possibly a starving artist. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It is hard to explain and justify the price to people who do not collect or experience with art. Many people only understand the finances. In many cases they purchase a 24”x36” painting for around $50-$300 thinking they got a bargain on an original oil painting. Little do they know that in most cases they are buying a cloned piece of work from cloned artists! These paintings are sold to merchants by the pound, usually unmounted.
Art buyer beware, be educated. Ask for a resume/CV on the artist and the medium and method was used to make the art. If they can not provide all three, than know that you are buying a pretty picture that is one of many and is probably cloned or art factory produced. That’s ok if you like it and that is what you want but remember that each time you purchase a painting this way you may be creating a real starving artist right here in America. I have confronted this very issue at 2 recent shows I attended where cloned oils were in a booth in volume. They were being sold as original oils at very low prices. Of course they were not sold by a gallery or the artist that painted them, just by a person that had purchased them in bulk. So once again...Buyer Beware!!!
Here is a newsletter I received from Robert Genn that addresses this very issue.

Problems with clones

June 6, 2008

Dear Anthe,

These days artists are receiving emails like this: "We like to do business with you. We are skilled painters in Shenzhen, China. There are lots of talent painters working together in our studio. We can paint oil painting at every grade of different style, our price and service are very competitive, you can make more money than before if you buy oil paintings directly from us. The FOB prices can be $7 per copy for 20" x 24" and $12 for 24" x 36", if you are interested in, we can send some photos of our works to you, we also can paint exactly according to your any email pictures, it is very easy to do the international business now, looking forward to your reply."

As well as cheap copies of famous paintings for the world's supermarkets, what these chaps have in mind is that you go golfing while they make your stuff--at less cost than you might normally pay for a couple of golf balls. They'd like you to think it's the new reality of free trade. We've illustrated these guys at work in the current clickback.

I've seen a few fairly good copies of my own work, done without my permission. At first glance they look okay. At second glance the painters haven't figured out the order I do things, and they've not rendered well the deviations and mannerisms that make my work somewhat distinctive. As clever as these guys are, they've not lived my struggles, and they've put in unpleasant struggles of their own. Can others see this? People tell me they can recognize my work from across the room. Many other painters can say the same. How sophisticated does a collector have to be to spot a phony? How greedy does a dealer have to get to sell one? How stupid do artists have to be to let themselves be cloned?
As well as cheap copies of famous paintings for the world's supermarkets, what these chaps have in mind is that you go golfing while they make your stuff--at less cost than you might normally pay for a couple of golf balls. They'd like you to think it's the new reality of free trade. We've illustrated these guys at work in the current clickback.

I've seen a few fairly good copies of my own work, done without my permission. At first glance they look okay. At second glance the painters haven't figured out the order I do things, and they've not rendered well the deviations and mannerisms that make my work somewhat distinctive. As clever as these guys are, they've not lived my struggles, and they've put in unpleasant struggles of their own. Can others see this? People tell me they can recognize my work from across the room. Many other painters can say the same. How sophisticated does a collector have to be to spot a phony? How greedy does a dealer have to get to sell one? How stupid do artists have to be to let themselves be cloned?

As many know, I've worked long and hard to thwart the Chinese copyists. A couple of years ago we managed to have replicas of more than 1200 Western painters removed from Eastern clone-sites. The various levels of governments were of no help in this fight. Direct email appeals to the decency of the cloners worked, if only temporarily. These are talented, well-trained painters. Our efforts brought to mind some of the great principles: Put the devil to work in your work. Fill it with private magic. Use techniques and processes that are yours alone and tough to master. Do things that others can't.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "We can do good job for you and save you time." (Chinese cloning website)
Esoterica: In China, the word "copyright" currently means the right to copy. We need to help the Chinese understand that world citizenship means more than a fast buck--it means respect, honour and integrity. There are more than 10,000 clone-painters in Shenzhen--all of them poorly paid. Artists need to reply to these Chinese emails and let it be known that they do not want their work cloned under any circumstances. Chinese artists need to be encouraged to be their own artists. Many have seen this light and have achieved international acclaim at prices that do not perpetuate poverty in either art or ethics.

If you would like to see selected, illustrated responses to the last letter, "The Early Morning Club," as well as photos of the Chinese sweatshop painters at work, please go to the current clickback.

If you would like to comment or add your own opinion, information or observations to this or other letters, please do so. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write rgenn@saraphina.com.