ART TIP OF THE WEEK

CHOOSING ART FOR YOUR OFFICES

The first question most people ask when deciding on artwork for their offices is "Will my customers like it?"

Think for a moment. As we talked about earlier, you must choose art for yourself. You are the one that lives with it, or in this case works with it every day. How you respond to it counts much more than how a client likes it.

If you insist, as many do, on targeting the lowest common denominator, then these are the people you will attract to your business. That is fine if you make a conscious decision to try for that audience. However, if you want a clientele that fits your personality, target that audience with art that you like

If you hang cheap prints, boring photos of pretty mountains, or the latest fad art from the Sunday Supplement, you will lull your clients into a state of boredom, leave them uninspired and leave them thinking the same of you

If you challenge them with interesting new quality artwork, artwork that says a little about who they are dealing with, even if they don't like it, they will have more respect for you and what you do.

I am dealing with a bank whose board members actually think that investing in art will send a message to their clients that they are frivolous with their money. No one with any education, who is farther removed than one generation from *dirt farmers and loggers, or has traveled past their nose would think that.

These are old white men who can't dance and will matter little in a few years so I am patient. The staff at the bank all want something interesting to look at, the bank clients notice when the art changes and comment positively, but as long as the people in charge don't get it…

While in your offices do people ever say anything about the art?

Do they notice what you have up?

Try an experiment: Go to your local art dealer and select a piece you really like. Ask if you can try it out in your office for a few days. Make note of the effect it has on you, your clients and your staff.

Most galleries have lease programs or will set up a rent to own system for you.
It can do no harm and you will be amazed at the results.
If you think all your taste is in your mouth, get one of your staff or someone else you trust to pick out a piece and hang it.

Try to select artwork done by mid-career artists. The work is fairly priced in most cases and will usually go up in value. (Having you as a client will help them too!) It is a lot better than buying a reproduction that will fade in a few years and be an embarrassment to you and your staff. (How many times have you seen that "blue print" of whatever in an office or hallway and thought how crappy it looked?) You do not want your place of business to be on the receiving end of that thought!

Remember, you are the person your clients see on the walls when they choose to give you their money. Make them feel as if they have made the right decision.

* I have nothing against dirt farmers or loggers. Some of my best friends are dirt farmers or loggers. Mind you, I would not want my sister to marry one, but they are OK in my book!