ArtThou

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What draws people to buy art?

It might be a memory, a landscape or city you recently visited and want to remember.  The idea that is represented might align with your beliefs.  Economically, it could be a good investment or an opportunity to fit into a particular tax bracket.  Perhaps it’s the freedom and soulful lifestyle of the artist that you relate to, or maybe you just want to fill that wall space. 

Certainly, the process of buying the painting is also influenced by the experience itself. 

Typically visiting galleries can be an intimidating experience, all white walls and hushed voices.  For the majority of the time, artists are not readily available to give an insight into the inspiration behind their work, the materials employed, or what they learnt themselves throughout the process.  Sharing such a narrative gives some context to the work, helping forge a connection between the viewer and the art.  A more meaningful shared experience invites the viewer to find a way into the work, helping the artwork stand out and linger in their thoughts and hearts.

Artists need to be able to clearly extract their own personal story: their history, beliefs and experience.  These factors help the viewer to connect to the artist’s perspective on the world, inciting the emotion that leads people to buy.  It is just as important for people to know how they made it, and any challenges along the way.  This is what we set out to explore.  By publishing interviews with artists, we aim to bridge the gap between the artist and their audience, democratising an otherwise potentially intimidating experience.