HELP

[tammy]

<FONT size="5">Ok! You all kind of know me by now, I gots a small problem. So far I've painted for pleasure and am definiately in the still learning phase, but like everyone else, if someone wanted to buy my paintings, my feelings would not be hurt and I've taken a few to a daughterinlaw's family's buisness to kind of feel out the crowd and see if my paintings would by chance sell. Okay, here's the deal.
Since I've mostly been painting for pleasure, I've painted on everything and have thought more about my subject and skill instead of what its painted on. I buy alot of canvas board although I buy canvas too, but since recently unemployed I can't afford canvas at the moment and I have a few canvas board. I do know that canvas board is best for practice only to.
My question is should you sell/try to sell paintings that are on canvas board?
Someone actually wants to buy my 3 color project and since it is one at the shop I can't remember what it is on but I also have several on canvasboard there too. What should I do? Will people buy art on canvas board? I've seen it warp before when someone doesn't take care of it, but if you do frame it will it still warp? Sorry, so long, I guess my question is...is it ethical to sell paintings on canvas board at all?
Thanks.</FONT s>

[TPS]

I would not. But, it depends on what you want your standards to be. Full disclosure to the buyer and a reasonable price might help you decide. Personally, I don't sell anything I don't feel good about both visually and technically.

[tammy]

Thanks ya'll,
This is kind of a right now thing. Kaz I find your post helpful too.
I think that at the moment painting on canvas board for the place that I'm trying to sell at will be ok. It's a furniture store. (second hand)

My concern at the moment is the paintings that someone I know only thru the computer wants to buy. They want the 3 color one and I think its on canvas, but they want another one from one of my photos, that I'll have to paint. I've contacted them and explained and am waiting for reply of what they will accept and want.

In all other cases, I'd go all canvas and preferably archival ones for all painting I want to sell, but at this point is not feasible. I don't expect mine to go for more than 25.00 at best anyway yet.

I'm guess I'm asking for pros and cons of selling anything on canvasboard.

[CarlyHardy]

Tammy, I've seen paintings in shows painted on canvas board and I've sold paintings on canvas board during my earliest years of painting. I used it because 1. it was fairly cheap and 2. it was all I could get at the time!

I also have a few of my old...old paintings done on canvas board that are 25 years old and they are just like new. A couple of them are framed...this keeps them from warping. And two are smaller but they are not warped either (I keep them in a dry area).

An advantage of the canvas board is when framing, you can use a narrow width frame and it will set into the frame nicely...unlike a canvas which needs a half inch depth or more to fit nicely.

You could tell the buyer that the painting should be framed and that putting brown paper over the back of the frame will help to reduce any moisture from coming in contact with the back of the painting.
carly

[kaz]

Kelly now that your venturing out into the market sit your self down and write down five goals you would like your art to do. Heres what mine look`s like 1.to become published by 2002 2.to have become fulltime 3.make it accesible, reach people make prints (maybe you could do this for the three color painting) 4.to build up a large body of work 5.to have a show/exhibit by 2010 Then follow this with how to achieve these goals. 1.make a brochure-samples mailing`s(working towards childrens book illustrator) ETC.......etc......you get the point.This helped me a lot, hope it helps you also.

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[arteitaliana]

Tammy,

you are selling paintings for $25?
Did I understand correctly? If so:
1)No painting should sell at this price, better to give it away. A very low price devalues the painting and the painter.
2)I would not worry about canvas board. Paint on what you can afford. Van Gogh sometimes painted on cardboard and so did Toulouse Lautrec and many others.
3)You may try primed masonite. It is more affordable than canvas.
4)Demand payment in full before sending/selling paintings to anybody you don't know.(It's a fairly common practice)
5)I saw your page. Your work is very personal and interesting.
6)Keep painting!!

All the best,

Rita