Asheville artist Genie Maples ends year with 50-percent-off sale of her paintings

9 Comments

1. 

   Sue September 29, 2016

   Today I had the good luck to purchase one of your’05 paintings at Goodwill @ $2.99. love it

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2. 

   Genie December 23, 2010

   Every artist has to make his or her own creative and business decisions. I certainly respect the choices of those who would never advertise a discount, and I understand that philosophy – it's fairly standard in the high-art model.

   I do high quality work, but I don't come from a high-art background, so I tend to be pragmatic and unconventional myself.

   I've been making my living this way for a long time, and have built my skills and vision through simply putting in long hours both at at the easel and doing difficult inner exploration. I'm self taught, self-representing, and started literally from nothing. My work stands on its own merit, and my ego isn't particularly fragile.

   I don't expect everyone to like either my work or my choices.

   For people who do appreciate my work, it's a good time to buy some very strong paintings at a very good price.

   Wishing prosperity and peace to all of us, whether we believe in advertised discounts or not. It's a big wide world with room for lots of philosophies.

   Peace,
   Genie

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3. 

   Waynesville Jim December 23, 2010

   I sure would hate to have bought a painting, or anything else for that matter, and found out that it was on later sale at a 50 percent discount. Makes me wonder why its on sale and why it was priced so high to begin with.

   I thought most artists and galleries negotiated discretely about prices and didn't like to advertise an "everythings on sale at half-off". This raises lots of red flags for me.

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4. 

   Hannah December 23, 2010

   This reminds me of the ads on tv for "starving artists" sales in hotel meeting rooms. A half off sale may be ok for sales to the masses, or something like that, but not directly from a local artist. Not good news for those who have bought from the same artist before.

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5. 

   Area Artist and Strong man December 23, 2010

   Genie: Well said..

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6. 

   ML December 23, 2010

   I'm a local artist and just had to comment on this. I would never, ever even dream of having a 50% off everything on my work, regardless of the season and especially at Christmas and year-end. Doing so would cause serious damage to my reputation and my ego, not to mention my clients. I think Ed K has very valid points about this. Discount sales like this are ok on Black Friday at Sears, but only harm artists everywhere.

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7. 

   Area Artist and Strong man December 23, 2010

   Ed K: You don't no what your talking about. Artist have been struggling since the economy turned south and the home equity lines dried up. Artist, even successful ones like myself are doing what they can to sell a painting and pay the bills.

   I guess you have never bought anything at retail, because I guarantee it went on sale at some time. You obviously have nothing better to do then troll the blogs looking for stuff to spew crap about. Did you know that artist have to leave their painting for free at a gallery, and just make around 50% when it sells. Oh, and I bet those stick figures you can hardly draw are selling great!

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8. 

   Genie December 23, 2010

   Thanks for the mention, Jason.

   Hi Ed K. I don't think we've met. While i understand your point in theory, in reality the response I've gotten from clients has been very positive. In fact, all the paintings I've sold so far during this promotion have gone either to existing collectors or to people who have been waiting for the right time to buy their first painting from me.

   Since I sell most of my paintings from my own studio, people who buy from me have generally spent at least a little time getting to know me. Often they've visited several times over the years before deciding to buy. They tend to be fairly savvy people, and they wouldn't buy either at full price or during a sale if they felt my work wasn't worth the price I set.

   When any business owner has a sale, all it means is that they want to generate extra cash flow in the short term and are willing to sacrifice inventory to do so. That can work to the benefit of both the buyer and the seller.

   I have wonderful clients – I consider them patrons in the best sense of the word. Most of them feel a very personal connection to the work I do. Their patronage allows me to support my family and keep doing this work. I'm fortunate to know them, and I appreciate their support every single day.

   Genie

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9. 

   Ed K December 22, 2010

   Geez, what does tell you about the original pricing?! I'd hate to be one of the unlucky folks who paid the original prices. How does the artist justify this, and how does she placate the anger those who paid higher prices earlier? Marketing moves like this truly devalue the work and make buyers very wary of being ripped off on future art purchases.

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