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Lunatique · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:52 pm

http://www.theiogallery.com/artists/artist_gallery.php?artistID=47

Is it just me, or are the prices for Whelan's paintings a bit high for what they are? I've never cared much for commenting on what other artists charge for their artwork, but in this case, it just seems a bit odd to see this style of artwork commanding that much money, regardless of Whelan's reputation as a sci-fi/fantasy artist. Seriously, that's some good advertising and promotion skills right there to end up where he's at over the last 10 years or so (his Glass Onion operation's been at it all that time), doing the whole "I'm now a fine artist" approach but essentially still painting in that somewhat plastic and sterile commercial style he's always painted in (and not much different from his commercial book covers of the past).

It's easier for me to understand how someone like Pino could end up where he is, since the fine art stuff he does is not like the commercial book covers he did during his illustration days.

Anyway, I just got that link in my email and found it slightly amusing, that's all.

Jimmyjimjim · member Member # Joined: 12 Dec 2002 Posts: 459

Interesting link, thanks!

Yeah, I kind of second the idea that they're a bit overpriced. There's a lot of craft there, though. I might expect those kinds of prices for an exceptionally known artist I guess, given that Thomas (:::BARF:: Smile

Kincaid gets much, much higher. Is Michael Whelan particularly well known?

Drew · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:13 pm

Misc · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:23 am

I think it's good that people try to charge as much as they possibly can. It should be beneficial for everyone trying to sell their art. Smile

It is such a luxury product with basically no objective practical use, which means that the price has no limit Very Happy

Mikko K · member Member # Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 639

Just had a conversation about this here at the office, and the conclusion I got to was that people with money can pay those prices easily if they feel emotional connection to the artwork.

Someone might see it as an investment and expect the value to go up in future, and it might also reflect their status - someone might want to go on MTV cribs and show off this stuff with a 75k price tag. Celebrities pay millions just for jewelery, so why not art as well.

Jabo · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:01 pm

If I had the money, I'd buy so many pieces of art ranging from Rembrandts to the smaller every day artists around the web... I just can't frown this. The first piece on the page, "Wave", maybe it's not worth 75000 dollars, but I'd pay if I could. Seeing that the price is so high, probably some people can.
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[Shizo] · member Member # Joined: 22 Oct 1999 Posts: 3938

I'd give all my money for the original Quake Rally artwork. I feel very emotionally connected to it.

Sumaleth · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:55 am

jr · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:46 am

he should charge as much as he could for his paintings, and if people buy them, even BETTER
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Lunatique · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:22 pm

I certainly agree that creative people should try to get as much for their works as possible. It wouldn't make any sense if I didn't feel that way, since that would contradict my entire career path. I just thought it was a little odd that's all. From what I can remember, only classic illustrator's of the golden age commanded that kind of price (and only after their death). Whelan's "fine art" stuff still looks like typical sci-fi illustrations to me, so it's hard for me to associate with fine art prices.

Sumaleth · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 6:22 am

Calling Whelan "typical sci-fi" is a bit cheeky. Wink

I'd love a Whelan original on my wall. Right up to the point I sold it and bought a country.
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Lunatique · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:33 pm

Oops, I meant typical for what Whelan had been doing during his commercial illustration days. He's done these surreal fantasy/sci-fi kind of images for book covers even before he went the way of fine arts.

Sumaleth · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 9:50 pm

Fine-art is just illustration with no artificial time limits, and without "someone else" being the majority creative shareholder. I suppose he could have completely changed direction and started painting abstract or something, but I'm not at all surprised that his fine-arts work followed on naturally from what he was doing as illustration.
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