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Originally Posted by Marvin Mattelson
David, what percentage of those buying portraits are members of what you call the broader public? Do you really think these practices will affect the bulk of American portrait artists that don't cater to more elite cliental?
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I was just making the point - as you did - that our targeted market is a small fraction of the overall population. They may not all be rich, but they are relatively few. The
average American is not going to spend $3000 + for a portrait of their spouse or child (how I wish this was not the case!). Commissioning an original oil portrait is not even on most people's radar. And the potential clients that we do have, even those that are on a budget, are unlikely to send a photo reference to a factory in Dafen to have an anonomous painter render their Brittany (in a day!) and have it shipped backed to them framed and ready to hang. Even those (hopefully few) clients who wouldn't know the difference - I don't think they would go to the trouble and uncertainty. So, though I find the whole phenomenon rather distasteful, I don't feel threatened by it.
I will start worrying when I see a Chinese copyist factory opened in Nashville with ten thousand employees.
HOWEVER, since I am rather new to this whole portrait world, I would readily and happily defer to your considerable experience and judgement on such matters. Just thinking out loud.....
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Originally Posted by Marvin Mattelson
Regarding your question, I'm mostly amused. Who wouldn't be flattered to be termed a MASTER? (Whether it's a legitimate title or not!) But I could do without the OLD attached.
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How about MIDDLE-AGED MASTER?
David