Art has so many possibilities

As I sit here watching Zeus attack fake christmas tree limbs, I continue to stumble upon more and more businesses that are leveraging the boundless talent that exists to create value at cheaper and cheaper costs.

First there was Logoworks. A way for businesses to get a logo options at a fraction of the cost compared to major design/branding firms. Then, yesterday I stumbled on TurnHere.com . Again, low cost video production to help businesses bring video content to the web at low costs - and great quality. Internet and Video = gold. I watched a little diddy video from TurnHere, and to quote them - "all our customer has to worry about is the message they want to convey". I love it. Great idea, great execution. When a major company wants activate a huge idea and get it online pronto, why wait for an agency to talk through the message and produce a clip? Do it fast and upload it to youtube in 3 days - or pop it on a cd for a presentation next week. Awesome.


So I am here sitting and thinking about art. There are hundreds of quality freelance artists across the country looking for projects. I always thought there was a market for college students to sell their art on the Internet. But, consider that there should be a 3rd party outlet to connect artists to interested people. I want an artist to take a family portait and put it to canvas, ala paint. My dad wants an artist to give him some powerpoint templates. You get the idea. If I missing something let me know.


A recent Wall Street Journal (Discount Art:Rising Stars) published on November 25th 2006 sparked my thinking. The article focused on 3 major college art sales that happen this time of the year.
1. California College of Art Holiday Fair - Dec 9th
2. SMFA Boston Art Sale - Dec 6-11
3. Maryland Institute College of Art - Dec 1

To quote the WSJ (article by Jacob Hale Russell and Camille Ricketts)
In today's heated art market, many collectors are looking to all corners of the art world for possible investments, paying tens of thousands of dollars for paintings of newly minted art-school graduates -- or even those still in school. The coming weeks offer a chance to get in on this market at the very low end, as top art schools across the country hold their annual holiday sales featuring inexpensive work by students, mostly under $200. It's occasionally -- though rarely -- possible to make a big find: Ellen Gallagher, whose work is now sold by top dealer Gagosian Gallery and collected by museums nationwide, once sold a work for $1,000 at the School of the Museum of Fine Art's winter sale in Boston.

High quality art on the cheap? The market has to be there. All someone needs to do is provide the channel for college/freelance artists and buyers to connect. Can someone say TZArtFair.com? Would you be a buyer or seller? I want to be the connector.