How It All Works FAQ

Artists, think "outside the box!" (Collectors, read this, too!) Read the following examples:

• If you want to go to Portugal and make art for a month, don't think about getting one patron -- think about getting several! For example, if you have several patrons, each paying you a fee for the guarantee of getting the pick of artwork from your trip, you just might be able to afford that trip.

• If you want to spend a week in the Caribbean painting sunsets, get a patron who has a vacation home there and who will take some of the work you make in exchange for time at the home. Or, perhaps the patron has a house in New York City and goes sailing every winter -- perhaps you can trade art in exchange for a week or two house-sitting in New York.

• Or, if you just want to stay home and work on your art, perhaps you can sell subscriptions to one or more patrons operating in the traditional, time-honored way of the Gilded Age! For example, if you're a patron, give the artist a set fee each year in advance to make art, and you get a piece of your choice for Christmas.

Or whatever! How you use this site is up to you. Art for Patronage has two goals. First, to help free artists so they can create. Second, to give collectors a healthy alternative to acquiring fine art by paying cash and commissions to galleries. It's a way for collectors and artists to meet and benefit mutually without having to use cash as a middleman.

More questions? If you don't find your answers below, please e-mail info@artforpatronage.com with your question! We'll add it to the FAQ.

1. What services, exactly, does Art for Patronage provide?
2. What do you mean by the terms "travel," "short-term housing" and "traditional"on the listings?
3. I am still confused. Does travel give the artist a car? Does it mean the patron would need to pay for an airplane ticket?
4. Why all this trouble? Why not just sell your paintings?
   

1. What services, exactly, does Art for Patronage provide? We are offering no service other than to post contact information for an artist who is interested in an alternate means of seling his artwork. We're just a clearinghouse, and it's up to the artist and patron to figure out the details. Art for Patronage makes no guarantees and is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in this site. Information contained in the listings has not been verified. It is the collector's part to exercise due diligence when communicating with the artists. back to top

2. What do you mean by the terms "travel," "short-term housing" and "traditional"on the listings? "Travel" means that the artist would like someone to help underwrite his trip in exchange for artwork. This might mean they pay you some money to help you get to where you want to go, or perhaps they will help you with accomodations on the other end, all this in exchange for the pick of the pieces you create while you're traveling. "Short-term housing" means that perhaps the patron has a vacation home, and he would offer you the use of it when he's not there; or, perhaps you could house-sit for him in his year-round home while he's on vacation. "Traditional" means the way patrons used to operate in the Good Old Days -- they may commission a painting, or they may give you an annual stipend in exchange for a certain number of works each year. back to top

3. I am still confused. Does travel give the artist a car? Does it mean the host would need to pay for an airplane ticket? (Details of the arrangement must be worked out purely between artist and patron. AFP does not enter into the negotiations.) If you, the artist, need a car at the other end, then bring it up when you're talking to your patron. And no, the patron doesn't necessarily need to pay for an airplane ticket. Again, that's strictly between artist and patron. Whatever works. Maybe it'll go like this:

(This is just an example. Arrangements between artist and patron may differ, and they are completely the responsibility of artist and patron.)

Patron: "I like your artwork. I want to underwrite your travel and get some artwork in exchange."
Artist: "Great! How can we make this work?"
P: "Well, what are you looking for?"
A: "I'd like to spend a month in Portugal painting the seaside villages."
P: "Okay, I would like to help you do that. I would like some paintings from that trip."
A: "Will you pay for my plane ticket?"
P: "I'll do that."
A: "And will you pay for my accomodations?"
P: "Well...okay. Although that's going a little far."
A: "Will you rent a car so I can travel to my painting spots?"
P: "No, I won't do that."
A: "That's okay."
P: "It's settled, then. I'll buy your plane ticket and pay for your hotel accomodations, but you will hire your own car. In exchange, I will get to pick some paintings from what you create while you're there."
A: "Agreed. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. You won't be disappointed!"

Or there may be some other haggling and negotiation. The result is, if you're the patron, you want to pick your paintings in exchange for giving the artist something he needs in order to create them. It could be plane fare, car rental, accomodation, or just plain old cash. Or, if you're the artist, you may not get everything you want from this one patron. You may need more than one. Again, think "outside the box." back to top

4. Why all this trouble? Why not just sell your paintings? Sure, if you're an artist, you can just sell your paintings. But the point of this site is to help you find an alternate agreement between you and your patron. Why? Okay, here's an example. Let's say you want to do it the old way, and just sell your paintings. But you want to go to Portugal for a month to paint. You certainly could just pay the airfare and the accomodations up front and go off and paint, and then come back to your home and try to sell your paintings. But if your paintings don't sell, then what? Other than the cultural enrichment to your life by having lived in Portugal for a month, you have gained nothing -- and you're out airfare and accomodations. But if you can get a patron up front, then you've got it made! Guaranteed sales without the risk.

Why go this route if you're a patron? Think of the personal contact you'll have with the artist. It's much more satisfying than being just another anonymous buyer. Being on a first-name basis with your artist increases the value of your paintings -- and your enjoyment of them -- so much more. Another benefit is that you get exactly the paintings you want. You may like your artist's style but perhaps not the paintings he (or his gallery) currently has on hand. Do you like Portugal but your artist doesn't have any paintings of Portugal? Then send him off to paint some paintings of Portugal for you! And then enjoy your paintings and the fact that you made this artist's trip possible! back to top