What is an Art Investment Fund?

Believe it or not there are finance areas that invest and buy art. Some of these funds buy local artwork or blue chip type art as investment. Its a bit corporate however, it supports the arts! I was lucky enough to have a large group of paintings bought by Fidelity in Boston. This institution bought local art as an investment for the future.

Some banks do offer wealth management services that include access to art investment funds. These funds are usually managed by separate firms specializing in art investment with a curator.

Art Investment Funds: These are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to purchase and manage artwork. The goal is to generate returns through appreciation of the artwork's value and potentially through selling shares in the fund

• Bank Wealth Management: Some banks offer wealth management services for high-net-worth individuals. These services can include access to alternative investments like art funds alongside traditional stocks and bonds.

So, while the bank wouldn't directly own the art fund, it might provide a platform for its clients to invest in one.

Eva Hesse and Material Breakdown

I recently fell in love with Eva Hesse’s work. She was a trailblazer in using unconventional materials like latex, fiberglass, and plastics in sculpture. This contrasted with the dominant Minimalist movement that was happening during her time. Hesse’s work moved away from using the industrial materials in a cold and calculated way. Her work brought a sense of process, vulnerability, and organic form to sculpture.

After watching Eva Hesse’s documentary I saw how her materials in her sculptures began to break down. Her beautiful work was falling apart. Here are some reasons why using sustainable art supplies can be important for the longevity of your artwork: I plan on using paint and materials that will last.

1. Material Breakdown: Traditional art supplies often contain harsh chemicals or materials that can break down over time. For example, some paints can yellow or become brittle, while papers made with low-quality wood pulp can become acidic and cause the artwork to deteriorate. Sustainable art supplies, on the other hand, are often made with natural materials or recycled content that are less likely to degrade as quickly. This means your artwork is more likely to stay vibrant and well-preserved for future generations.

2. Avoiding Lightfastness Issues: Lightfastness refers to a pigment's ability to resist fading over time when exposed to light. Some traditional pigments, especially cheaper ones, are not very lightfast and can fade significantly over the years. Sustainable art supplies often focus on using high-quality, lightfast pigments. This ensures your artwork retains its original colors and doesn't become washed out over time.

Using sustainable art supplies can help your artwork resist the natural breakdown of materials and fading from light exposure, allowing it to be enjoyed for years to come.

Why is Art Important to Collect

Collecting art is a fantastic luxury. Collecting is an honor and an mystery. There are so different reasons and types of collectors. Here are some reasons- All are legal!

Enjoyment and Beauty: People are drawn to art that they find aesthetically pleasing or emotionally resonant. Owning a piece of art allows them to live with it every day and experience that enjoyment on a regular basis.

Legacy Building: A collection can be a way to tell your story and reflect your taste. It can also be a way to leave a lasting legacy for future generations

Preserving History: Owning a piece of art can be a way to preserve a piece of history. Artworks can document social, political, and cultural movements throughout time.

Supporting Artists: Buying art directly from an artist or gallery is a way to support the art world and help artists continue creating.

Mount Washington and Fauvism

Fauvism is an early 20th-century art movement that uses bold colors and simplified forms. Fauve paintings are often non-representational, and the artists who created them were more interested in expressing emotion than in creating realistic depictions of the world. Henry Matisse, Andre Derain. Georges Braque, Maurice de Vlaminck and Raoul Dufy were Fauvism painters. These were the painting giants that helped me delve into painting the bright foliage of New England.

The Fauve palette is a great way to capture the beauty of Mount Washington. The mountain's rugged peaks and deep valleys can be rendered in a variety of bright colors, and the Fauve style's emphasis on simplification can help to create a sense of awe and wonder. I especially use hot pink and orange to off set the greens and blues of the New England landscapes. The Fauvism painters used pinks and oranges in their work as well.

Mount Washington Painting influenced by Henry Matisse

What are Vertical Landscape Paintings?

A vertical painting simply refers to a painting that has a greater height than width. How rare it i
. In the vast amount of landscape paintings, a vertical painting is a more modern expression of the landscape. No doubt, they are hard to paint because the artist has to rearrange the composition in a totally new direction. The usual art rules do not apply, to which the artist must step up in creativity.

Here are some reasons why a collector might choose a vertical format for a landscape:

• Highlight towering elements: Vertical landscapes are ideal for showing tall features like mountains, waterfalls, trees, or skyscrapers that reach up towards the sky. The vertical format draws the viewer's eye upwards, emphasizing the expanssiveness of these elements.

• Focus on a specific view: A vertical format can be used to frame a secluded scene, like a path winding through a forest or a dramatic trees close-up.

• Creative composition: Some collectors may choose a vertical format for a more unique composition, breaking away from the traditional wide-horizon view of landscapes.

The Local New England Art Scene

Buying local art from New England is a great way of helping local artists to sustain and promote the local arts community, contributing to its growth and vitality. Many artist that live in New Hampshire support themselves with being an entrepreneur artist. Vacationers or people who have moved away from the seacoast or the Mount Washington Valley love to buy local landscapes of these places to remind them of how scenic New Hampshire is.

Additionally, buying local art allows you to connect with the local artist and hear their story. New England has a rich artistic history, with its landscapes, traditions, and local narratives often serving as inspiration for artists. In particular, Mount Washington’s breathe taking views are a nostalgic of the what an epic mountain it truly is.

Buying local art supports the local economy. When you purchase artwork from New England artists, you contribute to the financial well-being of the artists themselves, as well as the local galleries, art organizations, and businesses that support and promote their work. This economic support helps to sustain the local arts ecosystem and its positive impact on the community

“Arts and culture are growing contributors to the New Hampshire economy, and that impact is seen locally, with arts/culture in the Seacoast region contributing $70.2 million in spending in 2022, according to a new study”, says the Keene Sentinel paper Jan. 2024.
So, While you are enjoying New England consider being an art collector and bring home a beautiful painting done by a local artist!

PHOTO by @joeklementovich

The Pink House

The demolition of The Pink House in Newbury, Massachusetts is said to be imminent. Everyone who cares about the iconic Pink House surrounded by the beautiful marshes of Newbury needs to do their part to stop it. Local artists Tina Rawson and Rebecca Klementovich are asking everyone to try to stop it by wielding their paintbrushes and adding their voices to the many who wish to save The Pink House.

The Pink House has captured the imagination of many. It is visually arresting, looking good in every season and in all weather. It stands alone surrounded by marshes that shift with the season, its pink color stands out against the sky and its silhouette is noticeable from afar, even at night. Visual artists such as Klementovich, Rawson and many others paint it and are able to then sell those paintings and cards or posters made from them. Many printmakers, photographers, and even oyster shell ornament makers have created works of art about this iconic place. People love The Pink House art.

It won the most Instagramable spot a couple of years on the North Shore of Boston. Diana Di Zoglio, State Senator states: 

"The Pink House is a local treasure and landmark that brings great beauty, history and culture to Plum Island, attracting locals, visitors and tourists alike. I am committed to working alongside our local, state and federal partners to ensure this beloved landmark is preserved for future generations to cherish."

The refuge is managed by Matt Hillman. The Town of Newbury Select Board, The Newburyport City Council, The Salisbury Select Board, and the Amesbury City Council have all voted to urge FWS to continue to look for solutions instead of demolishing The Pink House.  Support the Pink House, Inc., a non-profit group, 501(c)(3), has been working diligently for eight years to save The Pink House and has ideas on how to save it.

There is a myth that people love, that The Pink House was a spite house. It actually wasn't, but the thought that it had been built for a jilted wife out of spite caught people's attention. In 1925, The Pink House was bought by Gertrude W. Cutter from the widow Abbie K. Little. Fast forward, in 2011 it was purchased by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife/Parker River National Wildlife Refuge with the surrounding acreage. You can read the complete history here. The Pink House is owned by the Fish and Wildlife (FWS) which Hillman manages on just over a one-acre lot. Now they want to tear it down. But they will exchange it for land, so please reach out if you have some that you would like to sell near a refuge or flood zone.

Please join us in our wish to preserve The Pink House. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
Email Congressman Seth Mouton and Matt Hillman at parkerriver@fws.gov

You can also reach out to Senator ED Market, and Senator Elizabeth Warren and Governor Healy in Massachusetts.Tell them why The Pink House should be saved. Read more at https://www.supportthepinkhouse.com and if you have land to sell or trade please contact Support the Pink House at info@supportthepinkhouse.com

In order to learn more about the artists visit tinarawsonart.com and klementovich.com, or write tina.rawson@gmail.com or Rebecca Klementovich at rklementovich@yahoo.com. We hope that fellow artists and others who enjoy The Pink House and its beauty will help stop the demolition.