Art Auction review

[m steve]

at a cruise ship auction? How about Red Skelton's clowns?

[LoveThisCruisingThing]

No kidding about framing costs. I bought an 11" x 17" print in Sitka. It is costing twice as much to mat and frame it...and this is with a 50% off coupon! Hate to think what this print I got in the auction is going to be.....

[Times Prince]

I went to the art auctions about the Dawn Princess that sailed 7/20. ... I enjoyed the art, learning about the artists, and talking to fellow passengers. I fell in love with a print (San Francisco by Ken Hawk) at the first auction, made a bid, and won!!!! (this was just the print, not the mat or frame). I was told it would be shipped 6-8 weeks after the cruise ended. Within two weeks, I had an email stating that my print was being shipped that day. It arrived within a week of Princess mailing it. I was very impressed with the heavy duty cardboard tubing, inside packaging, and condition of the print. With this successful first time buying something in an auction, I definitely would not hesitate to buy something that catches my eye.

Dear Love,

 

We, and many others, have had similar good experiences with art auctions. You should see the packing they provide for a framed piece! It is really amazing.

 

The auctions will only go to about the third bid if there are multiple copies of the print/serigraph/lithograph in their inventory. They are usually up front about single copy originals - where obviously they have to have a clear winner.

 

Our house has many memories of cruises in art selections - and we love it all - that's why we bought it in the first place. Some have appreciated in value, some maybe not.

 

For those who haven't tried it, or have only walked by - it can be worth being entertained by the stories of the artists and their collectors - and especially by the art itself.

 

We've spent many a cruise afternoon at art auctions, and none in the casino - but we've got the art afterwards on our walls to remind us of the wonderful cruises and to decorate our rooms. We'd really recommend it if you are decorating a room, as the signed numbered art onboard can be less expensive than poster grade prints from department or furniture stores.

[mikjr]

Figuring all the cruise ships with virtually the same art and all those charitable land auctions all operated by one or 2 companies it blows me away to think that an artist could create that many originals.

 

I am in the business, and sorry to say, the cruise ships sell very few ORIGINAL art pieces. most are limited editions... either serigraphs, lithographs, giclee, or etchings and engravings. Many are produced in the 100s, some are produced in the 1000s, and then there are different series productions.

 

So the moral is... be careful what you bid on and buy... be sure to buy it because you like it, and not for investment purposes.

[Lynda90]

I have purchased several pieces of art on cruises. These are not for investments but because I enjoy looking at them. Did I get a good buy--who knows? What I do know is that I bought what I liked and I am very happy with my purchases. I have also won art work on three cruises. I now have two pieces of art, still sitting in their tubes waiting to be framed. Need to get a second job to afford the framing. :p :D :eek:

[m steve]

They may be able to buy the same prints offered on board and sell to you for a lot less. If they can't, the print you like will be available on your next cruise. Freinds and I have done this and there's no buyers premium but there's no fake champagne either.

[Hlitner]

I am in the business, and sorry to say, the cruise ships sell very few ORIGINAL art pieces. most are limited editions... either serigraphs, lithographs, giclee, or etchings and engravings. Many are produced in the 100s, some are produced in the 1000s, and then there are different series productions.

 

So the moral is... be careful what you bid on and buy... be sure to buy it because you like it, and not for investment purposes.

 

We once cruised with a real art expert (we are sure no experts) who was not impressed by anything (or the prices) at the art auctions. As to the bidding, the last time I went to one of the on-board auctions there were two passengers who bid-up a very limited edition seriograph into the thousands of dollars. Finally the auctioneer stopped the bidding and announced that he was going to give both bidders the seriograph (they probably had a warehouse full of the things).

 

Hank

[mek]

I am in the business, and sorry to say, the cruise ships sell very few ORIGINAL art pieces. most are limited editions... either serigraphs, lithographs, giclee, or etchings and engravings. Many are produced in the 100s, some are produced in the 1000s, and then there are different series productions.

 

So the moral is... be careful what you bid on and buy... be sure to buy it because you like it, and not for investment purposes.

 

The good thing about giclee's is that they generally look very good and if hand embellished, very close to some originals. The bad thing is I think a lot of people see them and think they are buying an original becuse of the high quality. I have a step-son and DIL who are crazy about Kinkade :eek: and have paid thousands for gallery proofs, (on land) which I personally think is crazy, but they're happy with them. The problem is they know zero about art investments and think they will make a lot of money down the road. Perhaps they will, but most people should stay out of this type of investment unless they really know what they are doing. Cruise lines do tend to over promote the investment aspect, IMO.

[detroitwingsfan]

You could buy every issue of the Saturday Evening Post and get every one of his pictures and a lot to read on your cruises. I thought only George Bush thought Rockwell a great artist. And how many hundreds of the Peter Max pieces are churned out by the kids running his printing press? It's better than forging $20 bills for him.

 

Its true, most of the Max pieces you see on the cruise ships are reproductions with some paint thrown on them, but he does the paint throwing. I am an avid collector of his pieces and have met him on a few occasions. I have a great relationship with a member of his staff who said that he "paints" dozens of the cruise ship pieces at a time for people that want to start collecting his art to be able to get it at reasonable costs. She said a lot of their best clients, purchasing $$$$$$$ in original art, started by buying one of his pieces on a cruise ship.

[mek]

She said a lot of their best clients, purchasing $$$$$$$ in original art, started by buying one of his pieces on a cruise ship.

 

Ignoring the obivious profit aspect for the cruise lines, it's intended to be a fun event, one which exposes some people who may never considered to do more than hang a poster over their sofa, to look at art, think about it and perhaps make a purchase.

[m steve]

most framers and local galleries have access to his stuff w/o the buyers premium and if the price is high will negotiate down to make a sale and you can choose the frame. I had a friend years ago who was an inker for him.

[m steve]

most framers and local galleries have access to his stuff w/o the buyers premium and if the price is high will negotiate down to make a sale and you can choose the frame. I had a friend years ago who was an inker for him.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

I am in the business, and sorry to say, the cruise ships sell very few ORIGINAL art pieces. most are limited editions... either serigraphs, lithographs, giclee, or etchings and engravings. Many are produced in the 100s, some are produced in the 1000s, and then there are different series productions.

 

So the moral is... be careful what you bid on and buy... be sure to buy it because you like it, and not for investment purposes.

 

I agree with this, they do have very few originals so know what you are buying before you bid and 'love it' cause you are going to be seeing it everyday on your walls.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

They may be able to buy the same prints offered on board and sell to you for a lot less. If they can't, the print you like will be available on your next cruise. Freinds and I have done this and there's no buyers premium but there's no fake champagne either.

 

Everytime the champagne is mentioned I laugh as I never knew it brought so many people to the auctions, not drinking it I have never thought about it till reading on CC how many come for the champagne:D :D