Ship Art Auctions... Value or Not?

[WineGuy]

Has anyone purchased art from the auctions during a cruise? Do you feel you received value for your money? Is the Art Gallery conducting the auction reputable or are they trying to sell relatively low end art at inflated prices?

[InTheCruisingYearsOfLife]

... Is the Art Gallery conducting the auction reputable...?

 

Do a google search, placing the name of the art company in quotes, and then adding another word on the end outside the quotes, such as "lawsuit", "fraud", or "scam". Then decide for yourself. As for me and my house, we've decided, and we are sans ship art.

 

InThe

[rjm1cc]

I would think that the costs would be higher than if you purchased on land. The reason is more competition on land.

[JohnIreland]

About this much value :

 

[uppitycats]

Some other factors to consider: whatever you bid, if you win, you still have to get the art home. The shipping often exceeds the price you paid for the "art", and they won't let you just carry it off the ship.

 

We sometimes go just for the entertainment..and free bubbly...but there is rarely any "art" that appeals to us.

[Da-Painter]

This art is usually not investment art, so dont fall for that line, "to look at this purchase as an investment". Remember Beanie Babies???

 

If you see something you like, and its in your budget, thats okay. But if you buy something and want to sell it 10 years from now, considering getting garage sale prices for it.

 

There was a big lawsuit, don't know if it was class action or not, about the art being inferred to be worth a whole lot more then it really was.

Like a previous posting, do a google search for that.

Good luck.:eek:

[ENGINEER]

We have purchased a few pieces over the years. We did not get them as an investment, we got them becuase we enjoyed the artist (Gary Benfield and Lucelle Raad) and their work. I have looked them up on line and find them going for around what I paid for them or more. Now days they come framed which can be very expensive if you have to frame them yourselves. The auctions are fun....drink a little champagne watch people. you are not going to buy a $100 painting thats worth thousands. But you may take home a beautiful Thomas Kincaid that you will enjoy every time you look at it. That part is priceless.

 

enjoy

[b00kbug]

What do the pieces usually go for?

[Arwenmark]

I would think that the costs would be higher than if you purchased on land. The reason is more competition on land.

 

Wrong, no overhead that you have on land, no taxes etc. and no duties either.

 

You have to know your art and the company. NCL's is good now they had this company before then changed to a total fly by night, and learned a lesson now back to Park West.

 

I have had very good luck with art purchased through them.

 

One of my pcs bought on board for $1850. about 6 years or so ago I forget exactly recently appraised at $5400.

I have other pcs to that have gone up. But I buy them for what I like rather than just the appreciation value.

 

As I say you have to know what you are doing, same thing with jewelery.

 

If you don't know what you are doing you will make poor choices or get taken anywhere you go.

[Arwenmark]

Some other factors to consider: whatever you bid, if you win, you still have to get the art home. The shipping often exceeds the price you paid for the "art", and they won't let you just carry it off the ship.

 

We sometimes go just for the entertainment..and free bubbly...but there is rarely any "art" that appeals to us.

 

There are pcs that you can carry off the ship. usually the last one of something. Remember almost all of these pcs are Limited editions of one kind or another.

[stegosaurus1]

Has anyone purchased art from the auctions during a cruise? Do you feel you received value for your money? Is the Art Gallery conducting the auction reputable or are they trying to sell relatively low end art at inflated prices?

If you like the piece of art and you are freely able to afford it, no harm. If you're buying it for an investment do your research. Buyer beware. I've collected art for years, some pieces are worth way more than they were, others not so much. But I still like them all. That's what matters.:D

[Traveler353]

If you do your homework there are some ok deals to be had. Unfortunetly most don't and end up getting reamed by the so called auction. It is not really an auction. If you see something that you want you can go to the people that run the program and they will sell you anything that they have to offer.

[Gonzo70]

At the art auction they advertise "free champagne" and then hand out cheap sparkling wine disguised as champagne. I don't think I'd trust anything they say about the art after that; kind of makes me think they might be advertising fine art and then handing out cheap prints.

[navybankerteacher]

I suspect that part of the "art" auctions attraction lies in the fact that people on vacation are feeling good, they are more expansive and optimistic than they are at home. It's fine to buy something you like -- I just have never been particularly impressed by the quality of anything I've seen offered. The few pieces which are not simple reproductions are generally fairly amateurish works by compledte unknowns. Still if you see something you like, it is your own taste you should pay attention to.

[cb at sea]

If you are in need of a picture for your home, and like something, go ahead---buy it. If you're looking for an "investment"...call me...I have something to sell you that will totally appreciate in value and make you rich beyond your wildest dreams...

 

You should NOT purchase anything art-wise as an "investment"...you will lose. Promise.

[thego6girl]

Has anyone purchased art from the auctions during a cruise? Do you feel you received value for your money? Is the Art Gallery conducting the auction reputable or are they trying to sell relatively low end art at inflated prices?[/quote

 

As an art teacher I can tell you that personal art is something that should creates a visceral feeling. That said, you must decide if you are buying art because when you hang it in your home you will experience a feeling of joy. If you are buying a piece of artwork as an investment, I suggest you do lots of research and purchase from a reputable dealer. If you are looking for something to fill your home with joy and warm memories and you see a piece on the ship that "fits your budget" then go for it. It is unlikely that you will be buying a future upcoming artist's piece of artwork on a cruise ship

[Traveler353]

At the art auction they advertise "free champagne" and then hand out cheap sparkling wine disguised as champagne. I don't think I'd trust anything they say about the art after that; kind of makes me think they might be advertising fine art and then handing out cheap prints.

 

What do you expect for free? Dom

Of course they are selling prints, A real Thomas Kinkade can be thousands of $$$, they sell his prints for under a hundred. Do a little research on art terms you will see the difference. The free pieces they give away to everyone are of course cheap prints.

[Gonzo70]

What do you expect for free? Dom

Of course they are selling prints, A real Thomas Kinkade can be thousands of $$$, they sell his prints for under a hundred. Do a little research on art terms you will see the difference. The free pieces they give away to everyone are of course cheap prints.

 

No, I would not expect Dom, but it makes me wary when I am offered champagne and provided with imitation champagne. Why should I then trust what they have to say about the art?

[grand isle joe]

We have purchased a few pieces over the years. We did not get them as an investment, we got them becuase we enjoyed the artist (Gary Benfield and Lucelle Raad) and their work. I have looked them up on line and find them going for around what I paid for them or more. Now days they come framed which can be very expensive if you have to frame them yourselves. The auctions are fun....drink a little champagne watch people. you are not going to buy a $100 painting thats worth thousands. But you may take home a beautiful Thomas Kincaid that you will enjoy every time you look at it. That part is priceless.

 

enjoy

 

Couldn't agree more. Why does this subject get so much damnation by those who "would never even think about attending" any "art" auction. It is just another form of entertainment offered onboard and last I checked they never forced anyone to attend. I could care less about going to the casino yet those who wish to go gamble I say "good luck" and hope they win. But I guess I fall into the great unwashed and uneducated by enjoying myself on a cruise by attending the auctions. I will in the future shield my eyes and look towards the floor as I enjoy my cheap champaign and hope my presence does not offend the upper class that may stroll through the area on their way to some socially acceptable activity onboard. And if you do happen to notice any of the "suckers" at the auction just smile and remember it is us who provides you with that feeling of superiority.;)

[brown's fan 1]

What you buy on a cruise ship is not art. It is not an investment and has absolutely no investment value. These limited editions are barely one step above the "sofa-sized pictures" you can buy for $59 when the Starving Artist Show comes to the Holiday Inn! And if you think Thomas Kinkaid is a legitimate artist and not a merchant of kitsch, you really should take an art history course.

[FTLcruisers]

We have purchased pieces we like at sea and on land from Park West - the key as most people are saying is to buy it because you like it. But the pieces certainly were from artists not complete unknowns - as someone called them - perhaps they are just unknown to you. We purchased our first Romero Britto piece at an art auction on a ship - he has a studio in Miami Beach which we visit often and where we have purchased other pieces. We have been to one of his private showings and met him. If you google Romero, you will certainly see he is not some unknown. But I will admit he was unknown to us when we purchased the piece - but I'm so glad we purchased what we liked because if we had not seen that piece on the ship, we would haven't discovered this fantastic artist.

[Marietta]

My husband likes to go to auctions. Farm, Cattle, Horse, Car, Land, Machinery, anything... Of course he goes to the art actions when there isn't anything else to do. We've bought a couple of carry offs when we drive to the port and gotten a really good deal on a Jim Collins and a Thomas Kincade, two artists we like. Paid $60 and $120 for the last two and when I looked them up online they were $450 - $600 and $710 - $795, unframed. The frames we got are not good, but they sure look nice in the barn with a little bit of marker touch ups! WE like the pictures and they might be worth more than we paid someday when we are gone and the kids don't want them. :D

[peptobysmol]

If you like it, buy it. Not like your gonna sell it (in your lifetime ;)) Who cares if your kids make a couple hundred bucks (less) off it when they sell it at the estate auction :D

[cruiserbryce]

To start with I don't know enough about the art on board to know if the value is there or not...that being said I believe from past stories here that it may the case with many who have made purchases in the auction. If you plan on purchasing in the auction you need to do your homework first...if you dont you are putting yourself in a tough spot and risking getting riped off

[chipmaster]

Has anyone purchased art from the auctions during a cruise? Do you feel you received value for your money? Is the Art Gallery conducting the auction reputable or are they trying to sell relatively low end art at inflated prices?

 

We have bought, 6 pieces if memory serves me right. Of them only the Wyland is what I'd say came from a artist we already knew, the others were because we liked them and were a couple hundred bucks each, they have been hanging on our walls now for over 10 years. The Whyland was a 4 figure, but we already knew him well from visiting his showroom multiple times in hawaii, it was cheaper then in his exclusive studios. We bought because we liked them. Don't get suckered by the "volume" snow job they give you and about how they are the biggest purchaser, dont get suckerd by the acutioner about the artist past or future value. Remember its a show, all for fun.. if you like it and the price is right buy it. If you into investment the random ship acution isn't the place to be thinking you'll get appreciation. You get wall art and a momento.

 

On that one cruise where we bought they actually had a Picasso that for a a brief few minutes I thought about bidding, but once it got to greater than 15 grand that was to rich for me.

 

As other posters said there are a few noteworthy stories about lawsuites but that in themselves I wouldn't put to much weight into it.