Bloomberg/Business Week Story - Art Auctions at Sea

[shepp]

I think what makes me saddest about the auctions - and sorry if this sounds snobbish - is that there are many thousands of starving, unrecognized artists out there doing interesting, meaningful work whilst a bunch of schlockmeisters make presumably big bucks out of their dreck being pushed by onboard auctions. Sure, there's no accounting for taste, but can you imagine any reputable museum anywhere hanging pictures of drunken olives playing golf?

 

And the second saddest thing is the way the "art education" lectures pander to potential buyers, making third-rate artists sound important while ignoring the last, oh, fifty years of Actual Art History. It's like gong to a lecture on literature and hearing about the comparative virtues of Barbara Cartland and Danielle Steele.

 

On the other hand, we often have cabins on Plaza deck that necessitate strolls through the "art gallery" that provide a number of "ohmygod' guffaws.

Edited December 21, 2016 by shepp

[NorbertsNiece]

You're killing me.

Slowly.

I'm booked on Plaza deck.

[yuccaman]

I think what makes me saddest about the auctions - and sorry if this sounds snobbish - is that there are many thousands of starving, unrecognized artists out there doing interesting, meaningful work whilst a bunch of schlockmeisters make presumably big bucks out of their dreck being pushed by onboard auctions. Sure, there's no accounting for taste, but can you imagine any reputable museum anywhere hanging pictures of drunken olives playing golf?

 

And the second saddest thing is the way the "art education" lectures pander to potential buyers, making third-rate artists sound important while ignoring the last, oh, fifty years of Actual Art History. It's like gong to a lecture on literature and hearing about the comparative virtues of Barbara Cartland and Danielle Steele.

 

On the other hand, we often have cabins on Plaza deck that necessitate strolls through the "art gallery" that provide a number of "ohmygod' guffaws.

 

I've always wanted to go up and ask, sarcastically of course, "Got any 'Dogs Playing Poker'?". LOL But I wouldn't be that mean.

Edited December 21, 2016 by yuccaman

[Iamcruzin]

I think what makes me saddest about the auctions - and sorry if this sounds snobbish - is that there are many thousands of starving, unrecognized artists out there doing interesting, meaningful work whilst a bunch of schlockmeisters make presumably big bucks out of their dreck being pushed by onboard auctions. Sure, there's no accounting for taste, but can you imagine any reputable museum anywhere hanging pictures of drunken olives playing golf?

 

 

 

And the second saddest thing is the way the "art education" lectures pander to potential buyers, making third-rate artists sound important while ignoring the last, oh, fifty years of Actual Art History. It's like gong to a lecture on literature and hearing about the comparative virtues of Barbara Cartland and Danielle Steele.

 

 

 

On the other hand, we often have cabins on Plaza deck that necessitate strolls through the "art gallery" that provide a number of "ohmygod' guffaws.

 

 

I agree, we like to buy art work from the locals if we buy anything creative. On one sailing I made my wife pose like a Price is Right hand model next to one of those Olive paintings. They are good for a laugh if nothing else.

 

 

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[shepp]

I've always wanted to go up and ask, sarcastically of course, "Got any 'Dogs Playing Poker'?". LOL But I wouldn't be that mean.

 

You mean "works of canine post-impressionism?"

[shredie]

You mean "works of canine post-impressionism?"

 

 

I'm happy to see you here! DH and I have a game called "dead rat" where we walk through the gallery imagining where in a painting the artist could have added a dead rat. It's loads of fun.

 

 

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[swscruiser]

If you like a piece of art and are happy with the price you've paid for it, all is good.

[tioalmsp]

If you like a piece of art and are happy with the price you've paid for it, all is good.

[emoji122] [emoji122] [emoji122]

 

Al from Minneapolis

[Bill B]

If you like a piece of art and are happy with the price you've paid for it, all is good.

 

True. So if you buy something don't research it or get it appraised.

[shepp]

I'm happy to see you here! DH and I have a game called "dead rat" where we walk through the gallery imagining where in a painting the artist could have added a dead rat. It's loads of fun.

 

Thanks! I've been on an extended vacation from cruisecritic - there's just so many times one can argue about what to wear on formal night.

 

Hmmm... Maybe I'll play "Godzilla," and imagine a giant mutant reptile tromping on a twee Thomas Kinkade cottage.

Edited December 22, 2016 by shepp

[lolane1]

I'm happy to see you here! DH and I have a game called "dead rat" where we walk through the gallery imagining where in a painting the artist could have added a dead rat. It's loads of fun.

 

 

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My friends and I play a game called "Rename that Painting" which can be hysterical, especially after a glass or two of that bad champagne. Who said the art auctions are worthless!

[Cuizer2]

So now I have a lovely picture that reminds me of my sister every time I look at it. I had it nicely framed for about $40 and it's worth every penny to me. It would've been worth it to me if I had paid the $75 too, but whatever.

 

Even so, I still consider the art auctions to be a ripoff and waste of time and a source of really bad champagne. But I'll still probably wander through and look at the pictures and if something appeals to me maybe I'll see if I can get what I consider a reasonable price on it. But it'll be MY idea of reasonable and will have nothing to do with their "appraisal" values.

 

This is the way to go. If you find something you like, and the price is reasonable, then buy it. But who goes on a cruise to buy an investment?

[Griller]

I've always wanted to go up and ask, sarcastically of course, "Got any 'Dogs Playing Poker'?". LOL But I wouldn't be that mean.

 

I have one of those, the dog with a really good poker hand can't conceal his excitement, you can see the artist has captured the impression of the dog's tail wagging.

[iancal]

We place cruise art auctions, and auctioneers, in the same league as time share touts, investment Ponzi salespeople, travel club hawkers, and those annoying people who sometimes knock on your door at home.

 

They are to be avoided, ignored, and cast adrift.

Edited December 23, 2016 by iancal

[yuccaman]

I have one of those, the dog with a really good poker hand can't conceal his excitement, you can see the artist has captured the impression of the dog's tail wagging.

 

I always beat those dogs when I play them, each one has a "tell"!

[Lucky TGO]

I always beat those dogs when I play them, each one has a "tell"!

 

So how many dog treats (Milk-Bone Mini's)have you won from them?? :eek: LOL.

Tony

[brino99]

Contrary to the previous poster we haven't heard much of that at all. It's posted in the Patter but I don't recall announcements over the PA. There are always crowds of folks who attend and some buy the items and say they love them but I've never seen anything that I wanted to put in my house nor have I seen anything that I thought was reasonably priced. Obviously opinions vary on art.

 

I just got off the Crown Princess last week. It was a 14 day cruise and there were announcements over the PA several times a day from the head auctioneer giving updates about the next art auction. They had at least one or two auctions each day at sea and also had at least one or two other events each day in the art gallery area with "special deals."

 

One thing I learned is that for the most part, their raffles are rigged. I watched as the Park West employees (they now call themselves Princess Fine Arts, but it is still Park West), would stand near those who were spending money, check out their raffle ticket number and then miraculously, those folks would win. I believe they went so far as to decide among themselves (the employees) who would win what. For example, who would get the art package, who would get the champagne and who would get the gift certificate for $100.00 towards their purchase. I watched this in action and had come up with my theory and then watched it play out again and again. On your next Princess cruise (or any cruise for that matter with an art auction) watch it for yourself. Pay attention to who the employees stand next to and then see who wins the raffle items. If you don't want to sit through an auction, wander down to the art gallery for a special event and pay close attention.

 

As for the Bloomberg report (which led me to this thread when I Googled it), I didn't learn anything I didn't already suspect. I did buy a piece of art this past cruise only because I had seen it on another cruise and did my homework after I got back home. For me, it was a good deal, not to mention that the Crown Princess cruise was so screwed up they gave us all our money back, so I used some of it to get the painting, so in a sense, I got the painting for free.

[brino99]

Redwing, I agree with you. Pardon the length of my story. DW and I bought a couple of works on our first cruise back in '02. One was a Godard Giclee (fancy word for xerox in my opinion). But we enjoyed it so much we started picking up other pieces from other venues. At that time PA wasn't charging any more than what we could get at the gallery itself. Granted these weren't thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars, but was impressed there wasn't a huge mark up.

 

We have gone to some of the PW auctions, but they don't have our favorite artist (Mr. Godard discontinued his relationship with Princess [not sure if it was when PW took over]) and none of the art wows me. Guess I should be happy about that. I've enjoyed the pieces we picked up on our cruises (most of them earlier under PFA). Just not that impressed with PW, but I may not be sophisticated enough. There are my 2 pennies. Thanks for your time.

 

Counting down the days!

 

You can buy Godard on Princess and he has two art galleries in Las Vegas.

[RDC1]

We place cruise art auctions, and auctioneers, in the same league as time share touts, investment Ponzi salespeople, travel club hawkers, and those annoying people who sometimes knock on your door at home.

 

They are to be avoided, ignored, and cast adrift.

 

You should also include ship board jewelry stores in that list as well. Effy should be spelled Iffy.

[muggo11]

As a professional in the arts world, the art auctions always put a pit in my stomach because they prey on uneducated cruisers. AND I wish people would invest in original art by artists in their hometowns or at the ports we visit.

Each to his own, of course, but I know what a massage costs off the ship and I know what jewelry costs. And I know how I feel after a massage--never any buyer's remorse!

 

 

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[Fuzzyape]

You can buy Godard on Princess and he has two art galleries in Las Vegas.

 

Brino, I have picked up (since my post) that it appears Godard is back aboard Princess...we'll have to take a look. We have purchased a few from his gallery in the shops of Planet Hollywood, and the folks there were very helpful on an issue regarding a painting we picked up on a cruise ship.

 

Thanks for the update.

Counting down the days!

[azdmelani]

I am just off the Regal. The reason there were art auctions in the piazza is that there were "connoisseurs" on the ship (or so said the Park West employees).

 

Since our cabin was forward on the ship, we often walked past the gallery and I liked some of the items, so opted to check out the auction on the last sea day. I'm elite and have never bought art on the ship before.

 

A framed picture spoke to me. And another couple. I was told one prebid price and thought about it, then decided to bid. Since the other couple also bid on it, my price was lowered by $40 (not a one of a kind piece).

 

I had an appointment with PW that night- shipping and framing was included in the price. I was told I saved $1000 off the price. I did not opt for the $35 appraisal to tell me I saved $1000. If I like the artwork and it makes me happy when I look at it, then it was worth the cost. Here is hoping all works out when I receive it within 12 weeks.

[Fuzzyape]

I am just off the Regal. The reason there were art auctions in the piazza is that there were "connoisseurs" on the ship (or so said the Park West employees).

 

Since our cabin was forward on the ship, we often walked past the gallery and I liked some of the items, so opted to check out the auction on the last sea day. I'm elite and have never bought art on the ship before.

 

A framed picture spoke to me. And another couple. I was told one prebid price and thought about it, then decided to bid. Since the other couple also bid on it, my price was lowered by $40 (not a one of a kind piece).

 

I had an appointment with PW that night- shipping and framing was included in the price. I was told I saved $1000 off the price. I did not opt for the $35 appraisal to tell me I saved $1000. If I like the artwork and it makes me happy when I look at it, then it was worth the cost. Here is hoping all works out when I receive it within 12 weeks.

 

I think you did it right. Congrats. I hope you get to enjoy your work.

[brino99]

Just a heads up to anyone out there reading this post. While on our most recent cruise, I noticed an artist named Michael Cheval whose paintings I really liked. Had I bought the two I liked on the cruise ship, I would have paid close to $4700.00.

 

When I got back to dry land, I did a little searching on the internet and found this place called paintingandframe dot com. I ended buying the same two prints from them in a smaller size, framed, for $236.00 including shipping. They arrived two days ago and look beautiful.

 

You aren't going to find all the same artists on there that you see on the ship, but you might get lucky like me and find the artist you are looking for.

 

Another artist I liked was Daniel Wall. I found a site where you can order a stretched canvas or framed print for under $200.00. His paintings (prints) go for thousands of dollars on the cruise ships.

 

The painting I did buy was a Godard and it was only after visiting his galleries and searching the internet that I decided to make the purchase from Princess, alias, Park West. If I could have found a cheaper print of it, I probably would have gone that route, but there was nothing out there. You can find some inexpensive Godard prints on Ebay, but the choice is very limited. The picture like mine was on Ebay for $3500.00, but I didn't pay near that much :).

[Redwing55]

Just a heads up to anyone out there reading this post. While on our most recent cruise, I noticed an artist named Michael Cheval whose paintings I really liked. Had I bought the two I liked on the cruise ship, I would have paid close to $4700.00.

 

When I got back to dry land, I did a little searching on the internet and found this place called paintingandframe dot com. I ended buying the same two prints from them in a smaller size, framed, for $236.00 including shipping. They arrived two days ago and look beautiful.

 

You aren't going to find all the same artists on there that you see on the ship, but you might get lucky like me and find the artist you are looking for.

 

Another artist I liked was Daniel Wall. I found a site where you can order a stretched canvas or framed print for under $200.00. His paintings (prints) go for thousands of dollars on the cruise ships.

 

The painting I did buy was a Godard and it was only after visiting his galleries and searching the internet that I decided to make the purchase from Princess, alias, Park West. If I could have found a cheaper print of it, I probably would have gone that route, but there was nothing out there. You can find some inexpensive Godard prints on Ebay, but the choice is very limited. The picture like mine was on Ebay for $3500.00, but I didn't pay near that much :).

 

wow, I'm surprised that prints go that high. I've bought a few Wylands, and that aren't that high unless they are really large and are on unique surfaces and/or embellished. I'm no fan of PW, but back when it was Princess Fine Arts (by Princess) the Wyland prints were a deal... especially when framing was included. I don't know if PW is that good. The 2 times I've cruised with PW in charge, I've not seen a piece that caught my eye. (nor enjoyed the auction) If I buy, I'd just go to the gallery and negotiate.