Abstract Art

Donating Abstract Painting to Cayuga Chamber Orchestra

This is the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra's second year to have local artists paint violins for a fundraising auction.  This year they are also offering other art by local artists, and I have donated one of my abstract paintings titled "Like a Diamond" to be auctioned off.

I used acrylic paint mixed with gloss medium and water to create overlapping translucent layers on this canvas.  The final step was to draw lines to emphasize shapes, creating a central focus for the eye.

     Like A Diamond, 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

The silent auction will take place at 6:45 pm on Saturday, May 7 at Ford Hall, Ithaca College, in Ithaca, NY.  The season finale concert will follow at 8 pm.

Donating Abstract Paintings to Charities

When artists donate their work to a charity, they do not get a hefty write-off for the art.  In fact, they get no write-off except whatever they paid for the materials to make the art.  Nevertheless, I still like to donate my abstract paintings to local charities when I can. 

This month I'm donating a 30" x 30" acrylic painting on canvas to the Ithaca High School Pennies for Peace program which is raising money for the Central Asia Institute to  build schools in remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Thus, my gift is both local and international in scope.

   IN THE MOMENT, 30" x 30" acrylic on canvas.

2011 CNY Art Showcase Magazine & Festival

The Rotary Club of Eastwood has just released the 2011 CNY Art Showcase Magazine which previews the art to be auctioned at their 6th annual Arts Showcase Festival on April 8 at 6 pm.  The festival will include dining, music, a silent auction, and an opportunity to meet the artists and see more of their work. 

I have donated two limited edition giclee prints on canvas to this event, which has in the past helped organizations such as The Golisano Children's Hospital, The Ronald McDonald House, and The Food Bank.  This year's major focus is a pledge to Saint Joseph's Hospital building program. 

Here are my donations:

      Culmination, 24" x 24" Giclee Print on Canvas.

   Patchouli, 24" x 24" Giclee Print on Canvas.

Three Abstract Paintings in Two Charity Art Shows Coming Up Soon

My abstract paintings will be in two art shows coming up which are run by charities to raise money for worthy causes:  the first, Ronald McDonald House; the second, WSKG, our public radio station in Binghamton, NY.  The art auction to benefit the Ronald McDonald House has published an Art Showcase magazine listing all the donated art. The art auction itself is on April 23 in Syracuse, NY.  Here are the two paintings I will have in this exhibit:

   Modern Painting: Celebration

   Abstract Art: Particles of Mass

The second art charity, for public radio WSKG, is having a series of exhibitions this spring.  The next one will be in Hornell, NY from April 23 to 25.  Here's the painting WSKG will exhibit of mine:

   Plumb, 24" x 24"

Two Abstract Paintings in CNY's 2010 Art Showcase & Auction

Two of my abstract paintings will be in the Central New York 2010 Art Showcase Banquet and Auction on Friday, April 23 at The Links at Erie Village in East Syracuse, New York.  The net proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House.  For information and tickets contact the Eastwood Rotary.

Here are the two abstract paintings I have donated to the auction:

   Particles of Mass

   Celebration

Fourth Abstract Drawing for 2010 + More on Haiti Art Auction

Here's my fourth abstract drawing for 2010, done with acid free Zigg calligraphy pens:

2010 Abstract Drawing 4, 9" x 11.5"

Yesterday I wrote about contributing a 5" x 7" drawing to an art auction to benefit Haiti.  If you are interested in donating  art, please contact marina@monkdogz.com.  If you are interested in bidding on the art auction, check out the Haiti Art Auction.

Donating Visual Art to Worthy Causes: Part Two

The Cayuga Museum has an auction every spring.  Last year I donated a small giclee print:

   What They Meant

This year I'm donating another print:

   Summer Traveler

Why am I being so generous with the Cayuga Museum?  One reason is that they have been generous to me.  I had a two-month show there recently, and during that time they arranged for the sale of a 5 foot by 5 foot painting.  Their staff was easy to work with, and the whole experience was worthwhile (except for not being able to get the truck with 25 paintings in it up the snow-covered private road to my studio). 

But the real reason to donate to any charity is because we believe in the work  that institution is doing.  I think that giving from a generous heart is much more rewarding than expecting some promotional or other return on the investment.  There's no reason for an artist to feel guilty if they can't afford to give away their art, but I think most of us have some pieces we can donate without suffering financially.

Charities that want to attract artists' donations should make it as beneficial a proposition as possible, since most artists are not wealthy and are more likely to give if there's an added benefit. 

If you are an artist, what is your position on donating to charities?

Donating Visual Art to Worthy Causes

If you're a visual artist, you most likely have been asked to donate your art to some worthy cause.  Is this a good idea, or something you should feel obligated to do?  I think the answer is complicated.

If a worthy local organization asks me for a donation, I usually comply.  I always hope to at least get some publicity for my efforts, because there is no real cash write-off as far as tax benefits go.

When I write a check to charity, I can deduct that gift from my taxes.  When I give a painting worth $1,000, I can't deduct the $1,000, but only the cost of the materials to make that painting. 

Some artists are concerned that charities may auction their art off for low prices, thus devaluing the work.  But the point of a charity auction is not to sell the art at list price, but to get the best price the organization can.  Most donors purchase the art because it is priced much lower than normal. 

In any case, I don't think we can control how organizations use our donated art.  If we don't like their procedures, we don't have to give. 

I have a studio filled with abstract paintings because I paint whether I'm selling it all or not.  The last two years, thanks to the economic downturn,  have not been good for sales of original art.  I've been selling mostly my limited edition giclee prints on canvas. 

So when our local National Public Radio station asked for a donation for their art auction this year, I gladly gave them one.  The fifty pieces they selected will go on tour in several area shows.  That's a nice bonus, but now I also have room for another new painting to replace the one I gave them. 

Here's the painting I donated to WSKG, our local NPR station:

   Plumb, 24" x 24"