Mary Lawler - Art Blog
Saying “No” To Donating Your Art
by marylawler , March 2, 2009—12:00 AM
I was about to go on ranting about injustice and under appreciated artists, when I read Sheila Wedegis' blog about painting for a cause. It made me stop and think. Contributing to your community, to an organization or fund is a very good thing. As an artist, it is logical for me to donate a piece of my art rather than give cash. The number of good causes holding art auctions is overwhelming, now, and I can't give to everything. So, Sheila's idea makes a great deal of sense. She loves Labradors, she paints Labradors and she is contributing to a cause that helps Labradors. That's brilliant. By aligning her work to the cause there is a ready-made audience for her subject matter. She works on a painting a day and donates a portion of the sale to Lab Rescue.
Fundraising is an ever increasingly daunting task. I have been on many a committee and I have found that thinking outside of the box makes for a more successful event. Art auctions don't reap the same results as they once did, and donors are more eager to participate in something new and different.
Since I don't have a focus of subject matter really, I am thinking about what I can do to raise funds for my chosen cause, breast cancer. I could do mixed media collage pieces or letter quotes of encouragement, hope and healing. Maybe both. This way, when I am asked to donate I can politely decline saying that I support a cause I feel strongly about and leave it at that.
I'll bet you are reading this saying "Hmmm, I could do something like that." Choose a cause that means something to you and get creative. You are still doing your part in contributing and you don't have to feel guilty saying "No."
COMMENTS
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03/05/2009 * 20:54:26
I have donated several pieces to organizations that support research, education and services in support of people with breast cancer. In years past I would do the Komen 3 Day walk or the Avon 2 day walk to raise money, but I'm just longer able to do that. Just a few weeks ago, I donated several paintings to the Ellie Fund which is based in Boston. Being from Western Mass, I'd love to somehow be more engaged in raising funds for Rays of Hope, especialy since the money stays here. If anyone has an idea for an exhibit/fundraiser that could be done around that idea, I'd be interested in participating. Keep up the good work, Mary.
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03/03/2009 * 10:25:18
Thank you Mary!
I'm excited that you are thinking about doing work for breast cancer. I have a dear friend who went through last year as you did. And like you, disliked the process but was thankful for it for all she learned and became. I have never met a more positive, glowing woman. No..actually all the woman I have come in contact with who have or had breast cancer are positve and glowing. It's hard to make excuses and boohoo the small stuff after being in their prescense.
Anyway...follow through on that idea..very exciting and I will be a buyer for that cause.
Sheila
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03/02/2009 * 20:34:55
Hi Mary
I think a very good point is made here and one I hadn't thought of. I seem to have earmarked more than my fair share of donated pieces for this year coming up and all for good causes, but also in the hope that it does get the 'name' out there too - which I suppose is true to a certain extent. I drew the line last year when a golf club asked for a painting donation - just to further the needs of the golf club! I declined.
I think having a focus on a particular cause is a great idea and probably more likely to benefit the artist too.
Carole Böggemann Peirson ( homepage )
11/06/2009 * 16:08:02
Hi Mary, I have donated many pieces in the past and it was started to hurt my income since I use a very time-consuming technique. I started asking the charities if they were willing to do a 50/50 donation, where they get half and I get half....and I found that a lot of them were very willing to work with me! They thought the entire amount of the artwork donated was tax-deductible, but they did not know an aritst can only deduct the materials. But they do realize professional artists are usually not the most affluent people. So now I do not have to go into the hole to help charities out anymore! It also made me donate a better/bigger piece, since I was making money as well. If they don't want to do a fifty-fifty, I will be glad to donate a reproduction instead!