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The trope of starving artists is real, but not because people dont want to pay artists. It's because artists are retarded businessmen.

Exhibit A: I want to buy a print of "Loneliness In The Night" by Valery Rybakow. He's an excellent impressionist painter from Belorussia. I have money. I know exactly what I want. I am literally the take-my-money meme. Like most artists, this guy is a retarded businessman. If this guy made toilet plungers or bottle caps, it'd take me under 30 seconds to find a way to buy them. But he's an artist, so after THREE HOURS I have yet to find a way to buy a print of the painting.

Dear artists: stop making fifty half-assed social media accounts and make a way to take my money.

The trope of starving artists is real, but not because people dont want to pay artists. It's because artists are retarded businessmen. Exhibit A: I want to buy a print of "Loneliness In The Night" by Valery Rybakow. He's an excellent impressionist painter from Belorussia. I have money. I know exactly what I want. I am literally the take-my-money meme. Like most artists, this guy is a retarded businessman. If this guy made toilet plungers or bottle caps, it'd take me under 30 seconds to find a way to buy them. But he's an artist, so after THREE HOURS I have yet to find a way to buy a print of the painting. Dear artists: stop making fifty half-assed social media accounts and make a way to take my money.

(post is archived)

[–] • 2 pts (edited )

It probably is less of that and more that they don't want the business side of things or to even be a part of it but they want to control their art.

I know someone like this. They make amazing things but refuse to "branch out" even though they would probably be a millionaire with just a little push and some "business minded help". They just don't think like that.

Maybe this is part of why truly good art only really is worth a lot after the death of the artist? They refuse to release things that others would find to be amazing but they see it as not worthy.

[Edit] @daskapitalist If you can, contact them directly. They will be more willing to sell it to you. At least that is my experience. If you can get a phone number, talk to them on the phone or if they just have a "contact me" page, give them your phone number. The ones I know like this are more interested in the conversation about the piece and why you want it. You might make a new friend even if that is not the intent.

[–] • 1 pt

What's annoying as hell is that I KNOW this guy sold prints at some point because I walked by one on display. Problem is, the business that has it on their wall isnt going to sell it, and their staff are too new to have a clue where some unknown person bought it from years ago.

[–] • 2 pts (edited )

This might not be "official" Try the contact option like I put in my above edit.

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/valery-rybakow/shop

Direct link to the piece you want: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/valery-rybakow/art/loneliness+in+the+night (Not for sale, maybe you can get a print)?

[–] • 1 pt

I know many artists due to family, they absolutely do not understand the basics of marketing or sales. I even setup online shops for them, which they fail to maintain and execute. I no longer offer to do this because they're not interested in doing what's required to sell their work.

Personally, I own more art than I have space. It now stacks up in my basement. The only reason I buy it is because I know them. I have no clue how much this is worth, but it doesn't matter because I won't be selling it anytime soon. When I die, it will all probably go at auction in an estate sale for a few dollars each. People won't have a clue. LOL.

[–] • 2 pts (edited )

I assume you have a personal connection to it. If it that important to you then keep it, if you can part with some of it... Let it go. It deserves to be free. Just find people that appreciate it.

I don't want to be that jackass that somehow finds your basement in 15 years and its full of amazing stuff that is basically half ruined because of a flood or something.

Keep the things that are important to you, let the rest go. You are sending happiness and creativity out into the world. Some people might call me stupid for this but a "simple" work of art can create a new artist.

[Edit] I have a over 100 year old painting created by a great, great grand mother. Not going to give details, however it is very important to me.

[–] • 2 pts

Found a few sites. This one says you can send him a message. He may be in Belarus, so time difference and all.

https://www (dot) artmajeur (dot) com/rybakow

Have had luck with doing this in the past:

There's a couple of other sites out there with direct links to his social media accounts. Insta can send private messages. I'd just ask him how to get one. Uh , maybe in English, but also in Belarusian and Russian. Google translate isn't always the best, but good luck.

[–] • 3 pts

Unfortunately artmajeur is a dead end. I saw saw it initially and it looked promising, but further digging revealed that they only license low res digital copies and not prints. 700x555 pixels is fine if I want to put it on a coffee cup or somesuch, but is nowhere near what I'd need for a painting that's 2' across.

I might have to make an instagram account since his website and most of his other social media accounts appear to have been nuked. Eesh.

[–] • 2 pts

IG is the one I had luck with finding something very obscure. Couple years ago, but hey, if there's something out there that you want, go for it.

[–] • 0 pt

He's a jew you know

[–] • 0 pt

I never understood art.

[–] • 0 pt

I have a pretty good idea why there are so many starving artists...