The University’s Painter’s League has been hosting an art sale this week outside the Barnes and Noble Bookstore. The sale will last until Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The prices are set by the artists themselves, and 20 percent of the proceeds go to the Painter’s League. Setting the prices themselves helps the artists learn what their art is worth, said painting and drawing senior Hanna Lemoine, vice president of Painter’s League. The paintings range from $2 to $400, but a majority are priced around $30 to $50 so students can afford them, Lemoine said.
“We don’t want our stuff to be something for people who have big pockets,” Lemoine said. “We want everybody to enjoy it.”
The art comes in several different styles, including abstract, surreal and expressive, as well as different media, like print, charcoal drawing and paper work.
Last semester was the first time the sale happened since the revival of the Painter’s League. The sale is a good way to put art majors out there since the University’s College of Art and Design is small and often flies under the radar, Lemoine said.
Painting and drawing junior Jessica Chappuis said pieces from the art sale make excellent gifts or décor, and purchasing from students allows the buyer to have a more intimate connection with the artwork.
“You can feel like you’re actually connecting to the community in some kind of way, even if you don’t know the artist personally,” Chappuis said.
While letting go of their art can be hard, doing so allows the artists to grow, and selling their work gives them the opportunity to make more art, painting and ceramics senior Jacob Lagasse said.
“You have to be able to fund your future works as well,” Lagasse said.
Selling their art benefits artists not only monetarily, but through the experience, Lemoine said. Artists learn the value of their art and how to interact with potential buyers, getting experience beyond the studio.
“Our entire art career we’re taught to think about the formal issues, like ‘Is this a good painting?’ But then you have to go through this entire different world of [selling your art],” Lemoine said. “Art teachers are always talking about getting our art out of the studio, and I feel like that’s a very important thing.”
Furthermore, having fellow students come look at their art is appreciated, even if they can not afford it, painting and drawing senior Emily Miller said.
“People showing interest is encouraging to us, even if they don’t buy anything,” Miller said.