To be an art collector you have to be rich, right? Not necessarily! Yes, you can spend thousands to millions on fine art pieces by famous well known artists. But not all artists that are hugely talented are famous or well known. Most artists are just trying to make a living and get our work into any kind of collection. In any part of the globe that you live in you will more than likely find very talented and collectable artists living and working.

To be a collector of anything you just need to have a passionate interest and set a budget that you can afford, and then start searching for and researching where to get what you desire to collect. To start your art collection you might consider beginning with prints. Open edition prints are reproductions of an artists work that are open to as many prints as can be sold. As with anything you collect, it is my position that you should collect art that you like to look at and enjoy. Open edition prints are usually fairly inexpensive and don’t have a great resale value in the collectable market. They are mostly for enjoyment. Many artists sign these open edition prints as an added element of the collectability of them, so if they happen to get to be a famous artist their signature on them will add value to the print as a collectable.

Another option is collecting limited edition prints. These are reproductions that have a limited run. You may have seen art prints that have two sets of numbers on them with a line between them. The first number is the sequential exit off the press, the second is the number in the run. Example: 121/1000. This means that this print would be the 121st image off the press in a run of 1000. Signed, limited edition prints have a greater collectable value, especially if there is a certificate of authenticity that comes with it. The lower the number off the press, the more valuable it is as a collectable. The certificate states that no more images of that artwork will be made. Once the run is sold out, the prints gain in value as a collectable on the resale market. These types of print are usually more expensive than open edition prints, but not as expensive as the original. A collector might not have $5000.00 for an original piece of art, but can spend $100.00 for a signed, limited edition of it. And still enjoy the image and the fact that something of value has been added to their collection.

Collecting original art is where you can have something of real worth that may appreciate in value over time. Especially if the artists whose work you collect have a progressing career. Most original art does not decline in monetary value. What is paid for the piece is what the value is. This is because it is an original. If you want to collect original art that is reasonably priced, search out your local art festivals and see what is offered. Many artists produce smaller size originals to accomodate collectors with smaller budgets. And smaller pieces allow for more pieces in a collection than larger ones. Again, I espouse collecting originals that you enjoy looking at, not just buying a piece because you think the artist might get famous and your investment will appreciate. Many wealthy collectors do this, as they are looking at collecting as an investment tool. Most collectors however, are just trying to decorate their homes or offices and original art is a great conversation piece.

For example, the cowboy drawing that I have attached to this post is a 10″x 14″ original drawing on paper drawn with Conte Drawing Pencils. And if I may be so bold as to say, it is a pretty damn good drawing. For those collectors who love Western, Cowboy or Horse themed art this is a very affordable piece. $125.00 unframed and matted or $175.00 in frame with a matte. Most of the original drawings in my last few posts are in the $75.00 to $125.00 price range unframed. The open edition print for this work is $15.00 signed and matted. You can contact me at DST Creative 480-474-1137 or dstcreative@hotmail.com if you are interested in either the original or the print. Shipping is extra depending on size and framing.

So, start an art collection today and begin to understand the enjoyment of collecting art. Support your local artists by purchasing from them, or heck, buy some from me! You don’t have to be rich to do so.

I like to work in series. In a series I can flesh out several ideas for a concept. If I am truly obsessed with the subject I can delve deeply into it and produce a bunch of images that please my soul. My recent obsession is antique cars. I have always thought of antique cars a rolling sculpture. I have been wanting to work a series up on antique cars for a while.  Observing and studying things that interest me visually and being able to make an image that makes me happy and content while producing it is what makes art fun for me. Many artists work in series. I often wonder if they get the same high when they create as I do. The drawing in this post is from my Packard Automobile series. This one is a 1931 Packard 833 Cabriolet. Ready to hang signed  8″x10″ prints are available for $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping. Call DST Creative at 480-474-1137 or email dstcreative@hotmail.com to order. Visa and MasterCard accepted.

Most of of us have a love/hate relationship with our cars. But I think we can agree that most of  us like to drive and do have a favorite car, whether a brand or a specific model or even era of automobile. I do. I love the 1900-1950 models and styling of cars. I just think they are more visually appealing. I also am a history buff, and I appreciate the historical attraction of old cars. One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and strolling down the early 1900’s cobblestone street display with the hand-crank to start cars sitting parked in front of the old time store fronts.

In my last post I talked about using abstract strokes in drawing to achieve realism results. The drawing included in this post utilizes that concept in the rendering of the people in the piece. While I worked from a photo to draw the car, I made up the people. I researched period clothing so they fit the year of the car.  The abstract marks are used to put forth the realistic perception of human beings in action. I always appreciate the skill of drawing. For me it is the most satisfying of artistic endeavors. This is the first in a series of automobile art in this style I am currently working on. This car is a 1928 Packard 526 drawn in Conte Pencil on paper. This artwork is the second from my Packard Automobiles series. Framed ready to hang signed prints are available for $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling. To order call DST Creative at 480-474-1137 or email dstcreative@hotmail.com. Visa and MasterCard accepted.

All 2-dimentional artwork is an abstraction to achieve an image. Visual art is very simply using abstract marks and techniques to present a perception you wish your viewer to comprehend. The perception of an identifiable image can be rendered with abstract marks and techniques. In my previous post I mentioned that realism can be achieved through the abstract. Keeping in mind that perception is what is being presented to the viewer, please note the drawing in this post. This image of a snowboarder is identifiable as such. It looks like a person riding a snowboard and having an exhilarating run down the mountain. But take notice of the strokes I used to make this perception possible. Very abstract. I tried to use the minimal amount of strokes to find the maximum strength of the image. I wanted to convey the sheer fun and joy of cruising down a mountain with wild abandon. This was not a a haphazard outcome. Each one of the marks was carefully planned and thought about prior to execution. Abtract marks can help convey emotion and movement. Though the look of the snowboarder is not rendered in a “photorealism” style, the perception is that of a person on a snowboard. I did not use a photo to reference this piece. I used my memory of what I have seen snowboarders do. This is what I call abstract realism. Different visual approaches add an entertainment value to artwork. This is what viewers seek in all art. If you like this image 8″x10″ prints are available for $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping and comes in an 11″x 14″ single matte. They make great gifts. Contact Scott Taylor at 480-474-1137 or dstcreative@hotmail.com to order. Visa and MasterCard accepted.

Drawing is the starting point for all art. The ability to draw well is what separates the most talented visual artists from the mundane. Looking at something and being able to render it either realistically or interpret it as an abstract is the first skill any artist should master. And continue to practice and master. I paint, sculpt, and draw. This year I have decided that my first artworks of the new decade are going to be drawings. As a child I loved to draw and had success with it at an early age. I still love a realistic drawing and appreciate the skill and eye that it takes to produce. While painting is still considered the high skill of fine art, I feel that drawings are just as high a level of fine art. For those of you who may just be starting to discover the artist within you I suggest that you study and practice realism drawing with graphite or Conte sticks or fine drawing pencils.  Technique is as important in drawing as it is in painting. Learn to really see what you are trying to draw. Don’t just look at something and draw what you perceive it should be. Benjamin Franklin once said,”The eye of the master will do more work than his hand.” This is one of the most poignant and true statements concerning creative talent that I have ever read. Please enjoy the graphite rendering of “Guitar Man” included in this post. Musicians are one of my favorite subjects. 8″x 10″ prints are available of this work for $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling and come in an 11″x 14″ single matte. To order contact Scott Taylor at DST Creative, 480-474-1137 or dstcreative@hotmail.com . Visa and MasterCard accepted.

Social media is really quite the phenomanon. I just started Facebook recently and have found many old friends. Staying in touch is cool, but finding out which of my friends are dying is eye opening. I never expected this media to be a portal to reminding me of my own mortality. I am in my early fifties and feel very alive and young. Cancer is a killer and can’t always be overcome. My mother survived it and has lived a long time but my friend Jon got it and died so young. As an artist I try to reflect elements of living in my work. Dying is part of living. Life is fleeting. Tell those you love that you do. Make time for old friends.

It has been a long time since I last posted here. In 2010 I intend to use this site to publish my many cartoon panels, comments, art images and writitngs as an entertainment source for readers worldwide. Making one’s living as an artist is always a challenge. Most of us appreciate the arts and love to have a nice arts or cultural experience. I read the other day that 36% of people who responded to a poll about online arts said they had experienced a fine arts or cultural offering online at least once a week. This is different from purchasing art online. This is about experiencing and interacting with an art or cultural exhibit. Rather than going to a brick and mortar museum or a gallery, the web now offers that same experience on your computer or PDA.

I hope you will find what I have to offer entertaining and make it apart of your day.

Kim Williams is a friend of mine who is interested in blogging. I am showing her how simple and fun posting and blogging are. You all should be blogging it a new type of interactive communication for the new millenium. Kim has an awesome product line of insurances and business services. I have type 2 Diabetes and she helped me get a plan for self-employed people with this disease. Contact her at kwilliams@abbaplans.com and I’ll bet she can help you too. As a self-employed commercial artist these business costs can be prohibitive. I really am glad that I met someone like Kim who could help me with my peace of mind regarding my health. I am posting a favorite image to go along with this post. Art is good for all. David Scott Taylor is a commercial artist with over 20 years experience. If you have a project you need designed, contact him at Scott@ArtByDST.com

Hello all, yesterday I was an art vendor in the Canyon Arts Festival in Gold Canyon Arizona. It was an excellent show in it’s 13th year. My friend and super cowboy musician Pioneer Pepper and the Sunset Pioneers were the entertainment headliners. My girlfriend, Dale Gorny, had her three nieces, Kerrie Zeman, Becky O’Hearn and Erin Wilcox, and her 1st grand-niece, six month old Alice O’Hearn visiting from chilly Chicago. Erin actually just recently moved here and now lives in Scottsdale, and her sisters may have to come to the realization that she might not be moving back.

 I sold some artwork and fully enjoyed the balmy Arizona winter day. The girls all went for a hike in the beautiful Superstition Mountains and got to see some 1500 year old ancient petroglyphs from the Hohokam Indians. They hiked the Hieroglyph Trail out of Gold Canyon AZ to get to the site. I have hiked there several times and it is an area I find a lot of artistic inspiration from. It must be something about the connection to the ancient artists that carved their art on the walls of the canyon that I find appealling. The trail is called Heiroglyph Trail even though what you eventually get to are technically petroglyphs. Some of the early Arizona settlers had must have been in the desert sun to long and got confused that they might be in Egypt. Anyway it is a great hike and a good area to plein-air paint in. The next art show I am in is the Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo February 27, 28 and March 1st. I will be displaying a lot of my cowboy and western themed art. And I cannot forget to mention this: “GO CARDINALS, WIN THE SUPERBOWL!” I have been waitning 20 years to be able to say those words.

I have attached two versions of Becky and her husband, Jamie O’Hearn’s wedding portrait of several years ago. Click the small box at the top of the large image to see a small version of the painting. The big version shows off my stunning brushwork and brilliant color composition. Enjoy!

Rascal the Ringtail Cat2008 has been a unique year. Some ups, and a lot of downs. In the art world sales have been harder to obtain. When the economy is down, so it seems artwork sales are too. But artists are eternal optimists, at least I am. Next year will be better. I have two illustrated book books coming out in 2009. “Food Fight At Pepperton Pass”, a humorous western themed cookbook and story that I am publishing in association with Pioneer Pepper and the Sunset Pioneers is one. The other is a childrens illustrated picture book called “Rascal the Ringtail Cat”.  I am also hoping to produce a book with my comic strip “Dog Spelled Backward”. I have posted an illustration from “Rascal the Ringtail Cat”. Click the blue title to see it. This book will be ready in the spring of 2009. So, have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve, and a prosperous and art filled 2009!