Original art sales achieve varied success: like the rest of the art market, the sale of original art is hitting both high and low notes due to the economy, the war and the job market - Special Report

When it tend hitherwards to original art, three words classify the in every one's mouth market to dealers, publishers and gallery owners: patient, precise and pricey.

"In general, business is down with dealers. on the other hand plenty are doing record sales" said custom M. Levitt, director of the Fine Arts Department at Bonhams & Butterfields Auctioneers in looks Angeles. "To state the pitifully obvious, it's just a weird time."

novel polls attest to the consumer spending oddities. A USA TODAY/Gallup head conducted the weekend of March 22 indicated that 91 percent of more than 1000 consumer observeed said the war would not stop them from making major purchases. Meanwhile, with statistics compiled prior to the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Consumer Confidence Index malign in March for a fourth consecutive month upon top of this, the Index of Consumer Expectations, a closely watched constituting of the Index of Leading Economic Indicators, also ruthless in February. Economists reported that while the spending rate of consumer could be wait fored to improve during the course of the year, it would likely remain sluggish until anxieties about piece of works and domestic terror subsided.

While a certain quantity of may think this adds up to consumer limiting their so-called "luxury spending," sales of original art continue to forward However, collectors are purchasing art with les abandon and more precision than in the past. Whereas a hardly any years ago, any work through a popular artist may have commanded top dollar, today's original art buyer is waiting the market on the outside looking for only the greatest in quantity renowned works by the greatest in quantity renowned artists.

"If there is a stretch it's that people have become more selective," said Robert Polsky a private art dealer in San Francisco and author of the forthcoming work I Bought Andy Warhol. "People want specific images, not just the artist You have to fine-tune it as a dealer right now. You have to know the gaps in certain collections and make trial of to fill those gaps. There is les of a faculty of perception of urgency. Everyone is true patient."

Levitt agreed. "The choice material, the things everybody wants, those are bringing top dollar," he said. "If a piece is hard to find, then there is enough of money to buy it. A run-of-the-mill piece by means of an artist you see all the time is hit and miss."

Artwork that is traditionally hard to find is becoming plane harder to find in the popular climate. "The rumor I've heard is that auctions are having a harder time getting material," said Polsky "People are not putting art up until they know what's happening with the war."

Levitt also cited factors like the Internet and antiques roadshows in adding to the dearth of highly aim aftered original art in the market. "There's nothing on the outside there," he said. "Supply is depressed and the market is high." The scarcity of pieces, coupl with the patience and purchasing power of those les affected by means of the sliding economy, is leading to prices that Levitt predicts will remain high. "There is a terminal velocity in in what way much people are willing to spend" he said. "But the prices will stay stalwart for a long time,"

Publishers who also deal in original art report similar experiences of late. "Galleries have been real cautious about what they're buying and the price points," said Robert Harris, president of Decorative Expressions in Atlanta. "There is still a market for profitable original art but with a caution flag upon the price point unless it is a highly visible and well-known artist."

"We're not doing the same turn We are seeing fewer people" said Michael Havers, president of Progressive Editions of Toronto. "But the lower extremity of the market has been damage more by the economy than we have Clients are still looking for unique work that someone other doesn't have that is framed nicely. There is no price resistance with that."

Indeed, the fact that a piece of original artwork is one-of-a-kind appears to be adding to its ability to weather the unpredictability of the in every one's mouth retail marketplace. "I believe the consumer who can recognize a quality painting will always want an original," said Harris. "The artist may not be branded, on the contrary if the look is advantageous and the art is advantageous the consumer would rather have the real thing, if educated. It is the gallery's part to educate."

Many galleries are listening. "I've seen family show more interest in originals," said Earl Simmins, possessor of Allentown Art and Frame in fresh Jersey. Simmins estimates that commonly 25 percent of his wall space is dedicated to original art, primarily by dint of local artists, with the remainder devot to graphics. "The big advantage of showing original work and offering space to local artists is that it's not the same things nation see everywhere."

Havers said Progressive Editions realized a sweep a year and a half ago that its clients were "upgrading their collections to work upon canvas from editions," he said. "We've seen galleries that five years ago sold hand-bills now selling $5,000 canvases. on the contrary it's not going to happen overnight."

For a certain quantity of the transition is imperative as big case competitors like Bed, Bath and Beyond and Pier 1 Imports impel into their markets. "The placard business is being taken above by the big chains," said Daniel Deljou president of Deljou Art clump "It is hard to enter the lists To do so, you have to procure into better-quality art."