Many people think about buying original fine art for years before ever acquiring their first piece. One pervasive viewpoint in our culture is that art is a luxury that only the privileged and culturally savvy can afford and enjoy. I am committed to the idea that art is for everyone and especially here in Portland. My concept for art counseling is to offer an accessible and affordable approach that will give you the tools and knowledge you need to find and select great original art that matches your taste, meets your needs, and fits your budget.

My primary goal is to help people new to buying art break through any barriers blocking entry into the world of owning great original art. The complete process of finding, selecting, and purchasing will be addressed. Issues involving uncertainties you may have about quality, value, and pricing will be covered in order to give you a sense of market transparency. Any feelings of intimidation and uncertainty regarding dealing with galleries or directly with artists will melt away as I teach you how to be an expert on buying art for your home and office.

I will also give you an understanding of why Portland is the best place in America to buy fine art.

If you are just beginning your career as an artist or a new arrival to the Portland area art scene, I will help you understand the options and opportunities available in the regional market. I’ve been collecting art in Portland for a quarter of a century and know the scene as well as any one person can. The local scene is huge for a town the size of Portland and offers the aspiring artist a unique set of challenges and possibilities for building your career.

My goal in working with artists is to give them the knowledge and resources they need to understand how and where their work will fit into the market. I want to help you build a network of contacts that will move you toward realizing your professional goals. I offer artists an affordable service that will help them effectively integrate into the local art scene.

For people ready to take a serious look at collecting and for experienced collectors who have recently moved to Portland, I offer a full range of services designed to help you develop a comprehensive understanding of the local market. I will help you create a list of artists and galleries that offer the best options for finding art that meets your personal criteria and fulfills your goals.

If you have reached a point where you feel the need downsize your collection or change directions, I can help you find venues where you can sell selected works.

If you lead a hectic life style that leaves you little time to do your own research I can help you make appointments with artists and gallery directors to streamline the process.

Whatever expertise you need I will supply myself or with referrals.

If you have family or friends coming to visit who would like you to show them around the gallery scene I can help you put together a customized gallery tour just for your group.

If you know a group of people who would like a lecture or workshop about buying art, the art market, of some other aspect of the art scene I will create an event to suit the interest of your group. I am also glad to arrange for people with specific expertise to come and present a program for you group.

Starting in the fall of 2007 I will be teaching an evening adult education class for P.C.C. titled “So You Want to Buy Art”.

This will consist of one classroom session at Lincoln High School and five outing to art galleries. There will be some great guest speakers at several of these outings.