Q_01_web-singlepage_Jun15

artists and find amazing pieces ranging from $500 - $1000.
On the other side of the spectrum, the sky’s the limit.
Pieces can easily climb up to tens of thousands of dollars
and beyond. In some cases, galleries may offer a payment
plan allowing clients to pay in installments rather than all
at once, which some clients may find appealing. Another
approach I’ve seen work well for my clients is working
through their home over time, beginning with one room and
moving to the next when the time is right.
What does the financial investment look like?
Generally, a retainer fee is the first step, followed by billing
on an hourly rate. Galleries or artists typically provide a
commission to an advisor, which I then pass along to my
client, thereby stressing the benefit of working with an
advisor. Depending on the value of the art this can result in
savings of hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
What is the creative process of choosing art?
Taking the direction I have been given by my client and
finding something that excites them. It can be challenging
sometimes to find just the right piece; I may go out on a
limb and show my client something unexpected and often
the results are positive and I end up broadening my client’s
interests. As an art advisor it’s not only my job to source
art but to educate my clients as well. Art should spark
conversation and create a reaction. Sometimes the best art is
that which forces you to think about something in a different
way. I’m also careful not to match the art to the space. It
should stand out, and in some cases, create tension. It’s
more the scale and placement of the art which should relate
to the space.
How would you describe your clientele?
I would describe my clients as people who have an
appreciation for aesthetics and want to incorporate art into
their environment, but may not know where to start or
simply do not have the time to find pieces on their own. A
large segment of my client base are business professionals
balancing work and home life leaving little time to address
their empty walls.
What is an average timeline from start to finish?
It really ranges based on the scale of the project and my
client’s availability. Some clients want to work quickly while
others like to take a more casual approach and buy pieces
over the course of many months. I carry a mental catalogue
of art with me, and most of the time, I can pick out the one
that would be best suited to the space.
What kind of art do you work with?
I work with any medium, photography, painting, sculpture,
watercolour, drawing, collage, digital media and more. My
goal is to find the best piece for the space, while keeping
my client’s desires top of mind. For example, I’m working
on a project right now, where everything on the main floor
is sculptural. The last piece I just installed were these wood
sculptures, by Williamson Chong, and they are made up of
carved circles that replicate tree rings. They are really unique
and add warmth to the space.
Painting: Brian Wyers
Where do you go for inspiration?
I can find inspiration almost everywhere. Especially when
there are art fairs in town, they are full of interesting artists.
From there, we exchange contact information and they
keep me up to date on their current and upcoming works.
Essentially though, I do a lot of walking around, visiting
galleries, building relationships and seeing what’s out there.
Can you describe Toronto’s art scene?
Toronto’s art scene is vibrant, full of action and very exciting,
on many different levels. There is a lot of local talent,
however it’s also particularly interesting to bear witness to
artists from other countries, who’ve started working here
and getting representation in local galleries. Overall, there’s
a deep international component in Canada. It’s important
to consider incorporating both Canadian and international
artists into a given project to give it a dynamic feel. It’s nice
to have a piece by an artist who’s on the rise, who no one is
familiar with yet.
What’s your style?
I like everything from abstract to contemporary. One of my
favourite painters right now is Erin Loree, a local Toronto
artist who makes large scale colourful abstract paintings.
They are stunning. I’m also quite fond of photography,
Melvin Sokolsky is a great fashion photographer and
Thaddeus Holownia recently did an architectural series in
Paris which I love.
What is the piece we see behind you in the photo?
This piece is by a local artist—Brian Wyers. The colour and
movement of this piece caught my eye and I fell in love with
it. I had contemplated purchasing it for myself but I didn’t
have the appropriate wall space. This painting demands a big
wall and should be a center piece. I then began working with
a new client and after seeing her dining room, I knew this
piece would be perfect and my client agreed!
art connect · kim@artconnect.ca · 416.662.7338 · www.artconnect.ca
23