Enrich Your Life with Creativity

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Wake Up and Discover Value in the Arts

In 2009, I woke up. I have been fixated on the idea that getting rich is through property investment. As a regular Joe that I am, chances of me gaining fortune through real estate is unrealistic. Truth is this, and this is truth for most of us, we cannot predict our lives long enough to know what the future may hold. 

I have had two houses in my life. With life twisting around, a 25 year mortgage isn't realistic because life isn't that predictable. Relationship break ups, sickness and life circumstances throw everything into chaos. 

Without getting into it in much detail. My last home, with over three years of payments and $30,000 in upgrades, when I sold it, I actually owed $10,000 to the bank. So many service charges at the end, lawyers, banks and utility services have you by the throat and when you life is in the dumps, these companies help you see doom and gloom much quicker. 

Back to my realization in 2009, I was watching a documentary about Queen Elizabeth. Most of her wealth is through artifacts, art and retention of historical items. Thinking further about the Roman Catholic Church, most of their investment is in their archives which the public is not able to see. Just maybe, I have been investing and striving in the wrong direction due to life being unpredictable?

I met Kreso Cavlovic, Artist (Pronounced - Cray-sio). Most of my success is due to fluke timing and meeting Kreso was one of those occasions on a boring weekday afternoon in Fall 2010. Kreso's studio was one in a million. Most studios we have been to are safe with white colours and really safe colours within the paintings. At Gallery Vernissage, Kreso's Studio, you will be slammed into creative overdrive with colours and imagination. Kreso has very strong symbolism through shapes, colours and images. This is not your ordinary gallery. There is a lot of thought and I swear that looking at one of his paintings is like his dreams being placed on canvas. 

Daniel and I made an investment into one of his pieces. We seen the piece we purchased in 2010 but didn't have the guts to buy the work as neither of us have ever purchased an original painting before. Each time visiting the studio was torture because I know I would be severely ticked if I didn't get the piece I wanted. After a lot of hard thinking about investments, I realized we better move on the piece we want and did just that. 

Since meeting Kreso, most pictures and mass produced paintings in our house were taken down. Daniel and I learned the basics of painting through Kreso's winter workshops that he offers. We have replaced most of the wall art with our own interpretations. Our work may never been worth much but we have it all the walls because it's our house and we appreciate the time and energy placed into the work. 

Artwork is very subjective and interpretation to value. We purchased Kreso's work for the primary reason that his work touches our soul, but we also purchase his work because his paintings are rich with symbolism, interpretation and personal stories to share. Kreso has already been recognized as a successful artisti and many of his pieces have been in gallery shows world wide and sold out each time. We know as each month passes, Kreso's already 20+ years of experience gets stronger and we see him reaching amazing levels.

Unlike an investment of a house where at the end we have financial loss as your life transitions, with artwork, they gain in value slowly and the bank doesn't have one hand on it holding it the entire time. Besides, it's refreshing to walk into our home and see this peice of work. I find myself staring at it often. 

If you are thinking more about this, here's some thoughts:

1. Find an artist/designer you care about and that has a rich life history of experience.
2. Examine their work, does it touch you on a personal level? If not, you haven't found the right person. 
3. Do you think this person is unique or simply duplicating what others are doing? 
4. What do you think this person's future is going to be? 
5. Is their work fairly priced for their creativity?
6. Does this person put thought to their creativity on some level, even if just an abstract view of an image?
7. Where is this person been recognized or are they on the path to becoming recognized? 
8. If their work never gains value, do you love the peice you bought anyway for your own enjoyment?