It isn’t difficult to find an artist online these days. There are many of us out there. We each have our unique styles and signature expressions that emerge through our craft but we are among a rather large population. Artists find great inspiration through admiring and studying works from other creative people and the Internet provides a plethora of inspiring sources. There is also information for those of us emerging on the scene.

We have no problem finding each other. Many of us create blogs dedicated to our craft. We network with each other and create online artist communities. One thing most of us can’t find is an art buyer. Today’s art buyers are an elusive creature in this day and age and part of this may be because of the gap between the canvas and the computer.

For example, I am a classic artist. I draw portraits in charcoal and pencil, mostly. My ideal art buyers are ones who appreciate the depth of character presented in one of my creations. I try to capture a moment, an expression, or a slice of life in the face I draw. My art buyers are ones who love humanity and ones who find stories in another person’s eyes. My art buyers are not purchasing on the Internet. They are wandering around the halls of a museum, hopelessly admiring one magnificent face after the next.

Fortunately, I have found art buyers of a different sort. A mother of a boy who has special needs has written a wonderful children’s book for and about her son. I sent this art buyer some of my sketches through an email. (This is almost a must in this day and age). Of course, the drawings were not of the same quality as the originals, but she got the gist of my ability and style. I created a character merged out of a portrait of her son and characters from his favorite children’s books.

Even though I am happy to accommodate this person for her project, I still recognize that she is not really buying my art. She is collaborating with me to create a new and wonderful character that many children and parents will hopefully enjoy. The character would not exist if not for her endeavor.

The true art collectors are the dream art buyers for most of us. Somehow we artists feel validated when a collector takes notice of our work. The true collector is not perusing EBay for great deals in paints, drawing and sculpture. He is still wandering the halls of the big, empty museum.