Blu 🇮🇹 Bologna Street Art • Print Release • Art For Sale

[arcam]

World Wide Trap is genius I love that print. £50 lower and I recon it would have sold out a long time ago.

[ray]

arcam said:

World Wide Trap is genius I love that print. £50 lower and I recon it would have sold out a long time ago.

That's the one I have. Paid more than I wanted to at the time but really wanted it. He keeps making big editions when others before it have gone unsold. I agree that if he knocks the price down a bit they might start selling. The Santa's Ghetto piece is very cool but I think 175 is to much.

[Studiocromie]

i agree on some points guys. but from my point of view, it's also good to have a print for sale for longer then 2 hours. it makes that flippers stay away from it and more people can have the print. if they really want it, like it, and want to support the artist having one of his drawing on the wall, i think that the 50 pounds more wont make the difference.

world wide trap is one of the best images he has ever done. i'm not sure about the colors but the drawing and the concept is seriously amazing.

anyway, i wish we could print a wall paper with his things on. he'll never agree though.
eheh.

[Daniel Silk]

Blu's work is really starting to grow on me now The more different pieces I see the more they make sense.

[morrissey1]

it's werid, but does anyone else think that being on POW can be bad for some artists? For new artists, and for a lot of artists, I suppose, the idea of getting your prints sold on POW would be like winning the lottery of sorts (as far as finally being able to maybe make a living at it)....but for artists like Blu and a couple others on there, do you think the fact that they don't sell out in seconds like Banksys, and constantly get compared to Banksy, actually ends up hurting the artists. If Blu had never signed on with POW, and just released through Studio Cromie or his own site, whatever, and he released the prints that he's released recently, do you think that they would have sold out faster? And does selling them faster necessarily mean better? Anyway, I guess the short of it is, I guess POW can be a blessing and a curse at the same time...what d'ya think?

[Daniel Silk]

morrissey1 said:

it's werid, but does anyone else think that being on POW can be bad for some artists? For new artists, and for a lot of artists, I suppose, the idea of getting your prints sold on POW would be like winning the lottery of sorts (as far as finally being able to maybe make a living at it)....but for artists like Blu and a couple others on there, do you think the fact that they don't sell out in seconds like Banksys, and constantly get compared to Banksy, actually ends up hurting the artists. If Blu had never signed on with POW, and just released through Studio Cromie or his own site, whatever, and he released the prints that he's released recently, do you think that they would have sold out faster? And does selling them faster necessarily mean better? Anyway, I guess the short of it is, I guess POW can be a blessing and a curse at the same time...what d'ya think?

Yeah, your right if your not seen to be in the group of top flight artists on any gallery your sales seem to suffer Its a shame coz many of them are really good artists and should be doing much better.

[morrissey1]

admin said:

morrissey1 said:

it's werid, but does anyone else think that being on POW can be bad for some artists? For new artists, and for a lot of artists, I suppose, the idea of getting your prints sold on POW would be like winning the lottery of sorts (as far as finally being able to maybe make a living at it)....but for artists like Blu and a couple others on there, do you think the fact that they don't sell out in seconds like Banksys, and constantly get compared to Banksy, actually ends up hurting the artists. If Blu had never signed on with POW, and just released through Studio Cromie or his own site, whatever, and he released the prints that he's released recently, do you think that they would have sold out faster? And does selling them faster necessarily mean better? Anyway, I guess the short of it is, I guess POW can be a blessing and a curse at the same time...what d'ya think?

Yeah, your right if your not seen to be in the group of top flight artists on any gallery your sales seem to suffer Its a shame coz many of them are really good artists and should be doing much better.

yeah, I guess it's hard to look like the "cool" kid in class when Banksy's at the back of the room flinging pencils at the ceiling.....

[dotdot]

morrissey1 said:

it's werid, but does anyone else think that being on POW can be bad for some artists? For new artists, and for a lot of artists, I suppose, the idea of getting your prints sold on POW would be like winning the lottery of sorts (as far as finally being able to maybe make a living at it)....but for artists like Blu and a couple others on there, do you think the fact that they don't sell out in seconds like Banksys, and constantly get compared to Banksy, actually ends up hurting the artists. If Blu had never signed on with POW, and just released through Studio Cromie or his own site, whatever, and he released the prints that he's released recently, do you think that they would have sold out faster? And does selling them faster necessarily mean better? Anyway, I guess the short of it is, I guess POW can be a blessing and a curse at the same time...what d'ya think?

quite a lot of points there m

blu - has had a mixed year.
A couple of prints through pow
A show through laz
Now a print through studiocromie.
I have no doubt that theres been a lot more done in the year by blu.
( least not the work done on the WALL in Bethlehem)

With respect to pow - (ie are they a bad thing for an artist)
well i think not. POW provide a few things.
First off publicity in a new market for an artist.
The price of the work has been mentioned both with respect to the
pow prints and the laz "sheets of paper".
Correspondingly they have not sold so sell.
Is this a bad thing - not sure - it's simply a fact that either the pricing is
too high or the pieces are not that sought after by what is a new
market - ie the uk. (in this case).

Not forgetting - we're not (well I'm not) totally sure how these arrangements / contract even work when an artist signs up with a print house such as pow.
ie do they sign up for x prints - or are they free to have prints done by many print shops... i don't know.

May be SC can enlighten us.

Otherwise stil an interesting subject for what it a truely
unique artist.
The show at LAZ was excellent - the shop front transformed
- much like it is transformed inside for the LUCY MAC show.

cheers (watch out for the tumbleweed..)

..

[Studiocromie]

i have to say i was surprised to see on santasghetto shop that the only two artists that didnt sold out immediatly were erica il cane and blu. but come on, i wont call it a curse anway.

these guys are gaining visibility and having great opportunities anyway, and that's good for their art. it's also thanks to pow.

anyway.. do you know that blu is going to release a documentary film about he and his crew travelling around south america and painting the walls?

it's going to be amazing

[spirit]

abaco said:

anyway, i wish we could print a wall paper with his things on. he'll never agree though.
eheh.

I think it's a cracking idea - will you ask him? For most artists it would be a ridiculous idea but for him it's possibly the perfect medium I reckon. Get a piece that covers your wall and no need to worry about framing. But where the hell do you buy acid free conservation wallpaper paste?

[frank11]

arcam said:

World Wide Trap is genius I love that print. £50 lower and I recon it would have sold out a long time ago.

agreed awsome image just can not justify the money........

[Studiocromie]

dotdot said:

Not forgetting - we're not (well I'm not) totally sure how these arrangements / contract even work when an artist signs up with a print house such as pow.
ie do they sign up for x prints - or are they free to have prints done by many print shops... i don't know.

May be SC can enlighten us.
..

i dont know how it usually works.
in this case, me and blu are good friends and we agreed on printing something togheter ages ago. it's just random that it happened after pow released his prints.

about studiocromie, we dont do any contracts or stuff like that, we're just a bunch of friends. i think id never be able to ask an artist to sign for us or something like that, it's cool that they can do whatever they want, and i'm sure that most of the other print houses work as we do. well, just a bit better then us. but you know, these lazy italians

[Studiocromie]

spirit said:

abaco said:

anyway, i wish we could print a wall paper with his things on. he'll never agree though.
eheh.

I think it's a cracking idea - will you ask him? For most artists it would be a ridiculous idea but for him it's possibly the perfect medium I reckon. Get a piece that covers your wall and no need to worry about framing. But where the hell do you buy acid free conservation wallpaper paste?

oh man, please dont push me with this idea. i've had it sooo long ago and never had the courage to ask him. dont make me suffer. i would really love to do it but... where should he sign it? ahahah.

[Daniel Silk]

abaco said:

dotdot said:

Not forgetting - we're not (well I'm not) totally sure how these arrangements / contract even work when an artist signs up with a print house such as pow.
ie do they sign up for x prints - or are they free to have prints done by many print shops... i don't know.

May be SC can enlighten us.
..

i dont know how it usually works.
in this case, me and blu are good friends and we agreed on printing something togheter ages ago. it's just random that it happened after pow released his prints.

about studiocromie, we dont do any contracts or stuff like that, we're just a bunch of friends. i think id never be able to ask an artist to sign for us or something like that, it's cool that they can do whatever they want, and i'm sure that most of the other print houses work as we do. well, just a bit better then us. but you know, these lazy italians

Its great to hear
You hear so many stories about artists being told what they can and cant release, so its gotta be better for everyone concerned for them to have a free hand ;D

[Studiocromie]

well that's a good point of being friends with the artists: you can always be honest and tell em if you dont like a drawing at all and dont want to print it. it's easy to find a compromise and make something you both like.

[scavos]

Blu's art works or me, be it on the street or in print. I love it.
I look forward to receiving mine A.

[Studiocromie]

scavos said:

Blu's art works or me, be it on the street or in print. I love it.
I look forward to receiving mine A.

what about his videos and animations?
did you see THIS:



freakin insane.

[slowmo]

I like the video stuff, maybe he should think more about where he makes his money from and through what mediums, prints are getting a mixed response, but I like the idea of a DVD outlining his work and process in South America and although I would never be allowed it, think wallpaper would also be a good idea, but is it a little too interior design?

[Studiocromie]

slowmo said:

I like the video stuff, maybe he should think more about where he makes his money from and through what mediums, prints are getting a mixed response, but I like the idea of a DVD outlining his work and process in South America and although I would never be allowed it, think wallpaper would also be a good idea, but is it a little too interior design?

hey slowmo, i'll tell you one secret about blu. it's something that surprise me all the time.
he really, deeply, extremely doesnt give a **** about money. there is people writing me every week about his originals and i always tell him. he always have the same reaction=total indifference.

that would be easy money.

and you wont believe how many people write him asking to work on this or that project for this or that amount of money, no way, all he cares about is to do his own projects and deal with people he really likes.
and i think he's right 'cause he's doing so good, all his projects are very interesting and strong. in a way also new and original (see the wall painting animations, i still cant believe those videos)
i think you'll agree when the movie will come out.
i think he'll never consider wich way is the best to make some money.


i actually cant tell if i would do the same or not, because from his side he has an insane talent and to choose what to do or not when you have such a big thing in your pocket it must feel different.
maybe i would not do the same, and care a lot more about money.
but i really have to say i admire and appreciate his attitude

[scavos]

abaco said:

slowmo said:

I like the video stuff, maybe he should think more about where he makes his money from and through what mediums, prints are getting a mixed response, but I like the idea of a DVD outlining his work and process in South America and although I would never be allowed it, think wallpaper would also be a good idea, but is it a little too interior design?

hey slowmo, i'll tell you one secret about blu. it's something that surprise me all the time.
he really, deeply, extremely doesnt give a **** about money. there is people writing me every week about his originals and i always tell him. he always have the same reaction=total indifference.

that would be easy money.

and you wont believe how many people write him asking to work on this or that project for this or that amount of money, no way, all he cares about is to do his own projects and deal with people he really likes.
and i think he's right 'cause he's doing so good, all his projects are very interesting and strong. in a way also new and original (see the wall painting animations, i still cant believe those videos)
i think you'll agree when the movie will come out.
i think he'll never consider wich way is the best to make some money.


i actually cant tell if i would do the same or not, because from his side he has an insane talent and to choose what to do or not when you have such a big thing in your pocket it must feel different.
maybe i would not do the same, and care a lot more about money.
but i really have to say i admire and appreciate his attitude

Massive respect to Blu.
Cheers for sharing that info fella.
+1 when I can.

[slowmo]

Hey Studio, I guess it came across wrong what I was getting at. I meant money to live with, we all gotta make a living. I'm not surprised at all that as an artist he does not care much more than outside his work, but I also know a number of artists who have to work full time to live, which tempers their work in terms of time and stuff.

[arcam]

abaco said:

i agree on some points guys. but from my point of view, it's also good to have a print for sale for longer then 2 hours. it makes that flippers stay away from it and more people can have the print. if they really want it, like it, and want to support the artist having one of his drawing on the wall, i think that the 50 pounds more wont make the difference.

Fair comment. I bought WWT a while back the price put me off for about a day but I had to have that print.

[Existencil]

I don't think the Laz show did Blu justice at all.

[Studiocromie]

slowmo said:

Hey Studio, I guess it came across wrong what I was getting at. I meant money to live with, we all gotta make a living. I'm not surprised at all that as an artist he does not care much more than outside his work, but I also know a number of artists who have to work full time to live, which tempers their work in terms of time and stuff.

no, dont worry slowmo, i got what you were saying. and i hope my answer did not sound rude.

hey mate, call me angelo!

[ROLLINS]

I love both Blu and Eric's stuff, but - I think the POW prices for these prints are too high.

I'd love to see a nice large hardback book from each which captures all their street and indoor stuff. ;D

[mainartery]

Blu are very talented but unfortunately the work doesnt create the same impact when in print. The scale and complexity it what is impressive and intriguing which doesnt transfer to smaller works. Its a difficult position to be in for them i would think.

[Studiocromie]

mainartery said:

Blu are very talented but unfortunately the work doesnt create the same impact when in print. The scale and complexity it what is impressive and intriguing which doesnt transfer to smaller works. Its a difficult position to be in for them i would think.

ok, get this point.
but, for a minute, let's dont think about his work out on walls.

would you tell this is not a very nice drawing?

and this?
cooome on!

[airsine]

Seems to me that a lot of people slag off blu's prints on the basis of viewing images on their on screens rather than ink on paper. His work is stunning - simple as that

[Existencil]

I can imagine that shit hanging in the Tate, with people standing around going 'ooh' & 'ahh'.

Super, Super effort.

[morrissey1]

Just skimming through the www.newcastle.lazinc.com site, and noticed under the category, other artists, there is a print of Blu's World Wide Trap.
Edition of 250 (which I believe was the POW edition, so should be just the standard POW print, right?)
-but this one comes framed, and it costs 195.74 pounds. I'm confused. This is cheaper than what they were selling on POW (before the January close down), and it's framed to boot....anyone figure this one out?