It never ceases to amaze me how some people will buy art because of what others around them think. One day a lady came in the gallery looking at some Michael Godard art and told me, “I am here to see what all the buzz is about.” She then proceeded to tell me she wanted to get one of Michael’s pieces we had there at the gallery. I detected she didn’t really like the art, because she kept saying, “I don’t get it.”, so, I asked her straight out if she liked the art. She told me she did not. When I asked her why she was asking about buying it then, she told me because her friends like it.

Nursing a Martini 2 by Pop Artist Michael Godard

It occurred to me she was buying the art because of what she thought her friends would think if she bought it. Now I can imagine a lot of good reasons why someone buys a piece of art, but for most people, it should always start with the heart; and the heart can work from many perspectives.

One client we have is an avid art collector. Quite savvy as well. He knows what he is buying and very often buys from us sight unseen. These are big purchases, often in the $50,000 dollar range. We crate them up and send them to him half way across the country and he doesn’t even open the crates. Yes, I’ll say it again; he buys stunningly beautiful paintings such as those by Hu Jun Di, an absolutely amazing contemporary Chinese Oil painter and doesn’t even open the crates. Why? Because he is a collector. He is interested in the future value of the paintings he buys. He is an investor. Many of our clients have bought Michael Godard as an investment as well, and they have had stunning rises in value from the early years. The point is, for a collector, the heart is in a little different place than the majority of people.

Nature, original oil on Linen, by Chinese Artist Hu Jundi (Hu Jun-di) 胡峻涤

When people come to the gallery to buy art, it is often our first concern to identify where their heart is, so we can assist them to achieve their goal in buying art. Buying art can be one of the most rewarding things you can do, and combined with some savvy art buying, you can get great potential for future value too. Should that be a first priority? In my opinion, no. You should always buy something that touches you in a special way.

One of the artists we have in the gallery that is a top seller is the stunning black and white photography of Phil Borges. Phil is widely collected. Each piece has a special story associated with it. Phil meets all of his subjects personally and learns about them before doing the photo work. Personally I believe this is his way of connecting with his subject on a deeper level, and is at the core of what make his works so luring to so many people.

Kinesi by Photographer Phil Borges. Kinesi often helps his older brother take care of the family goats. He is the only one of seven children who was selected by his parents to attend school. Since his Samburu family is semi-nomadic, sometimes he must walk alone nearly four hours -- over terrain populated by baboons and leopards -- to get to the only school in his district. His mother says that Kenesi runs most of the way -- not from fear of predators, but from the excitement of school. Samburu Tribe

Phil Borges’ works have a built in future value, because as they sell out, they automatically increase in value. Phil’s photography has sold in our gallery for as much as $17,000. But his pieces originally start in the $1,200 to $1,500 price level. Very affordable. I love his work so much, I got carried away and bought more of it for my home than I can fit on the walls. Go over to the website and take a closer look. For that matter, go over and take a look at it all

Many galleries carry one certain kind of art, but our philosophy is to carry art and artists that are doing amazing and stunningly beautiful things. Because of this we carry fine art black and white photography, sculpture, fine art glass (both cold cut, blown and sculptural glass), oil painting, mosaics made of glass on copper, abstract and contemporary art as well as contemporary Chinese oil painting (as already mentioned), and contemporary metal work and furniture, in addition to many other types of art.

There are many reasons to buy art, but, as I covered in the beginning of this article, unless you are buying purely for investment value, make absolutely sure you are buying from your heart. When you do this, you will certainly connect with the art for many years to come. If you buy for the wrong reasons, you will not get your best value because for full enjoyment will diminish in short order.

Good art is timeless and calls us to a place within ourselves that defines who we are and the world we live in. To make the most of it, make sure you buy smart.

Roket by Phil Borges. Roket was guarding the only well in the area to make sure no one took more than their share of water. He had just completed his circumcision ceremony and been initiated as a moran (warrior). The beadwork was handed down to him from an older moran who was getting married. I was told that if the initiate makes any sound or even slightly moves during the circumcision, he will be considered an outcast. In the past, he would be killed on the spot. Samburu Tribe

For anyone who has ever seen Phil’s art works, you know that each and every shot he does captures an amazing essence and energy from its subject.  I am not just saying this either.  In the gallery, there are more man ours spend gazing at the works on his wall than any other wall in the gallery.  Some people will stand there and marvel at the works for hours (and we have only a handful of the amazing shots from his complete collection.

It is rare for me to see a person come through the gallery that is not drawn to his art work in a profound and personal way; his work touches you. As I got to know Phil better, I realized the magic he draws from his subjects is really a part of the way he is personally able to break through any kind of barriers with anyone. This is true regardless of language (or other) barriers that might exist.  A deep compassion bubbles up from him that is felt right off.

Asgeli by Phil Borges. As a leader of the circumcision ceremony, Asgeli had performed hundreds of female circumcisions. Now, like others in the village, she is supportive of the change in custom that Abay had advocated. She said, “We did the circumcisions because that is what had always been done.We were in the dark house and did not know.”

The modern black and white photography landscape has been shaped largely by the greats early in the last century who used large format view cameras to capture their amazing images of the American West.  Phil Borges uses a variety of cameras, but most commonly he uses a 2.25 inch format camera such as the Hasselblad.

Phil Borges area of focus is modern black and white portrait photography. Up until very recently, he has been very purist about using only film and special Kodak papers.  However, as the availability of these materials has diminished to the point he can no longer reliably get them, he has been forced to start doing some of his work in black and white digital photography.

Rufo by Phil Borges. I first noticed Rufo as she was walking to school with her sister. The elegant wardrobe that she had created with remnants and scraps of cloth fasinated me. Like most Boran girls in southern Ethiopia, she spends her days collecting water and firewood, herding the goats and helping her mother cook. Her labor plays a vital role in her family’s survival.

Another amazing dimension of Phil Borges work his involvement in the support of indigenous cultures around the world.  In fact, Phil is an altruist, humanitarian and is devoted to spreading the message of cultural diversity.  It just so happens he uses his fine art black and white photography as his medium for spreading this message.  Phil has worked in conjunction with a number of charities such as Amnesty International, CARE and others in order to send some much needed revenues back into the areas where he has acquired his incredible black and white figure photography images.

The message of Phil’s work therefore, comes together at a variety of levels to be what it is. Whether it be the story telling, the art, a humanitarian cause and any number of other ways his message weaves together into a cohesive fine art form and cultural message.  It is very rare to meet an artist who’s work and message is so driven at so many deeply connected ways.

Palden by Phil Borges. Palden was arrested at his monastery in 1959 and spent 24 years in prison, where he was tortured frequently --actually loosing 20 teeth in one beating. He managed to flee Tibet in 1987 and came to Dharamsala. He told me “I no longer have anger for my captors. However, I feel it is my responsibility to let the outside world know what is happening in Tibet.”

There is another part of Phil Borges work that deserves mention.  On top of all the other factors, Phil’s work has tremendous value for the fine art collector.  I have personally watched his any number of his works escalate from a low level starting price of less than $1500 or so, to escalate to as high as $17,000 in value.

At the gallery, we serve more black and white photography collectors in pursuit of Phils work than any other gallery in the world. Our black and white photography website offers the full collection of Phil Borges works and our staff is the most knowledgeable in the world on his amazing black and white fine art photography.

Abi Gul's father spent eleven years fighting in the Pakistan courts to keep the Kalash valleys from being logged. For the Kalash, who have animist cosmology, trees are very sacred. Three years ago Abi Gul's father was killed by a bomb that was thrown into their little two-room home. Her uncle continued the court case and finally won the judgement. Abi Gul was very serious and quiet. Very dillegent, she stayed by my side and assisted me as I photographed her friends and relatives in her small village.

As we finished our meal and headed back to the art show at the gallery featuring Phil Borges work (in conjunction with CARE) where a huge crowd awaited him, I marveled at the stories he shared with me and the experiences he had in traveling to exotic uncharted corners of the world to meet special people of indigenous cultures around the world.

Phil Borges is a magnet personality with a huge message about where and what and who we are in the world.  His works have value that touches your heart and invests well.  But you don’t have to meet and have dinner with this precious man as I was privledged to do in order for his amazing works to touch your heart.  You can experience this heartfelt essence in every one of his black and white photograpic works of art.

Written by Rob Mitchell

La Jolla Cove - #1 Tourist Destination in San Diego, California

San Diego California is one of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world; about this there is no doubt. I first came here in the early 1980s serving in the US Navy. I immediately fell in love with San Diego, but for various reasons, I was not able to fully settle here until the year 2000 when my kids started school.

Shortly after this time, I purchased an art gallery in La Jolla; Hallmark Galleries of La Jolla. La Jolla is an absolute jewel of a place that must not be missed on any journey here; it, also is a work of art (see some of the photos I have attached to this post). The first time I saw it and felt its charm, I was hooked and knew this would be the place where I would grow from.

Hallmark Galleries - a fine art gallery located in the heart of La Jolla village, the number one tourist destination in San Diego, CA

Many of the very best restaurants and lodging can be found here and scenery second to none! Don’t miss it, and as long as you are here, definitely come by the gallery and say hello. We want to meet you personally. We carry some of the most incredible artists who are handpicked for the value of their art and not specifically for commercial value as is done by so many art galleries these days.

We are a family run gallery but also have an amazingly well trained and educated staff. Usually, either Michael Hajdaj (hi- dye), the gallery director is working to assist you, or Christine Molina, our top art consultant. We treat our customers and staff like family and have a business model of working with our collectors for many years into the future. We are also multilingual in Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese and English, so don’t be too shy if English is not your first language

Let us know if you are coming in advance and we’ll give you a few ideas on how to make the most of your trip;-)

In my next article on this post, I will address some of my favorite restaurants in La Jolla that you can try during your stay with us.

Rob Mitchell is the gallery owner, art collector and is a full time Investment Advisor.