For many years, we have guided collectors in their purchase of Hu Jundi’s master works and seen the many benefits of their decision.  We have decided to start a series of interviews and articles on Hu Jundi to help our future collectors of his work get a better understanding of the artist and his works.

For our first article of the series is a forward by renowned art critic from China, Zhong Biao.

Late Spring of March - original oil diptych by Hu Jundi

Hu Jundi Profile

Birth date: 1962 in Jilin province.

1984 graduated from Sichan Fine Arts College, Chongqing

Forward by Zhong Biao, Artist, Director, Chonqing Art Museum

I first saw Hu Jundi’s work in the magazine ‘China Oil Painting’. It made a deep impression on me. After a little while, an art exhibition was held in Beijing. I hoped to find this artist in the exhibition, so I went. I was so pleased to see Hu Jun Di’s originals there. Because the published images I had previously seen were small, the originals were a revelation! His work had an incredible impact on the people. He proved the most talented master. His work is full of dense Chinese colors, the lush atmosphere and Sichuan’s warm moisture is floating in the paintings. I was hooked instantly to his canvas melodies.

Nature, original oil by Hu Jundi (胡峻涤油画）

To find out more about him, I decided to go to his hometown, LeShan, in the Sichuan Province. Hu Jundi’s studio was not big, about 12 square meters. In order to concentrate on his art, he gave up his business and sold his house in Beijing, and left the disturbingly noisy place. He came back to his hometown and kept himself quiet to focus on the art. Jundi decided to paint a series subject about the famous novel Liaozhai. It reflects that the Chinese are not satisfied with the social circumstance at that time. He painted the elegant appearance of the Sichuan woman. His brilliance is in the harmonious blend of traditional Chinese brush with the unmatched depth of oils. His paintings are completely Chinese, with colors of the Sichuan environment, harmonious, incomplete borders. They reflect the shadow of the most famous Chinese artist XU BEI HONG. But the oils give it a more universal, lasting appeal. The women are serene and beautiful, the attire is classical Sichuan Chinese, but there seems to be an appeal that goes beyond just Chinese. He does not use models. He paints the character in his mind, searching from a person in his life. He chooses the most wonderful moment in his mind and paints it. Catching a moment, this is the Chinese painting skill. To do it with oil painting, it is the most difficult. It took years of patient trial and error, along with his immense talent to master.

Two Women in Snow, original oil by Hu Jundi （胡峻涤油画）

The works are as much a reflection of his spirit as his cool strength under pressure. As I know in China and probably the world, few artists can do that. In western artists I have seen, only Renoir could capture that style.

China has a very special artist ——- Hu Jun Di.

Fine Art Collecting – A New Form of Investment?

Fine art, continues to be a favorite son of today’s investment market and it is becoming more main stream than ever.  I was a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA) in the private sector.  My company managed over 100 million dollars on a cash basis in the financial market for hundreds of clients.  The first thing that we always tell our clients is “past performance is not Indicative of future results”.   Yes, historically investment in fine art has yield better returns than the financial market and yes we see that potential continue to exist.  However, nothing is fool proof, anyone who tells you that there is no risk associated with purchasing fine art as an investment, frankly, does not have your best interests in mind.

As with any investment, there are always risks involved, be that of depreciation of assets or liquidity of the market.  What defines a good investment is one that has reasonable “calculated risk” with good upside potential.  For a short term investment you are also looking at good liquidity, meaning, how easy it is to get out of your investment position.  But a “suitable” investment for one client is not necessarily suitable for another.  During the time that I was a money manager, it was not uncommon that we would turn down a client who was willing to pay for our service. This occurred when we felt the investment profile did not match our client’s risk profile and needs or, that the risk exposure was outside of their means (which I will address later).

Jack Storms Cut Glass Art Sculptures has high value at beginning prices that are very affordable.

We can all see that fine art has traditionally out-performed the S&P 500 as a long term investment and many auction houses continue to make record sales.  However, fine art investing is not typically appropriate for the short term. When compared to traditional investment vehicles such as stocks, options, mutual funds, and commodity and futures market, it is definitely not as liquid.  This is true because the masses have not yet realized collecting art is lucrative.

This incredible black and white fine art photograph by Phil Borges has doubled in price since it was sold out...

With these things said, is fine art a good investment?  Yes.  It has out-performed the financial market historically and we have seen the trend of its continuing appreciation.  An original work of fine art is not something that can be duplicated.  Therefore, there is a value associated with that.  This is particularly true when the artist is being recognized collectively by a broad audience.

Fine Art is the only investment vehicle that I know of that can, through aesthetics changes people’s life, increase the quality of life and even improve productivity.  Many companies have found that by providing their employee with a harmonious and beautifully inspired environment, the productivity of the employees go way up and, if the investment is smart, the value of their art collection also goes up.  Sometimes the art collection in a company is worth more than the value of the company as a business.  It’s kind of like a restaurant’s wine collection is worth many times the value of just the business.  Did you know that the world renowned San Diego Wild Animal Park’s botanical asset is actually worth more than the value of the animal collection that they had?  Further, there are more fine art works in corporate collections than private collections.  Many companies use it as a means to diversify their investment portfolio. If you have a business, consult your accountant about the possibility of writing off or depreciating the cost of the purchase as well for additional tax benefit.  There may also be other tax benefits to owning and investing in art.

Serge Marshennikov's Original Female Oil Portraits have been sold through important art auctions, including famous Christie’s of London and Bonham's in Knightsbridge. His work is in much demand and his prices are constantly rising.

Does fine art investment have risk associated with it?  Absolutely.  You can experience depreciation at times especially if you are trying to sell it quickly. There are a number of factors that come into play, and understanding those component factors are key to success.

Is fine art a suitable investment for me?  Well, this depends on many factors: 1. What is the source of funds that you are using to make this investment?  2. What is your investment time frame? 3.  How liquid are your other assets? 4. Would it devastate you financially if you are not able to liquidate your position?  These factors are actually all inter-related.

Fine art investment is a intermediate to long term investment so please do not use money that you need to pay your bills to make an investment.  Also, in order to liquidate your position (sell your artwork), you would likely go to an auction house or the original dealer, and sometimes even through private sales.  It can sometimes it can take months or even longer to sell the work.   If any of these things would put you at great risk, then it is probably not for you.

So if you are ready to include some fine art in your life to increase the quality of your life and to enjoy the potential benefit of the appreciation, don’t forget to contact your art consultant so that they can guide you through the process of establish your collection that is best suited for your needs and style, be it glass art, original paintings, whether contemporary or traditional, or even sculptures.  We have seen quite a few artists whose works have appreciated consistently over the last few years, if you love art, why shouldn’t you benefit from the appreciation?

Contemporary Chinese artist Hu Jundi's paintings have also been successfully auctioned in China.

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

As I watched the guests arrive, I couldn’t help thinking how lucky I am to live and work in one of the most beautiful cities in the United States.  La Jolla is a “Jewel” in San Diego county.

But this post is not about San Diego, nor is it about La Jolla, California.  It’s about a quiet unassuming gentleman, the artist, William Debilzan. The June show was my first opportunity to meet Mr. DeBilzan, or rather “Bill” (he prefers Bill to Mr. DeBilzan).  I was thrilled. It was sort of like meeting a Rock Star for me. From the day I began as a consultant for Hallmark Gallery, William DeBilzan’s paintings just captivated me.  Perhaps it is for this reason so many people have approached me to learn more about Bill’s paintings and to purchase it.

Reason Why - original mixed media by William DeBilzan

I was immediately taken by his bold colors and the anonymous figures he paints which seem to speak through their posture as clearly as if through an audible voice. William DeBilzan uses a variety of recycled material which he incorporates onto his multimedia canvas. The simplicity of his composition is made complex by texture and the color palette he uses so perfectly.  His work is bold and challenging but with a playful nature.  The wood frames he custom makes for each individual piece are typically as interesting as his paintings.

Inclined To Do So - original mixed media by William DeBilzan

William DeBilzan’s paintings have been featured in Film and Television.  “Frasier”; “Just Shoot Me”; “Spin City”; “L.A. Doctors”; and, “Housewives of Orange County” are some shows where one can find his paintings. His paintings also liven the walls of quite a few of La Jolla’s most prized designer homes.

William DeBilzan was also commissioned by the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra to create a huge visual interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concertos to accompany the symphony’s performance of this classic.

I invite everybody to visit us in La Jolla and stop by Hallmark Gallery to check out William’s DeBilzan’s newest paintings.  If you are not in the area, then stop by the website to experience Bill’s work on your own, of give us a call to find a piece that is perfect for you.  Art continues to be an excellent investment in these tumultuous financial times.

Christine Molina is Hallmark Gallery’s #1 art consultant.

This contemporary custom oval cabinet by Edgar Lamas combines beauty and function, is designed for the art collector or homeowner with the most discriminating tastes.

Whether looking at his wall art paintings or his amazing modern home furnishings, Edgar Lamas is one of those craftsmen who takes a simple idea from functionality and transforms it into a stunning artistic statement.

Another beautiful custom cabinet by artist/designer Edgar Lamas.

Edgar’s works can span the range from brilliant sparkling Kandinsky style graphical multimedia paintings to colorful abstract pieces embellished with his unique hand metal work.  In the area of design, it may be a decorative pedestal or a bar;  a cabinet or a bookshelf.  Either way, the work will always be a culmination of art, design and exceptional craftsmanship. Edgar Lamas has an extraordinary gift in bringing all these elements together into a bold artistic statement.

Edgar Lamas combines exotic woods with metal work (typically stainless steel), automotive grade paints, hand etching, and  sometimes adds Swarovski crystals to his creations.  I say creations because it’s almost insulting to call his work just art, furniture or cabinetry because it’s so much more.

Each of Edgar Lamas’ creations combine functionality with elegance. Engineering with design.  It is art.  It is furniture. It is creativity.  It is a piece of beauty.

Edgar’s work is very limited in availability due to the high demand and extensive labor intensive nature of his work. Edgar’s works can therefore can be found exclusively at Hallmark Gallery in La Jolla, California.

You don’t need a lot of knowledge about art to collect art.  You don’t need a Masters Degree in Fine Art to know what you like. If you see a piece of art that you keep coming back to or a piece of art that stirs some kind of emotion inside of you, that’s all you need. (Of course you will need a means to purchase when you begin your collection or are augmenting your existing art collection).

Although art collecting is as varied as the art collected, the reasons for collecting art vary just as much.  If you are buying art to fill a blank wall, then you are not collecting, you are just decorating. If you buy art for this purpose, you will no doubt fall into a trap.  The trap being that after probably several months of looking at that piece of art hanging on the wall which used to be a blank wall, you’ll get tired of it and probably decide the blank wall wasn’t so bad after all.

If you buy art because you love it, because it moves you, because it reminds you of something or someone…whatever the emotion is that is stirred inside of you, you will find yourself loving it more and more as time passes. When you collect a piece of art and hang it on the wall, you will never think to yourself that the wall is better off bare.

The best advice that I can provide the beginning art collector is this:  go to your local library and pick up some art magazines and begin looking through them (you don’t need to go out and buy new art magazines…save your money for that first piece of art).  You’ll start developing an eye for what you like and what you don’t like.  Then start going to art shows, sign up for gallery receptions and attend one or two a month.  You’ll begin to know which gallery’s carry what you are more drawn to and which gallery’s really don’t cater to your taste.  These techniques are teaching you to develop your eye for art. You’ll begin to notice what you are drawn into and what you really just don’t care for.

For the experienced art collector, I think it is important to subscribe to art magazines, keeping abreast on the latest trends in the art market. Also signing up for gallery receptions.  Gallery receptions are a great way to blend into the background. Typically there are a lot of people walking around so you can see what the different gallery’s are offering in terms of the artists they carry. You can decide to purchase something at the reception, otherwise go back the next day and ask your specific questions of that particular artist and the piece of art that caught your eye.  This also doesn’t waste your time with a consultant following you around the gallery talking to you about every single artist you happen to be glancing at; and, the consultant’s time is not wasted on you when they can instead be assisting somebody who really does have a question on a specific piece of art.

Keep checking back frequently to our Hallmark Gallery website for featured articles and our unique collective work which changes from time to time.

Dogs Playing Poker

Working in the Fine Art field, in the La Jolla gallery district, of San Diego, California, I noticed a trend in art buyers: the doubt in one’s own taste when buying fine art for his/her home.

It amazes me, sometimes, when a person falls in love with a painting (oil or prints), a piece of sculpture, or fine art photograph, then doubts whether the artwork will work in their home.  Some people look to the advice of a designer to justify their owns taste.

My best advise to this is: If “Dogs Playing Poker” makes you happy, then buy it.  It’s your home.  Surround yourself with fine art that inspires you and lift you up.  Your home environment should be filled with fine art that makes you happy after a long day.  Your walls are the one area of your home that can express your thoughts and feelings.

You work hard to enjoy the finer things in life so buy the fine art that touches you. Hang that painting of Dogs Playing Poker in your home and enjoy it!

Michael Hajdaj is the Gallery Director of Hallmark Galleries, in La Jolla, CA