If you go back and look at our first issue from October 2005, you will notice a slightly different magazine. Our staff and writers were a little different. The previews and features had a slightly older look to them. (They have since had a beautiful update.) Even the artists have changed a lot—some are sadly no longer with us, and young artists have sprung up in their place. But one thing has never changed. One element of this publication has never faded, never faltered and is today as strong as ever. That one thing is the goal that drives us through every issue: to bring our readers the best artwork on the market so they can make informed choices about the art in their lives. That’s the engine that drives American Art Collector—in this issue, and the 199 that came before it.
— Michael Clawson, Managing Editor
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Issue 1, October 2005
By the time 2005 came around, I had been in publishing for over 35 years and along the way had been fortunate enough to be mentored on the finer points of the industry by some of the keenest and most experienced publishers of the time— people who had printer’s ink in their veins and who were obsessed with making their publications the best in the business.
Over the years I tried hard to emulate these visionaries and deliberately applied everything I learned from them to my own career: editorial content, design and layout, advertising, direct marketing, subscriptions, newsstand and print production.
My first contact with the art world as a publisher came in 1984 when I launched my first magazine Australian Artist, and then in 1998, the equally well-received International Artist.
During this time, in my day-to-day dealings with the art world, and from watching the interaction of artists with galleries and collectors, it was obvious that the magazines serving the art world in 2005 were not playing anywhere near the active role they should have been in the making, buying and selling of mainstream traditional art in America. At the time there were a bunch of magazines specializing in covering abstract and modern art. One magazine focused on Western art. Another only gave editorial coverage to deceased artists. Yet another somehow managed to include living artists with antiques. Furthermore, these magazines were reviewing works that were mostly old or already sold. So why there was no magazine devoted to showcasing the magnificent new work of the thousands of talented living artists painting mainstream fine art across America? That’s when I had my 2005 epiphany and made the decision to start American Art Collector magazine. It wasn’t hard for me to see that these long-neglected traditional artists and galleries needed a new publication to show their work to buyers nationwide.
This is what I said in the first issue of this magazine: “The launch of this magazine signifies a paradigm shift in the way mainstream art will be shown in the future. In the pages of each issue of American Art Collector we will be PREVIEWING new paintings by major artists coast to coast giving collectors a unique opportunity to see and buy the works before the gallery shows even open.”
Artists and galleries were quick to see how this new magazine could help them fill the gaping hole that previously existed. From the very first issue the response from them was instant and overwhelming and has continued ever since. Collectors too joined in and readership took off. From the beginning the magazine was designed not only to be looked at, but to be used. For more than 16 and a half years of publication it has continued to grow and evolve through an added digital online and social media presence in ways I never imagined when I launched it.
Now 200 issues later I’m happy to report that my decision to create a medium that would play an active role in benefiting many tens of thousands of artists, galleries and art lovers nationwide was the
right one.
The new publishers since 2020, Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo, and their formidable team know the publishing business backwards and will always go the extra mile to keep this magazine being the one you really want.
— Vincent Miller, Founder, American Art Collector
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American Art Collector is proud to recognize these founding advertisers from Year One of our magazine.
Without you we could not provide a voice to the contemporary art world. We have watched you grow over the years and we are honored to be part of your growth and this community. We look forward to another 200 issues showcasing, promoting and writing about your art and artists, as well as contributing to our fine art community.
Thank you for your partnership and loyalty throughout the last 200 issues!
ADDISON ART GALLERY
ARCADIA CONTEMPORARY
BAUMGAERTNER PORTRAITS
BLUE RAIN GALLERY
BONNER DAVID GALLERIES
CELEBRATION OF FINE ART
CLAUDIA SEYMOUR
CODA GALLERY - PALM DESERT
CROWN THORN PUBLISHING
GEORGE BILLIS GALLERY
GERALD PETERS GALLERY
GIACOBBE-FRITZ FINE ART
GROSS MCLEAF GALLERY
INTERNATIONAL GUILD OF REALISM
JOHN BUXTON ART
LEGACY GALLERY
MANITOU GALLERIES
PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA
PRINCIPLE GALLERY
SCOTTSDALE ARTISTS’ SCHOOL
HEARD MUSEUM
TRAILSIDE GALLERY
WATERHOUSE GALLERY
WEST WIND FINE ART
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