Today's Blind Items - Outsourced

This A list artist commands nearly seven figures for a commissioned work. There is a waiting list for years to get the artist to paint you. You reach out and that is what a rep will tell you. I can put you on the list and you will need to put down a deposit of six figures just to be put on the list. Once you do that, someone will call you a week or two later and say there has been a cancellation and would you like the spot. Of course you jump at it and they say there is a lot of demand for that spot, so instead of $1M it will be $1.5M or sometimes even $2M. You will need to wire it that day. They do so and a time is set to meet the artist. Most of the time the artist does do a quick meet and greet, but sometimes not. After that, a photographer takes your photos and spend about an hour doing so. Then a person comes in and tells you it will be about three months and your painting will be finished. Meanwhile, the photos are sent to Dafen Village in China and someone getting paid about $10K will paint the painting and ship it to the US where the artist will sign it. The buyer is brought in for a little unveiling ceremony and then you are shown the door with your painting. They do these ceremonies usually once a week, sometimes more often.