Some are blooded and they don't even know it. Give them the scent and they'll be hooked, says a wise Ian Whyte. He's determined to make us all lust after art. Think hounds after the fox, he explains. "I'm giving them the scent," he says.
All first-timers to the private viewing of Whyte's "Art for Everyone" collection are blooded at the door with the help of mince pies, wine and a catalogue for the auction of more than 500 lots tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the Gresham Hotel.
Artist Tess McDaid is here to watch. Painter John Campion from the Liberties is here also with his partner, Scotswoman Maeve McLoughlin. Bernadette Murphy, of Magil Fine Art Gallery on Bachelor's Walk, says the paintings are "all original and at a knock down price". Art, she says, is being liberated. "It's not for the elite." Two art lovers of long standing, looking for Christmas presents, are Celine Grealy from Tramore in Co Waterford and Dr Nuala Peyton-Corcoran. Paul Appleby from Glasnevin is also curious about the collection.
Also checking out the Christmas art is Mary O'Brien of The Irish Times. As compiler of the Simplex Crossword since 1987, she's delighted that her seventh book in the series, which is the first collection of crosswords to be specially commissioned (all new, never in the newspaper), is out just in time for Christmas.