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dlmtle
Posts:83
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| 09/02/2006 11:42 PM |
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I am trying to figure out how to go about selling my art, and was wondering how most of you started out? I would love to make a living doing this, but am afraid of loosing my proverbial shirt instead of making any money. I have given some thought to starting out at the local farmers market, but have not had the money to rent a booth or buy a folding table and one of those gazebo things. is this something where i just need to focus on the long term, and be prepared to eat the start up cost? how long did it take you before you had more money coming in than going out? I need to hear from others that this really is possible. what was your bigest mistake getting started? your biggest success?
Thanks,
Dawna
Rainier, Oregon |
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Dawna
my blog http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com
http://dlmtleArt.imagekind.com
http://www.zazzle.com/dlmtleart* |
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Charspaintings
Posts:163
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| 09/03/2006 1:10 PM |
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Hi Dawna,
I don't want to be discouraging, but I wouldn't quit my day job until an income in coming in from your paintings. If you're looking to have this be your business/career, I would suggest a good place to start is to develop a business plan that includes: market analysis (who will be your audience; what do they buy?); marketing strategies (art shows, mailings, flyers, business cards, gallery affiliations); budget (start up costs, materials, advertising, workshops/classes-to further hone your skills); time table (how many paintings to create in what time frame; i.e. 52 paintings a year means one painting a week); and then keep a patron list for mailings and follow-up information. The software program, Working Artist, is excellent for gathering up a lot of this information. It can be found online by searching for "Working Artist."
Too many of us just start painting and sort of stumble our way toward making a business of it. It helps to be as organized in the business end as well as in the creative process.
I hope this helps, Dawna. Keep us posted on your progress.
Blessings,
Char |
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Charspaintings
Posts:163
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| 09/03/2006 1:17 PM |
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P.S. You asked for the biggest success and biggest mistake. Biggest success for me was advertising in a local publication that was all ads for products and services in the area. I placed a business card ad with sample of a portrait and geared the copy toward businesses and families. Biggest mistake? Advertising in a local newspaper over time...that brought nothing. Word of mouth has been my biggest boon. Also, network all you can. Join local Arts Councils, serve in local art societies, become known around your town/neighborhood as a painter of.....?......, always have business cards available, put a blurb about your paintings after your signature on emails. I'm sure others will have more tips. Good luck!.... Blessings, Char
P.P.S. My brother is in McMinnville, Ore. Anywhere near you? |
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sammy
Posts:691
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| 09/03/2006 11:06 PM |
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| I have heard of an artist that went door to door selling his art and did well. |
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dlmtle
Posts:83
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| 09/05/2006 2:00 PM |
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Rainier is 1 hour away from downtown portland, and 60 miles from astoria on the coast. mcminville is on the other side of portland from here.
I don't have a day job to quit (yet), since i have been a stay at home mom.; however, my youngest just started 1st grade today. so now I have a big block of time each day where i could either paint or go out and get a job. of couse, i'd rather paint, but i may need to go out and get something in the way of a part time day job in the mean time. I wish i knew of a local art group here locally. there may be one in Longview washing ton? it's just accross the river from here. How do you go about finding one? are they expensive to join?
On a related question, there are a lot of old falling down barns and what used to be a 1920's style gas station out this way. do i need to get the permission of the owners before i use them in my art? I was thinking i could go take photos w/ my digital camera and do paintings as well as turn the photos into post cards w/ a little historical blurb (if i can find that info) and then sell them at the farmers market. I thought that might do well and then I could say i would love to have people commission portraits as well. does anyone know about whether doing the post card thing would cause any legal problems? has anyone encountered this before? am i just being paranoid?
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Dawna
my blog http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com
http://dlmtleArt.imagekind.com
http://www.zazzle.com/dlmtleart* |
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heatherm
Posts:2120
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| 09/05/2006 6:35 PM |
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When wanting to paint a building or structure on someone else's property, I have always asked permission as a courtesy. To date I have never been denied.
Because you are turning them into postcards maybe the owners would be interested in seeing their barns done this way and be willing to give you the historical info that they have and direct you to where you could find the rest if they don't know all of it. You could offer them some free postcards as a thank you. |
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Heather
http://www.heatherartist.com |
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Rosario
Posts:77
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| 09/08/2006 4:21 PM |
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Dawna,
I have been working on improving myself doing watercolor
paintings for the last 6 months or so. I've made more time
for myself to do this, with really no serious plans to make
any money out of it. Anyway, to get to my point, which may be
helpfull,I was inspired to do a street scene of a little
resort type village nearby and included the Library building
in the picture. In talking to the library director about
displaying some of my work in the entrance dislay case in
January, I showed her a photo of this painting. She asked
me if I would like to display it NOW in the building.
Of course I was honored and said YES!
When I displayed it yesterday, the entire Library staff
wanted a copy and I'm thinking how many other patrons would
be interested?
I am fairly satisfied with the painting, but I think it's
the familiararity that they feel and the fact that they can
relate to it in some way that makes it popular. Anyway,
right now on on cloud nine and have been speaking to a
professional printer about making copies that I can sign
and sell. Hope this can give you some ideas.
Rosario |
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Charspaintings
Posts:163
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| 09/09/2006 5:56 PM |
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| Hi Dawna, Excellent advice above. Library's are always open to showing local's artwork. When I was starting, a pharmacy I was using on Main Street downtown let me put paintings in the display window. Any exposure you can get is good. You never know where it will lead. Keep watching your local newspapers and any other publications for ads, notices about art clulbs, societies, or associations meeting in your area and go! Networking with other artists is invaluable. Keep getting your work seen (however you can) and meet people. Talk about your work with everyone! I volunteer two Saturdays a month at the local Arts Council Gallery and paint while there. I keep a small portfolio and those all important business cards available and stop working to talk to anyone who seems interested. Also donate pieces of your work to local charity events and other worthy causes. Be sure to have your contact information on the back so people know how to contact you. Good luck! Keep us posted.........Blessings, Char |
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kaapie
Posts:11
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| 09/09/2006 8:54 PM |
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Dawna:
Congratulations! Libraries agreat promoters of the arts. Why don't you create originlas for the other clients? vary them slightly in content and charge almost the same amount?
Good luck,
kaapie. |
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Starrpoint
Posts:186
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| 09/13/2006 8:50 PM |
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How many hours can you devote to it.
to sell your work, you are going to have to work at marketing your art, and be open to different opportunities and media.
Selling the original painting can be hard, and limits the income. Look into high quality prints of your work. These you can price low enough to work at a farmers market.
I seldom sell the original art. I am in an economically depressed area, but I do sell a lot of prints, and smaller things. |
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Starrpoint*
www.tschantz.myexpose.com
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Starrpoint
Posts:186
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| 09/13/2006 8:51 PM |
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How many hours can you devote to it.
to sell your work, you are going to have to work at marketing your art, and be open to different opportunities and media.
Selling the original painting can be hard, and limits the income. Look into high quality prints of your work. These you can price low enough to work at a farmers market.
I seldom sell the original art. I am in an economically depressed area, but I do sell a lot of prints, and smaller things. |
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Starrpoint*
www.tschantz.myexpose.com
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dlmtle
Posts:83
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| 09/14/2006 1:22 PM |
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about how much does it cost to get good quality prints made? does anyone use a service they would reccommend? is there anyone who has had a bad experience with a company and would NOT reccommend them?
thanks,
Dawna |
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Dawna
my blog http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com
http://dlmtleArt.imagekind.com
http://www.zazzle.com/dlmtleart* |
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Starrpoint
Posts:186
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| 09/14/2006 1:58 PM |
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I have used Vista Print on line, at vistaprint.com but I also got a good quailty home printer, one that will take different papers and archival inks, got a good sample pack of papers from stratmore, and do some of my own.
Check with different places. There is a shop here that does blueprints for builders, etc, and they do a good job of making the prints if I bring them good jpegs. |
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Starrpoint*
www.tschantz.myexpose.com
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leftie0
Posts:1
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| 10/01/2006 7:13 PM |
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Hi Dawna
Keep your day job. Takes a long time to get established. I started selling cheap on ebay, then put up a website thru Yahoo. Also used Google and Yahoo internet ad service and am currently getting 1500 hits a month on my site. Costa about $200 monthly. Except for this year this worked fine, however art sales have been slow throughout the industry for past year for most of us.
Good Luck.
Bob Phillips
www.leftyphillips.com |
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dlmtle
Posts:83
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| 10/10/2006 3:02 PM |
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i have another question. maybe this is a no brainer, but here goes.
If I sell my original artwork do I still retain the right to make and sell prints of that work? etc?
I am asking because of the many books that site "from the collection of..." after a painting. do I have to get the permission of my buyer to continue using my digital copy to make prints, use on my website for advertising purposes etc etc etc?
Anyway if anyone knows the answer please let me know.
Dawna |
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Dawna
my blog http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com
http://dlmtleArt.imagekind.com
http://www.zazzle.com/dlmtleart* |
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Starrpoint
Posts:186
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| 10/10/2006 3:12 PM |
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this is not a no-brainer.
It is amazing how many people do not understand this, especially about visual art.
Many people believe when they buy artwork they buy all rights to it. While they may understand that buying a book does not give you the right to make copies and to sell those, they believe that when they purchase art they can do what they like with it commercially. This is not true.
When you sell a painting or other such visual art, you, the creator retain copyright over your work. You can keep a digital copy and continue to make prints.
Many artist include a small statement to that effect with their receipts.
I do. |
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Starrpoint*
www.tschantz.myexpose.com
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riri
Posts:4
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| 11/27/2006 8:15 AM |
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| I started selling my artwork, small originals and prints, especially notecards, at local arts & crafts shows sponsored by the town and/or county recreation departments. Also, I've bought booths (for $15-$20 each space) at local church bazaars and craft show fundraisers and flea markets throughout a 10-15 mile area of where I live. I also give my notecards (8 cards/8 envelopes) printed at home, as gifts to family and friends. It's a great way to get your work out there. I'm also doing my own holiday cards this year from scanning a life drawing figure I had done in open studio and printed on card stock at home. I have participated in continuing education juried shows at the local community college while taking evening art classes there and invited over 75 people to the opening reception (mostly co-workers and family/friends) which gave my work great exposure along with the other participants' invitees. |
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mousie5
Posts:17
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| 12/16/2006 1:28 PM |
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I have sold paintings on Yessy and only paid $59 for the year, but I also post the site on Free classifieds on the net to get people to look, Great site for International exposure, I am also going to do Prints for sale when I get better, still taking art classes to get better, but I still get sales, This time of year is a great time to get sales, althought the holidays are almost over. Get exposure wherever you can. I tried Ebay but no one buying there,Ebay makes most of the money if not all. At least Yessy's site you pay once and they advetise on Google and Yahoo for you. You still have to be your own ad agent though. A small ad in my local paper gets them to my site too. I just put in LOCAL ARTIST GOES INTERNATIONAL and then put up your yessy link, worked for me. Locals love to buy from there home town people,cheaper to advertise in classifieds then Art shows, and your name gets out there.
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brightwater03
Posts:9
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| 04/02/2007 6:40 PM |
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Hello,
I'm a recently retired, full-time, art rep and artist with more than twenty years experience selling art work to galleries, interior designers and architects. The art marketplace supported my family for all those years and the artists and customers I worked with were some of the finest, most talented folks one could meet. I'd like to "give back" some of what I learned to other artists. To do so, I've recorded a series of podcasts (talkcasts) FREE to anyone with an iPod, MP3 player or computer. Please listen and, perhaps, learn some tips to better market your art. Here's how:
THE MAMMOTH MARKET ARTISTS OFTEN OVERLOOK – Part I This podcast is the first of three articles published in AMERICAN ARTIST MAGAZINE on how to sell your art to THE MAMMOTH MARKET ARTISTS OFTEN OVERLOOK.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=13728
THE MAMMOTH MARKET ARTISTS OFTEN OVERLOOK – Part II This podcast is the second in the art marketing series THE MAMMOTH MARKET ARTISTS OVERLOOK. If you are an artist this information will help you sell art and build a solid customer base.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=13925
THE MAMMOTH MARKET ARTISTS OFTEN OVERLOOK – Part III This podcast concludes the three part series for artists who want information on how to sell their work to THE MAMMOTH MARKET ARTISTS OFTEN OVERLOOK, based on my twenty years experience as a full time artists' rep and producing artist.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=14271
ARE THERE SECRETS TO SELLING ART? In this podcast I share the SECRETS OF SELLING ART based on 20 years as a producing artist and full time art rep to hundreds of Interior Designers, Decorators, Architects and Galleries.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=11313
ARE THERE SECRETS TO SELLING ART? Part 2 In this podcast I'll talk about marketing techniques I used to sell thousnds of dollars worth of my own art and art produced by others. This is a "must listen" for artists who want to sell their own work.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=12502
Listen in by copying and pasting the http address into the URL box on your computer.
All podcasts by Richard Harrison may be accessed by logging on to www.talkshoe.com and typing: Dick Harrison in the Search Box.
I hope these are useful.
Thanks for listening,
Dick Harrison |
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Materese
Posts:123
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| 04/03/2007 9:05 AM |
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Hi Dick,
I listened to the first podcast. At first, I bristled, "What?, I thought to myself, how can I compromise my artistic vision and everything that constitutes serious art for the whims of some dang fool interiour designer?, This is sacrilidge! (spelling?)
Then I started to giggle, and then that turned into a full blown laugh. With the exception of serious collectors, i.e., those who are educated about art, spend thousands, up to millions of dollars collection certain established artists who have been validated by the art critics, (and some only buy "dead" artists) etc., this is how America buys art now - as a compliment to the design of a space, not for it's aesthetic / intellectual value. I currently have 2 individuals interested in buying my work for their home. One loves my work (traditional academic), but wants a work done in certain colours that I normally don't use. He's willing to wait months for the work to be done, and has deep pockets. I've been ambivalent about doing it, but decided to go ahead with it. The second client is into charcoal nudes (I can turn those out all day if need be), but he has a price point that is lower than what I normally charge for a framed work. So he'll be getting the work, sans framing. And yes, in both cases, what are these people looking at? COLOUR.
Is it a sell out? I think that depends upon how the artist handles the situation. thanks!
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Materese
http://www.ghostwoodstudio.com
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