| |
Community
Magazines
Book Clubs
Book Stores
|
|
 |
 |
| Your interactive artists' community |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Artists Network
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply.
|
|
| Author |
Messages |
|
RFinch
Posts:2
 |
| 02/15/2007 8:37 AM |
 Alert
|
At my first exhibition a gallery owner from accross the street took an interest in my work even though she was not able to carry any more artists in her gallery at the time. At my opening, she sent several people my way including a co-owner of a very large gallery from down the street. He said he was impressed with my work and his first question to me was "Do you have a website?". To which I regrettably and embarassingly had to say "no". I will never forget that - in a way I lost the contact because I couldn't send him anywhere to view more of my work - as the exhibit was far from where I lived.
Alyson of Artbizcoach.com says that no artist can be taken seriously without a website. It's the direction that the world is going.
That being said - any online presence is not a replacement for quarterly mailings, e-newsletters, exhibits, gallery contacts, appointments, business cards, phonecalls, and general smart art marketing. But, it is one in a long list of helpful and necessary ways to get your name out there, and in as many places as possible.
People are always online surfing, so if you provide them with images they like on your website (which, by they way should be updated as often as you might update a blog - what's the point of going back to a website if it never has new stuff on there?), get them on your email list, get them to your blog, get them to subscribe to your e-newsletter, etc. etc. they will become more familiar with you, get to know you, and who knows, maybe you'll be having an exhibit near their town, and because of your online presence and persistence in putting your name and artwork in front of them, your work has grown on them, and it may result in a sale as they venture to your exhibition. Maybe they have a friend who has a bare spot on their wall, and a piece you recently painted and updated to your website is perfect. Who knows?
It's a lot of work, but everything will work together. I think it's good to have your work out there, your name in places that the general public looks for art. If you touch somone with your art continually, you may in time achieve a sale. If you stay with that person, and let them get to know you, you will have a collector.
The website won't sell your work alone, you need every resource available to do that. |
|
www.rebeccafinch.com |
|
RFinch
Posts:2
|
| 02/15/2007 8:58 AM |
Alert
|
Okay, I just read the article from the NYTimes that Alyson posts a link to here: http://www.artbizblog.com/2007/02/and_you_thought.html
I need to get my rear in gear and get gallery representation. People will pay, it's just that the right people don't know about your art, yet. |
|
www.rebeccafinch.com |
|
Materese
Posts:123
|
| 02/15/2007 10:25 AM |
Alert
|
Thanks Rebecca for mentioning Alyson from Art Biz! I love the solid, practical advise she provides. I've not had the chance to read the NY Times article, but have a feeling it's going to support what I beleive to be true - first, you are your own best "marketing rep", - regardless of weather you are looking to sell on the internet, outdoor shows or a high end gallery. Galleries help, and they do have pools of clients who are looking for particular art - and they work to sell the art and they need artists who act as professionals i.e., regularly produce consistently high quality work, know how do act professionally etc.
I also beleive, that as an artist, it's critical to determine who your market is. If you want to sell large numbers of works in the low to mid price range, cool, go for it. You just need to produce work that suits that particular market and direct all of your promotional activities to that market. Like you just said - the right people need to know about your art. I decided that I wanted to target a different market - higher end, (and higher prices). So I know that I need to "pay my dues" - i.e., get my list of juried shows to grow, go after awards, build my educational credentials and yes, sell privately on my own before I approach the galleries that represent my type of work. It's just a different route, and I know that it takes time (oh cripes the time!) to get to the level I want. I live in Bucks County, Pa - we are absolutly thick with painters, sculptors, etc. Although there are tons of galleries, shows, etc., within a 10 mile radius, the competition is fierce. I know that I may fall flat on my face, but not before I put everything I have into this!  |
|
Materese
http://www.ghostwoodstudio.com
|
|
Materese
Posts:123
|
| 02/18/2007 8:51 PM |
Alert
|
Wow, just read the NY Times article. Pretty exciting stuff . . . if you have an established name with a high end gallery. I think the most important thing to note is that the buyers (collectors really, these folks are serious and pay big bucks) buy on line through their curators or directly from the gallery only when they have seen the work of the established artist several times in person . They are not looking for new artists on line.
Has anyone on this forum, who is working with a gallery, have their work sell through the gallery, on line? Would love to know. |
|
Materese
http://www.ghostwoodstudio.com
|
|
DaleZiegler
Posts:41
|
| 05/29/2007 9:24 AM |
Alert
|
I've had a web page for about 8 months with artspan. Have had loads of hits but no sales. However, I've recently been contacted by a reputable gallery who wants to handle my work. And I'm now negotiating a comission for a painting of a farm, from someone who saw my work on the web.
I know other artists who have do well on selling their low-priced prints, but not originals. I don't do prints.
Haven't decided if I'll subscribe for another year. We'll see!
|
|
|
|
klippie
Posts:1880
|
| 05/29/2007 11:26 PM |
Alert
|
Posted By Jim on 12/23/2006 1:22 PM
I just opened a site on yessy about a month ago. I still have
had no responses to it at all. Am I doing something wrong?
Jim
www.paintingsbyjim.com
Jim that to me is normal, you have to advertise your website and lead people there, I have been on 2 websites for about 2 years on one and 6 months on the other also had no sales on them yet.
Go around galleries, and speak up even to strangers, enter competitions, I have exibited in one of the most outstanding Galleries in Pretoria, and it doesn't always sell, but it is very good on your CV if you are looking for new galleries.
I sell more locally in galleries than on the internet.
and distribute your bussiness cards out anywhere possible.
At the moment I am looking for a new gallery.
Don't give up. word spreads, slowly but surely.
a month is a short time.
Retha
|
|
If at first you dont succeed.........don't ever give up! |
|
Niebrugge
Posts:17
|
| 07/23/2007 9:52 PM |
Alert
|
| Websites are an essential tool for selling art. Fifteen years ago I spent thousands of dollars on color brochures to mail and hand out at art shows, today I just give people my website address. It is like a huge color brochure, easy to change and add new things and a place where clients can learn all about you. I sell a lot of art because of my website. |
|
|
|
lglemons
Posts:10
|
| 07/30/2007 10:50 PM |
Alert
|
|
My website has been up for three years and I have maintained
it regularly by listing shows and adding new prints and information. Up until
this year, I had never received any sales directly from it and never really expected
to without a customer previously seeing my artwork or meeting me in person. I was wrong. The first web sale I made was an original piece to none other than Google's office
(the one in Dallas, not CA) interestingly enough. Then I started receiving participants into my coloring
contest for kids from across the World.
Just last week a man in Indianapolis
bought and he would have never seen my work anywhere else. Two weeks before,
two of my images were commissioned to be placed on stop light boxes for a city beatification
effort. The lady in charge found me on the web.This started happening three months ago when my son "search optimized" my site to be found better on Google.
Although the web is not where I primary promote my work, it is an
excellent tool in the marketing tool chest. I do market many other traditional ways.
I never would have thought people who hadn't been to my
shows would have called me on the phone and bought (there is no shopping cart).
I will say this, having a website is not enough. There is too much competition.
Another one of the posters was correct, you have to advertise your website or find someone who knows how to "optimize" it.
|
|
Get Free "Postcards" From Texas
Fine Giclee' TX Art Prints
Southwestern Wall Art
Texas Themed Prints
Colorful Armadillo Art |
|
pcar
Posts:1
|
| 08/18/2007 9:29 AM |
Alert
|
There is a market for selling on the internet. But it doesn't work like your typical e-commerce sites. I probably shouldn't say this, because I HAVE an E-commerce site so I should be promoting it. But the reality is, you need a high quality website that portrays the image of your gallery. Not to mention, you need the background of having a reputable, brick and mortar gallery before the website would even work. It takes years to build the business but once your reputation is built, your clientele will check the site for upcoming shows and new work. If there is a particular artist or piece that the client is looking for, he/she will contact the gallery for slides and high quality internet images. After that, there is a great deal of phone communication about the work before the client decides to buy the piece. So, in answer to your question: Yes, pieces can be sold on the internet, but it is usually the reputation of the gallery that brings someone to the site which in turn creates the sale.
pcar
http://www.avillagemarket.com/
|
|
|
|
Alissa
Posts:12
|
| 08/31/2007 10:44 PM |
Alert
|
I've had a website for a couple of years now and have only sold a few paintings directly via the web. But it has been a fabulous marketing tool and well worth the time investment! I've had several commission and show leads that people have emailed to me after visiting my site.
A website will really only work for you though if you promote it. Your URL should be on any business-related materials that you hand/send out: business cards, postcards, brochures, email signatures, etc. |
|
See more Acrylic on Plexiglass paintings by Acrylic artist, Alissa Sheley. |
|
Tim Shape
Posts:2
|
| 10/09/2007 10:52 AM |
Alert
|
If you are going to be in the business of art, you need to operate like a business. This means you have to market, advertise, and do whatever it takes to get your work in front of your customer! Complaining about lack of sales will not make your business better! If you are having a problem selling, it is YOUR problem...not the fault of the art-buying public. YOU have to fix it.
That being said...You need a website if you're going to be in business. The cost is minimal compared to the potential exposure. Your customer expects you to have one. Your competitors have one. I would bet that EVERY successful artist, living or dead, has some sort of presence on the web.
If you can't build your own site, hire someone to do it for you. Make it professional. Use it as one of your marketing tools. The Internet should be considered as only one of your art outlets. The more you have, the more you sell.
|
|
|
|
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
|
|
ActiveForums 3.6
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|