Selling art

The volume of email scams targeting artists has become an epidemic. Know the signs and don't get caught up in their scheme. Here are tell tale signs that an inquiry is a scam. 1. The person contacting you is usually using poor grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. 2. The person is "away" somewhere, in Haiti, the forest, out to sea, a sailor or an oceanographer... the latest one says he is on an asteroid.(really) 3. The person insists on paying through PayPal. They make a fraudulent payment for more than the amount of the piece and ask you to send someone, presumably the fake shipping company the extra. Do not give them your PayPal email address.… Continue reading… 8 comments

Many of our ArtId members have gotten the same email from stanley.jackson326@gmail.com , Sheila Wedegis wrote about this in her blog November 2, http://artid.com/members/swedegis/blog/post/4824-scam-going-around. Shame on these people for scamming artists, of all people. All our members at one time or another get a bogus email from some scam person wanting to "buy" their work for a new residence or some such thing. These emails are always littered with bad spelling and grammar. Who is bogus and who is real?… Continue reading… 16 comments

There are some very persuasive statistics and reasons to get out there and blog. The comment I get the most is "I have nothing to blog about." followed directly with "I don't have time to blog." The actual keyboard time involved in blogging is minimal, it's the subject matter we blank out on. Imagine...you are exhibiting in a gallery or Art Show, what are the most FAQ from viewers? Inquiring minds really do what to know. It makes them feel like they know you or have an inside track on you and your work. Buyers are much more likely to purchase original art if it has a story attached to it. Every time you upload a new piece on your artid site, there is a button that says "blog about this art". Here are 10 "Starter" tips to get any artist blogging... 1… Continue reading… 3 comments

Something in me sank as I read this article in the UK papers. Apple actually thinks that artists will joyfully abandon their traditional paints and brushes, ink and pens, pencils and pastels to create original works of art on an iPad.… Continue reading… 16 comments

How To Respond To Criticism In Person and Online. "Everybody's an art critic." (Judith Martin) Consider the source: "The lot of critics is to be remembered for what they failed to understand." (George Moore). While it is true that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, an opinion is not a critique. A critique is backed by education, insight and objectivity. If someone's remarks about your work are not based in these then the remark has little value. A critique opens up an opportunity for response. An opinion is a dead end. Is it really worth it to exchange caustic remarks and insults with someone whose opinion is baseless? Try, "Thanks for taking the time to comment."… Continue reading… 5 comments

Giclée printing usually refers to the process of reproducing art digitally. The giclée process includes several steps to insure that the reproduction matches the original as closely as possible while insuring the resulting print is of archival quality. Sometimes the term is expanded to include any print made in the giclée manner with archival media and inks, such as digital photography or computer generated art. And yes, each print is printed one at a time, or "printed on demand".… Continue reading… 4 comments

I know dozens of artists who simply will not: have an online gallery, a blog, join any online groups, or use the Internet to their advantage in any way. Period. Statistics don't sway them, other Internet artists making sales while they aren't, doesn't prove anything to them. Well the facts are in, artists who use their website and social media to their advantage, sell. Period. The marketplace has changed and the way we do business has changed. "I don't have time, I don't like computers, it's too hard to learn, I don't have anything to blog about, it costs too much". If this sounds like you or someone you know, read on.… Continue reading… 18 comments

Email Signature as a Marketing Tool This is such a simple but powerful way to get the word out about your art. Put your ArtId gallery link at the end of all your emails. Every time you send an email will be an opportunity to remind people that you are an artist. You'll be amazed at how many people will check out your gallery. How Do I Add a Signature to my Email? Go to the "Settings" tab in your email server and type your ArtId www address into the "Signature" space under your name. Go! Go do it now! … Continue reading… 3 comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Elizabeth Davison, President Company: ArtId Phone: 413-739-1494 Email: betsy@artid.com Website: www.artid.com Video Contest for Artists Targets the Moving Picture as a Marketing Tool MARCH, 2009 -- ArtId.com , the Internet's fastest growing social and business website for artists is hosting an Art Video Contest for artists who want to gain more exposure for themselves and their artwork. The video contest is free and open to visual artists of all mediums and career levels. Because the videos will be hosted on our website, all participants must open a free ArtId account to upload their videos for the contest. … Continue reading… 3 comments

I don't know about you, but I have often looked at a painting and wondered who the artist was. I wished to know, but the signature in the bottom corner just didn't tell me. Perhaps it was signed in initials or a monogram or perhaps some artistic flourish that looked great but was unreadable! Unless we want to remain anonymous, a legible signature is worth its weight in gold - and this is why. You never know where your paintings are going to be seen and admired and someone may just want some of your work after seeing an example of it. A signature that is readable is the first step in someone following you up and finding you. For example the Lord Mayor of Adelaide bought one of my works last year at a solo show at Greenhill Galleries and it now hangs on one of his walls… Continue reading… 18 comments

I know it's hard enough to find the time to make your art, let alone become a video producer, but the power of video is something you can't ignore. Buying art involves a very personal kind of decision-making process, one that includes an emotional response not only to the art but also to the artist. Because of the intimate nature of video, artists have the opportunity to present themselves and their art in a way that further inspires a positive emotional response in interested buyers. If that response is strong enough, likely a sale will be made. There is something different that happens when instead of reading about the artist, we hear the artist's voice, or see his/her studio as a painting is being made… Continue reading… 3 comments