Another online presence

I’ve joined Fine Art America and I’ve listed a few of my prints for sale. After having very little success with my Etsy shop I have done a lot of research into other online sales options for my artwork. Fine Art America offers all kinds of benefits along with a great Print on Demand service. I like that option because then I don’t have to keep a whole lot of inventory and my customers can choose the exact size and type of print they want.

I only have three images at the moment on my page as I have done limited edition prints of my other paintings. Like other online options it’s really up to the artist to drive traffic to their page but they provide integration with Twitter and Facebook and also an e-newsletter module which I’m going to look into further. I’ll let you know how it goes!

 

Another online option – Day 342

I’ve been looking at different options for online sales as my Etsy shop has worked out as well as I hoped. I know these things take time but I’ve had very few daily views lately (ok, sometimes none) and I’ve been looking for other ways that artists have been successful selling online.

I’ve noticed recently a lot of artists using Fine Art America. You can sell your art through this site and they also provide a print on demand service for prints. The customer can order a print in any size and choose a mat and frame as well and everything is handled by Fine Art America. There are also options for cards too. How awesome would it be to not have to worry about inventory?

They have a free standard account and the premium account is only $30 a year. They have all kinds of neat options including licensing your artwork for TV. They have an agreement with ABC to provide artwork for their series ‘Desperate Housewives’. Each piece of artwork used has to be licensed with a signed agreement with the artist. As a premium member you agree to have your artwork licensed for television and your prints available for sale to ABC. This is kind of cool and something I never even knew was an option for artists!

I’m interested in hearing from people who have had experience with Fine Art America – has it been good for you?

 

Time for a break – Day 170

This morning I woke up all full of energy and I worked on the fall palette knife painting. I have to say, for a little painting this is taking some time! Partly it’s because I’m not quite sure what to do when, so it’s a learning experience as well.

I started the set up for my Etsy shop this morning as well and I’m plugging through it. There’s so much to think about! Your user name, your store name, a banner, a logo. What photos to use, a description to write…what are your policies on payments and returns? It exhausts me just thinking about it.

That’s precisely why, when I got home from work, I got into shorts and a t-shirt and went outside to the backyard, which we commonly refer to as the ‘oasis’. Our rain barrels had filled up overnight so I filled up the watering can so I could water the hanging baskets that are under the overhang. I puttered around a bit….checked out the pond….pulled some weeds. Then I poured a glass of wine, grabbed my book and sat out and read. Ahhhhhhhhhhh.

I think that it’s ok to take a break every so often. It helps you to relax and refocus which means when you get back to work you are better able to zero in on the root of the problem. (Thank you subconscious!)

Here are some pics of our oasis: