artandpaper

I have added a new ACEO page to my web site . Got to  http://www.bluemoonart.net/bluemoonart/ACEO.html to check it out. I also put links to my Blog & Twitter. However I had problems trying to get the Facebook like link to work. Still I'll keep trying. Maybe Facebook doesn't like Twitter! 

New ACEO's on line for sale - $25 or €20 each. They look great framed and grouped together.  Postage worldwide: €5 for first and free for 2 - 5. One off and original oil painting, not reproductions. Contact me for more details. Lovely colours of blue turquoise and mauve with a coral motif. art@bluemoonart.net

Should artists stay with the same style of painting/drawing/ etc. or should they explore new styles and techniques and push the boundaries? How many times have you looked at a painting and you know exactly who painted it. I don't mean a well known painting but a work that you haven't seen before or just vaguely know it but yet you can immediately identify the artist.  So, should artists stay with what they do best and what sells best or should they stick their neck out and try something totally different? I think they should go for the latter. I understand why many go for the first approach. We all have to live and pay the bills so naturally if one style sells well and gets popular it must be very difficult to turn ones back on it and try a new style. However, I believe many successful artists go for the easy way out and churn similar work as they know it's what the gallery wants and it's what sells.  But is that not boring? It's like eating the same food

New online brochure for my ACEO's http://issuu.com/artandpaper/docs/aceo

ACEOs or ATCs (art trading cards) are the size of a baseball card. They are a fun, easy and affordable way to collect original pieces of art.  Each card measures 3. ½ "x2. ½ ".  6.35 x 8.9 cm.  I have been painting lots of these cards recently and have put them on sale in my etsy shop.  A group of framed ACEO's would look great along a stairs or corridor. Check out the shop and tell me what you think. Thanks  Click here for Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/artandpaper

Now you need a web site.  You will need to consider several important items.  First, the name of your site. It's crucial. Will you choose your own name, your studio name, type of work you do, a catchy name, it's up to you, but try not to make it too long, otherwise people can make mistakes typing which kind of defeats the purpose.  Your page should look professional, therefore it should not have flashing images or text. No ads either, you want your audience to stay on your page not click to another site. Please, no music or irritating sound effects such as bird song etc.  Keep to a plain colour background to show off your images at their best. Have the same text font throughout and the same layout and colours. Next photographs. Take high quality photographs, you can resize them afterwards. Use a thumbnail image which downloads fast and then can be enlarged by clicking or in a slide show. No decorative borders either on your photographs, a thin line maybe but no

SELL YOUR ART ON THE NET. Part III So what's the bottom line? How do we sell our work online? How do we sell our work direct to the clients? How do we get in touch with people who are interested in art and wish to buy direct from the artist instead of paying a commission to a gallery? I think there is no easy way. I spend a lot of time at my art work. I also spend a lot of time updating my ads on different seller sites and linking to my shops and web pages. My art might not be to everyone's taste, but I have sold steadily down through the years in exhibitions, so my work does please some people.   Every artist has their own technique, ability and inspiration. Every buyer has their own taste and budget. However for the net, it's different than face to face with a potential buyer. In person, one can size up the other and judge whether they are really interested in the work. Either they like it and want to buy or they don't. If they do it's an easy sell. O

Of the thousands of sites out there dedicated to selling artists works (for a fee), the best known is of course http://whttp://www.ebay.com/. They sell anything and everything. I am not convinced a potential client will look for art and crafts on eBay. I've looked at paintings on their lists. Some you would not want on your wall and some are so cheapI wonder how the artist can pay for the materials.  Cost of advertising: they charge an insertion fee and a final value fee. Very few buyers are willing to spend a lot of money for a work of art that they have not seen in reality. Screen colours differ from one computer to another and many people find it hard to imagine sizes and dimensions. I personally would not buy a work of art from the net. Next big site is http://www.etsy.com/. They are hugely successful as they are dedicated to selling only arts and crafts and all things hand made. Some of their best selling items are jewellery and vintage items, as well as art suppli