Comments on: Selling Your Art – Part VIII (Imagekind and Redbubble) http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2009/07/selling-your-art-part-viii-imagekind-and-redbubble/ Enhance Your Spirit Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:28:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Misty Dawn http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2009/07/selling-your-art-part-viii-imagekind-and-redbubble/comment-page-1/#comment-61156 Misty Dawn Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:51:54 +0000 http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/?p=2747#comment-61156 RedBubble recently changed the way they print their cards, laminated and mounted prints. The artwork now has a large white border around it, and, in my opinion, it looks very unprofessional. So, I'm considering leaving RedBubble. I'm considering Zazzle, but have read some bad reviews about their print quality. The reviews I read were about t-shirts though, so I'm not sure if this applies to prints, cards, etc. too. I'm also looking at (and you may want to too) LuLu.com. They allow you to publish books, photo books, and calendars. Your work would make an awesome coffee table book!!! I'm interested in the calendars and photo books, as I sell photography. I also have a Zenfolio account (www.mistydawns.zenfolio.com). Have you researched Zenfolio or SmugMug? I realize that you have to pay for these sites, but I believe you pay for a few of your other sites too. Zenfolio offers countless products for my artwork to be put on for sale. I realize our art is different, since I am a photographer, but I really like your site, so I'm bookmarking it. Thanks for taking the time to create such a great series of posts! (I apologize for the long comment) RedBubble recently changed the way they print their cards, laminated and mounted prints. The artwork now has a large white border around it, and, in my opinion, it looks very unprofessional. So, I’m considering leaving RedBubble.

I’m considering Zazzle, but have read some bad reviews about their print quality. The reviews I read were about t-shirts though, so I’m not sure if this applies to prints, cards, etc. too.

I’m also looking at (and you may want to too) LuLu.com. They allow you to publish books, photo books, and calendars. Your work would make an awesome coffee table book!!! I’m interested in the calendars and photo books, as I sell photography.

I also have a Zenfolio account (www.mistydawns.zenfolio.com). Have you researched Zenfolio or SmugMug? I realize that you have to pay for these sites, but I believe you pay for a few of your other sites too. Zenfolio offers countless products for my artwork to be put on for sale.

I realize our art is different, since I am a photographer, but I really like your site, so I’m bookmarking it. Thanks for taking the time to create such a great series of posts! (I apologize for the long comment)

]]> By: Diane Clancy http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/2009/07/selling-your-art-part-viii-imagekind-and-redbubble/comment-page-1/#comment-51292 Diane Clancy Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:44:31 +0000 http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog/?p=2747#comment-51292 There were comments at Facebook: <strong>Zan Barrage</strong> wrote: Intersting thread you have going here. I wonder if merchandising your art this way adds or detracts from it. <strong>Anne Pomeroy Dixon</strong> wrote: I think that any time and any way you can spread beauty and the joy and creativity that emanates from same it is a good thing. <strong>Zan Barrage</strong> wrote: I hear you Anne. I think your opinion is valid, but I question the means of spreading the beauty and joy. Ultimately these sites are selling cheap mugs and mouse pads (their inventory). They couldn't care less about your art as long as you buy a few mugs, or sell a couple if you manage to swing a few people to their site. Well... at least that is what I think ;) <strong>Diane Clancy</strong> wrote: Zan, I sure understand what you are saying .. but also my goal is to spread beauty, joy and love - and I sure hope I am doing it this way! <strong>Sue O'Kieffe</strong> wrote: i think its about striking a balance, getting your work available to the people, hopefully having multiple streams of income and maybe a little fun. this has been a great series, diane, and certainly exceeded my original vague expectation of how you might respond. thanks again for the time you invested in this series for all of us who are just tryin' to figger it out. <strong>Diane Clancy</strong> wrote: Sue - that is so true!! Balance - I am NOT into just giving my art away - as some people are - I need an income for sure! Multiple streams of income is something I do and am working to refine. Thanks for asking about marketing ... there will be a couple of more topics. <strong>Zan Barrage</strong> wrote: I am sure you are Diane, and Sue I think you are right as well. It is also a matter of preference and one does have to keep in mind the marketing image one is sharing. All come in to play I think. <strong>Diane Clancy</strong> wrote: I agree, Zan. If I were marketing myself as a super high end, originals only, painter - then I would be foolish perhaps to allow my work on mugs. But given all the digital work I do ... given that some of my originals take 100 plus hours (so unlikely to get paid for the time) ... then I like the idea of extra income from each image (hopefully). Also, my work seems to be pretty accessible to many people - so many people seem to want to have it - that is different from some paintings whose work is more esoteric and not as readily appreciated. Also, my purpose is different from many painters ... it is not just self-expression - I feel I have a mission to inspire others. Thank you for all your comments!! ~ Diane <strong>Zan Barrage</strong> wrote: Got you! And yes that makes a big difference. You have thought it through and made a balanced decision. I am not sure if everyone who is selling on these sites does the same. May I suggest a post on the thought process and purpose? I think that would be lovely. <strong>Zan Barrage</strong> wrote: Got you! And yes that makes a big difference. You have thought it through and made a balanced decision. I am not sure if everyone who is selling on these sites does the same. May I suggest a post on the thought process and purpose? I think that would be lovely. <strong>Diane Clancy</strong> wrote: Oh I like that idea about the post - I will make it part of this series ... it is clear that I am thinking out loud to pull all the info together as I am writing these posts. Perhaps I can make a book out it at some point (be nice to get a stream of income there too) ... smile. Thank you!! ~ Diane There were comments at Facebook:

Zan Barrage wrote: Intersting thread you have going here. I wonder if merchandising your art this way adds or detracts from it.

Anne Pomeroy Dixon wrote: I think that any time and any way you can spread beauty and the joy and creativity that emanates from same it is a good thing.

Zan Barrage wrote: I hear you Anne. I think your opinion is valid, but I question the means of spreading the beauty and joy. Ultimately these sites are selling cheap mugs and mouse pads (their inventory). They couldn’t care less about your art as long as you buy a few mugs, or sell a couple if you manage to swing a few people to their site.

Well… at least that is what I think ;)

Diane Clancy wrote: Zan, I sure understand what you are saying .. but also my goal is to spread beauty, joy and love – and I sure hope I am doing it this way!

Sue O’Kieffe wrote: i think its about striking a balance, getting your work available to the people, hopefully having multiple streams of income and maybe a little fun. this has been a great series, diane, and certainly exceeded my original vague expectation of how you might respond. thanks again for the time you invested in this series for all of us who are just tryin’ to figger it out.

Diane Clancy wrote: Sue – that is so true!! Balance – I am NOT into just giving my art away – as some people are – I need an income for sure! Multiple streams of income is something I do and am working to refine.

Thanks for asking about marketing … there will be a couple of more topics.

Zan Barrage wrote: I am sure you are Diane, and Sue I think you are right as well. It is also a matter of preference and one does have to keep in mind the marketing image one is sharing. All come in to play I think.

Diane Clancy wrote: I agree, Zan. If I were marketing myself as a super high end, originals only, painter – then I would be foolish perhaps to allow my work on mugs. But given all the digital work I do … given that some of my originals take 100 plus hours (so unlikely to get paid for the time) … then I like the idea of extra income from each image (hopefully).

Also, my work seems to be pretty accessible to many people – so many people seem to want to have it – that is different from some paintings whose work is more esoteric and not as readily appreciated. Also, my purpose is different from many painters … it is not just self-expression – I feel I have a mission to inspire others.

Thank you for all your comments!! ~ Diane

Zan Barrage wrote: Got you! And yes that makes a big difference. You have thought it through and made a balanced decision. I am not sure if everyone who is selling on these sites does the same. May I suggest a post on the thought process and purpose? I think that would be lovely.

Zan Barrage wrote: Got you! And yes that makes a big difference. You have thought it through and made a balanced decision. I am not sure if everyone who is selling on these sites does the same. May I suggest a post on the thought process and purpose? I think that would be lovely.

Diane Clancy wrote: Oh I like that idea about the post – I will make it part of this series … it is clear that I am thinking out loud to pull all the info together as I am writing these posts. Perhaps I can make a book out it at some point (be nice to get a stream of income there too) … smile.

Thank you!! ~ Diane

]]>