Diane Clancy’s Art Blog

And the winner of the One World One Heart Giveaway is Janice … Comment #62 out of 255!!  Janice has a blog Jan’s Jabber (http://jansjabber.blogspot.com). Congratulations to Janice!!  I am waiting to hear from her to send Jan her free card!!  Thank you to everyone who entered!!

There are over 1100 blogs participating in this giveaway – so there are a LOT of prizes being announced today worldwide! Hopefully this all builds friendship and understanding among all the peoples of the earth!

The prize is a Conundrum I card. It is a 4.25 x 6″ blank fine art card that is professionally printed. It comes with an envelope and is enclosed in a clear protective sleeve. This is my vibrant colorful painting that many of you say is your favorite – that is why this is the prize.

Conundrum I, Collage © Diane Clancy

If you would like a copy of the card, you can purchase it directly from me just go a little down the page on my site – or get it at my Zazzle Shop. The Zazzle cards are a full 5×7″ and there is a volume discount.

Conundrum I Card by dianeclancyart

At Zazzle you can also get it with a white border around it if you prefer that style.  You can also get either of these styles as notecards, mugs and more!

Conundrum I Card by dianeclancyart

Thank you to all those who entered the contest – I appreciate your many kind comments about Conundrum I !!  Thank YOU for stopping by and reading my blog.  I hope you will return and we can continue talking together as we create a new world!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, One World One Heart, giveaway, Zazzle

Last day for over 1100 blog giveways WORLDWIDE in over 40 countries!!  Free prizes and free shipping worldwide!!  Check them out!  The link to find the rest of the blogs is below.  You may want to enter my One World One Heart Giveaway – here is the post – it is a free prize with free shipping anywhere in the world.  This is a worldwide event – details are in this post.

The winner will be announced on February 15 – so be sure to leave a comment by today – February 14. There are over 1100 blogs participating in this giveaway – so jump on the magic carpet and go exploring … and win some prizes too!!

The prize is a Conundrum I card. It is a 4.25 x 6″ blank fine art card that is professionally printed. It comes with an envelope and is enclosed in a clear protective sleeve.  This is my vibrant colorful painting that many of you say is your favorite – that is why this is the prize.  I hope you will enter!

Conundrum I, Collage © Diane Clancy

All the details regarding the 2010 event can be found here: http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/one-world-one-heart.html. Lisa of A Whimsical Bohemian says “The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way.”

There are many bloggers involved (911 in 2009) from many countries from all over the world. Lisa continues “it’s a coming together like the giant community we are on this planet. If only it took a simple giveaway to create PEACE everywhere, in the mean time here we give from our hearts. … KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT…..therefore you must be willing to ship globally should your winner be from out of the country.”

I am very excited that this is international.  One of my cards with the vibrant, colorful painting Conundrum I is the prize. So some of you from other countries may well join in.  The  end is today February 14 – this One World One Heart Giveaway – is the post where your comments will be chosen from.

Thank YOU for stopping by and reading my blog.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, One World One Heart, giveaway

The fourth annual ONE WORLD ONE HEART giveaway starts today!!  From January 25 to February 15 bloggers around the world will be giving away items.  This giveaway is WORLDWIDE – one of the requirements is that you MUST be willing to ship (for free) worldwide.  Last year someone in Australia won my giveaway.

Let’s hear the drumroll … this prize of mine will be whisking off to some place around the globe … are you wondering what it is yet?  I am pretty sure YOU will be pleased … hopefully YOU will be the one who rides the magic carpet around the world … right into my prize.

The winner will be announced on February 15 – so be sure to leave a comment by February 14 – think of this as a Valentine’s Day gift for yourself (for those of you who celebrate this holiday).  In order to be eligible, you need to leave me a way to get in touch with you. Your email address is not public – I am the only one who can see it – so it is safe to fill it in.  Obviously, when YOU win this prize … I will need to be able to let you know.  I am willing to ship to wherever you are in the world – probably even to outer space if that is where you live … perhaps the magic carpet goes that far!

Drumroll … The prize is a Conundrum I card. It is a 4.25 x 6″ blank fine art card that is professionally printed. It comes with an envelope and is enclosed in a clear protective sleeve.  This is my vibrant colorful painting that many of you say is your favorite – that is why this is the prize.  I hope you will enter!

Conundrum I, Collage © Diane Clancy

All the details regarding the 2010 event can be found here: http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/one-world-one-heart.html. Lisa of A Whimsical Bohemian says “The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way.”

There are many bloggers involved (911 in 2009) from many countries from all over the world. Lisa continues “it’s a coming together like the giant community we are on this planet. If only it took a simple giveaway to create PEACE everywhere, in the mean time here we give from our hearts. … KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT…..therefore you must be willing to ship globally should your winner be from out of the country.”

I am very excited that this is international.  One of my cards with the vibrant, colorful painting Conundrum I is the prize. So some of you from other countries may well join in.  The  start is today January 25 – this post is the post where your comments will be chosen from.

Thanks so much for coming by!
~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, One World One Heart, A Whimsical Bohemian, giveaway, Conundrum I

I followed the advice on Feedblitz for making my readers happier and more informed when they get my posts by email (I sure hope I made good choices for all of us – let me know if you see changes you want).  When I finished the whole improving my subscriptions for readers, I got a special bonus for my readers – that would be YOU!!  Please feel free to take advantage of this – but this offer is good only until Feb 3 (their doing, not mine) … please ask if you have questions – I will do my best to answer them!  You have to be a new user and type in the special code Diane.

10% Lifetime Discount for your Readers!

Now that you are using FeedBlitz at an elite level, we are happy to enable you to offer your readers a special, time-limited 10% Lifetime Discount to our services. We have allocated you this special offer code – Diane – which is yours, and yours alone. All your readers need to do to secure their 10% lifetime discount is to sign up for FeedBlitz using this promotional code before 03 February, 2010 (US eastern time).

It’s not obligatory, but …

Now, you don’t have to use this offer; there’s no obligation. But if your readership, partners or clients would benefit from the great features you have just enabled, why not give them a change to catch this great deal?

How it Works

1. You tell your visitors, subscribers, clients and partners about your special promotion code (remember, it’s Diane) which expires by 03 February, 2010.
2. They start an evaluation before 03 February, 2010 at http://www.feedblitz.com/f?NewAccount using the promotion code Diane.
3. FeedBlitz automatically applies their lifetime discount – Easy!

Small Print – Limitations and Restrictions

• The discount is available to new accounts only.
• The lifetime discount applies to all FeedBlitz paid services for that user, until and unless the user cancels their account, there is a payment default or the user later switches to a different FeedBlitz plan.
• The offer must be used before 03 February, 2010 – no ifs, ands, or buts.
• Once this offer expires it will not be made again to the readers of Diane Clancy’s Art Blog – Ever.

Tick, Tick, Tick…

Time is running out. You can promote your offer Diane on your blog, web site, via email, on Twittter, Facebook and anywhere else. But your readers MUST sign up for their FeedBlitz trial using the Diane promotion code before 03 February, 2010 in order to get their 10% lifetime discount. So start now – and give them yet another reason to think more of you.

Any questions? Feel free to contact technical support. But the timer has started, so don’t delay!

Conundrum I, Collage © Diane Clancy

This vibrant, colorful painting (collage) is my signature piece!

If you would like to join Design Style Guide, please click here:

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Feedblitz, Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, 10% Lifetime Discount, Design Style Guide

The winner of the Design Style Guide Giveaway is Amanda Makepeace. You can check out her pebble exchange right here … and from there, you can go check The Artist and other parts of this site.  She also has a link to her regular website.  Amanda’s Etsy Shop is here ….  Amanda is a very creative artist and very active in online activities.  Plus she is kind and generous – a great combo! Amanda choose as her winnings … Conundrum I – as an 8 x 10″ Fine Art Print … I can’t wait until she receives it!

Conundrum I, Collage © Diane Clancy

The Design Style Guide is a wonderful place that is bringing together thousands of items that are appropriate for Home Decor. Their main purpose is to promote the team and its members to Interior Designers (and like-minded consumers) through various promotions and advertising techniques. This is part of the move to promote handmade items instead of mass produced things. Their focus is on marketing and branding “Handmade Home Decor” to professional Interior Designers.

If you would like to join Design Style Guide, please click here:

Thanks for stopping by!

I am adding new things every day to my shops – I am getting back in the flow – so keep checking to see which one YOU want to take home!! Thank you!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Design Style Guide Giveaway, Amanda Makepeace, Etsy

Recently were Part I,  Part II and Part III in this art marketing series – this is all in response to Sue O’Kieffe of Sacred Circle Mandalas (http://sacred-circle-mandalas.blogspot.com) who recently wrote me “i am curious to know out of all the ways you sell your art, which is the most profitable for you and which is the most enjoyable?” I have been getting some good feedback from various people that this is being helpful to them.

What a great question, Sue!!  I know some other artists sometimes read my blog – I hope everyone will chime in – this could be very helpful to us all!  I am really looking forward to hearing from others too!  We have already done an overview of offline selling (much more to be said about that!), online selling from a shop where you the seller ship directly to your customer, and online selling from a shop where the site produces the merchandise and ships directly to the customer.

Today we will focus on one online shop (Etsy) where you the artist (and seller) ship directly to the customer.  Check back in Part II to refresh your memory of some of the pluses and minuses of this method of online selling if you like. I have several online shops where I ship directly to the buyer – there are LOTS to chose from.  I will give you details about my 2 current favorites and tell you why I like them.  They are Etsy and 1000 Markets.  These are links directly to my shops – it is easy to go to the main pages from there. Some artists have other favorites and I hope you (they) will post about them in the comments!  I have decided to break this post into 2 parts … the length is way too long to read I think … so tomorrow will be 1000 Markets.

This is a framed print from my Etsy shop that showcases my vibrant, colorful painting of Conundrum I.  If you check out this link, you will see that I have different views of this collage.  Most of the shops allow you to have several images of your art.  I have the image itself, the print matted and the print framed.

Inner Flow II Framed Tile © Diane Clancy

If you notice, I also have a short story or description of the painting.  This gives one a way, a hook,  to bring the customer into the image … it helps draw someone into the picture and perhaps enhances their experience of our artwork.  Given that our collectors are collecting us, “the artist,” besides the painting … it is useful to reflect to them our way of looking at this image.  Of course, people can always have their own relationship with our painting … but this can be useful.  Most if not all of the shops allow you to entice the collector in this way.  Of course, one would also put other details about the item to inform the buyer.

But what makes Etsy different?  The question some of you are waiting to hear answered.  One of the best things about Etsy is the teams that are there.  You can join (or apply) to teams that interest you.  Some of the teams really work together to market and support each other.  Teams can be based on various interests – where one lives, what kind of work one sells, one’s age, one’s special interests … the list goes on and on.  Take a peek here to look at the teams (there are over 450).  I started to sell at Etsy once I got active on a couple of teams.

Through the teams one becomes more 3-dimensional … and remember, people are buying the artist, not just the art.  Many, but not all, of my sales have come from relationships I have built by being active in the Etsy community.  To get back to Sue’s question – Etsy is where (by far!!!) I have made the most money from online sales where I directly ship to people.  I have a fair amount of sales.  Many of them are for smallish amounts, but for quite awhile I had a steady flow of sales.

Another wonderful thing about Etsy is treasuries!  Here is the link to the treasuries – they are called “Curated, Shopping Galleries.” Anyone who is registered at Etsy can create a treasury.  One chooses 12 items and makes a mini-gallery – often with a theme.  Most of my sales from people who didn’t know me at all have come from treasuries … they are a great marketing tool!

Downsides of Etsy – one has to be registered at Etsy to buy an item.  Many sellers have requested a method to allow buyers to just drop in and buy … freely!  There are so many different shops now that one needs to work to stand out.  Art is not the best seller at Etsy – in many ways crafts have tended to sell better there – though the artists are working to change that.  The other shop owners at Etsy (and the buyers too) are part of what is great at Etsy!!  I have a how-to get started at Etsy if you want me to write up that post here – I don’t think I have posted it yet – I wrote it for the Artists Resource site a couple of us had started. We can certainly talk more about Etsy on another day … and feel free to make comments and I will do my best to anser them.

So I recommend Etsy as a place to open a shop for sure.  It has gotten some good publicity.  I welcome hearing from others what your experiences and thoughts are!!  We may differ for sure!  I hope that we can help each other know the strengths of each shop.  Please feel free to ask questions to get more information … thanks for coming by!!  I will post the 1000 Markets in the morning – it is already written – I just broke this post into 2 to make it more readable.

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, Conundrum I,   Etsy,   Sacred Circle Mandalas, Sue O’Kieffe, marketing, treasury

This vibrant, colorful painting of Conundrum I is now on postage in my Zazzle Shop.   Here is the link for this real postage.  I think it is pretty cool – I hope you like it!  This is REAL US postage that you can send letters with!!  You can also get in in various postage rates.  You can also get this at my Etsy Shop as a Art Card, ACEO for $6.  Conundrum I is also available in many different sizes.  Just ask!

Conundrum I Postage © Diane Clancy

Since people are still buying functional items, I realized I can use some of my energy to create items in shops that you can use besides look at.  I think I might tackle shirts soon.  Any ideas?  What would you think was still worth buying with an image on it?  Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, postage, goddess, Zazzle, Art Cards – ACEOs, Etsy

Jean Levert Hood of the BBEST Team featured me on the BBEST Team Blog yesterday.  There is a lovely writeup of me …  In part Jean says “I find Diane’s work to be energetic and yet peaceful. Her color choices, design and composition show a sharp eye for a creation sure to grace your walls! With work priced from $4.00 to well over $1000.00, you easily find something for every budget, any room, or that special gift.  … This is one talented lady!”  Thank you, Jean!

The BBEST Team at Etsy is a great group of people.  Here is what they say about BBEST on their BBEST Blog: “The BBEST Team is a vibrant and talented group of Etsians aged 40+ who are dedicated to Etsy which is synonymous with quality handmade items. Our very diverse group provides a place to chat, exchange ideas, help and support like minded members who call themselves the Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team.”

WWAO (Worldwide Women Artists Online) is a great group of women artists that I belong to.  We had an ATC swap this spring of 2009. ATC are the same as ACEOs … a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2″ piece of art.  ATC is the Art Trading Card … so that name gets used for when they are traded instead of sold.  That is partly why I have started calling them Art Cards, ACEO in my shops … I think that is a clearer name for these delightful little works of art!

The WWAO Collaborative Gallery shows the incredible work of many talented artists from WWAO.  This gallery (http://wwaogallery.blogspot.com) showcases ATCs from 16 artists in an incredible diversity of styles and mediums.  It is worth taking the time to look through these posts …  I know I have enjoyed seeing lots of work from one artist, each after the other … in some deep way it taught me something I can’t verbalize yet … about both the continuity and range a single artist can have and still have her style look coherent.

Continuation of the Basics of Your Arcade

The Arcade at The Handmade Product Directory is becoming a popular place for artists to sell all our work from multiple shops all together in one place – in a very affordable way. All sorts of handmade products are available there – not just art. Please see yesterday’s post for Part I. You can see here an example of how I have items from different shops all shown together – this can give you an idea of what YOUR own Arcade can look like!

Conundrum I, Collage, Framed Print, Etsy © Diane Clancy

What about the other parts of the form? At the beginning of the form it asks if you are currently listed in The Handmade Shopping Directory. Check for yourself at http://www.dmpmc.net/THMD if you are not sure. My directory entry came up when I did a search for myself.  You might want to be in the directory if you are not. Agreeing to the terms of service is obvious.  Then you need a banner of up to 760×100 pixels and an avatar (75×75). Fill in the image verification and hit the “Register” button.

Conundrum I, Postage, Zazzle © Diane Clancy

What if I need to reenter the verification code? Good question! Not only do you need to so the code again, you will need to reenter your links to the banner and avatar.  Additionally, and “ ‘ “ may add  “ \ “ that you will want to take out.

Conundrum I, Framed Tile, CafePress © Diane Clancy

How much does this cost? The Arcade is a way to send your customers to one shop instead of to lots of different shops.  One way to think about the cost is to consider it low-cost advertising … sending people to one place only – so they can see the breadth and range of your products at a glance. The cost is $ 2 a month cost for having a shop, for this portal. The only fee is the shop fee of $2 per month – with NO FEES for setup, listings or sales!!

Here are examples of 2 Arcades. My Arcade shop is http://dianeclancy.dmpmc.net – where I sell Fine Art, Fine Art Cards and lots of Fine Art images on mugs, tiles, postage, totes and more.  Another Arcade is http://susanelkin.dmpmc.net where Susan Elkin sells her Fine Art Photography as prints, cards, ACEOs, mugs, tiles, totes, postage and more.

How do I get money? You don’t get money directly from your Arcade – this is a portal that sends your customers directly to your other shops where they actually purchase your items.

How does your customer get the item? Since you are actually sending your customers to your other shops, that is where they purchase your items.  So they would receive the items as they usually would from that particular shop.

How do I list an item? There is an Excel file you can use to list lots of items at once.  There is also an online form where you can list one item at a time.  You will need the url of the item, the picture of the item, a short description, along with the category the item belongs in.  I learned some lessons the hard way so please ask questions if you want more help.

Is it worth opening an Arcade shop? I think so. I know I am delighted to be able to show my different work all in one place.  This way I can show an original from my website, a print from Etsy, postage with this image from Zazzle, a framed tile with this image from CafePress and a poster with this image from RedBubble.  It allows me to suggest to customers various ways they may want to purchase the images they love. I hope at least one of these ways will encourage them to take that step to buy!

This is a broad overview of The Arcade – we are glad to answer any questions or point you in the right direction. There are of course many more details – we can go into them as you need them. Good luck selling!!

Tomorrow I share a blog where I have been featured and I was also quoted in another local newspaper.   I hope you like this vibrant,  colorful painting!   Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: The Arcade,   Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting