Thank you for coming by – I would very much appreciate your input and feedback.  I am working on a brochure for my business – something I have wanted for years!  I am getting a brochure as a thank you for sponsoring the brochure giveaway … and I need your input – please!!  This is one side of the flyer (the outside)  – the middle column is what is at issue here.  The other side of the flyer is the inside.   This is a tri-fold brochure – it gets folded into three parts.  Please see the end of my post for a reminder of my current FREE giveaway!

Center Align – Front of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

The images of the merchandise are not finished yet – there are issues with these images so far – and I am not sure which items I will use.  But the main issue is the readability of the middle column of online shops and sites.  Can you read it better centered or left aligned? Also, which way do you like the look of better?  I want it to be useful to people – for sure! This is the column blown up to make it easier to see – I think it is bigger than life – so please keep that in mind!

Center Align – Middle Column Only of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

One of my friends said the centered version gave him a headache.  Susan and I both think we can read the centered a lot more easily.  Because the websites are staggered, then we both think it is easier to read the actual website addresses.  Plus I like the way it looks much better centered.  But I want my collectors and clients to be able to read it – that is the most important thing!  I really want to hear your feedback – even if it differs from mine.  Does it bother you that some of the columns are centered?

Left Align – Front of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am very excited to be doing this brochure – for years I have been thinking about it.  I have been wanting to promote my vibrant, colorful paintings and also my graphic design and web design business.  But this last week I needed to actually make decisions and put all the information into a brochure.  At first I had trouble thinking of what to put in it … then there was too much – so I couldn’t include things like my Artists Statement.  Here is the column in question – how readable is this to you?  Remember it is large here.

Left Align – Middle Column Only of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

Someone asked about the inside of the brochure – so here it is.  Perhaps I am trying to do too much … but I would like one brochure for the different things we are offering.  Thank you again for your feedback!!

Inside of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

Here is a newer version of the outside – I think I have incorporated most of the ideas that people have shared.  Thank you so so much for all this input!!  The images aren’t technically accurate yet – I am doing the layout first and then will go back and make sure they are all 300 dpi tifs.  Thank you again!! I would love to hear what you think of this version!!

Outside of Brochure, Digital © Diane Clancy

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave feedback!! I so appreciate your input!!  Here is the link to the 50 FREE Greeting Cards Giveaway!!  (Sorry only for US residents) Thank you again!

Thank you!
~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: brochure, Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful paintings

Sorry for the short notice, but you can write until TODAY  – and I hope YOU will!! At last the government WANTS to hear from actual artists instead of only big businesses.  Some businesses want to use our work without our permission (or payment) – this has been called the Orphan Works Bill.  I know I want to protect my colorful, vibrant paintings!!  Please read yesterday’s post for details.  My letter is below just as an example.  Thank you! ~ Diane

Summary of issue: Over 85 organizations opposed the last Orphan Works bills, representing over half a million creators. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses.

WRITE TODAY – details in yesterday’s post - my letter below!

My name is Diane Clancy from Greenfield, MA.  I create vibrant paintings that feature color and vision to inspire and uplift people.  I work both in traditional mediums and digital mediums.  I also do graphic design and web design.

I sell originals of my work.  But I also use my images (paintings) for prints and on merchandise. I have several online shops where people can purchase my work – both from me directly and through shops that do the printing themselves and send the merchandise and prints directly to my customers and collectors.

On some images I spend well over 100 hours to produce the original painting.  To make a profit in my art business, I need to be able to use and reuse such an image over and over again to make my art business profitable.  That is partly why I sell prints of these paintings and also sell these images on items such as mugs, tiles, journals, calendars and tote bags.  This is how I make my money from such a painting.

As a commercial artist, I have a business plan and much of it is based on reuse of my paintings – by ME!  If other businesses are able to use my images, saying that they are orphaned, I have lost much of my business and income.  My paintings, my images ARE my business.  I have spent much time and effort in creating them and marketing them.  I need to be the one who gets the benefit of my intellectual property rights.

I want the government to protect my copyrights of my paintings … and to not make it easier for others to call my images orphaned and then make money from these paintings.  I am an American micro-business, an entrepreneur – the backbone of the American economy.  I need the US government to be protecting and encouraging, small creative businesses …  I also think this is what is going to help turn around this economy.

Also, I am an artist living with a disability. Having this small art business is what allowed me to move off disability to be supporting myself. Please help me support myself.  I know of many artists with micro-businesses who are living with disabilities.  Creating and marketing our art is what allows many of us to minimize financial support from the government.  To me, clearly, it is evident that is good for the economy.

Thank you for asking artists for our input!  I am greatly appreciative that you want to hear from us,
~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Orphan Works, colorful vibrant painting, Diane Clancy, copyright

Sorry for the short notice, but you can write until March 24  – and I hope YOU will!! At last the government WANTS to hear from actual artists instead of only big businesses.  This is again about copyright issues. Some businesses want to use our work without our permission (or payment) – this has been called the Orphan Works Bill.

Most of us artists want to protect our copyrights to make sure that we can protect our work.  I know I want to protect my colorful, vibrant paintings!!  Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner for the Board of the Illustrators’ Partnership has put together this information.  Mark Simon is an Artist Adovcate and he passed along this information also.  Thank you to them!  Please read below for details.  Thank you! ~ Diane

Summary of issue: Over 85 organizations opposed the last Orphan Works bills, representing over half a million creators. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses.

WRITE TODAY – details below!

Hello fellow artists,
Below is great info on a White House initiative to find out more about copyright protection for artists and small businesses.

The deadline to hear from artists is <WED MARCH 24>, SO DON’T DELAY. Email them now. Info is below.

Artist Advocate,
Mark Simon

FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS’ PARTNERSHIP

White House Seeks Artists’ Comments to Improve Copyright Protection

3.18.10

New Copyright Czar begins Joint Strategic Plan to Protect Intellectual Property
Victoria Espinel is the first U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), also known as the Copyright Czar. Congress created IPEC by an Act of Congress. Ms. Espinel serves within theExecutive Office of the President to coordinate with all the federal agencies that fight the infringement of intellectual property.

Ms. Espinel and her team are specifically tasked with formulating and implementing a Joint Strategic Plan to help protect the ingenuity and creativity of Americans by improving the U.S. Government’s protection of the rights of intellectual property owners.

Your input is requested.
The White House is inviting your public input and participation to shape an effective intellectual property enforcement strategy. Please respond with your written submissions regarding the costs to you, your business and the U.S. economy resulting from infringement of your intellectual property rights, both direct and indirect.

This will be a 2-part process.
The first is to gather public recommendations by March 24. IPEC will then gather your input on the formulated plan.

Please be precise.
Include your name, city, state, and what type of artist you are. Explain why copyright is critical to you as a commercial artist, how infringement affects you, and what the U.S. government can do to better protect the rights of American artists. If your submission is about your economic loss due to infringement of your copyrights you must clearly identify the methodology used to calculate your losses or otherwise validate your infringement and enforcement costs.

Your submission will be publicly posted.
For this reason, please do not include in your comments information of a confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or proprietary information.

Confidential disclosures.
If you have confidential business information that would support your recommendation or that you believe would help the Government formulate an effective enforcement strategy, please let them know by contacting:

Thomas L. Stoll
Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator
(202) 395-1808

Deadline: Submissions must be received by Wednesday, March 24, 2010, at 5 p.m. EST.
Address: All submissions should be sent electronically via intellectualproperty@omb.eop.gov

Additional Background Reading:
White House Blog
Federal Register Notice Request

- Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner for the Board of the Illustrators’ Partnership

______________________________________________________________

For news and information, and an archive of these messages:
Illustrators’ Partnership Orphan Works Blog: http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/

Over 85 organizations opposed the last Orphan Works bills, representing over half a million creators. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses.

Technorati Tags: Orphan Works, colorful vibrant painting, Diane Clancy, Illustrators’ Partnership, Mark Simon, copyright

I won 250 business cards … from Lynne Reichart  Here is the post about this.   An artist’s ramblings by Lynne Reichart Blog often features great giveaways by UPrinting.com. There is another one running right now – a giveaway for posters. You can see my signature vibrant, colorful painting on the front.

Front of My New Business Card © Diane Clancy

Back of My New Business Card © Diane Clancy

Some people had asked me to show them what it looked like once I designed it … so here it is … I have been wanting to way to make it easy to let people know WHERE online they can find my work.  I think I like it quite a bit … some other giveaways that I am involved in are 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 February 14. There are at least 1000 blogs participating in this giveaway – so jump on the magic carpet and go exploring … and win some prizes too!!

Design Style Guide is having a Valentine Giveaway with 10 – yes 10 – different winners!! 10 shop owners have all offered to supply FREE gift certificates (and FREE shipping) for each of our shops!!

These certificates are worth between $20 and $30 or  for a specific item or for YOUR choice in a shop – so well worth your time! It is very simple to enter – read the blog post for details. For each of 10 days, there will be a winner!

Thank YOU for stopping by and reading my blog.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, Lynne Reichart, One World One Heart, giveaway, Design Style Guide giveaway, business cards, UPrinting

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.

Design Style Guide Giveaway #5

They are having a series of giveaways – the current one with Diane Clancy (yes, ME!!) at Etsy and 1000 Markets.  This is a free giveaway and I encourage you to join in and see if you can win!!  The Giveaway is through October 20 – so join in today!!  Here are the details about the giveaway on the Design Style Blog.  You know my art – I encourage to go join in the giveaway. Here are my shops Diane’s Etsy shop and Diane’s 1000 Markets Shop. This is a great opportunity and let’s hope one of you wins!

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, Etsy, 1000 Markets

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.

Design Style Guide Giveaway #4

They are having a series of giveaways – the current one with Joan of TheGiftHutch at Etsy.  This is a free giveaway and I encourage you to join in and see if you can win!!  The deadline is September 2 – so join in today!!  Here are the details about the giveaway on the Design Style Blog.  Joan creates beautiful pillows, sachets and other gifts and I encourage to go join in the giveaway and also look at her Etsy shop. This is a great opportunity and let’s hope one of us wins!

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

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Design Style Guide Giveaway, Joan of TheGiftHutch

This is the Freckles in Flowers II Mug from my Zazzle shop – I am thrilled that 2 people have bought it in the last month …  from my Zazzle shop (http://zazzle.com/dianeclancyart).  At the bottom of this post is another hint of selling and buying from CafePress vs Zazzle.

Freckles in Flowers II Mug at Zazzle © Diane Clancy

You can see that it is different from my Freckles in Flowers II Mug from my CafePress shop (http://cafepress.com/dianeclancy).

Freckles in Flowers II Mug at CafePress © Diane Clancy

It is so interesting to me to have such different looking mugs – yet both starting with the same image …  To make things even more fun, at Zazzle you can choose lots of other styles of mugs before you check out – all with the same image … go check it out.

At CafePress, you can also get the same vibrant colorful painting on different mugs – but I have to prepare those other mugs for you – you yourself can’t just chose the other variations for yourself … this is one of the things in favor of Zazzle.  Which of these 2 mugs do you prefer?  Thank you for being in my life!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful paintings, Zazzle, CafePress

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.

Design Style Guide Giveaway #3

They are having a series of giveaways – the current one with Felicia Kramer.  This is a free giveaway and I encourage you to join in and see if you can win!!  The deadline is August 5 – so join in today!!  Here are the details about the giveaway on the Design Style Blog.  Felicia Kramer is a fantastic artist and I encourage to go join in the giveaway and also look at her Etsy shop. This is a great opportunity and let’s hope one of us wins!

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

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Design Style Guide Giveaway, Felicia Kramer

Recently were Part I,  Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V and Part VI 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, online selling from a shop where the site produces the merchandise and ships directly to the customer and an overviews of Etsy, 1000 Markets and CafePress.

Today we will focus on one online shop (Zazzle) where you the artist upload your images onto the shop site and then put those images onto merchandise that you choose. Then the shop itself (not you the artist) is the one who prints the item up and ships it directly to the customer.  Check back in Part III to refresh your memory of some of the pluses and minuses of this method of online selling if you like. I have 4 online shops currently where I put my paintings onto merchandise and then sell it right there from that site.  I will give you details about my 2 current favorites and tell you why I like them.  They are CafePress and Zazzle.  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!  Today we look at Zazzle.

This postage (YES, real actual US postage!!) from my Zazzle Shop showcases my vibrant, colorful painting of Evening Stroll.   You can see that they also have room for the description to capture interest, details of what one is selling, and also the various views of your item. (Refer to earlier posts if you want more on this.)

Evening Stroll Postage © Diane Clancy

I like Zazzle a whole lot!!  You can probably tell that I think their offering real US postage is amazing to me – I love it!! This process is similar to working in CafePress – but also different … so bear with me.  You can open a shop.   See Susan Elkin’s shop as an example of another shop. You can use one image on all items or a different one on each. A great thing about Zazzle is that it is free – you can have as many items as you like for free – unlike CafePress.  Also you get to set your own price markup.  As far as I know, Zazzle doesn’t mark down your items like CafePress does if you find an item through the main site instead of going directly to someone’s shop.

I started with CafePress – and have listed tons on items … just lots and lots – so the process is very familar to me.  It was what I started with.  Most people think Zazzle is easier to work with – in some ways it is.  There are fewer screens one needs to work through to get to finalizing one’s product. The last post focused on CafePress.  Since we have already talked about CafePress and since I know it better, I will sometimes use them as a reference point.

Zazzle works well and faster than CafePress – in some ways.  To be clear about the process (to prepare for writing this) I just listed 2 new products.  The first one took forever – it got locked into not being able to go to the next step – this happens to me quite frequently – which is why I am not fonder of Zazzle than I am.  The second item I was able to create quite quickly.  Another problem that I have with Zazzle is – the last time I checked, one also could not change the text on an item once it was created – I think this is a real mistake.

My problem is this – they seem to assume you know how to work with their templates … and they seem pretty obvious – but I am never sure if the process is just very buggy (that means things don’t work like they are supposed to) or if I am doing something wrong.  Whenever I have asked, and when it goes smoothly, it does seem like I am using the templates correctly.  But, for instance, I have been able to choose the font type maybe once out of every 5 items I make.  The rest of the time I end up using the default because I can’t get the font thing to work – even though I choose it and press close to show I accept it.  I do the same thing on the times it works and doesn’t work.  Remember I am a graphic designer used to using programs and I am sort of geeky – so it is not that I am computer-phobic!  I waste a lot of time trying to get from one step to another because it doesn’t seem to function correctly.

Zazzle also has templates for the items you want to put your images on – you can download them and work with the templates directly.  They also have the sizing info right there as are you are choosing an image for a new product.  This is fantastic – because it makes things potentially simpler – one can then bypass the templates.  One does still need to prep the image different ways for different items.  It can get a bit challenging – but doable.  Choose an item – put it in your shop – then upload the image you want to put on this item. Go ahead and put the image onto the merchandise …. after you put the image, you can write a description (as in Etsy, 1000 Markets and CafePress) and also put in tags.

Tags are important – tags are what allow someone to find your work out of all the 100,000′s of pieces that are there.  You can name this particular item – I use the name of the painting with the name of the type of merchandise.  They also have you choose which category your item goes into.  CafePress also has you do this – even though I didn’t mention it before.

Then you can set your price.  These kinds of PRINT ON DEMAND shops generally have a base price that you would pay if you bought your own work.  Then you set a price increase (by percentage) to add to the price so that you make something when someone buys your work.   This is where you make your money from this type of online selling.  Of course, you will want to strike a balance … more profit per item vs more affordable so PERHAPS more people will buy it.

You can add a banner to your shop and do some editing of how you present your online store.  My own way of marketing is that I strive to give some consistency and a similar feel to all my online marketing – it is not identical at all … but hopefully someone would recognize that it is me!

The variety of merchandise is great and they keep adding more.  I love seeing my work on all the various items!  I am not sure if there is a way to have sections to your shop or not.  But it is easy to choose to see all the mugs at once – but their links on the side.  It is also wonderful that there are fan clubs and you can join someone’s fan club. (I hope you will join mine – my Zazzle is here).  It is also a fantastic thing that people can leave comments for your shop and for individual items.  This makes it much more interactive with the collectors than at CafePress.  There is a community where you can interact with other people – I have not explored this at all.  I am sure (as everywhere else) that the more you connect with others, the more sales you make.

Sales – this brings us to a part some people don’t like.  When you sell your work at Etsy or 1000 Markets, you get paid directly, right away (usually), by the buyer.  Besides developing a relationship, you also get the money.  When selling from Zazzle (or other on demand shops) you get paid either once a year or when a certain amount of money accumulates.  So you don’t see the money quickly unless you are a very high volume seller.  This doesn’t bother me because I feel like it is money in the bank – but some people do not like this.  It is part of the package though.

Many people think Zazzle is the best online shop to put one’s images onto merchandise.  I have heard many people promote it over CafePress.  One still needs to pay attention to sizing images to some degree.  I like Zazzle and hopefully I can figure out how not to get so slowed down by the problems of setting up new merchandise – I do not know why that happens so consistenly for me.  But I love my shop and will continue with it.

As with ALL these different types of shops … one needs to market your own shop – and I need to do a lot more of that!

I have a shop at Imagekind – they sell prints of my paintings, framed and unframed, and also cards.  They are a very good, respected shop with an extensive selection of papers, canvas and frames.  I also have a shop at Redbubble – Redbubble sells paintings on paper, canvas and posters with different finishing for the prints.  They also sell t-shirts. Many people love both of there shops.

So I recommend both CafePress and Zazzle as the best for me so far.  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 – I am glad to share what I can and so are others! … thanks for coming by!!

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting,   Evening Stroll, Etsy, 1000 Markets, Sacred Circle Mandalas, Sue O’Kieffe, marketing, CafePress, Zazzle, Redbubble, Imagekind, merchandise, Susan Elkin

Recently were Part I,  Part II, Part III, Part IVraman amplifier, Part V, Part VI and Part VII 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, online selling from a shop where the site produces the merchandise and ships directly to the customer and an overviews of Etsy, 1000 Markets, CafePress and Zazzle.

Today we will focus on two online shops (Redbubble and Imagekind) where you the artist upload your images onto the shop site and then you choose which of their prints you want to offer. Then the shop itself (not you the artist) is the one who makes the print and ships it directly to the customer.  Check back in Part III to refresh your memory of some of the pluses and minuses of this method of online selling if you like. I have 4 online shops currently where I put my paintings online and then sell it right there from that site.  I will give you details about these two shops today -  Redbubble and Imagekind.  These are links directly to my shops – it is easy to go to the main pages from there. Some artists have other opinions and I hope you (they) will post about them in the comments!

This laminated print from my Redbubble Shop showcases my vibrant, colorful painting of Ocean Dreams.   You can see that they also have room for the description to capture interest and details of what one is selling. (Refer to earlier posts if you want more on this.)

Ocean Dreams – Redbubble Print © Diane Clancy

This framed print from my Imagekind Shop showcases my vibrant, colorful painting of Reflections in Blue I.   Again they have room for the description to capture interest and details of what one is selling. This is just one example.

Reflections in Blue I Imagekind – Framed Print © Diane Clancy

Imagekind and Redbubble are very different in one way from CafePress and Zazzle.  With CafePress and Zazzle one can put one’s paintings on a large variety of merchandise.  With Redbubble and Imagekind one can sell a variety of prints (both also offer cards and Redbubble offers t-shirts).

With both Imagekind and Redbubble, the size file that you upload of your painting, determines what you can sell to your customers. This is very different from the other 2 shops.  Each shop gives the specifications for each of the sizes of their prints.  If one uploads the largest size. then all the variations are automatically available – IF you choose to let them be available.  This is a great ease compared to CafePress and Zazzle – it is lovely to load ONE variation for each painting, and then the sizes are automatically adjusted by the shop.  Also it makes the naming easy – all one needs to do is name each image one has uploaded.  So there is some real simplicity in these shops.

It is simpler in many ways – but also the choices are limited as to the type of item that is offered.  Imagekind has loads and loads of types of frames, mats and papers to customize your prints.  Redbubble gives choices of sizes from a greeting card up to a poster – with various finishings. Upload the image you want and then you can write a description (as in Etsy, 1000 Markets, CafePress and Zazzle) and also put in tags. Tags are important – tags are what allow someone to find your work out of all the 100,000′s of pieces that are there.

Then you can set your price.  These kinds of PRINT ON DEMAND shops generally have a base price that you would pay if you bought your own work.  Then you set a price increase to add to the price so that you make something when someone buys your work.   This is where you make your money from this type of online selling.  Of course, you will want to strike a balance … more profit per item vs more affordable so PERHAPS more people will buy it.

You have a shop and you can customize your shop – at least to some degree.  If you have a paid membership at Imagekind (I don’t), then you can have multiple galleries.  At Imagekind one can have fans and be a fan to other galleries.   At Redbubble you can have a watchlist and be on other people’s watchlists.

There is are communities where you can interact with other people – I have not explored this at all.  I am sure (as everywhere else) that the more you connect with others, the more sales you make.

Sales – this brings us to a part some people don’t like.  When you sell your work at Etsy or 1000 Markets, you get paid directly, right away (usually), by the buyer.  Besides developing a relationship, you also get the money.  When selling from Imagekind and Redbubble (or other on demand shops) you get paid either once a year or when a certain amount of money accumulates.  So you don’t see the money quickly unless you are a very high volume seller.  This doesn’t bother me because I feel like it is money in the bank – but some people do not like this.  It is part of the package though.  So far I have sold one print at Imagekind and nothing at Redbubble … but I have not marketed them as well as I could.

As with ALL these different types of shops … one needs to market your own shop – and I need to do a lot more of that!

I have a shop at CafePress where I sell tiles, mugs, journals, bags and more. I also have a shop at Zazzle where I sell postage, mugs, cards, postcards and more.  Many people love both of there shops. Imagekind is wonderful for creating prints on a great variety of papers and Redbubble has a great variety prints and t-shirts.

I am hoping Christopher will share about templates at Zazzle – I don’t know about them and he thinks they are great.  I would LOVE to know more about them!

I recommend both CafePress and Zazzle as the best for me so far.  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 – I am glad to share what I can and so are others! … thanks for coming by!!

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting,   Reflections in Blue I, Ocean Dreams, Etsy, 1000 Markets, Sacred Circle Mandalas, Sue O’Kieffe, marketing, CafePress, Zazzle, Redbubble, Imagekind, merchandise, prints, print on demand

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

Yesterday was Part II in this series and the day before was Part I – 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?”

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 and online selling from a shop where you the seller ship directly to your customer.  Today we will talk about the other kind of online shop.  After that I will talk about specifics. This is a framed tile from CafePress that showcases my vibrant, colorful painting of Inner Flow II.

Inner Flow II Framed Tile © Diane Clancy

Yesterday we covered selling online when the customer orders directly from you the seller – whether from your own website or blog or from one of the numerous online shops where you can list your work.  You ship directly from the buyer and they pay you directly.

After selling for awhile from these types of shops, I discovered another type of online selling.  There are shops where I can upload my own images from my paintings onto the site of the shop.   They then can print their merchandise with my image when someone wants to purchase it.

WOW!  What a concept!! They print, they ship, they bill, they deal with breakage and replacement, they deal with bounced payments, they deal with returns.  Sounds like a good deal to me!

There are ways that this does work incredibly well … I prepare the image of my painting (which depending on the shop can take quite some effort), then upload it (some shops upload more quickly than others), I put in descriptions and tags (depending on the shop), decide which types of items I will be selling this painting on … and list this painting in the shop.

Actually, it makes sense to decide what you want to place the image on first – because preparing the file depends on what item it is going on.  Also sometimes there are issues with color and such, depending on the type of object on which you have them print your painting,

Some shops sell only prints of an image – that is, they print on paper (or canvas, etc) – a print that you could frame.  That is something that I sell myself from my own home.  But they are able to sell the print with many choices of printing surfaces and lots of different choices in framing.  They are also able to print more inexpensively than I am able due to economies of scale.

Other shops sell lots of different merchandise.  So I can have my paintings on mugs, tiles, cards, shirts, postage (real US postage), journals, shoes, caps … the list keep getting longer as these stores offer more choices in merchandise.  So this is a great way to keep my images on THINGS – something I have wanted to do for over a decade.

They do the printing … and they PRINT ON DEMAND.  That is, they print my painting on a mug, only when some orders one.  I don’t have to buy 500 mugs with 1 image, pay the printer, store them at my house, ship them when someone buys one, absorb the cost when one breaks … you get the idea.  They have all that hassle.

The trade-off?  I don’t see the mug unless I buy one … so I am not sure of the quality printing and not sure how my color looks on their mug.  They get the bulk of the money for the sale.  They will have a “Base Price” – that is the price I would pay for buying my own work – then I can set an amount higher than that.  That way, when someone buys a framed tile, then I will get a certain amount of money credited to my account.

Ah, money credited to my account … that raises another issue.  Usually with these kind of shops, you don’t get paid that often.  Many times it will take awhile for the money to accumulate – and you don’t see that money until … well, each shop has a different agreement on how they handle the money.  Some artists find this very aggravating.  Also the amount I make on each sale is fairly small – especially when you look at the time I put in preparing the product.

I LOVE that my paintings are on merchandise that you can buy and use every day at home.  I so wanted that to happen.  Some of the other downsides?  I haven’t developed a relationship with you … you may not remember who the artist is unless I put my name or website intp the painting – in a readable way.   One woman has bought 50 cards of my Conundrum I painting (in 3 different orders) – all I know is her first name, town and state.  I cannot fillow up with her as a potential customer.  Clearly, she seems a satisfied customer – but she is not really MY customer. That is part of the trade-off.

Next I will cover the specific shops and move toward Sue’s original question. It helps me think to have written all this down and I sure hope it helps you!!

Tomorrow will be Illustration Friday and then I will return to the marketing (or maybe Sue O’kieffe’s giveway and then marketing).  Today is my birthday and it is decade changing.  Thanks for all your good wishes!! Thank you for stopping by!!

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, framed tile, bubblescapes, Zazzle, Inner Flow II, Sacred Circle Mandalas, Sue O’Kieffe, print on demand

Yesterday was Part I 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?”

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!  Yesterday I gave an overview of offline selling. Today is the overview of one type of online selling – the post got long enough to break the online selling into 2 days. After that I will talk about specifics. This real US postage from Zazzle showcases my vibrant, colorful Fanciful Animal Images painting of Freckles in Flowers II.

Freckles in Flowers II Postage © Diane Clancy

There are 2 basic ways I sell online. The way I originally started selling online was that I create the art and then sell the item to the customer directly (often through a store).  Once a customer chooses an item, they pay for that item and then I ship it directly to them.  Once they get the product, if they bought through a shop, often they will leave feedback (hopefully positive!) and I leave feedback too.

This is lovely to have the direct contact with the buyer.  They can contact or email me to ask questions beforehand.  They can ask if I can make a change if they want.  It is often very personal and friendly. This way I end up with their address and usually their email also.  If they don’t mind, I have a way to contact them when I do get around to creating my newsletter.

Depending on the shop, I can get paid in several different ways.  This could be another post sometime – there are multiple ways one can get paid – depending on the circumstances.  If people would like, I can write about that sometime soon. One benefit of getting paid this way is you get your money for the purchase relatively quickly.

If I sold the item through the shop, the store usually takes a percentage of the sale price.  In many shops there is also a listing fee.  Most of the different payment methods also charge a fee for the transaction.  These are some of the costs of doing business online.

One must also take the item to the post office (or know beforehand how much something costs to mail).  If something gets lost in the mail, it is your (the seller’s) problem.  Then you have to deal with the hassle and probably replace the item for free.  So you are also doing the customer service. BUT you are BUILDING a RELATIONSHIP with the customer – which everyone says is crucial to being a successful artist.

This is getting long enough that I am breaking this into 2 parts … I like reading shorter posts myself.  Tomorrow I will talk about the other way I do online selling. Thank you for stopping by!!

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, postage, Fanciful Animal Images, Zazzle, Freckles in Flowers II, Sacred Circle Mandalas, Sue O’Kieffe

Sue O’Kieffe of Sacred Circle Mandalas (http://sacred-circle-mandalas.blogspot.com) 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?”

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!  There is a handful of sites that I use regularly and really enjoy.  I am really looking forward to hearing from others too!  This is mug from CafePress showcases my vibrant, colorful bubblescape painting of Violet Mist.

Violet Mist Mug © Diane Clancy

Today I am going to give an overview of the ways I sell my work offline – and what works about these ways and what doesn’t.  Tomorrow I will give an overview of the online ways I sell my art. The next day I will talk about specific sites and venues and what I like. (This post was getting too long and I know I prefer to read shortish posts). But I will probably write them all today so they hang together.

There are 4 basic ways I sell – 2 offline and 2 online.  Locally I sell to stores or have items on consignment.  This is great because there is no running to the post office to send things off.  Consignment doesn’t work as well as an outright sale of course because there is no money paid to me upfront and I may get my merchandise back with stickers and such or other damage, which gives me more work to deal with.  I love selling my work locally and having people come up to me saying they have seen my work in a specific place and they like it.  I am a big supporter of the local economy.

Of course in a rural area, there are only so many appropriate stores to sell to … and the local market is smallish – our whole county is only 70,000 people.  I have gone to a bigger distance (I have sold in 3 states) but then the mileage eats up that much more profit.  So it is a wonderful piece of the mix – but not enough to sustain my business.

The other local, offline way I sell is at art or craft fairs.  I have not found my stride in this venue yet.  My work hasn’t sold all that well at the local, inexpensive craft fairs.  Art hasn’t tended to sell as well as functional items there.  People don’t seem to be too much in the market for art at these things.  The ones that are inexpensive represent low risk financially – yet they are also the ones that I am less likely to sell art at.

The expensive ones that cost a substantial amount (hundreds of dollars and up), I am leery of for me – I have never tried them.  Some people have made these kinds of fairs a cornerstone of their art or craft business.  I am concerned about such a big investment of time, energy and money. Also, many people say that market has changed substantially … yet I am sure that many artisans are still doing quite well.

For me personally, part of what doesn’t work well at art and craft fairs is the carrying things to the fair and the needing to be there to sell.  As many of you know, I have substantial health issues, and this type of event wipes me out for a good week.  That doesn’t seem like a good trade-off.

Yet last holiday season the Artists of Franklin County put on an Art Fair and it worked quite well for us.  There was no entrance fee and we were competing with other artists.  The networking was fabulous and we made more sales than we usually have.  Part of what I think needs to happen is figuring out how to get more repeat buyers … they love my work and buy something to support me – but sometimes I think then that is that.

So it is great to potentially know my customers locally and to support the local economy.  It is wonderful to meet the store owners and customers face to face and have that personal relationship potentially.  Delivery is local.  Those are big pluses.  Tomorrow I will give an overview on online selling. Thank you for stopping by!!

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, mug, bubblescape, CafePress, Artists of Franklin County, Sacred Circle Mandalas, Sue O’Kieffe

Some of you know I have coordinated the local artists’ group, Artists of Franklin County, for 4 years.  I have been cheer leader, chair, coordinator, minutes taker of the group and coordinator of our AWE Project (Artists Window Exhibit).  The last meeting we had a great discussion about it being time to share the responsibility – at last there is a stable core group that is able and willing to step up and make the group run by ALL of us.

We had been taking turns making presentations of our work as artists and whatever we wanted.  One person in particular had never done this – ME.  Most other people had already.  Everyone in the group decided it was my turn to present.  Someone else is chairing the meeting and taking minutes.  Seemed reasonable to me.

But with the illness and death of my cousin … this totally dropped out of my mind.  The wonderful person who has volunteered to chair reminded me of the presentation.  I would just as soon postpone it .. but the meeting is built around it … so I think I should do it … but I sure am looking for suggestions!  Thanks!

This vibrant, colorful painting of Ocean Dreams is now on a mug in my CafePress Shop.   Here is the link for this lovely mug.  I think it is pretty cool – I hope you like it!  You can also get this at my Etsy Shop as a framed print or an Art Card, ACEO for $6.  Ocean Dreams is also available in many different sizes.  Just ask!

Ocean Dreams Mug © Diane Clancy

Any ideas are appreciated!!  Thanks so much!!  Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, mug, bubblescape, CafePress, Art Cards – ACEOs, Etsy, Artists of Franklin County, AWE Project, presentation