Category Archives: The Business of Art

Selling Your Art – Part IV (Etsy)

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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 … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Selling Your Art – Part III (Online Marketing)

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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 … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Selling Your Art – Part II (Online Marketing)

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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 … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Selling Your Art – Part I (Offline Marketing)

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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 … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

I Forgot a Presentation – Any Ideas?

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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 … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Design Style Guide Giveaway #1

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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 #1 They are having a series of giveaways – starting with Karen Faulkner Art.  This is a free giveaway and I encourage you to join in and see if you can win!!  Here are the details about the giveaway on the Design Style Blog.  Karen Faulkner 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, Karen Faulkner Art … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Progress on Wilson’s Window and the TV Show

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The Artists of Franklin County, a local group that I coordinate, have been having Artists Window Exhibits (AWE Project) since 2006.  Susan Elkin and I are putting our work into Wilson’s Department Store tomorrow morning.  I do think we are ready at last!!  I think it is going to look very lovely since our friend Cindy is helping us. Opus, Photography © Susan Elkin I also finished preparing for the TV Show that we need to record on Wednesday afternoon.  I have sent the images to the local access station, GCTV, so they can load them up for our piece.  Each person or group who received a grant from the  Greenfield Local Cultural Council has been asked to record a segment to help create an hour long show about the grants.  It is pretty exciting – so far I am not as scared as the last time I was on the TV to record a show. The week still looks pretty hectic … now Wednesday morning has 3 things … all necessary in the same 3 hour time slot.  I have no clue how we are going to manage all this!!  And it all has to be done in time to go record at the TV station.  Tuesday morning there are only 2 things at the same time.  Somehow I have to keep cool and stay rested through this all!!  Thank you for your supportive comments … I have no idea how I am going to make it until Thursday … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

AWE Project in the Local Paper

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The Artists of Franklin County, a local group that I coordinate, have been having Artists Window Exhibits (AWE Project) since 2006.  We have a current one going on for the month of May.  Local artists are putting our artwork in local windows and on indoor walls to beautify Greenfield and to help build the Creative Economy.  Last time we included work by the students from the local high school.  This time we included people who are receiving services in the community. Bryant Stewart at Opus, Photography © Susan Elkin We sent out lots and lots of press releases and here is a great writeup in the weekly paper.  They took most of it word for word from the press release which is great (that they used it, not that I wrote it great)!  Here is the link I could find to show you the whole article.  In the print paper they also included 4 of the images that I sent them.  Now that I have seen it, of course I need to write them a thank you note. Some of it is below: <Quoting from the Town Crier (and our press release)> The Artists of Franklin County are presenting Greenfield with their extraordinary art for the entire month of May. Storefront windows up and down Main, Federal and Miles Streets will offer amazing artwork as local artists share their work with the community. The exhibit will begin on May 1 and run until June 1. This display of art is … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

ArtFire and a New Pastel

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Here is one of the two vibrant, colorful paintings I created a few days ago – an Art Card, ACEO (2 1/2 x 3 1/2″).  This one is called Sunny Blue – I hope you are enjoying these pastels!!   Today I created 2 more flower pastels – but it will take me a couple of days to get them scanned and prepped.  I wish I had an easier system to share them with you the day I create them!  That is one of the beauties of digital art!! Today is a Sunny Blue day here! Sunny Blue, Pastel © Diane Clancy I got this one listed as an original in one of my shops!!  Each original is listed in only one shop – since I don’t want to deal with the possibility that at any original (so only ONE original) would sell at 2 shops at the same time!!  This one is listed at my ArtFire Shop.  I might make some limited edition prints (that means, a certain number, not open-ended) … but there is just this one original!  This is listed right here at ArtFire. Elegant Green, Pastel © Diane Clancy I am very excited to now have an original at three shops online!!  Making progress!  Thank you so much for coming by and looking at these!  The originals have no signature on the front – only the back – and the color is more delicate than it is here.  The prints I make will be a little more … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now)

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Today is SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) – today, March 28, 2009 is the second year of this “new international holiday that celebrates women artists.  It is an annual event taking place on the last Saturday of Women’s History Month (March).” The executive director, Martha Richards says  “Together we will build a world where women artists get the respect they deserve!” There is a website SWAN Day (http://swanday.org) which lists 160 SWAN Day 2009 events in 11 countries!  WOW this is quite something to see all these people, women, working together together to make this world a better place for all us women artists! Buying something from your favorite woman artists is a great place to start!  I am very active and involved in networking and supporting other artists online and at least 90% of the people in the artist teams and groups I am active with are women.  We are all working and searching for good ways to get our great work out there to YOU in a way that is affordable to you and gives us decent payment for what we have created. SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now) At this website, there are some very cool resources.  Many of them are focused on raising money and publicity for SWAN Day … but they can be useful for us as women artists as we promote ourselves, our artwork and our art businesses.  We are starting to write press releases for the next AWE Project (Artists Window Exhibit) … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

How About This Image?

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How about this vibrant, colorful painting ..  what does this say to you?  There are fantastic comments from yesterday’s painting ..  I haven’t been able decide the name for yesterday’s painting yet … but I would LOVE to hear what you say about this one!  Today I was also very busy and not able to write very much today … but I will sometime soon.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me!! How About This One?, Digital © Diane Clancy Thank you for stopping by!  I would love to hear about you!! ~ Diane Clancy Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Featured by Jordanaka and in the Newspaper

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Jordanka Yaretz featured me on her blog yesterday.  Please check out this write-up about me as I am delighted! Jordanka calls herself TreeArtist – and she sure is – she creates wild, lovely trees!!  Here is Jordanka’s lovely Etsy shop – her work is also exceptionally affordable!!  Please check it out!  Jordanka’s blog is Original Art by Jordanka Yaretz.  Thank you, Jordanka! Featured by Jordanka Yaretz Ocean Dreams is one of these vibrant, colorful paintings … you can get it as an Art Card, ACEO and also a framed print!    Plum Sky and Spring Renewal are available here or at Etsy as ACEOs.  Just ask for other sizes! Other paintings are available in my Etsy Shop. I also got a call the other day from a local newspaper reporter asking about Fostering the Arts. Many of you have followed that I am active in developing the local Creative Economy. It is exciting to have been interviewed again and quoted – that makes twice in less than 2 weeks … here is the start of the article with a link to the whole article. QUOTING FROM THE REPUBLICAN Franklin artists join forces By DAVID A. VALLETTE GREENFIELD – The Fostering the Arts and Culture in Franklin County initiative has identified five geographical “hubs” that are to get their own plans for boosting their creative economies. Basically, the goal is for artists and artisans to become better business people. “Franklin County is fantastic, and it’s time for the rest of the … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Little of This and That

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The Free GiveAway is over – thank you to all who entered – it is pretty exciting!  I will choose a winner in the next few days … tell the winner, announce it here and send off the chosen prize!!  And remember every month I am going to have a giveaway … the other months I will be giving a card away … in exchange you will allow me to put you on my email newsletter list … as that gets going.  I promise I won’t send it too often … so check back to see if it is time for another giveaway! Blue Wisdom, Digital © Diane Clancy I am too tired today to figure out who won.  Partly because we had a good meeting for the Artists of Franklin County …  and partly because tomorrow is my hospital day for Remicade – I am pretty tired and stretched out. It is good because some other people are going to step up and help put on this next AWE Project (Artists Window Exhibit). This will help it last a long, long time! Susan Elkin and I have been doing it quite long enough as mainly the 2 of us!  She has been a great help!  By the way, Susan has posted today!! I have written up the hardest part of the directions for setting up a shop at The Arcade … but I still need a little more inforamation – that will also be coming shortly. If you would … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

Roses & Hearts Treasuries

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Here are two treasuries that I made today at Etsy to showcase great gifts for Valentine’s Day – they are all hearts and roses …. you can’t get a better than roses and hearts for this special day!  If you have an account at Etsy, any clicks and comments are greatly appreciated!  You can check out my Etsy Shop. Roses & Hearts Treasury Here is another Valentine’s Day Treasury … any clicks and comments are appreciated!  I am realizing as I get better each day, that actually I have been sick for a whole week already – but I didn’t catch it right away.  Thanks so much! Hearts & Roses Treasury Remember to participate in my free giveaway -  you can see mine right here  One World, One HeART GiveAway.  It is free to enter … I would love to hear how you are doing. Thanks for coming by! ~ Diane Clancy Technorati Tags: Etsy, Treasury, vibrant colorful painting, Diane Clancy, Valentine’s Day … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

New Concept in Online Art Marketing

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A portal is a brand new concept – a storefront with items of an artist from different shops all together. Both shoppers and sellers have a great variety of choices online … in fact this incredible range of choices is both very freeing and can also be fairly overwhelming.  One shop has mugs, tiles and totes, another has custom postage while a third has prints of those luscious, vibrant, colorful paintings. How can one even know what is available?  There is a brand new concept – a storefront, a portal, where you can see items from all sorts of shops all together.  This idea solves much of the problem of searching through multiple shops to see what a particular artist or crafter makes. Dreamscape, Digital © Diane Clancy The Arcade at The Hand Made Product Directory allows one to do just that!  It is a pretty simple concept once you get the idea. I put my mugs and tiles from CafePress, cusomter US postage from Zazzle, posters from RedBubble, Art Cards (ACEOs) and framed reproductions from Etsy all in one spot so people have more choices in a manageable way. Take a look at my storefront – Diane Clancy’s Art – it is a portal where you can go to look at merchandise from many of my shops all at once.  Conundrum I is one of my vibrant, colorful paintings that many of my customers love. On one page you can see Conundrum I as a mug, tile, tote, postage, … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

My Goals for 2009

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I have promised to look at my goals for 2009 and share them with you.  You can see my assessment of last year’s goals on Assessing My Goals for 2008.  As expected, many of my assessments of how I did go right into what I want to do this year. You will note that several categories of what I have been doing have been dropped. Between Worlds II, Digital © Diane Clancy Local Art Networking Continue on the board of Fostering the Arts to build the creative economy Artists of Franklin County – focus on supporting new leadership AWE Project (Artists Window Exhibit) for Spring and once or twice more.  We are expanding the artist and store base, and I am focusing on sharing responsibility and empowering others to step up. Maintain the art sales I have locally and be open to new ones Much of my focus this year will be in streamlining this time Online Sales Expanding my offerings in the (many) various stores where I offer my work.  Continuing to offer more images on added merchandise. Maintaining these shops Continuing to tweak my presentation Consolidate rather than continue to expand (mostly) Increase sales Networking Continue my leadership roles in the art networking I do Continue to empower people to take over more responsibility Continue to develop as an artist Figure out how to leverage all the networking I have done – and the building of trust and knowing me – into more sales Licensing Assess whether I … [CLICK TO READ MORE]