art on the move
Robin, artist and art consultant extraordinaire, sent me this photo of my work hanging at the new JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas. Check this place out! I suddenly feel the overwhelming need for a vacation... The paintings are hanging in the restaurant in the spa. I stalled on my house portrait commission but will return to it today. Meantime, I did this little drawing. I need to re-energize the economic part of my work (how I wish it was all about painting and playing) so I'm wondering about either resurrecting my
Etsy page or gritting my teeth and trying to flog my small art shop since small work is the bread-and-butter stuff. Here's a hypothetical for you: If you were planning to buy something from me would it more likely be a small painting or a small drawing? And should I offer the drawings unframed? Etsy or my small art blog? Input welcomed!
posted by andrea at 9:45 a.m.
14 Comments:
Ooh! A toughie!
First - apparently, different groups(countries) approach this from different angles.
Most people want their art ready-framed. Exceptions are those(like me!) who prefer to choose frames-to- suit-location.
The other factor may be cost - framed work is going to send mailing costs up, so for small drawings I'd say offer unframed, but well-packed. People who collect art usually have the money (and a tame framer!)
definitely NOT framed dont waste your time or money on that.
etsy vs blog: ETSY. drawing vs painting: either
i'm wondering too..making smaller works (candle holders) for butter on my bread. i hear jan is the worst month for etsy so at least that is over. and etsy is going through big changes with a lot more art on there that really is quite good.
congrats on this texas thing. how did you manage that? hell i live here and i'm not showing :(
Awesome! :) (re the resort & spa photo)
Hmmm -- some things to think about for sure. I really should take a look at Etsy again. I sold work while "working it" but once I quit being active the sales dropped off, too. I don't really think my work fits there -- or at least it didn't in the past -- but maybe it's time to try again. (And Paula -- the spa paintings were a commission so they're there permanently.)
I wish I could get more reponse on this but this has become more of a reader's blog than a participator's blog. (Must be the fault of Facebook again!)
They look absolutely gorgeous in that space. Wow...
I've tried Etsy .".try" being the operative word. I didn't really put a whole hell of a lot of time into it so I think if I were more focused it perhaps would have worked. I think most of the people who are successful treat it as a real business and do well. So much of it is the marketing...
Regarding framing...I would think of matting your small pieces but not framing them. Framing is expensive and would add to your mailing costs but at least by matting it will add to the presentation of your gorgeous work!
Let us know what you decided....
I've only bought one small piece online - watercolor, unframed, etsy.
A readers blog.. ah, you caught me! But now that we're bestest friends on Facebook, then I'll go ahead and chat. :))
First of all, the restaurant looks fabulous in your gorgeous paintings! I bet people can't keep their eyes off them.
While I love both your paintings and your drawings, I would probably be more likely to buy a drawings. Mostly because of financial reasons, but also because I ADORE THEM! I love your colors and the techniques you use in your drawings.
Offer them unframed, but you can always offer to add framing in after the sale. It can be part of your description. I used to frame all my work, but the cost about killed me and not everyone has the same taste in frames.
Beautiful work Andrea. Your paintings look great up there on the wall! As for the small drawing vs the painting on Etsy... not sure, as I like both that you do. Which do you like better?? I definitely wouldn't frame it either. Maybe a mat.
I am defintely missing the Texas hill country now! March and April is the best time to go down there for a vacation before the sun cooks you!
Thanks all of you -- and great to see you here, Sheila! So I'm getting from all of you the following: drawings, unframed, Etsy. Come to think of it it worked before so I may try that route again.
I'm off to Texas Hill Country now for a spa vacataion! :)
Gorgeous paintings, lovely to see them in setting :)
Oh my gosh, they look so beautiful framed together!
That spa looks amazing! Ahah even just a day would be amazing :)
I like your Small Art better than Etsy, BUT your icon link to find it is too small and gets lost among the other things on your page here. I didn't see it and have no idea how long it was here before I noticed it.
It needs to stand out more. Your drawings and paintings both are super. Don't frame, I've been advised not to even mat because it is a waste. People want to chose their own. I agree that you should offer it, but I wouldn't automatically add it in.
My two cents worth. :)
Thanks, Lilah. I know about the link being small (there's also one on my website) but I hate when others shove marketing in my face so I tone it down. Not good for the bottom line, I know. I wish I could just paint and leave that part to someone else.
I did not know you were on FB - I'm going to look you up!
As for the discussion on Etsy vs blog, I'd say Etsy. I bought a drawing from you via your website, but I originally discovered you from Etsy (so I'm clearly biased). I'd also vote for unframed, but only because it's cheaper and simpler. You do buy nice tasteful frames, though typically. I actually opted not to buy the frame that you suggested for the drawing and have regretted it ever since. Go figure.
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