So Which Will It Bee?

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Honey bee, bee, watercolor, watercolour

Here’s one I pulled from the archives of forgotten favorites.

I finally pulled the trigger. I’ve been thinking for some time about marketing prints of my art work, as many of you do. I checked out what was available and checked in with some of you, special thanks to Russel Ray, an excellent photographer in San Diego. After examining many of the sites available I went with Fine Art America. Their business model seems to be a good fit for me.

Click here to see the gallery!

 

I’ve been slowly posting pieces, about two a day. I can already see how difficult it is to stand out on the site, but you can’t sell it if you don’t put it out there. Clearly, promotion is the key. There is so much great art, I am curious to see how this works out. Any advice, comments or experiences are welcome.

58 thoughts on “So Which Will It Bee?”

    • I’ve done a little bit of commercial art for years, and I’ve sold prints at events for Red Tail Publishing. However, forestry has always been my career. I think the blogging was what pushed me over the edge for this step. Seeing what other folks were doing with online sales made me check out what was available. Meanwhile, my art work is piling up, so I figured it was time to put it to work. I’m limited on how much time I can put toward this project, and Fine Art America looked like a good fit. I’m hoping to develope this into a bit of mailbox money, now I will find out.

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  5. Hey Tim, all the best. When I saw the lovely Bee in my post update today I was a bit puzzled since it looks so different from stuff you usually put up.Bet you set busloads of stuff 🙂
    Your black and white pieces should also be great hits I think 🙂

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  7. I have followed your posts and love all your drawings. I hope you have a lot of success with your new adventure. Advice? Do a bit more self promoting. lol
    Have no shame! Others don’t. 😦 Annoy everybody. Others do. 😦 Teasing of course!!! 🙂

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    • That’s what I’m afraid of. I already have a full time job and a free time job. However, I don’t think there is any way to short cut the promotion. Clearly, just hoping for sales because the art is available on FAA won’t be enough.

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  12. I come at this from a writer’s perspective, but this advice applies to art as well: Take the long view. Create quality work and don’t give in to gimmicks. Success will be measured in baby steps; be sure to savor each and every step along the way. I wish you much, much luck – your work is really beautiful and I’ve enjoyed following your blog. Cheers, Jadi

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  13. Congratulations on taking that step of putting your work out there. Good luck! I hope you keep us posted on your experience with the art site. Have you tried approaching a local coffee shop or library to show/hang your work? If the venue is heavily trafficked you may get a sale or two.

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    • Thanks Kay. I’ll pass along my experience. It’s interesting to see what folks are trying out there and what is working. I’ve sold at events, but that has been about it lately. Many years ago (decades) I had some paintings and drawings at our local museum. They had art shows for local artist. Some pieces got picked up, but then I was off to the University and I stopped doing it. I have some options here to pursue, but I haven’t gotten to them yet. It just takes time.

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      • Yes, it does take time. I just started getting my work out there. The business end of things and even matting and framing properly, all these little things are so time consuming. But we have to do it!

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        • You’re so right. One reason I went with FAA is they offer and provide framing and matting among other products. I realize it isn’t the same care as the artist would provide, but I couldn’t do this if I had to do all the matting and framing. They seem to be a good match for me. I already had a sale, so that was cool. Now I just need the time to get more art put up.

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  14. I wish you all the luck in the world, I think it’s a hard world out there for artists, I used to be fortunate enough to get dog commissions, but so many have jumped on the band wagon its almost dried up, though got one at present the first in months, I like your work Go for it.

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  15. Wishing you lots of good luck with this venture Tim ! I imagine it could be quite hard all round but to be honest … if you don’t give it a try who knows what you’d miss out on . And other people too 😉

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  17. From the little marketing experience I have, it’s not always about being out there, it’s the constant small reminders you are out there. I read on my phone, don’t know if you tweet or etc. Maybe post a quick link/post to FAA when you list one. Not a large write up. I see another artist I follow do this. Its an easy reblog for us fans! Have a contest for a small piece. Peeps are competitive. Charity give aways can also work.
    Artists have a tough gig. I hope you break a leg out there!

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    • Thanks Ilex. I’m looking forward to trying this out. Since i don’t need to make a living with my art there isn’t a lot of pressure. I don’t tweet and don’t really want to, but I might have to do a few new thing.

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  18. Like the bee pic, Good for you to get it all out there. I have done some prints as well and it does come down to this, make good art, make good efforts and keep at it, then keep keeping at it. It truly is a process of steps and persisting. I no longer sell originals, only prints. When first blogging I had no intention of selling, but many requests nudged me into it, so now find that the blog needs to be a dot org instead of a dot com. So the sooner you look into a commercial site perhaps the better.
    It is an adventure!

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Let me know what you think!