Can you use Pinterest to sell art?

I recently joined (by request) to find out . I only took an interest in Pinterest when  someone had found my artwork on Pinterest and went ahead an bought the painting , I had never heard of it up until then, so I decided it was worth investigating if I selling work on site I didn’t even have an account on.

I was aware that I really didn’t need another social networking site to waste hundreds of hours on , and one filled with lots of pretty pictures was dangerous terriotory. But since joining Pinterest it has proved to be a very useful tool in getting people to see your artwork, and seems to have a viral effect on the sharing of images.

THIS IS HOW PINTEREST WORKS

Pinterest in it’s most basic terms is like an online pin board ,a virtual scrapbook, interactive and shareable. You have a profile much like Facebook , but you have what they call boards , which you can catagorize , such as art , interior design , shoes ! what ever your interested in , you can upload pictures which they call “pins” onto your boards and people are free to re-pin  your images , and favorite your images , just like the “like” button on Facebook. And just like Facebook and Twitter you are updated on who is sharing your work and who is following your boards. It’s pretty simple and easy to get into.

Pins.

A pin is an image or video that you can upload onto your boards, you can have as many boards as you like , you can find the pinterest button on many websites now and you can re-pin pins of other users.

When you upload a image , you can click edit and add a  clickable link into the image , this is great for sending traffic to your website or page.

Re-pin.

A re-pin is a pin”image” that is shared by someone else, you may fine some images being re-pinned several times.I always time when I upload pins , as if you upload a pin when it’s dinner time it’s less likley to get re-pinned , and I work in U.S.A time as they are my biggest audience so bear that in mind, where you audience is and what their time zone is !

Boards.

Boards are your virtual storyboards, that you can theme, and add images and video’s to , you can keep them just for your own images or you can let others add images to your boards.

Your profile can be filled with a selection of boards , you can create new boards as you go along , I have just recently added a West Coast of Ireland board to add photographs I’ve taken of Ireland.

Legal Stuff.

There was a lot of controversy about Pinterest having the right sell your work , and also about pinning content that is not your own and other copyright issues , I believe these issues are being resolved but there is always copyright issues on the internet , and we take risks posting images anywhere , Facebook , Twitter that do not belong to us, so if it worries you stay away! or just stick to posting your images that you own .

So maybe it’s worth getting yourself a Pinterest account , and use it to share your work , as long as you remember like all social networking  marketing it;s free but time-consuming , but enjoyable and a great way to fill that hour when you should be doing your books , or washing the windows.

Eleven Picasso paintings to spend your day with…

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Buying art online  can pose a problem for both the artist selling the art and the buyer purchasing the art, The artists faces the problem of gaining trust and a good reputation to encourage buyers ,and the buyer faces a similar problem of trust in the artist and hoping the painting lives up to it’s online image.

ARTISTS

For the artist to sell successfully online they need to build up a social profile through various sites such as Twitter , Facebook and You Tube, that way the buyer can see you are a real person  and actively promoting and selling your art.  You can sell from your own website but this can be tricky to get sales from people who don’t know you and are not sure if they should trust you with their hard earned cash , they need to feel the security that they will receive a painting if that is what they paid for and their money back if it’s not what  they thought it would be.

Original artwork is expensive so until you have established a good reputation with  recommendations from buyers of your work , you will struggle to sell directly from a website. Websites are great to display your work , it’s your showcase or online gallery that people can browse at leisure. If set up a e-mail responder like Mailchip or Awebber and keep interested parties up to date with your work and what you are doing  then this keeps you in contact with your buyers , strikes up a conversation and  they see you as a real person who they can trust and may eventually buy your art.

FOR THE BUYER OF ART.

Here are some to points to remember when buying art online :

Only buy from reputable sites , ones that offer a money back guarantee if your not completely happy with your painting, sites such as eBay, Imagekind, Etsy, Red Bubble  and Deviant Art are a few well know sites for purchasing art.

Bricks and mortar Galleries often have online sites where you can purchase art from, these are pretty secure and usually offer pay-pal and Visa payments.

Never buy from sites that have no contact details or sketchy contact details!

If you buy from the artists website , see if they have feedback from other buyers and ask if you can contact them to see if they where happy with their purchase.

Find the artist on other sites like Facebook  and Twitter check them out to see if they are a real person!

Make sure you can pay through a secure site such as pay-pal , where they offer protection for the buyer.

Practice due diligence before parting with your cash  , research your artist and then when you do buy your ‘ll be sure you’ve made the right decision and wont feel let down or ripped off.

Here is a brief list of some online sites to purchase both originals and prints :

www.buy-original-art.com

www.deviantart.com

www.etsy.com

www.ebay.co.uk

fineartamerica.com

Many artists feel intimidated at the though of writing a good cover letter to go with samples of their artwork. A cover letter is essentially a brief summary of your resume and generally contains  three to four paragraphs. There should be no  spelling errors and written as it should be written; from you , not your agent or an imaginary third person (unless you have an agent or an imaginary friend) Here are a few points to consider and a sample to give you a guide :

• Find out the name of the person it should be written to , don’t be too familiar,(unless they are a friend) use full names not first names.

• Begin with an introduction of who you are and why you are sending samples of your work.

• Briefly describe  what you do and your  current notable  achievements.

• Highlight  information such as your degree, recent awards and any recent achievements.

• Briefly describe your artwork. Keep to the point !

• Offer to send additional materials if they are required or  arrange a face to face review of your work. If materials are to be returned to you, mention that you have included a self-addressed stamped envelope for their return. If the gallery  is allowed to keep your materials, CV  included; mention that as well.. Be sure to include a “thank you”.

• Make sure you hand sign your printed letter, stick to one style of font for all your materials, CV, notes ect.

CLICK HERE FOR A sample letter



Rene Gruau

Renee Gruau’s fashion illustrations are both elegant and beautiful ,  His colours and his amazingly fluid lines are just simply stunning, Rene Gruau provided his defining style for the Christian Diors “New Look” in the 1940 ties which greatly influenced haute couture, art, theater, and design. With his signature use of his powerful minimal line, Gruau’s style incorporated seductive sophistication with classic grace, beauty and sensual artistry. There was a quality and visual appeal of his radiant and glamorous “beautiful women”. Gruau’s artwork is acclaimed and noted for its exceptional and masterful line, and its timeless, enduring style. His work would look as good today in a magazine as it did in 1945. He has inspired many fashion illustrators, and has set a bench mark for quality and artistic merit in a fashion illustration.

Rene Gruau was born in Italy in 1909. In the 1940‘s and 50‘s Gruau became a admired figure of the haute couture world, working with Femina, Marie-Claire, L’Album Du Figaro and well known “high-fashion magazines. Some of Gruau’s best work can be seen in the dramatic visual statements he produced for; Balenciaga, Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior and Givenchy. In 1948 Rene Gruau went to work for Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue in the U.S.A,before becoming the exclusive artist for Flair magazine. He also produced fabulously beautiful advertisements for Bemberg and the Moulin Rouge .

Rene Gruau

Right up until his death at the grand age of 95, Gruau continued to work for the greatest names in Haute Couture:names such as Balenciaga, Balmain, Fath, Schiaparelli, Givenchy , while also creating fashion drawings for Elle, Vogue, France, and Madame Figaro. Gruau’s works of art are collected and exhibited by the finest art institutions in the world; including the Louvre in Paris. Rene Gruau’s artistic devotion, intensity and technical brilliance have left a trial of light on art history, and a place in my heart for being one of the worlds finest fashion illustrators.

Etsy is the home of Vintage and handmade, it is an e-commerce site that allows you sell your art or craft for a small fee.

There is every sort of homemade and handmade on Etsy and that includes art. I like Etsy as a site to sell art , it has lots of like-minded people enjoying and supporting their art and crafts in one place, it has easy to share options on everything you post, so it doesn’t just have to stay on Etsy.

So Here is the low down on selling Art successfully on Etsy.

1. Set up your account – This is very simple to do , add your profile details , what you do , who you are , shipping and postage and returns policies.

2. List your Art- Etsy charge 20 cents per item listed regardless of whether it sells or not , but for that 20 cents you get three months of your work being displayed, (that puts E-bays fees to shame) , what a bargain !

3. Pricing and pictures-To get an idea of your pricing take a look at other Etsy shops that sell something similar to yourself many of the pictures uploaded are watermarked , you may want to do this to avoid people downloading your images if they need to be high resolution, if not go for a low res and no watermark as watermarks are distracting from the image and off putting for buyers.

3. Give as good as you get- Much like Facebook and Twitter you can follow people , as you add people to your circle , interact and add favorite shops ,if you like window shopping this should be a breeze, it can be time consuming but it is worth it as you grow your Etsy profile, and more people will see your work. There are lots of forums and groups you can join , Etsy also offers free marketing advice , and webinars and meet-ups for Esty members.

4. Add Etsy to your Website and Facebook page- Etsy have a easy to use application that allows you put your shop on your Facebook page or in your website , just by copying a bit of code.

5. Beware of scams – Etsy seems to attract scammers that try to buy your work without paying , I have been scammed a few times on Etsy, they are usually profiles that have been set up on the day they message you about a painting, they have nothing to sell and no profile picture, so be warned.

6 Can you sell art on Esty- Yes!  just look through all the artists and the art to see it is selling .

Are you interested in selling your paintings or photos online? Take a look at eBay, one of the largest auction sites on the internet. The site has a huge Art category, which means you can sell your photos to a huge, global community of buyers. You’ll need a sellers account, a payment account (like Paypal), and a way to ship prints, paintings
Create a Sellers Account and Explore
This is easy to set up and only takes a few minutes, browse other auctions to get a feel for what works as a buyer. What paintings attract you? You’ll notice some auctions have a more professional feel because they use web design or auction template software. If you don’t have access to either of those, start with the standard template.
Get Photos Ready
You’ll need to save your photos to either your computer or a hosted site. Your photos should be saved as a compressed JPEG file, which will take less time to load. Ideally, they should be between 450 to 650 pixels in length. This will ensure a clear and good size photo.
Pick a Category
You can search popular topics under Art. Make sure you pick a category that matches your paintings. Some categories under Art include Photographic Images, Pre-1950, and Contemporary (from 1950 to now). Paintings are further categorized by original/reprint, artist or dealer, condition, price, and color. These are areas you’ll want to choose as you upload each photo. Don’t be afraid to experiment with categories you may find your art fits a few catogories, you can add it to two catagories when you create a listing.
Create good titles and keywords
A good title can make or break an auction. When buyers search, the search engine only shows your title words. As people browse categories, they will see your title. eBay only allows 45 characters (including spaces), so use the space wisely with a catchy title. Next, make sure your description includes good keywords, like using specific places or names.
Price Your Auction To Sell
Keep in mind that most people on eBay are looking for a bargain. You could sell your art without matting or framing, which makes the price lower. Another good tactic is to sell prints of your work, ranging from $10 to $15. Start your initial bid based on the least amount you’ll accept for the prints. Remember to include the cost of materials  in the bid. Serious bidding generally takes place in the very last minutes of an auction. Remember fair pricing and quality work will build your eBay reputation and attract buyers.
Sell and Ship
Once the auction ends, the buyer with the last bid will win the auction. Paypal is the easiest way to accept payment. You’ll receive notice of the buyer and contact information. Ship your photos in between heavy cardboard or foam pieces. Protect the art from any bending or any other damage during transit.
That is it! After your first auction, you’ll be hooked. It may take some patience, but over time, you’ll find eBay offers an effective place to sell your art.
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In furure articles I will tell you how to get your art found in an Ebay search , how to see what people are looking for and what they are paying for the art they are buying.

This weeks artist : Escha Van Den Bogerd is from Holland, She is very skilled in painting the female figure, her work is both expressive and atmospheric, I asked  Escha
a few questions about her art and what inspires her:

Why are you drawn to painting the female figure?

I use to paint only abstract at school then started painting portraits as peoples faces inspired me, many years of paintings faces, and one day I was in this attic in Holland house-sitting a cat, and the light in this attic was amazing , i saw reflection of myself in the mirror and thought I have to take some photos and paint them.
This was the first time I painted a figure and I really liked the challenge of it, I also noticed people really liked the anonymous figures and nudes more then the portraits, so I continued painting figures for many more years.

Q: What does your art mean to you?
Its an expression of the soul, of your feelings at that time, relaxation, therapy, showing  a part of you to the world. Then when it also became my full time job many years ago ( I have been painting since I was 3 but  full time for 16 years or more) it becomes more of a combination of all these feelings but also sometimes pressure to create something even more beautiful then the last painting you did, but then if people like it or buy it its very rewarding.

Q: What and Who inspires your work?
The old masters of Italy and Holland, old cities like Venice and Florence, movies, music, people, dreams, colors, feelings, photos, anything can inspire you, but I take all my own photos and most of the time you have a certain mood or idea in your head, then if the photo turns out well you know most of the time you will have a good painting.
I shoot on location in Venice allot as well, and sometimes other places around the world, like Greece, or France.

Q: What art do you love?
Old masters, and the mainly figurative paintings or animal paintings , art is very personal so I like many different pieces of different artist not one in particular.

Q: Where can we see more of your work?
www.eschasgallery.com
Is my personal website, I also have my work published by many different publishers around the world, the latest new images are being printed at the moment by a German company called International Graphics, new posters will be released next month. ( see my website for details)

I have my work around normal galleries to and many other online websites but its easy to contact me and view my work on my personal website.

When Paul Klee wrote in his diary ‘I am possessed by color……I am a painter,’he was on a visit to Tunisia . Even if it was the enchantment of the journey that caused this ,the fact of course remains that he had already glimpsed it through the fog of his doubts ; for he had for a long time been seeking his true self.

Klee was considered both German and Swiss , born 18 December 1879 – 29 June 1940) His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism , cubism and surrealism, Paul Klee mastered color theory and his extensive research and writing on this can be found in Paul Klee notebooks . These are considered so important for modern art that they are compared to the importance that Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘A Treatise On Painting’ had for Renaissance.

Paul Klee

Before coming to grips with color of which Van Gogh and Cezanne had revealed to him the properties, he had wanted to explore the possibilities of line and tone values. This artist, who at first glance seemed to have followed only his fantasy, only what was most spontaneous and least controllable in his inspiration, actually felt the need to use his intellect to guide his means. Furthermore, he wanted each of these means to keep its elemental purity. To him the artist was a kind of instructor bent on “grouping the formal elements in such a pure and logical way that each occupies the place that belongs to it and none of them does harm to the other”. True enough , he also said that nothing could replace intuition ; he mentioned the phases of the creative process, which  mainly take place in the subconscious. But when working, his basic concern was with pictorial problems, it therefore became a rule after 1914, that the title of the work and the idea expressed did not exist prior to the composition of the picture. Far from determining the latter they where themselves generated by it.The urge to use his means with a lucid mind went on growing until he became a teacher at the Bauhaus, newly founded at Weimar by the architect Gropius. Here where the aim to knock down the ‘high wall between the artist and the artistan’ and the most advanced artistic conceptions were propounded, Klee taught alongside Feininger and Kandinsky, among others. In everything, he went back to first principles, and his course was extremely systematic.

Klee’s work was  distinguished by it’s high poetic content and the diversity of its pictorial qualities. In fact, no other modern artist has produced a more varied and richly inventive oeuvre than Klee. Whatever Klee’s style he could never be mistaken for anyone else. He was at once grave and mischievous, full of naivety and extremely reflective. His humour was free from spite, his tenderness from prettification. Klee could combine firmness with grace, and spontaneity with calculation. Thus he established an extremely subtle understanding between his poetic learning’s, his taste for symbols , his constant urge to meet the demands of the picture.