Business Part of Art

Marketing

  I have had to accept that there has to be the ingredient of marketing in art, not a class that I took in college or anywhere so learning from the internet, blogs and the generosity of other artists has been my path. 

30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Days by Leslie Saeta jump started me into learning about the subject.  I recently found this online class called ART Biz Blog and that was through the advice of another artist.  There is an assignment at the end of each short video.  I'll add the links in the next 6 blogs. 

The first video talked about having a discipline of creating art.  The point was that you have to have a product to market.  The assignment was put up a sign with your studio hours and make the commitment to spend time creating art in your studio.    (pretty good hours....)


Check out this blog for marketing ideas and short videos  http://www.artbizcoach.com/


Daily Paintworks Website - a great motivator to paint everyday and see your progress.

Abstract Painting

December 1, 2013

Recently I mentioned in a blog that I have read and many teachers have said:  "under every good painting is a good abstract painting."   Then I asked  myself  "what is a good abstract painting?'

That is what I have been trying to figure out in the past couple of years.  I've always liked abstract paintings, but didn't really know why so I signed for a class several years ago about how to paint an abstract painting.  Before that in a class I took at VCU in studio painting the teacher happened to be one who painted primarily in abstracts and she gave us a class lecture one day of an overview of the history.  I was very intrigued by her work, too. 

My own idea was that design had to be a big part of it.  I kept a list of the elements and principles of design taped to my easel when I did my first big abstract.  I figured that had to be a big part of it. 

My next blog will be about what I learned in the class I took about abstract painting.  I started a pinterest board with abstracts and have included the link

link to pinterest board Abstract


Update on marketing:  In the last month I opened an ETSY shop.  I've enjoyed learning about it.  It does seem like a great option for selling your paintings.  I stumbled across the ETSY mini which you see on the sidebar of this blog.  If anyone knows how to make it fit within the column, I would love to hear it.

I added free shipping and a 25% off coupon in time for cyber Monday.

Back to the subject of Marketing:

During the 30-day Marketing Challenge with Leslie Saeta, we were encouraged to let people know when something sells, and to spruce up our packaging.  I still need to add a nice bow, but want to buy those clear plastic bags first.  Now that I have decided on the frame size, I need to order bags, but in the meantime I think including the cards as a thank you make it a nice colorful surprise. 

The frames from my favorite, Franken Frames, gives the painting a nice finished look.  My husband puts paper and wire on the back so they look very professional. 

 

I still need to do a better job of advertising that the paintings are for sale. I have the DPW widget on the side panel of my blog, but half of the time I forget to put a link to DPW under the photo.  Here it is DAILY PAINTWORKS

 

Day 27 of the Marketing Challenge

I can hardly believe it is day 27 of the marketing challenge.  Thank you to Leslie Saeta's generosity in sharing her amazing knowledge.  On top of this she has beautiful paintings!
Here is the link to her blog.  Click on this to get to Leslie's Blog 

Our challenge today was to use another social media, like Pinterest.  I did stumble across it a short time ago and mentioned it on an earlier post, but I never knew you could put a price on something and use key words in the description of the item.  I've added 10 new paintings (our assignment) and edited a lot because I did not understand previously about using keywords. So much to learn.

I realized, too, that for the most part, I have not put the size of the paintings.  I corrected a few, but am going to save that for sometime later. 

I'm putting the Follow me on Pinterest logo at the top right side of the page.  I somehow did that a couple a weeks ago and couldn't tell you how right now.  My lesson is to write these things down somewhere. 

 

I just pinned this onto my board.  My son's sneakers from when he was a baby 35 years ago.  I'm going to give him this painting. 

my paintings on pinterst