Is Sending Unique Greeting Cards Your Style?

If you love to stand out from the crowd when sending a greeting card, you want to have a) original artwork on the front, and b) a blank card, so that you can put your own words in it!   How about this skeleton girl on a chair greeting card, what occasion will it be for.... find it at Craftique Redux!

Selling Art and Buying Art Online

Selling and Buying Art Online

Don't be a starving artist any longer; with all these resources at your disposal, you can easily put yourself and your artwork out in cyberspace for all to enjoy (and hopefully, purchase.)  Here are some  places to display and sell your artwork, in a variety of mediums:  painting, drawing, sketches, digital art, prints, woodcuts, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and even a few have fiber categories.  

Now, do be sensible and be sure to check out any monetary cost or commitment before signing up with any site; many are free to display, but there may be other fees to consider, such as a transaction fee, monthly fees, and a commission to consider if you make a sale.  And, since there can be money involved, just be cautious about who you will provide your personal information to.   And, do note when you will get paid for your item; there may be a 14 to 30 day hold, because of customer return policies.  

And be prepared!  If you are going to offer a painting, for example, be clear on the logistics (and cost) of shipping the item if you sell it.  It can be very expensive to safely package and ship a large painting.   Be sure to find out who will handle the shipping; if the site does not, you  will need to factor in a shipping cost to your pricing.

And even if you yourself are not the artist, browse these art sites anyway, because YOU might become the owner of 'the next big thing' in the art world with a purchase from any artist brave enough to share their soul with the world.   

Now, the caution for art buyers:  As with any online purchase, be clear on what you will receive.  Will it be the actual, original work of art, or simply a print (some print prices may have you believing you will be getting the original!).  If you opt for a print, will it be on archival-quality paper?  There are many affordable ways to get art into your home, just be sure you will be satisfied with the product you will receive. 

And lastly, if you love art but have run out of wall space, don't worry.  Many of the sites have wonderful options to have the image put on a t-shirt, tote bag, greeting and post cards, and so much more.  Surround yourself with it!

This list is in no particular order of significance:

www.artsyhome.com - 'Original art for home, work, and life'

This site offers a free plan to set up and list.  There is a 25% commission fee, and processing fee for sales.  It has a clean, inviting interface that is easy to navigate.   They accept listings for a wide variety of creative mediums, including paintings, woodwork, jewelry, and more.  Of interest is that Artsy Home creators state that they focus on marketing your work to buyers, not only to produce sales, but to increase your search rankings and to drive traffic to your own website and social media sites.   They state they will  expose your work  to upscale homeowners, interior designers & trade professionals.   They indicate that they are a division of Distinctive Living Magazine, Inc. , a magazine for homeowners , "along with developing and managing websites dedicated to helping them find high quality goods and services."

www.imagekind.com
Upload your original artwork for them to make prints and posters to sell with a free basic plan that has few  limits.  I did notice that uploading images was pretty slow with my connection.   If you have a Flickr account, they can import those photos.  The site interface is clean and easy to navigate, with clear, friendly  instructions on how to do each process.  It's clear that they are eager to maintain the site's offerings as a quality product. 

www.foundmyself.com -   "Buy art directly from our artists.  Our artists sell their art commission free, so 100% of your purchase goes to them."

 This relatively new site has an interface that is bright, colorful, and easy to navigate.  It is free to sell, and they have a unique opportunity to offer digital prints with a 50% commission to them (you must send in 3 of your best images for a quality review first).  As far as uploading images, my images uploaded very quickly.  They feature a community style theme where others can comment and view your work, with a forum-style atmosphere.  The Found Myself  blog features great articles about using Twitter, art theft,  how to protect your images online, and other topics worth reading.

www.artfinder.com

This site has a very professional feel; they tend to curate what is selling and what is not, so everything seems very trendy and fresh.   There is a 30% commission on sales.  To sell here, you must submit an application. 

www.artid.com

This site offers a free plan, and also a Silver and Gold Plan.  The basic free plan only allows 6 images, but as the site states, this free plan is "Great for artists who wish to show a small sampling of their art, contact information, and a blog. This basic ArtId is best used as an online business card."

www.artquid.com

This site has a clean, bright interface, and is easy to navigate.  It has a very European feel, but is open to artists worldwide.  You can list 10 artworks for free at the entry level plan, and art categories are varied, even including jewelry.  If your images are fine resolution and large, they may take some time to upload. 

www.deviantart.com

If your tastes in art run a little on the wild side, this site is for you, whether you are an artist or an art lover.  As their site declares: "We are an unapologetically addictive experience. Our world is a festival of originality where everyone can revel in the freedom of artistic expression. We are the deviation of creativity that shatters the confines of expectation. We can’t help it—it runs through our veins and compels us to nurture it in others."  I just love that, a 'festival of originality'!  You'll find anime, illustration, digital art, and much more here.  My advice here is to pour yourself a relaxing beverage, sit back, and take a wild ride as you browse the blast of creative and inspiring content. 

The list above is only the tip of the cyberspace iceberg of outlets for artists; I'll be discussing more in the future; in the meantime, go forth, be bold,  and be creative! 

Get Artistic! You Can Do It!

Coloring Books for Adults??  Why settle for coloring in someone else's artwork?  Learn how to sketch, draw, and paint with a book from the Busy Crow Studio online shop in the Amazon online marketplace.

DRAWING, PAINTING, ART Offered at the Busy Crow Studio Online Shop in the Amazon Online Marketplace Search for these Book Titles:

The Watercolorists’s Guide to Painting Trees

Mostly Happy! Clip Art of the Thirties, Forties & Fifties

Acrylic Painters Reference Book

Draw Fashion Models!

Victorian Stencils for Design and Decoration

Celtic Art The Methods of Construction

Painting Still Lifes Step by Step

Drawing on the Artist Within

The Artist’s Handbook of Materials and Techniques

Japanese Cut and Use Stencils

Painting and Drawing Children

Henna Body Art

How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business

Color Mixing for Artists

Painting More Animal Friends

The Illustrated Library:  Charcoal & Pastel

The Contemporary Oil Painter’s Handbook

Decorative Painting

An Introduction to Drawing and Painting with Pastels

Painting Nature

Painted Treasures

Tromp l’Oeil on Walls, Furniture Frames & More

Pintura Pincelada (Spanish Language Magazine Issue)

Watercolor the Complete Course

Acrylic Decorative Painting Techniques

Painting Songbirds

Quick & Easy Decorative Painting

The Art of Painting on Silk

Hobby & Craft Guide to Air-Brushing

ARTnews March 2004 (Back Issue Magazine)

Audubon and The Art of Natural History

Egyptian Designs Iron-On Transfer Patterns

The Decorative Painter – Summer Evening Medley Issue

American Artist Drawing Spring 2010 (Back Issue Magazine)

Eagles, Hawks, Falcons and Owls of America

Waterclor An American Artist Publication Summer 1996 (Back Issue)

The Artist’s Magazine The Year’s Best Art

Priscilla Hauser’s Book of Fruits & Berries

Fresco Painting for Home and Garden

Donna Dewberry’s One Stroke Painting Course

Art School How to Paint & Draw

Fashion Design Drawing Course

Book Review: A Thing of Beauty by A. J. Cronin

This book is a great story of one man's obsession to be an artist.  To achieve this, he had to deny his family their expectations of what his future was to be, and it took him on a journey that is enviable, yet sad in order to find his artistic freedom.  I found my copy of this paperback at a library sale, but copies can probably be found at Amazon or through a Google search of other book sellers.  Here's an excerpt which I think sums up the feelings of people with artistic drive:

 

The covers of the original Bantam paperback:

 

Promise of Peace Folk Art Beaded Crosses

These handcrafted cross feature lavish beading on a frame of enameled and/or natural wire.  There is beadwork on all surfaces, and the beads are woven into a sturdy, beautiful ornament of faith.  The crosses come with a printed Bible verse and are strung onto 3" cords.

One of my favorite ways to display these is to hang them from a drawer pull or cabinet knob so that each time I open that drawer or door, I see and enjoy it.  The crosses are 3.5" tall and 3" across, so if you add a longer cord or chain, you can also have a bold, beautiful cross necklace!

These crosses are $29.00; but....psssst!  I occasionally offer them at eBay with a starting bid of only $14.00.  They make a great gift of encouragement for yourself, friend, or loved one.