Selling out or selling art?

teacat · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 114 Location: Melbourne

Ok peeps... I have been out to the count for quite a while (bloody mental illnesses ffs), but have emerged from the depths with a question...

Am not having much luck selling my work lately - three exhibitions this year... NO F*****G sales. Prices were right. etc. Can't blame the claytons worldwide recession (no recession I can see - ppl are still buying plasma tvs and the price of houses is still skyrocketing)...

People used to buy my work. So go figure.

So then, I'm in a cafe today, and I see these framed double matted prints hanging on the wall. I go have a closer look and see that they are selling for $375 each.... average... i nearly had another episode. There are multiple red dots on the frames.... nearly had another episode. All up there were 16 framed prints all done in the same style, diff subjects -colourful but nothing exciting. BUT there were over TWENTY red dots! You do the maths! and I know the cafes commish is 10%!

so... the question... do I sell out or sell art? I cant sell my art.... so now I'm trying to think smart... maybe I should get my originals copied and then make multiple prints and sell them instead...

Anyone else got a total mindbender of an idea?
What are your thoughts?

xoxox

Stefan Maguran · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: Re - Selling out or selling art?

Where can I see your work?

teacat · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 114 Location: Melbourne

stupid signature didnt come thru?

well, one of my works is my avatar lol and you can find many others here:
www.redbubble.com/people/fullcirclemandalas

Stefan Maguran · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject: Re - Selling out or selling art?

Beautiful work - you are a member of all those groups, but not a member of the Outsiders?
Perhaps that's why? Very Happy

thecatsgrin · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 2181 Location: Gippsland

I an remember seeing your work somewhere recently.
There is no reason for it not selling, and like you said, it cant be the recession, because my sales have been fantastic.
Your work would make nice cards, but there is no need to do these things, unless it comes naturally to you.
In my opinion, it would be better to just keep working, and working, and marketing is so important...
For example, i remember your work, but didnt remember your name (sorry~ no offence Embarassed

) so you need to get it out there even more , so that both your name and art are memorable.
Branch outside your square... show outside your local area, create a blog and an online presence.
If the market for your style is stagnant where you are... find where your market is and target there...
Just keep going!!
There are alot of people out there who wouldnt know the difference between a print and an original even if it fell on their face and wiggled!!
These are the ones who buy prints on impulse while having coffee...
You could even suggest to the shop owner to hang your originals over the prints and offer them a better incentive (commission) to sell them. Laughing

Keep going and have confidence!!

gggraph · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:18 am Post subject: Re - Selling out or selling art?

I must confess, as a graphic artist, I've never had a problem with selling out - but I'm in the happy position of having a 'day' job so I'm not dependent on 'fine' art sales to survive.

Do whatever you need to do to achieve what you want - If you want to make a living from art, selling prints may be the way to go. My father used to do watercolour paintings of rustic farmhouses. They took him about half an hour each and he sold them in local milkbars, shrink-wrapped with a matte for $50. That's what he needed to do to eat. At the same time, he was entering (and winning) competitions and sending work to galleries. He always knew the difference between what he did for a quick sale and what he did that he hoped would have some lasting merit.

It's only when the two get confused that it becomes a problem...

Cheers

Grant

belle · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: Newcastle

If you can sell the prints, go for it!!! A very successful artist here sells prints of his work (adding the odd stroke of paint) and they are very popular.

teacat · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 114 Location: Melbourne

thanks all for your input - its interesting to hear different perspectives... xoxox

joanat · Joined: 15 Nov 2009 Posts: 2 Location: New South Wales

While on the topic... what does everybody think of selling art online ??? There are some nice websites out there that plenty of art buyers visit and they may help sell your work. A few of them ask for 20% commission. Not sure if that's too much... ???

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1048 Location: Queensland

Joanat, In answer to your question, 20% commission for an online shop is ok. Just think what galleries charge (anywhere between 35-50%). So its ok. About have the price of a gallery I guess.

You need to weigh up the options for you. For example, I wont enter a comp in a gallery if they are taking 45% + charging an entry fee. Its just unreasonable. But if selling online and thats the only fee e.g. no registration fee etc. Than I would go for it.

Teacat, your one up from me...at least your selling or have sold. Things are stagnate for me. But that is my fault. I dont have my work anywhere (in a gallery or shop however I had it in a restaurant for 6months with no response). And I rely on my website for sales. I did have my art on an online art shop like Joanat is asking about, but again, natta. I enter my local gallery art comps with a few small successes....but what else can you do when money is a problem. AND there is many HOT artists to compete with???

Im not into the print thing. Thats just not genuine for me to go down that path (maybe if im desperate), but for now its just pocket money income. Im not relying on it to live and I have a job.

So what other marketing tactics do you suggest? Letterbox flyers?

Ravenari · Joined: 14 Mar 2009 Posts: 25 Location: Perth

teacat · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 114 Location: Melbourne

Where do you get your work printed hon? Am trying to find a large format printer here in melb that doesnt charge like a wounded bull LOL!
Merry Xmas
xoxox
Marg

Jayson · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Sydney

Hi teacat,

I work for a company that produces large format giclee prints. Feel free to contact me or for more info check out our new site http://www.gicleecanvasprints.com.au/

We also have a scanner that is designed for scanning original artwork and it scans large artworks (150cm x 220cm) and the resolution is amazing, all the fine detail is captured. http://www.gicleecanvasprints.com.au/main/page_other_services_scanning_large_format_scanning_service.html

So if your thinking of having prints made, make sure you have your original scanned and not photographed, this will give you a much better result when it comes time for printing on canvas or fine art papers.

Best of luck to you Laughing

aquadan · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 18 Location: Adelaide

i have only sold prints.
i made up some mini portfolio's for my exhibition and only 2 mini portfolios sold.
while i was happy i sold anything i was disappointed i sold no originals.

also i think u might need a better layout for red bubble, when i look at it im not really amazed and i end up just reading the left side, i think more art and less text will help, because your site is where you SHOWCASE your art work

teacat · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 114 Location: Melbourne

@aquadan - RedBubble is responsible for the site layout, dear - that is out of my control... but considering I make a lot of sales through it, I personally think there's nothing wrong with the layout at all.
I feel that it SHOWCASES my work admirably - considering it's FREE to use!

@Jayson - yep, I looked into that, but I need one in Melbourne... shipping and handling fees are ridiculous and if I have to freight all my artwork to you for scanning then its just not cost effective. I'll stick to the format I have for the moment - my photography is starting to take off in a big way and I am not doing so much art anymore - THANKS so much for the info though - really appreciated:)