Is Someone Making A Virtual Buck From Your Art?

I received an email some months ago from a lady who is a player/participant on the virtual world game…

Second life.

If you haven’t heard of second life, in summary here it is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life

It’s not my thing, but it has given some people a chance of living out their fantasy world.  SL actually has it’s own currency (Linden Dollars). You can buy Linden Dollars with US dollars.

And Linden dollars is exchangeable to US dollars. I’m led to believe the exchange rate is something like L$275–285 per US$1

Anyway…

This lady wrote to tell me that she owned an art gallery in SL and that she had been selling images of my art (obviously taken from my website at CAKUart) to people who want art for their “virtual homes”

Kooky, but true.

Due to some new enforced copyright issues, people such as the lady who owned the gallery were forced to re-assess where and how they were accessing and distributing the art and images of real life artists.

Hence why I was contacted.

Ultimately she wanted permission to continue using my images to on sell to people who wanted some cool art for their virtual homes.

I rejected her request.

It’s nothing personal, its just business.

I said that unless I can see how the images of my art were being distributed for sale, and how they were being represented in her gallery, I no longer wanted her using them and requested that she delete them from her gallery.

I am aware that there are artists using SL to promoted their art. I have even heard of one story where an artist has done quite well for himself in terms of recognition. His popularity as an artist has shifted from the virtual world to the real life world.

Good for him.

Though I wonder if all that time spent on SL promoting his art could have been time better spent promoting his art in the real world.

Who knows for sure.

What’s your opinion on this?

Perhaps you are an artist who is using SL to promote your art. If so, how is it working out?

Or have you had any similar experienced with virtual galleries using your art to sell the images to members of SL so they can decorate their virtual homes and offices?

Perhaps you don’t even know they are using your images. Do you care or are you not phased by it?

Power to you and your art!

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Diversify

If you discover in the beginning that you are not getting the financial results you want from your art…

Or if nobody is buying from your niche…

Then diversify.

Listen… if you are happy to get along with NOT selling what you love to create, then that’s great.

After all you got into this game for the self-fulfilment huh.

Yeah

But…

If you are looking to receive a few cookies for your efforts (of course you are), then put what you do to the side NOW AND THEN and do this…

Create What People Want

“Egad! What is you saying man? Isn’t that like…SELLING OUT? OH MY… I think I hear the “purist” stampede approaching!”

But seriously…

I have received many emails from artists who have struggled to sell art in their niche.

If it is your desire to make some sales in the beginning, then one factor you may want to consider is being prepared to be a little flexible.

During some of my very first exhibits I had people approach me and tell me they loved my subject matter and texture, but didn’t really desire my use of colour.

How could I take their dislike for my use of colour personally when one particular lady was wearing a lime midriff jumper, purple corduroy pants and blue thongs (flip-flops). “What the…?”

But I digress…

So I then asked them questions about what colours they do like… or what kind of themes they like etc.

Through this type of conversation we often managed to meet somewhere in the middle.

And a result I often produced some work for them that didn’t go too much out of my creative category and yet suited what the buyer was looking for.

This is kind of like doing commission work.

Remember the key is not to go TOO far outside of your creative ward and into an area that doesn’t stimulate you.

But try to be flexible.

At the end of the day you are looking for your bread and butter…

The “cash flow” to get you moving.

So be a little diverse with your work to accommodate more people. The same goes with your pricing. Have some low cost entry pieces available. Make your art accessible to everyone without making it free (wink).

Later as you develop your craft, develop a following and build a reputation you can concentrate solely on your chosen niche.

But until then “diversify” a little.

For example…

If you only use charcoal to draw birds…try using some oil colours instead.

If you only do abstract textural paintings…try incorporating a subject theme.

If you paint water colour on board seascapes…try using oil colours on canvas and incorporating people (activity) on the beach.

If you paint portraits of celebrities…try painting everyday people who can actually sit for you.

Whatever you do, try to be diverse.

It’s worth exploring anyway.

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Bitter With Twitter?

Many artists are hesitant about using Twitter because they feel there is no real value in using it as a marketing tool to generate interest in their artwork.

“Just a lot of people waffling on,” as one artist put it.

The most effective way to make the most out of twitter is to point your followers to new content on your blog.

Keep it simple.

Many artists looking to get some momentum are not creating content that supports their work. So my suggestion is to create a running dialogue (regular blog posts) that intrigues, informs and inspires your visitor.

The whole idea of your site or blog, aside from showcasing your work, is to create content that SUPPORTS the curiosity your website visitor has in you and your work.

Twitter is merely a tool to re-direct additional traffic towards that content.

So create content to create a gathering…

Create content in order to EXCITE your suspect…

And then use twitter to direct traffic to that content.

In all honesty… you don’t need to purchase any twitter products (there are many available now to help you use twitter to its full potential) unless you are very keen to master twitter for serious marketing purposes.

But check out my twitter marketing link below. It will give you are very solid understanding as to what twitter is all about and how it may of good use to you.

Read this post on artists using twitter for marketing:

http://www.caku-art.com/twitter-marketing.html

At the end of the day, building legitimate relationships online is where the power is in terms of bringing attention to your artwork. Social media is a handy tool, but it really comes down to developing proper relationships with people.

Power to you and your art!

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Where’s The Artist?

I am amazed at how many artist websites and blogs I have seen and there is not even one picture of the artist. Not one photograph.

For me personally… it feels as though the artist is hiding behind his or her website. I can appreciate that many people are not always comfortable in front of the camera.

But if you are in the business of promoting and selling your art, you have to come out from behind the curtain at some stage.

“But people are buying my art, not a picture of me!”

That is true. But the Internet is a funny beast. The more transparent you can be, the more confident and trusting your potential buyers will be of you.

Being transparent doesn’t mean you have to go to extremes… it doesn’t mean you have to post your school reports on your blog or tell your readers how many times you have been arrested. But just one photo of you will help to provide the human aspect to your site.

One thing to remember is that your website visitor is asking questions about you from the moment they land on your site. So along with your artist bio information, provide a picture of yourself to make their evaluation of you a little more comforting.

Having a picture of yourself is the quickest way for people to read who you are.

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You Are Such An Amateur Artist

It doesn’t matter how far you go as an artist in your career…

You will always have that element of being an amateur.

“Gosh, how dare he condemn me like that” I just heard the guy at the back holler.

Sit down Restless Geoffrey… and allow me to explain.

There is nothing derogatory about being labelled an amateur artist.

Our modern culture is partly to blame for our misinterpretation of what amateur actually means or represents.

The word Amateur essentially comes from the Latin verb, “amare”

Which means, “to love”.

So… to be an amateur artist simply means…

“To do what you love doing”

It is actually a word to describe “experience”

Not “achievement”.

Slightly profound huh

I think so too.

Being amateur is not about how well you do it, but about how much you enjoy doing it (wink).

That’s called being an amateur.

Being amateur is based more on the quality of your experience…

Not the quality of your performance.

So what the difference between being an amateur And a pro?

A pro loves what she does MORE than an Amateur does…

Because a pro sits down and does all the Mundane stuff in order to uphold the inspiration and to maintain a routine.

A professional loves what she does, but also knows what she does.

An amateur only loves what she does.

Being an amateur is groovy to begin with

But think pro

Professionals don’t have to deal with criticism because They look at their work objectively.

They KNOW they are not their art

That’s a pro

A pro is patient

A pro contributes to her work EVERYDAY

An amateur waits till the weekend

A pro don’t make excuses

They make hay while the sun is shining

Think pro

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Lasting Impression Marketing

When I give out my business card to people, it’s merely as a follow up. It’s kind of like a small personal policy of mine to at least have had a conversation with the person in question before I hand over a business card.

I don’t see the point in handing out business cards indiscriminately.

A lot of people will simply take your card for the sake of taking it  – kind of similar to clicking the button that says “do you want to become my facebook friend?” – they do it so they wont offend you.

The whole purpose of a business card is to give the person you are dealing with a reference to contact you.

Chances are; they could have already taken a few business cards from other people within your industry.

So if you are going to use a business card then aim at making your mark. Make your business card stick out.

I like to create and use my own quotes on my cards. In my opinion, I don’t see the point in stipulating that I am an artist because people will pick up on that from having seen my art… and/or it would have been mentioned in our conversation. As I mentioned before, I don’t like giving out my cards for the sake of handing them out.

My motto is: if you are going to use a business card, then at least use one to get a giggle, a frown or a tear. Use it to get a response. Use it so your prospect will remember you.

As an artist, I don’t rely on using a business card to generate business. People either like your art or they don’t. A business card won’t really make a scrap of difference when it comes to making sales – In other words I don’t see it as a uselful promotional tool.  I see a business card in my industry as nothing more than a “stick-it-note”. It’s so the person who is genuinely interested in purchasing some of your work will have something on paper to remind them on how to go about contacting you.

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Don’t Get Too Personal

I was having coffee with a good friend of mine a few days ago. It’s because I’m an artist that he always brings up how he “saw some great paintings the other day”.

I appreciate his commentary when it comes to art, particularly because he is not an artist himself. But he knows what he likes (aint that all that matters? Gosh yeah).

Anyway, my friend went on to mention how he saw 5 or 6 paintings hanging in a local café recently. He explained how these paintings did not appeal to him at all.

“There was just something about them that really made me feel very disassociated with the work. I couldn’t relate to them”.

“Too personal perhaps,” I interjected.

He then looked at me with that frown  – the one where smalls rolls of skin cram together like miniature silkworms on the top of his nose and in between his eyes – and nodded his head, “That’s it mate. That’s why I didn’t dig them at all. They were too personal”.

I then raised my eyebrows, nodded my head and raised my bottom lip over my top lip, as if to indicate that my suggestion was just a lucky guess… so I wouldn’t come across as a “cocky know it all” guru type of dude.

The first time I ever signed up to exhibit my work the organiser spent twenty minutes explaining all the rules and regulations. But before she finished she said, “Oh and Carl, don’t bring your personal art. Nobody gives a shit. Bring your stuff that will match their sofa’s”.

Some artists may have taken what she told me that day as an insult. Not only did I think it was quite funny, I really appreciated her honesty.

I followed her advice and it paid off quite well.

I don’t really subscribe to the idea of producing art to match the sofa, but I don’t disagree with it either because after all – all art is essentially decorative.

But from a marketing point of view, my exhibit organiser’s advice was helpful because it immediately shifted my mindset from living inside my own art to realising that I had to open it up to the public.

In other words I knew that in order to build some foundation as a local artist, I had to come up with some pieces that appealed to majority. I did this not to conform, but to be able to communicate.

I found that folk were more receptive to my more personal pieces after a conversation with me. But what got a lot of them into my stall for a conversation in the first place was due to a piece that caught their eye.

There is nothing wrong with catering to the public now and then. Pablo Picasso used to paint portraits. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin guitarist) use to do jingles for radio ads.

Not only did catering to what the public wanted help me with selling my paintings, the biggest benefit was what it did for my confidence.

So if you are about to exhibit your work for the first time, consider throwing a couple of pieces into the mix that will cater to the public on a “Oh that’s great, I gotta have it” level – and create a bit of instant cash-flow for you.

In other words, don’t get too personal to begin with.

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Can’t Find The Time?

I often hear people complain about how they “can’t find the time”. Don’t get me wrong; I used to be one of those people who always complained about how I didn’t have enough time.

But now, when I quiz folk on how they use their time each day, I normally discover that they don’t actually have a problem finding time at all. They simply have a problem prioritising their time. I made this very mistake also (I make lots of mistakes, I don’t mind admitting it).

I don’t say it to brag, but I often start my day at 4am. So I am often putting in an 18-hour day. It’s beyond my physical capabilities to do this every single day. I wish I could, because there is always something I need (want) to do… always. But I start at this time to get a head start. If I don’t get up at this time, which does happen through being exhausted, I get disappointed and feel pushed for time. I often end my day around 9pm, or later if I can manage it.

Is this all work? No. I have a family that requires my time during the day also. But it is mainly all working.

I was taught some years ago that it is an entrepreneur’s duty to find time… no matter what. This made sense to me instantly. In order to take on the responsibility of steering a career, you must work outside the boundaries of conventional time. In other words, you have to find time to get what you really want. It was Donald Trump who once said something along the lines of: “You can build a business or you can make excuses, but you can’t do both”.

I have discovered that email is one of the biggest time wasting activities you can get yourself trapped in. I, like many, use to check my email constantly. If I was having a quick break from painting or talking on the phone… I’d check my email. But the worst part was that I found myself responding to these emails during my “real” working time – which of course is producing artwork.

Lucky for me, I soon realised I wasn’t the only one with this problem. When I got to talk with other artists and people operating a business via the Internet, I quickly discovered that many people suffered from “email addiction”.

So in order to battle this addiction, I had to find out why I was unconsciously checking my email so much. I discovered I had this need for contact with people. There is this element of wanting to feel significant. I likened it to a little kid eagerly running to the letterbox each hour of the day every day – enthusiastically waiting for his or Christmas card from grandma. The little boy or girl wants to feel significant. He or she wants proof that someone is thinking of them – is providing the attention they desire.

I discovered that my actions were purely motivated by this need to feel significant. Sure, I was often responding to genuine inquiries, or trying to help a fellow artist find their way with their creative endeavour.  But deep down my need to check my email constantly was very much like the child running to letterbox to receive their prize of attention.

This is also half the problem with social media sites like twitter and facebook. There is a lot of time being wasted assessing our popularity instead of getting the real work done. In fact there is a great quote made in a video by Seth Godin – he mentions how the Internet is just one big cocktail party (click here to watch the video).

Another thing I started the implement is keeping track of what I actually achieved each day. I am not completely disciplined with this activity, but I am doing better than I thought I would. By doing this; it allows me find out where I am wasting time and where I can potentially utilize time to my advantage. I only spend 15 minutes doing this most days of the week. It does actually help to get some perspective of how well or not so well I use my time.

Yep, keeping a “time management” journal is as boring as bat crap. But for someone like me who has a tendency to “drift”, it does help.

I have also discovered that we don’t actually suffer from time management.  It’s actually a personal management problem we suffer from. We can’t actually manage time. Time will continue to tick away. So knowing this made me realise that it was up to me to get a bit more (um… much more) focused on personal management.

This could mean things like outsourcing some of the busy work that really eats at your time (email, general administration type of work). Getting a lot more healthier in order to last throughout a working day without getting too tired. Starting your day earlier is another.

When I first decided to start at 4am, my wife laughed out loud. In fact I kind of laughed too. I was somewhat of a hibernating bear when it came to sleeping. So the idea of starting very early in the morning naturally generated a few giggles.

But here’s thing… when you truly begin to eliminate all the lies you tell yourself, and truly begin to focus on what it is that you want, you won’t struggle so much with finding time. You will simply find more time to do things that need to be done or you will find ways or people to help you to get those things done.

If you are operating with passion, time won’t be so hard to find… I can assure you of that.

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Believe In Your Potential

Ever since I created the CAKUart website, I have received emails from some artists who have really struggled to find some direction.

I think it’s too easy to simply say, “Hey man, you have to believe in yourself,” because this sounds like standard rhetoric to a struggling soul.

Believing in yourself is paramount; there is no doubt about that. But there are 4 factors that need to be considered in order to become the best that you can be.

Step 1. “Potential”

The first step is to be able to realise our potential. Knowing our potential is really like being able to look through the window of our life.

How do you realise your potential?

• Keep an open mind… ALWAYS
• Remove the words “I can’t” from your vocabulary

• Keep creating… then create some more.

• Rid your thoughts of “age” excuses (”Oh I’m too old for that”) and energise your mind, body and soul. In fact, rid yourself of all excuses (wink).

• Push your self… explore outside common boundaries… face new challenges.

• Take your resources into the unknown.

These are just a few ways that you will discover your potential.

Step 2. “Action”

When you know your potential, take action. But take action right away.

Allocate TIME to what you want each and every day (study, research, training, creating, designing and planning)

It doesn’t matter if you can only find 15 minutes on some days. It’s all about maintaining a level of consistency.

Step 3. “Results”

Your ability to take action will determine the results you will get.

When you have realised your potential and you have taken action, be sure to measure your results.

So for example: let’s say you have determined that you have the potential to produce 6 paintings for a local exhibition in 3 months time. Now you have taken “action” to load up on materials to complete the work and spoken to the exhibit organisers, arranged some self-promotion and created a blueprint plan of attack.

When the exhibit is finished make sure to sit back and measure your results against the time, money and energy you put into the whole project.

By being consciously aware of your results gives you so much clarity and allows to make better use of that time, money and energy next time.

The important thing is not to concentrate too much on the negative and positives (Ok, I admit, I do strut my little dance when it all goes splendidly well – wink) concentrate on the result.

Take note of things like feedback from people who bought your work and from people who didn’t buy your work.

Take note of the challenges you had and how you over came them or didn’t manage to break through them.

Step 4. “Belief”

Lastly, you need the belief that you have the potential to take action in order to measure your results. In other words, you need to have a real sense of certainty that you have the potential to take action and produce results.

This certainty that you have the potential lies within how well you identity with yourself.

The biggest problem we suffer from is doubt, and that is often caused by not being sure if something will work or not. So if we are unsure about whether something will work or not, then we are little apprehensive about even trying. Also, doubting our ability to do something is often caused because we don’t actually know what it is that we have to do.

So what you need to so is ask yourself “Why” is this important you. “Why” do you need to realise your true potential? “Why” do you need to take action? What will it mean if you don’t see your potential, take action and produce results?

I have discovered that just wanting to achieve something isn’t enough. There has to be a jet engine attached to your purpose, and that jet engine is “why” do I want what I want.

This will help to develop your real sense of certainty, which will in turn help you to see your potential, then take action and produce results.

Power to you and your art!

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Where To Start Selling Your Art

When I first began selling my art publicly, I contacted local community councils.

They always had some form of festival market or art fair going on at regular intervals. This way I could show case my art to people looking to buy art in my local area.

I was not interested in “exposure” for the sake of exposure. I had done the whole “exposure” thing putting paintings in cafes etc – but realised after some time it really was a waste of time and energy. It’s a consistently inconsistent way to sell art.

What a lot of artists fail to realise is that “Art is not bought – Art has to be sold”

What that statement really means is that you have to “sell yourself” and represent your art by interacting with people.

You have to “Stand in front of your art”.

This is particularly true if you have not established yourself as “well known” in your state, province or country for that matter, and don’t have anybody representing your art for you.

It’s these festivals and art fair events that I honed my selling skills.

The biggest tip I can give is… talk to people about them.

Additionally, while people are buying something they ultimately like (i.e. your art) what they are really buying is a piece of you – a feeling, something that will make them “feel good” about themselves and their surroundings.

That is all successful selling really is – an exchange of energy, emotion, feeling, trust and well being.

So with all that said, in order to get your art out there, YOU have to get out there.

You have to talk to people. You have to interact. You have to wear your bulletproof “criticism” suit and mingle… with art in hand.

Another thing some artists failed to realise (and I saw this a few times) is that they would organise a stall at an art fair to try and sell their art, and sit on a stool for most of the day… then feel rejected because they didn’t sell anything.

It’s not hard to realise why.

They didn’t interact – they failed to express interest in other people.

If you express genuine interest in people I can fairly much guarantee that you are going to sell your art at these types of art fairs and festivals.

Don’t try to sell your most expensive pieces of art. Its more than likely that people don’t know who you are so keep your prices at the popular “impulse buyer” range and under – Approx $400.

Wait until you gather some speed then what you will find… is that people who have bought your lower priced art will often come back and buy more expensive pieces.

This is why I really emphasise to my newsletter subscribers to “take names” and develop a relationship with potential buyers through direct mail, email or social media. But provide some form of value to them while they are not buying your art – sounds kinda counterproductive but it really does work.

Marketing Material

Have some business cards made up for these types of art functions.

Make sure EVERYBODY you talk to leaves with something that has your name on it regardless if they bought a painting from you or not. But make sure it is only people you talk to because…

A lot of people who are just passing through will use the “have you got a business card” as a way to escape your stall. It’s their polite way of saying “I’m not really interested”.

So the point is, don’t waste your marketing material on people unless you have had some genuine interaction with them.

If you shared a conversation with somebody, make sure they leave with either a business card (you can get cards made up and shipped to you quite inexpensively through Vista Print – www.vistaprint.com.au) or some form of marketing material.

As you begin to gain some momentum doing these types of shows, start to incorporate other forms of marketing material if it is in your budget.

For example…

Got a video camera? Film yourself producing one of your paintings. Put some music to it and get 20 copies made onto DVD (easy to do on your own computer) to hand out to people who visit your art stall.

Keep the video short – no longer than 4 minutes. Don’t bore people – inspire them. Give them just enough to want to know more about you and want to contact you.

Tell people you do commission work.

Doing commission art can really help to develop your disipline as an artist, because it inspires you to work to deadlines.

Don’t be spooked by commission work. Don’t rely on it but don’t be afraid to do it when you are just starting out. After all, what is the worst thing that can happen? If the buyer doesn’t like it, don’t take his money and sell it to somebody who does at your next art fair meeting.

I’ve had this happen on just one occasion and ended up selling the painting for more (but only just a bit more) at an exhibit. It wasn’t that the original buyer didn’t like the end result; there was merely a breakdown in communication half way through the project.

I’ve written a report based on my experiences with doing commission work – if you want to know more you can grab a free copy at…

http://www.caku-art.com/commission-art.html

Promoting Locally

If you want to promote and let people know where you will be showing your art…

Contact your local community newspaper or lifestyle magazine and tell them you want them to do an article on you and your art.

Don’t think you have enough to say?

Tell them what inspires you to paint. Tell them your views on your community and express some of your thoughts about the people who live there. People will read it and think “What a groovy person, great community spirit – lets go look at her art… oh it says here at the bottom of the article….”

Get the picture?

Make sure the article has something at the bottom that directs people to either…

A: your next art fair showing

B: A web site or a blog.

C: An exhibit you have arranged in your community on a particular time and date.

In regards to galleries, consider visiting my site and reading the post about approaching an art gallery. It is a bit too long for this post.

But anyway, back to this…

Just remember to talk to as many people as you can – interact.

You’ll do well if you get yourself out in the public and listen to people. It may sound like a real odd thing to do or unfamiliar way to sell art, but believe me it really works.

And the best part is… if you like yourself and you like people, it really is quite easy to do – and you’ll sell some art as a result.

Hope that helps you out…

Power to you and your art!

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