Weeks 2,3 and 4

Week 2:

I chickened out...

What is it with my value-setting issues? I toyed with the price of my 20x30 ThinWraps over and over; adding one or two zeros... then going back to the semi-original price again. Finally, I left it at "State Fair price"... times 10! I have managed to leave it that way for a few weeks now. I hope my erratic prices haven't caused too much damage thus far!

I kept thinking about the hundreds of almost sells I had at the art shows. No matter how many times I hear from well-meaners that the "almosts" are good; knowing that people "dig" my work doesn't pay the bills.

Note to self: Remember what you learned from your fellow artists!

I do not want to be a "gypsy" artist! I want to sell to the people that actually buy art... You know, the people with houses or offices big enough to hang it! When I am looking for that market, it makes sense to raise my prices!

Week 3:

I checked out Ebay. I was discouraged by all the pornography disguised as art. I know that for many the line between the two is fuzzy. I say; if it makes you feel funny it's pornography. Black and white. Simple as that. I can tell you, it was not a pleasant feeling looking through the listings on Ebay trying to market definite art. I knew I didn't want beauty debased by filth.

Week 4:

I like Etsy. I'm not sure how big it is yet. Does anyone outside of Utah use it to list? I kept thinking about Ebay as a way to reach a bigger market. I logged back on, this time checking the listings from the highest price first. That was better. Also, it gave me a little more confidence to shoot higher in pricing. I saw Peter Lik's work there. I remembered, though I am not so sure of it myself, that I had been compared to him a couple of times at the Fair.

I listed one item on Ebay.

My plan from here on out: I will continue to list, at least on Etsy, and begin work on a photo book. (Apparently, according to some research, the photo book idea worked for my new friend, Peter Lik...)

...I can't help but wonder whether Van Gogh would have sold more than one piece of art if he had the Internet!


check out my work at http://www.meloniepacker.com)