Posting Artwork Online

[Beverly]

I would love to hear the experiences of others who have either posted creative work online
or are considering it. There seem to be many pros and cons with each venue opportunity
that exists. I have been pondering for a few months now on where to put an online art
shop of my work and would love to hear the thoughts of others.

Even just talking about exhibiting your work in "real life" galleries, libraries, coffee shops,
would be fun to hear about. Or how it felt to exhibit it when you were taking art classes. Or
even here at CCS.

The process of doing art is very rewarding and healing, but sharing our gifts with others
can be as fulfilling, or more so. So looking forward to hearing what you all have to say.

"Flying to New Heights"
Digital art

[Beverly]

I remember how it felt the first time I exhibited my work in a student show. I stared at the life drawing hanging in front of me and said "Did I do that"? I've read that there can be a sense of detachment one we've put our work out there. Maybe that was what I was feeling. Or maybe I just didn't want to accept the gift I had within myself. Whatever the case, it did get easier to share and show my art each successive time. I still feel humble and still have problems receiving praise from others when they acknowledge my art. But that feeling, too, has lessened over time.

Another instance comes to mind where I showed my art in a local bookstore/cafe (Borders, actually). Photos of flowers and various watercolor images filled the wall. A few days after, I got a phone call from a woman regarding my display. She had sat that for a few hours in the coffee shop, staring at the images. She told me on the phone her thoughts on each one, even giving them each a unique title. The woman also talked about how she was inspired to write after seeing my display. This touched me and made me realize the importance on a deeper level of getting our creations out there.

There are many stories I have encountered related to my art process. But these come to mind at the moment.

[Patrice]

Beverly, I've obviously posted a great deal of art online - most of it, fairly recently (last two years).

I hear a lot of discussion about copying and infringement and so on - and I'm sure it goes on, but I feel the benefits outweigh the problems. And I actually can't imagine anyone wanting to copy my art exactly. Supposedly there are Southeast Asian companies who try to download high quality photos and have them made into glicees (sp?) - but again, with all the thousands and thousands of images out there, the likelihood of them picking mine is low. And I might even be flattered... ha ha.

As for feedback and good feeling from online onlookers, my experiences have been nearly all positive. It's not the immediacy of a gallery opening or show - and is therefore a bit more frustrating if you want to really interact with the audience. But as there are few opportunities to interact with other professional artists near me (rural area), I find the responses to my work online much more interesting and gratifying as it comes from peers.

I love showing my work even more than selling it as I tend to want to keep things... But sharing is great - and gets better if one you be relaxed and confident in what you are showing. Sure, there'll be a few disgruntled folks, and some criticism - but you get more comfortable with each showing - and less likely to internalize snide comments. I like real reviews and criticism. It doesn't necessarily mean I will change anything, but I like to think the work has some impact, and if I didn't show it, I'd never know.

I still remember my first one-person show many years ago in the gallery of a university library. I wanted to sit in the gallery anonymously and listen to what folks said. I actually did this for a time, only to find that most people walked right by, never even looking at the art. Now that wouldn't bother me, as it's a fact that only about 5% of the total population is seriously interested in art.

[Lin Neiswender]

Beautiful digital piece, Bev. I would love for you all to have a gallery show together- wouldn't that be awesome! Maybe it can happen digitally. I only know of one digital gallery, Art Scuttlebutt/Art Calendar.

[Lin Neiswender]

Wow Denise, you would be an asset to several of our CCS groups- I hope you're in them! If you have ideas about how say Camile and Jules could get exposure for their doodles, that would be great. I think their output has been awesome and of high quality so I would love to see it get some recognition. Maybe you can help them brainstorm it, if you would, since you seem to know the ropes.

[Lin Neiswender]

Cool Denise, I'll let Jules and Barb know about this discussion.

[Camille]

Denise, http://www.cafepress.com/ is also a great place to for selling, and displaying. What I like about that site is that you have the option to put a watermark across the image so it is less likely to be ripped off...Also they have communities and meet-ups all over the country!

[Camille]

Thanks for thinking about the doodles of Camille and Jules Lin! When it comes to my doodles, I feel satisfied with the exposure here at CCS...I do want to take my doodles and make some kind of arrangement out of them...not exactly sure what yet, but I have in mind, wiring them all together with beads and creating a giant doodle curtain or king-sized bedspread, or hanging room divider! LOL!!! appreciate your thoughtfulness Lin!

I would love to do a duel doodle project with Joodles and see what transpires...maybe we can start a website called DabsdoodlerandJoodles.com or JoodlesandDabsdoodler.com

Now I wonder what Joodles has to say about all of this???

Love and hugs from Dabsdoodler
I will check out some of the websites that Denise mentioned in her posts

[Beverly]

Dear Lin, Patrice and Denise,

Thank you all for your insightful and honest comments here. It makes me realize that the sky is the limit
as to what we can strive for, if we let ourselves be open to it.
I have found myself in an ebb and flow cycle with my creativity, sometimes wanting
to be out there more, sometimes just wanting to withdraw. Cocoon - butterfly - cocoon - butterfly.
Similar metamorphosis I feel on symbolic level.

I need to honor where I am at each
moment of life and know this is exactly where I need to be.
I appreciate the sharing here of kindred spirits, it eases the angst I sometimes feel about my process.

[Camille]

The only experience I have with online posting is, here at CCS and I used to own my own online store at cafepress.com,
http://www.cafepress.com/. At CCS it is more for sharing and informing.

At cafepress.com, I sold many more items than I expected, but it took so much time away from my creativity, keeping it updated, that two years ago I took my store down. You can get a free storefront there, or pay fifty dollars a year for an unlimited store fromt...dealing with them by phone was very friendly!

They also have online communities and national meet-ups! It is a cool concept for selling and marketing and if one has the energy and patience to upkeep a storefront...I say go for it...I just wanna create! Love Dabs

I would be interested in being on an online art gallery, but again, it takes time and work to show and sell!

CCS is my most comfy online art forum!

[Beth Clark]

I've read everyone's comments and I am thinking I might try Cafe Press, (thanks Camille and Denise), but I am also interested in Imagekind. I already have a page on Fine Art America, and it's alright, but they don't offere greeting cards for sale, only originals and prints. Do you all think it would be worth my while to switch to Imagekind? And could I have my work at Cafe Press and Imagekind? or is that overkill? What do you all think? I like the idea of setting my own markup too.

[Camille]

Cafepress will give you larger exposure, Beth, because it is very popular. It's all over the net. Imagekind has nice items but I don't think it is as well-known as Cafepress. You can do both, but that might be overkill, as it is a lot of work to set up your store inventory and keep it updated and market it online. If your goal is extra exposure, then if you have the time and energy you could give two stores a whirl.

You could also have more than one store at Cafepress...with different store names for different themes. In fact you could have one major store there, and then open and close many free stores anytime you want to at Cafepress...these little stores could have a link posted for your big store and vice-versa...

Love Dabs

[Beverly]

Thanks for sharing, Capitola Girl,
I will check out your online site to see your jewelry. I enjoy all mediums but jewelry seems to be a challenge so anyone that does it I marvel at. I do several shows and gallery exhibits each year. But now I want to share my art/photos online. So I'm investigating several places and will probably make the next step and do that. But I'm trying to find the perfect site. Now wait a minute if it's to be perfect then I am already stopping myself with ego expectations. Hm. Anyway, I think that the more we do things regarding our art, and believe in it and talk to others believing in ourselves, it gets easier. Baby steps. I've been asked to teach classes but still feel a bit fearful of it. (Not feeling good enough voice stops me). But I think as I accept who I am first and foremost I think doing things on an external level will fall into place.
Back to shows, shows are actually quite fun. It's fun meeting new people, new artists who share, just being in a creative environment with that kind of energy feels so good. Although my of creations I do is fine art, I finally did a craft show last year. It was a different experience but pushed my horizons. Crafts people are artists, we need to embrace and connect with each other. Thanks for sharing.