Comments on: The Cost of Being an Artist http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html Images and writing about my abstract contemporary textile art by Lisa Call. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:28:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Chris O'Byrne http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html/comment-page-1#comment-11137 Chris O'Byrne Mon, 07 May 2007 00:07:40 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html#comment-11137 I have to agree, never lower your prices. In fact, I would say raise your prices. Premium products demand premium prices. As for eBay, I think it is a great way to get some free online marketing, but not the best format to sell art, especially good art. Perhaps just using the store and not using the auction format would be okay, I have to agree, never lower your prices. In fact, I would say raise your prices. Premium products demand premium prices. As for eBay, I think it is a great way to get some free online marketing, but not the best format to sell art, especially good art. Perhaps just using the store and not using the auction format would be okay,

]]> By: Melody Madden http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html/comment-page-1#comment-10817 Melody Madden Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:29:15 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html#comment-10817 Lisa, I couldn't agree wth you more. Art is something you create because of a deep passion you have for it......I also feel I could not be happy without creating. That being said, supporting youself does become a factor at some point. I have heard good things about Etsy and I wish you well. I'm not so sure about Ebay. I tried it myself a few years ago and found it to be a lot of work with not much payoff....just my personal experience. As a side note.......i think you work is fabulous Lisa, I couldn’t agree wth you more. Art is something you create because of a deep passion you have for it……I also feel I could not be happy without creating. That being said, supporting youself does become a factor at some point.
I have heard good things about Etsy and I wish you well. I’m not so sure about Ebay. I tried it myself a few years ago and found it to be a lot of work with not much payoff….just my personal experience.

As a side note…….i think you work is fabulous

]]> By: Ed Terpening http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html/comment-page-1#comment-10769 Ed Terpening Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:57:00 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html#comment-10769 I can definetly relate as I am trying to balance art and a "corporate" career. I happen to LOVE my job (I manage the blogging/social media team at Wells Fargo), and although I work part time (30 hours/week) I am struggling to simplify my life. I think focusing on selling--for me, at least--complicates my life since it inevidibly means less time CREATING. It's a tough trade-off. I can definetly relate as I am trying to balance art and a “corporate” career. I happen to LOVE my job (I manage the blogging/social media team at Wells Fargo), and although I work part time (30 hours/week) I am struggling to simplify my life.

I think focusing on selling–for me, at least–complicates my life since it inevidibly means less time CREATING. It’s a tough trade-off.

]]> By: jafabrit http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html/comment-page-1#comment-10694 jafabrit Sun, 15 Apr 2007 13:39:43 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html#comment-10694 I know you don't like the name but from what I have seen it has a good rep, the presentation is really nice and have liked the quality of work on the site. All the best with this new venture. I know you don’t like the name but from what I have seen it has a good rep, the presentation is really nice and have liked the quality of work on the site. All the best with this new venture.

]]> By: Sue O'Kieffe http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html/comment-page-1#comment-10693 Sue O'Kieffe Sun, 15 Apr 2007 13:29:42 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html#comment-10693 Hi Lisa~ I hope that you have some success at etsy. Your quilts are beautiful and I know someone will love some. Yes, I do know someone who has made good contacts at etsy. I hope the journey unfolds well for you. Im not as certain about ebay, though, which doesn't seem to be as kind to artists in my limited experience with them. Best wishes, Sue O'Kieffe http://sacred-circle-mandalas.blogspot.com Hi Lisa~
I hope that you have some success at etsy. Your quilts are beautiful and I know someone will love some. Yes, I do know someone who has made good contacts at etsy. I hope the journey unfolds well for you.
Im not as certain about ebay, though, which doesn’t seem to be as kind to artists in my limited experience with them.
Best wishes,
Sue O’Kieffe
http://sacred-circle-mandalas.blogspot.com

]]> By: Diane Clancy http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html/comment-page-1#comment-10673 Diane Clancy Sat, 14 Apr 2007 20:51:05 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html#comment-10673 I LOVE the Squares #1! i just heard about Etsy the other day (from Sue O'kieffe of Sacred Circle Mandalas) - I am definitely thinking about selling some work there too. She knows someone and said the place is ok to trust I believe. So, it sounds like you, Lisa, also think it is trustworthy. Good luck! I am glad you are not willing to lower your prices below what you think it right. We have archival digital prints for sale - including in frames - nice frames. Someone can get a print and go get a frame at Walmart - but I am not going to try to compete with them - I will be paying people to take my work - and I am not going to do that! Some us have been trying to figure out how to go online - whether to do ebay or what. I am selling from my regular website www.dianeclancy.com - but not surprisingly I haven't made very many sales - I have no shopping cart or anything yet. Like all the rest of art (for me anyway) it is one foot in front of the other ... and looking back there is progress. I think I should talk about some more of these issues on my blog too - I have touched marketing in terms of licensing ... but there is so much more .... Keep us in the loop! ~ Diane Clancy I LOVE the Squares #1!

i just heard about Etsy the other day (from Sue O’kieffe of Sacred Circle Mandalas) - I am definitely thinking about selling some work there too. She knows someone and said the place is ok to trust I believe. So, it sounds like you, Lisa, also think it is trustworthy. Good luck!

I am glad you are not willing to lower your prices below what you think it right. We have archival digital prints for sale - including in frames - nice frames. Someone can get a print and go get a frame at Walmart - but I am not going to try to compete with them - I will be paying people to take my work - and I am not going to do that!

Some us have been trying to figure out how to go online - whether to do ebay or what. I am selling from my regular website http://www.dianeclancy.com - but not surprisingly I haven’t made very many sales - I have no shopping cart or anything yet. Like all the rest of art (for me anyway) it is one foot in front of the other … and looking back there is progress.

I think I should talk about some more of these issues on my blog too - I have touched marketing in terms of licensing … but there is so much more ….

Keep us in the loop!
~ Diane Clancy

]]> By: Lisa Call http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html/comment-page-1#comment-10669 Lisa Call Sat, 14 Apr 2007 19:40:40 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html#comment-10669 Thanks Cynthia - good luck would be great! And yes Vicki and Cynthia - I applied to guild.com in mid March (I was aiming for January but that wasn't such a great month). Haven't heard back yet. They have been on my radar for years as the first place to apply once I was ready to try to start selling my work. I really love their website and like how professional the entire operation feels. Etsy seems to have promise so we'll see how it goes. I'm not sure my prices are in line with what's going on at etsy but I refuse to lower them down to below minimum wage levels. If it doesn't work out I might try ebay. Long ago I sold pokemon cards on ebay and made a nice pile of money. I should blog about the experience someday as it was art related in a way. Thanks Cynthia - good luck would be great!

And yes Vicki and Cynthia - I applied to guild.com in mid March (I was aiming for January but that wasn’t such a great month). Haven’t heard back yet. They have been on my radar for years as the first place to apply once I was ready to try to start selling my work. I really love their website and like how professional the entire operation feels.

Etsy seems to have promise so we’ll see how it goes. I’m not sure my prices are in line with what’s going on at etsy but I refuse to lower them down to below minimum wage levels.

If it doesn’t work out I might try ebay. Long ago I sold pokemon cards on ebay and made a nice pile of money. I should blog about the experience someday as it was art related in a way.

]]> By: cynthia http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html/comment-page-1#comment-10668 cynthia Sat, 14 Apr 2007 19:17:37 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html#comment-10668 I just saw that you listed a few things on Etsy yesterday and had to pop on over to see if you had posted about it on your blog. From what I've read on your blog, I know it was probably a tough decision to list some of your art for sale. I'm being very concious about what to list and not list on Etsy myself. I am looking into The Guild myself, but am not ready. Or maybe I should say my work isn't ready yet. You're right that Etsy is crafty, but more and more fine artists are hoping on the train. It's still a young company. Best of luck to you. Oh ya, I almost forgot, art is an expensive profession! I need to start a college fund for my daugther. I just saw that you listed a few things on Etsy yesterday and had to pop on over to see if you had posted about it on your blog. From what I’ve read on your blog, I know it was probably a tough decision to list some of your art for sale. I’m being very concious about what to list and not list on Etsy myself.

I am looking into The Guild myself, but am not ready. Or maybe I should say my work isn’t ready yet.

You’re right that Etsy is crafty, but more and more fine artists are hoping on the train. It’s still a young company. Best of luck to you.

Oh ya, I almost forgot, art is an expensive profession! I need to start a college fund for my daugther.

]]> By: Vcki W http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html/comment-page-1#comment-10657 Vcki W Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:28:21 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/the-cost-of-being-an-artist.html#comment-10657 Have you looked into seling at guild.com? I don't know about selling there - jsut buying - but your work would fit in well there. Have you looked into seling at guild.com? I don’t know about selling there - jsut buying - but your work would fit in well there.

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