Social Fall Fabric and ACEO #12
ACEO #12
3 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
sold
A few unrelated topics…
A series of articles I’ve read related to social media:
1) In a recent post, titled A Spectacular Way to Avoid Doing What Really Matters, Clint Watson definitively states:
Unfortunately, I keep seeing artists who seem to think that Twitter is some sort of revolutionary marketing tool that will help them sell art. It won’t.
…
Why ANY artist would think that sending a “Twit” is a better use of their time than creating art is totally beyond me.
2) A recent post by Seth Godin titled The small-minded vision of the technology elite:
"There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home."
—Ken Olsen, ceo of DEC,Only 31 years ago. DEC was one of the leading computer companies of the day, but not for long.
Take a look at the geek discussion boards and you’ll see an endless list of sharp-tongued critics, each angling to shoot down one idea or another.
…
PS the marketing elite have precisely the same problem.
3) An interesting point of view by Bill Weaver is presented in an article on his new blog The Artists Center: What’s up with social media.
I recommend the entire article and here’s a small bit:
So last year when I found out about Twitter I joined but really didn’t get it until the last few months. Coupled with my Facebook toolbar for Firefox I now get regular little blurbs that pop up on the bottom of my screen whenever one of the people I am connected with has something to say. That very action has allowed me to get to know what used to be pretty close to complete strangers. As a result, I have several potential partners for workshops or seminars each having a strong skill I am lacking in. I hinted above about communities, again this is one of the things social scientists have found occuring more and more as a result of staying connected with each other.
4) My twitter profile: twitter.com/lisacall (guess that makes it clear where I fall in the conversation).
PFD Fabric For Sale
As I’ve mentioned before I purchase the PFD (Prepared For Dye) fabric directly from Kaufman. I love this tight weave, high quality, 100% cotton pimatex fabric. It’s very dense and in my opinion some of the best fabric out there for making quilts (definitely a matter of opinion). I wrote a post about this fabric here: Kaufman PFD Pimatex Fabric
Kaufman has changed their rules for keeping my account active and I need to purchase more fabric than I can use each year. Would anyone be interested in purchasing some of this fabric from me? The cost would be around $5 a yard (including shipping). Unfortunately I don’t have the time to investigate shipping out of the US so currently this offer is for US residents only.
If you’d be interested in purchasing some fabric please send me email and I’ll see if there is enough interest to pursue this. I sure hope so cause I LOVE this fabric and don’t want to lose my account.
ACEO #12
Last night I didn’t get to my studio until about 9:00pm. I finished construction of Structures #99 before work so the next step was to piece the back and baste the quilt. I was in no mood for that so instead I decided to make an ACEO. This artist trading card is a combination of the bright colors from Structures #98 and the more somber dark gray/browns from Structures #99 as they were jumbled together on my cutting table.
If you are interested in purchasing ACEO #12 please send me email. It is $21 US and includes shipping to anywhere (I accept payment via paypal or check). It’s sold.
ACEO stands for “art cards, editions and originals”. Originally known as ATC, Artist Trading Card, and are traded between artists. When sold to the public they are referred to as ACEOs. The primary rule for an ACEO or ATC is they be 3 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ - the size of a trading card. They are created in many different mediums and are collectible, trade able and affordable art for everyone.
Backside:
Fall in Colorado
The weather is Colorado is beautiful this time of year. Warm days, cool clear nights (well except for the recent rain). It’s beautiful. This is the view from Jim’s deck up in the mountains. Visiting my boyfriend is better than going on vacation. I love living in this state (I know I said this same thing just the other day - I’m very grateful for my life!).
Posted by Lisa in: Art Cards Editions and Originals (ACEOS)
Tagged: ACEOs, Art for Sale, colorado, facebook, for sale, marketing, pfd fabric, Seth Godin, social media, twitter
Phyllis D said,
September 17, 2008 @ 9:32 am
I enjoyed reading this post and the comments you quoted re soicial media networking. I feel that it is vital if you are wanting to further your business contacts. I’ve already made several through Twitter.
I love the ACEO!
Julie said,
September 17, 2008 @ 9:45 am
Lisa, I love this little piece! I LOVE the colors. Also the pictures of Conifer on these gorgeous Fall days. We are lucky!
Clint Watson said,
September 17, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Just to clarify, I never said there was no value in social media in general. In fact, I run a service that provides a blogging platform and I constantly extole the value of blogging. I’m also currently working on a social media news site in the art space. In addition, I never even stated that there’s no value in Twitter itself for certain uses, there very well may be. My point is that Twitter is currently a very low-value activity (maybe not a no-value, but there are certainly much higher value activities) for the MARKETING of ARTWORK (ie for the purpose of SELLING artwork). THAT is the need for the vast majority of artists struggling to make a living. . . and typically the reason artists want to “try” Twitter. I am, however, willing to change my stance on this issue if someone has a case-study of an artist consistently selling artwork due primarily to Twitter usage. Thanks for your great blog, BTW.
Lisa Call said,
September 17, 2008 @ 10:11 am
I agree Phyllis - social media (beyond blogging) is the future. And thanks.
Thanks Julie - yes we are lucky!
Clint - I know you didn’t said there was no value ,but this comment:
Why ANY artist would think that sending a “Twit” is a better use of their time than creating art is totally beyond me.
Sounded a lot to me like the we don’t need computers in homes comment. It just felt very short sighted to me.
Selling art is more than just the sale - in my opinion people buy the artist as much as they buy the art. Social media such as twitter and facebook and blogging are excellent ways to market oneself.
The value of twitter will become more apparent as more artists try it and see what does and doesn’t work. Sitting back and staring at it and declaring it low value will result in it remaining low value. Only through experimentation will the value become clear. We might make some silly mistakes today but only through those mistakes will we learn.
Bill Weaver said,
September 17, 2008 @ 11:34 am
I agree Lisa, and what I noticed as a working clay artist for 15 years was the random nature of the buying cycle and the huge lack of understanding of the buying public about the value of art. This issue has many facets and I think that just a couple of years ago artists had little in the way of avenues or channels to connect to their buyers and for their buyers to connect to them. It is is that connection that builds community and hence a following which in the end results in the artist being the brand and not the product. Additionally, by creating connection, community, relationship and conversation with our public we play a major role in raising our actual value to buyers which eliminates the entire concept of transaction replacing it with relationship.
Social Media provides the tools needed to “stay in the for front” of peoples thoughts when it comes time for them purchase. So if you have kept your followers up to date about a particular body of work and that you will be showing it in their town at their art fair AND you let them in on what the work is and how wonderful it is you have at least removed yourself to some degree from the gamble of random purchases. Further more, the social media channels also give you the opportinunity to reward your loyal followers as well making them even more loyal and evangalistic about your brand…which is YOU.
Finally, one of the hardest concepts I had to get through was the concept that I am not in the business of SELLING art I am in the business of MARKETING art.
And social media via web 2.0 has just made it a whole lot easier for me to sell me (which is my brand) and not the products of my time.
This is an exciting time for artists because, for those willing to step out of their comfort zone, new opportunities are opening up that were never available. One of the more exciting things happening is the shift in consumer behavior away from the old advertising and marketing standbys…people are tired of them, they want to feel human and interact with humans who care about them, so to some degree we have come full circle only in a spiral rather than close of the loop.
Lisa Call said,
September 18, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
Bill - much of what you say is very similar to my thoughts on social media. Not much needs to be added. Thanks for commenting!