Friday, September 23, 2011

Paint Party Friday: Week 28 Check-In


Welcome to Week 28 of Paint Party Friday!  Whether you're a seasoned PPF participant or new to the party, it's great to have you all here! It's never too late to join in the fun with your painting efforts - just finished or works-in-progress! 

Last week we had a very lively and informative discussion about pricing paintings. You raised so many good points to consider and we enjoyed it so much that we didn't want the fun (and learning) to end! This week we're wondering where you sell your artwork. We'd love to find out more about what venues work for you, why you sell where you sell, and any insights about which sites you've found to be the most (or least) successful.  We can't wait to read your thoughts - Please share your knowledge with us in the comments section!


Please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 check-ins.


This should be an enlightening and interesting conversation at the party (in the comments) so please check back often and join in the discussion. Whether you are interested in selling your art or you just love to paint for yourself, have a great time at the party!

P.S. If you have a topic, you'd like to see turned into a PPF poll question, please email us your idea!

36 comments:

  1. while i currently have an etsy shoppe, i'm going to change that. i feel like when i post my items on etsy i tend to 'paint for the buyer'.
    that's really lame, and i want to change that about myself.

    no more lame.

    xx,
    amy

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love going to art shows and meeting people face to face and I can see the people that are going to buy it. When I sell a painting it is important that they have a good home. I know that sounds weird but they are like my children. For real!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Here is mine!! Thank you for this, I'm excited about it.

    Happy PPF!

    Nora

    ReplyDelete
  4. I really do not sell very much on my etsy site , and I am real disappointed... probably will quit it after this season is over. I think going to art shows and meeting people face to face is the best. I have sold four paintings this last year and one was hung in a local resaurant and sold that way to a customer, then I sold one to my dentist for her office, and I sold one to a lady who was just walking by my studio and saw it, and so that is how it goes. I have made many for family and friends also. My painting this week is for my older sister, and in return she is sewing me a purse tote bag that I adore. I found the sweet pattern for it on etsy .

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have been meaning to say how much I love the headings you create for each week. Very clever and fun and well done

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have an Etsy shop and a Folksy shop (UK based and similar to Etsy) and also will sell via my blog but so far I haven't sold much that way. Most of my commissions have been word of mouth from friends. I'd like to have a gallery exhibit but have no idea how to go about being able to do that!

    ReplyDelete
  7. hello,
    i have an etsy shop and sell at two farmer's markets that are crafts fairs as well. I love the questions you ask!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you so much for hosting PPF!
    Loving these polls, too!

    Looking forward to seeing this week's paintings!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Ladies, nice to be back to another aound of PPF. Enjoy! Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello, I have a folksy shop to sell my art although, I have only sold a few pieces I am proud that people will pay for things I make. It's very exciting but I don't really push my items in any way apart from a button on my blog. I have missed PPF for a few weeks and I am now happy to be back with some work to show as well as looking at every one else's Dawn xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've sold my work (traded, actually) from a blogger requesting a sketch of herself. I now have had three friends from Facebook ask if I'd draw them or their kids, how much, etc. It's very flattering, but so far I haven't charged them any money. When I get nice and good though...that'll be a different story. :)

    Great question and as always great party!! Enjoy your weekend, girls!

    Ileana from "arroz con mango" here...popping in as Anonymous because I can't comment any other way. Still. (www.chica1665.blogspot.com)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have an Etsy Shop but haven't sold much on it. I have sold in the past by walking to small gift shops and asking if the owner/buyer would like to look at my prints or jewelry ( depends on the store)which is very intimidating since I'm shy. But usually the people are always nice ( even if they don't buy and fun to talk to once you get over the initial panic when ya first walk in,lol!(sometimes I just leave the stuff in the car then ask and go get it if they want to look!
    I have also done a few small craft shows and did OK. But the most I've sold is to friends at work. I bring my stuff in about 3 times a year and set up at the lunch table and usually make a killing,lol ( enough to go get more supplies anyway! )This is a great discussion! Thanks Eva and Kristin! Deb

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have done everything from walls to book covers, murals, portraits, signs, you name it plus I am an art teacher at the public school so my name has been associated with art for more years than I care to remember. I have done galleries, rented booths for street craft shows all over, and various types of things like this but in the end word of mouth has been the best for me. My son has a custom frame shop locally and I sell through him and it helps to keep my artwork out there somewhere. Wish all a very happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have some on Etsy under artmusedogs and I also sell some spirit dolls in a shop on Bearskin Neck in Rockport MA ~ Mostly I create because I love to create and play! ~ Thanks for hosting again ~ enjoy the weekend ~ namaste, Carol Happy PPF (Share the Creative Journey)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have an Etsy shop, but I am not terribly fond of Etsy as a venue for selling art. I should really get my act together and do something else. Just haven't found the motivation (or time) yet.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What works best in the direct selling face to face t ... people talk and word spreads. Nice to be back with you. Regards

    ReplyDelete
  17. okay, SO, I just started stocking the shelves of my ETSY shop this past week (because it was on my 'to-do' list forever and I was so proud of myself) and most of the previous comments aren't too positive about ETSY :( I'm bummed! I work 50 hours a week at my 'other' job and every 3rd weekend. I can't imagine doing shows (and I certainly do not have enough inventory). I need to check out some local galleries (but we don't have too many in my immediate area). Sold 4 pieces this past week, but that was to friends and family who came to visit and love me (I tried to not let them pay me at all). Although I LOVE creating, I'm not sure how to turn it into something that will pay the bills. LOVE PPF all week long! Thank YOU Eva and Kristin!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Interesting comments, I'm in the 'not selling my art yet' category!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy PPF everyone!! And this is another great topic! I have had an etsy shop for over a year but don't sell all that much. A few of my sales have happened through my blog where I post some of my work or to friends on facebook that see a piece I post and inquire about whether it is for sale! So I am looking forward to reading all the responses and learning more.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have an etsy shop & have the last couple of months seen a massive increase in sales, more than the other two years I've had it out together. Still not massive sales I have to say but I'm selling between 4-10 items a week and I'd say I've noticed this change since I've been creating for me, and not what I think the buyers would like. So if I were to offer any advice I'd say make something that you would be happy to keep yourself (which may happen if it doesn't sell) because it's much like having self-confidence - if you believe in yourself, others will too, if you love your creations then it naturally follows that others will too. Thanks for sharing everyone, Jenny

    ReplyDelete
  21. I never sell my art, I just have fun doing it and I realize how odd this is.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have an Etsy shop but it's not active because I really wasn't selling. I have FAA and just got started with that, we'll see what happens. My best way to sell what art I do is word of mouth, art shows downtown on Thursdays and sometimes it just doesn't get sold. No problem there because I really just do it for my soul enrichment. Helps me stay focused. Great PPF shop you have up there. If I may suggest taking orders on making TShirts from that picture and then selling to us PPFers, I'd be the first on your list to buy. Looks great. Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy PPF! I sell on Etsy, I have sold a few things. I think Etsy is a great way to get your stuff out there and I consider it just one of many outlets.

    ReplyDelete
  24. My current best selling pieces are my rocks and I sell them through a local antique mall which also carries a lot of other types of merchandise like quilt fabric. I don't do regular street fairs; the people don't buy anything. An artists fair that I went to last year I barely make my booth space, BUT from a connection I made there I went on to make a lot more; that's where the commissioned Yellow Lab portraits started from.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi! This is my first week here. Thank you for inviting me to the party! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have an Etsy shop of which I seem to be deeply buried in. I have no idea how to really get my exposure but recently I discovered that the writers for Dummies recently wrote a new book "Starting an Etsy Business for Dummies" of which I readily bought. Now I am in the mist of reading it and hopefully through it and here I may become a little, more like a lot more prolific a seller in the the near future....I hope :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have an Etsy shop too and so far, only 1 sale! I exhibit in local restaurants as part of my art group. Sales are down over the last 5 years. Economy???
    Word of mouth is probably my best venue!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I sell on Etsy and garner quite a few commissions through my Facebook Page. I also sell through local business/restaurants that hang my art. I'm relatively new to Etsy and learning my way around but was pleased that I sold 2 pieces within 7 minutes of putting up my shop. It seems like there should be a better way to share and shop together as artist since many of us buy art as well as create it!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Right now I am not selling my art but am in the process of setting up a site on imagekind.com. I do photography and also do art edits of my photos. Phartography: where photography and art meet.
    I do have a daughter who started out with a blog then went to etsy, but outgrew etsy and now has a sales website. She went from using a part of her basement, then she sold her dining room furniture and moved there for her studio. Now she has to rent office space and is also in the process of hiring assistants.I am very proud of her and hope to learn much from her success.
    This is my first visit to this site. i came here through Teri's Painted Daisies
    Johnina :D

    ReplyDelete
  30. Today was a really weird day for me. No painting but art in my mind :o)

    Now as for the vote... I do have an Etsy shop and do auctions on ebay sometimes. I used to list every other day on ebay but not anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh my gosh...I am late posting again this week. But, at least I made it! I am loving these discussions. It is so helpful to see what other artists are doing. I have an Etsy shop that I need to work on, but sell word of mouth or through friends too. It is really interesting to read everyone's posts.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I have really enjoyed reading all the comments as I was asking about Etsy last week. I have created a shop but not uploaded anything yet. I found the comments really interesting from the viewpoint of success versus painting for sale....because I work full time I'm trying to test the waters with print sales.

    Our local art scene is slow unless you are a very established collectible artist.
    We do have a great active arts community with studio tours but I know from past experience that you need a good deal of time and energy to participate in all the activities to be successful.
    Thanks for creating this forum!

    ReplyDelete
  33. THis is the first time I have linked here. HOw fun to find you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I am new to this site, but will join as I think this is wonderful.
    I have triee many method of selling my art. At the present time I am selling by word of mouth. Many buy this time of year for Christmas gifts.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Sorry, I used the wrong url! Try again.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Each participants has this distinctive way of painting their favorite piece. They've shared their talents and the world is happy to know your craft and I'm one of those.

    ReplyDelete