Art166 - The Fine Art of Insomnia

Potential Archer

- (click image for a larger view)

Sold! at Art166.com.

See it in the “Abstraction” gallery.

~

Experiments on the Web --
This Artist's Quest for Cyber Collectors!

Recently, in a flurry of unexpected productivity, I've undertaken a handful of Internet Marketing Experiments in an attempt to reach a wider audience, and hopefully, increase sales of my work:

Experiment #1 Art166.com (my main commercial site) -- After a year at this 'virtual gallery', I decided to make a couple of changes. The main one being that I now offer many images as 'one-of-a-kind' sales. As in, the Buyer receives one reproduction of a digital original and I (of course) keep one, at which time the image is permanently removed from the market. These pieces are billed as "Special Limited Editions." My own home is filled with unique items, and I'm always thrilled to purchase a piece that is rare, handmade, or one-of-a-kind. I can only hope that my Buyers will feel the same.

This experiment worked, or at the very least, is off to a great start! "Potential Archer" was Sold! to my favorite local collector just days after it was listed! I've had some very promising nibbles on some of the other exclusive pieces, too! My Limited and Open Editions continue to sell at about their usual rate. (Sales do slow down over the summer -- why would anyone choose to spend their money on a vacation, instead of my art? Go figure!)

Experiment #2 Flickr (image sharing site) -- With each image in my Flickr gallery, I've attached a link to either "Art166.com" or this blog. A handful of viewers have left positive comments, but I have yet to track a visitor that clicked from Flickr to my blog or main site. Flickr may be more trouble than it's worth, but I'm not ready to give up on their very nifty 'slideshow' feature. Check it out, here!

Experiment #3 Etsy.com (a 'virtual' storefront site that specializes in arts, crafts, and other handmade/custom items) -- Etsy is my "smaller works" store, where nothing larger than 14" on any one side will be sold. During the next couple of weeks, I'll be adding greeting cards and ACEO cards to my Etsy store. My initial stock of items has received lots of views and great comments, but after two weeks, no sales. It's very early days at Etsy, and the store is not fully stocked. Hopefully, as the available inventory increases, sales will pick up!

Experiment #4 This Blog! (not new, and no longer an experiment) -- Blogging was another experiment that worked! I've made quite a few sales here, but, more valuable than selling art, the blog has become a place to share my new work, ideas, and frequently surreal experiences and observations with my "Cyber Peeps" (translation: Internet pals)! Blogging gives me the wonderful opportunity to peek into the hearts and brains (scary, sometimes!) of a worldwide community that, otherwise, would have been forever out of my reach.

Lucky me!

Now, I'm off to scare up some mischief! Gotta alleviate my 'Monday Blues'!

P. S. FYI, unless marked Sold!, all the art you see on this blog is now available for sale, in one format or another. If something catches your eye (or, your heart), just contact me at wjsc@art166.com!