Re my running commentary on online art/crafts sales venues

Well, I don't have a whole lot to report at this time.  I got a couple of sales on Artfire.com, but they were to other artists/vendors on the site - due to my having made comments in the discussion forums.  Absolutely no "outside" sales.  However, in fairness to artfire, I haven't had (or taken) the time to do much marketing, either.  I'll keep working with it, I think, though, just to see how it goes if I give it more of a chance.

Etsy is still going strong, although it's slowed down a bit I think because it's summertime.  I still haven't checked back with 1000 Markets, but I promise I will soon.  I'm also looking at another venue now, too, but so far, I haven't done much yet with it:  It's called http://www.fineartamerica.com/.  There's supposedly a free membership or a $30 annual membership.  I'll report my findings on it probably next week (we've got a camping trip coming up for a few days!  Horray!)

1000 Markets & Artfire report

Well, so far, I don't have much to report on my testing of the two above art/crafts venues, 1000 Markets and Artfire.  I've only listed a few items on each one and have gotten only what appears to be views from other people selling art or craft items on the sites.  I will continue to list more items, though, and report back. 

I don't want to judge either site at this point because on the surface, at least, they're nice looking.  I just don't know if they get enough traffic to generate much income.  (But that could change in the future, too.)  And although I do quite well on the biggie site, Etsy, and rather well on my own website, I would rather be able to sell more of my work online rather than primarily at art shows -- just easier.  Although I might add that an artist's presence at art shows is essential, too, even with a better sales volume online. 

All this being said, I am first an artist and next a person who has to pay her bills.  I have chosen to be an artist, and I love passionately what I do - but those darned bills still have to be paid.  And if I'm going to stay at home in my studio and paint all day, every day, I've got to pay the bills with the results of my fun but hard work - i.e., my paintings and prints.  More to follow . . .

German Shorthaired Pointer painting

This is another painting I finished this past week. It's also 8x10x1.5 on wood, sides painted black. I think these are some of the most beautiful dogs to exist. And from having one of the best friends of my life be at least part GSP, I know what loving, intelligent dogs they are, too. This painting is available on my website, http://www.dottiedracos.com/, and sells for $150.00. Clocks are also available.

Australian Shepherd Painting - Tan

This is an Australian Shepherd that I just finished. I'm also working on a blue merle Australian shepherd that I should finish sometime today and will list just as soon as it's finished. This painting is an 8x10 with 1.5" black sides, acrylic painted on wood, and is available on my website for $150, plus shipping. Obviously, as usual, it's also available as a clock on my website, www.dottiedracos.com.

On another subject, does anyone read my blog??? If you do, please leave a comment just so I know someone is reading it. Sometimes I feel that I'm just writing a personal diary, one of those that no one else ever gets to read. But that's not the purpose of my blog. Its purpose is to share my artwork, try to make a living as a full-time artist, get feedback on my work, etc.