Selling Art On The Internet?
Starcap 50
I don't even know where to begin with such a weird off-the-wall topic.
First of all, let me begin my saying that I still consider myself pretty much a
computer "novice."
I know how to surf the internet, I know how to send and receive e-mail, and I
know how to use my printer.
But that's about it.
Okay, let me begin.
I know this elderly gentleman, who is a world renowned naturlalist. He has
traveled all over the world and has spent months on end, living in such exotic
locations as the Amazon Forest and many others.
He is a Frenchman, a bona fide French Count. He is a true intellectual, a
genuine eccentric, and a former curator of a prominent museum of natural
history.
He is also, without a doubt, the world's most foremost authority on bats. If
you ever visit his apartment, you will see "mobiles" of real stuffed bats of
many species hanging from his ceiling.
At the present time, he is dirt poor, lives in a dirt cheap studio apartment,
and survives from month to month on his social security check from month to
month.
On the negative side, we disagree about politics. He hates George W. Bush. I
happen to like George W. Bush.
Therefore, we no longer discuss politics. We have amicably agreed to
"disagree" about George W. Bush and to not let it affect our friendship.
He also lives in a bad section of our city.
In his spare time, he paints. His oil paintings are truly incredible,
capturing the true life and spirit of many of the exotic species he has
observed and studied in these exotic locations over the years.
However, he also rejects anything that is even remotely "modern." He refuses
to buy a hand held calcuator. He won't even buy a television. He won't even
drive a car.
Living in a bad section of our city, he has to walk to everywhere he wants to
go, or else, get a ride from somebody else. He is a small "wisp" of a man,
barely five feet tall and probably just barely over 100 pounds.
Yet, he walks the streets of his city every day or night, to buy groceries or
whatever he needs. If I was twice his weight and size, and trying to do all
of that, I would have been mugged and killed ten times over.
However, this guy is absolutely fearless, and nobody seems to want to mess with
him. This guy seems to project this mysterious aura of invincibility about
him.
All he really owns that provides him any semblance of electronic entertainment
is an old radio, which he keeps on classical stations at all times.
He is so old-fashioned that he even hates Elvis Presley with a passion and
constantly rants that he is a symbol of the very "decadence" that led American
on down to the steady decline he sees today.
Please don't try to argue with him about the virtues, or the lack thereof, of
modern music. He will become very irate.
So much so that he will probably challenge you to a "duel." Remember, this
guy is a true eccentric and a bona fide French Count.
Don't even mention a computer. He cringes at the very sight of one.
Yet, he is beginning to acknowledge that computers may very well have some
value after all.
His apartment is cluttered with all of these wonderful oil paintings that are
an eye to behold. He wants to sell as many of them as possible.
Once in a blue moon, he is able to sell one of these paintings to an old friend
of his. One who tends to approach his level of eccentricity.
He has another friend, one who is a retired Ph.D. from the University of
Virginia.
He can also be described as a "computer phobe."
On the positive side, he ( the PhD) is now taking a computer course, in order
to attain some semblance of literacy. As a result, he has come to appreciate
the potential uses of a computer.
The PhD guy has recently approached me, asking me if I would be willing to
figure out some way to help our old friend, the naturalist, sell his paintings
on the internet.
We have been offered a 50% commission on anything we can help him sell. My
PhD friend has offered to split this with me if I can find some way to become
his partner and help him out.
That is, my friend from the University of Virginia would receive 25% and so
would I.
Now then. I have no idea what "hardware" I would need to have to even begin
such an undertaking.
Once again, all I know how to use is my e-mail, my internet service, and my
printer.
I am guessing that I might need a digital camera, in order to take pictures of
his many paintings, in order to display these pictures somewhere on the
internet.
Is this correct?
Would I also need what is known as a "scanner" as well?
If so, then I have no idea how to even go about hooking up a digital camera and
a scanner onto my computer.
I even had to call "Compu Geek" to come over and hook up what I have right now.
So, you see, when it comes to computer hardware, I still feel totally
intimidated.
On the positive side, I feel that I have above average "writing skills" and can
give this guy a fairly decent written promotion on any web site that caters to
the selling of internet art.
Let's face it. People have made millions of dollars splashing buckets of
paint onto a canvas and selling it as "modern art."
Trust me, what this naturalist has painted is far better than that.
What I need help with is the identification of whatever additional "hardware" I
might need to help him sell his art and how to use it.
So, to reiterate. Do I need:
1) A digital camera?
2) A scanner?
3) Both of the above?
This is what I need help with.
I can probably research the rest. Such as the location of web sites which may
help him to sell his paintings and so on.
I just want to know how to get started, in order to get this project hopefully
going.
I just want to know how to begin.
Any and all ideas will be deeply appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Very Sincerely,
Dennis