How To Sell A Friend's Art?
Starcap 50
Please forgive me.
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."
When it comes to computers, I know how to do three things:
1) Send and receive e-mail
2) Surf the internet
3) Use my printer
And that's about it.
When it comes to skills such as getting my computer and printer hooked up, the
sight of all those wires and things makes me dizzy just to look at them.
For this reason, I had to call Compu-Geek, just for the peace of mind of
getting all of this stuff hooked up without going through a nervous breakdown.
Was it worth it? Yes!
Okay, let me continue.
I know this elderly gentleman, who is a world renowned naturlalist. He has
traveled all over the world and has spent many months on end, living in such
exotic locations as the Amazon Forest, South America, 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 in the United States. Until he was fired for his eccentric and
unconventional views.
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 different species hanging from his ceiling.
At the present time, he is dirt poor, lives in a tiny 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.
::::::Ducking::::::::
If you're still there, rest assured that we no longer discuss politics. We
have amicably agreed to "disagree" about George W. Bush and to not let it
affect our friendship.
So, let's move on.
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.
This guy 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, in order to buy his
groceries, liquor, or whatever else he needs. If I was twice his size and
weight, and trying to do all of that, I would have been mugged and killed fifty
times by now.
However, this guy is absolutely fearless, and nobody seems to want to mess with
him. This guy projects this mysterious aura of invincibility and weirdness
about
him.
All he really owns that provides him any semblance of electronic entertainment
is an old transistor radio, which he keeps on this one single classical station
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 first led
America down to the moral and cultural decline he sees today.
Please don't try to argue with him about the virtues, or the lack thereof, of
modern music. If he disagrees with you, he will become extremely 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.
Now you know the real reason why we no longer discuss politics. When it comes
to a "duel", I would be "dead meat."
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 visibilly saturated with all of these wonderful oil paintings
that are an eye to behold. His sense and use of color to accent the sights
and scenes of the many exotic locations he has visited are truly remarkable.
He wants to sell as many of these paintings as possible.
Once in a blue moon, he is able to sell one of his 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 that the computer has to offer.
The PhD guy 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.
The painter has offered him a 50% commission on anything he can help him sell.
My PhD friend, however, has offered to split this with me if I can find some
way to become his partner, with whatever little computer skills I possess, and
help him out.
That is, my friend from the University of Virginia would receive 25% of
anything he is able to sell.
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 on my computer 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 little I have
right now. Just the very basics.
So, you see, when it comes to computer hardware, I 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 for my computer, in order to help him sell his art, and how to use
it.
So, to reiterate. Do I need the following:
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 any web sites out
there which may be willing to 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.
In other words, I just want to know how to begin.
Any and all ideas and suggestions will be deeply appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Very Sincerely,
Dennis
DNALJM
This wacky guy sounds like a treasure of a human being. I know a lot of
collectors and gallery directors around NJ, so if the paintings have merit in
and of themselves I hope that you post a link when you get them up or maybe
send them my way.
I'm afraid I can't help you with the photography part. I got a scanner and
a good digital cam. Using a traditional camera and then scanning good photos
seems to work the best, but using a professional photographer would be even
better as it is hard, I find, to photograph art. Installing hardware is not
that hard. Just put the CD-ROM in the drive and it will install itself. The
scanner or cam will connect with a USB cable. You can see from my site that it
shows if you try to do it yourself. : \
Jane
Andrew Werby
somewhere does not equate to sales, although it may be a first step. What is
required is some way of getting in contact with people who might be
interested in purchasing them, and alerting them to the site where the
images might be viewed. The internet makes this easier, but it's still not
automatic. Since your friend's work is all on one rather unusual subject
(bats), it would make sense to investigate bat-related sites, institutions,
and societies, and make a direct appeal to any likely prospects you find.
Here's a hint: bats are referred to scientifically as "chiroptera";
searching for that term plus another keyword or two to narrow the choices
should get you in touch with zoological societies, bat fanciers, cavern
giftshops, and others involved with them.
You'll need a camera to take pictures of the artwork. It doesn't have to be
digital; most photo processors these days offer digitization as an option
when developing film. Pay attention to lighting, though - you want even,
non-glaring light of a color temperature that's compatible with your film.
Many painters use open shade at mid-day and daylight film to get accurate
color reproduction without the expense and bother of artificial lighting.
Flash usually isn't a good idea, but a tripod will help.
If you decide to use an online gallery, be cautious; many have no interest
in selling, but get their money by charging hosting and setup fees to
hopeful artists. There are plenty of sites that will display artwork for
free, and it's also fairly easy and inexpensive to set up a site of your
own. The important thing is getting the right people to look at the art -
concentrate on that. Since your friend is intimately involved with the
subject, he probably is already acquainted with some of the people you'll
want to contact. Getting him to suggest people and organizations to get in
touch with might save you some time and effort, and it won't hurt if they
already know who he is.]
Andrew Werby
www.unitedartworks.com
"Starcap 50" <star...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040318000514...@mb-m11.aol.com...
Dilettante
People in the Goth subculture like pictures of bats. Try the google
search engine for vampire, goth, etc.
Dilettante
Starcap 50
>>Since your friend's work is all on one rather unusual subject (bats), it
would make sense to investigate bat-related sites, institutions, and societies,
and make a direct appeal to any likely prospects you find.<<
>>etc<<
Many thanks for your comments and insights in regard to the potential selling
points for my friend's art work and for worthwhile sources to investigate.
Please accept my apologies for a little confusion I may have caused while
describing his work in my original post.
Although he is probably the world's most knowledgeable authority on different
species of bats, this represents only a small fraction of his total body of
knowledge.
He has an incredible amount of knowledge about many species of birds, insects,
mammals, and just about any other living organism, with a special emphasis and
expertise on wildlife from South America and the Amazon Forests.
Although his apartment is filled with mobiles of real bats, his paintings are a
veritable smorgasbord of depictions of all sorts of wildlife from the areas
mentioned above. In fact, very few bats are depicted in his paintings.
Personally, I know very little about art. However, if I were to try to come up
for a name for any style which may truly be all his own, in all of my
ignorance, the best I might be able to come up with is "Amazon Forest
Surrealism."
His oil paintings are usually highlighted with rich and vibrant colors,
bordering on the psychedelic, depicting lush forests, streams, exotic birds,
reptiles, snakes, insects, butterflies, and naked women.
His nudes are not there to titillate. They are usually depictions of ordinary
South American women in natural shapes, many of whom are endowed with large
abdomens and small bosoms. His depictions of these women has the effect of
making them blend in with the other surrounding wildlife in his paintings.
In additions, his paintings are also characterized by occasional bits of
whimsy. For example, in one of my most favorite paintings of his, he shows a
swamp, where the "Creature From The Black Lagoon" himself is shown rising to
take a break of air.
In another painting, if my memory is correct, he depicts a monkey from a tree
with an intentional resemblance to President Bush.
I would really like to help this guy sell some of his paintings. It would be a
great travesty if he were to die an lonely old man in his small modest studio
apartment, full of paintings which either never sold or never received the
exposure they deserved.
One more question. Would e-bay be an acceptable place to help him sell some
of these paintings?
Or, perhaps, do you think this gentleman deserves better?
If so, then where?
Once again, any and all suggestions and leads would be deeply appreciated.
Thanks once again.
Very Sincerely,
Dennis
DNALJM
>
>If so, then where?
>
>Once again, any and all suggestions and leads would be deeply appreciated.
>
>Thanks once again.
>
>Very Sincerely,
>
>Dennis
>
>
It would be hard to suggest a venue without seeing his work. From your
description they could either look like bad, airbrushed Jimmy Buffett T shirts
or the works of a modern Paul Gauguin.
Someone else had a great idea, just take some photos and the place you get
them developed can turn them into digital images, or you can get the photos
scanned at an office place. You can that way start to show them right away.
Put them up on a free hosting site like Geocities or Angelfire, or your isp
probably has space allocated for a website.
If the goal is to get the paintings seen and get top dollar for them, you
probably want to aim for a gallery show. Even a quality work will be suspect
on Ebay and not go for very much money. You can have slides made up and send
them with a cover letter to galleries showing similar work, or have a postcard
thing made up and write "seeking representation" on it, do a mass mailing.
Jane