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Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Silent Auction!!! - Desperate Times...creative Measures!!!!

In the next few days I will be launching my first "Silent Auction", the idea is for the next couple of weeks to offer some of my works for auction via several community sites. Facebook, g+, etc. The event will conclude with some additional works being offered later this month at my own Studio-Gallery (as well as those that have not received bids during the 2 weeks leading to the event). Most works offered will have a minimum bid of 50% of their normal price and some even below that.

Have you ever organised such an event? Any advise, ideas or things to look out for? All feedback will be appreciated!!!

I have never used ebay, I am not sure if I should also add it to this event,Any of you has used it before? If so, any comments will also be appreciated!!!

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Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Hmmmm!!! I don't know if this means that nobody here has done something like this before....

I have decided to go ahead anyway and see what happens....Here's the video announcement I made:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qmRncOfdD0

 

Warren Thompson

11 Years Ago

Do customers bid or buy through private email?

 

Ed Meredith

11 Years Ago

Sorry XO but i have no experience in auctions or ebay etc... Hope you are successful in your endeavor...
let us know how it works out for you, good luck... Ed

 

Mark James Perry

11 Years Ago

Don't do it X. You will wish you hadn't. Sooner or later.......................... No "discounts"

 

Jeffery Johnson

11 Years Ago

Xoanxo Cespon I have never attempted such but just writing to say what is the video about? I can't read any of the text in the video. The fonts themselves are not readable.

 

JC Findley

11 Years Ago

I think this is the first time I agree with Mark on here 100%

Anyway, I have donated art to quite a few of these in the past but I did it because I believed in the cause and it was a way for me to donate a lot of money with a little bit of investment. I did NOT do it for the exposure as it never leads to any. FWIW, the works sold from retail to 5x retail BUT people will pay more because they also want to donate to the charity but get a little something in return; I doubt they would pay more than retail if it all went to me.

Back when I sold little to nothing, I raised my prices dramatically. I figured if I wasn't selling anything, I might as well not be selling rather expensive art. I cannot say that is why the sales took off but they did and they took off with the dramatically higher prices.

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Thank you all your comments!!!

@Warren, I will publish a limited amount of works in different community sites for the next couple of weeks with a minimum starting bid, bidders can bid publicly via the comments box or privately via e-mail. Periodically I will be updating the highest bids at my own website:

http://xoanxo.com/SilentAuction.htm

@Thanks a lot Ed, much appreciated!!! I'll let you know how it works out!!! (I have never done anything like this before and rather than dwell and over-think it, it was decided and launched within 48 hours....we'll see!!!

@Thanks Mark, You are probably right (although I hope not :-) Hmmm if only you had said it earlier...we could have at least talked about it!!! I am committed now, so once one is in the air too late to dwell on whether to jump or not :-) I am sure you'd still wish me for a safe landing though!!!

@Thanks Jeffery, You are absolutely right, I guess on a bigger format (the one I used to work with it) looks clearer, but I know what you mean, I agree, and although in a way I realised that the shadowing and colour was aimed at provoking a second viewing I might have over done it here!!!

@JC Thanks JC, If only to get you to agree with Mark on something, this thread was worth opening :-) I actually agree on a lot of things with Mark, more so than it seems apparent but I hope this does not become one of them!!! Please note this is not a charity auction and there will be minimum starting bid but I am certainly not expecting bidding over the original price (which indeed often happens in charity auctions). Your last comment seems to indicate that I should be doing the opposite of what I am doing at this auction, but with this auction I hope to not only raise awareness about my work and generate sales but also to give the possibility to be acquired by those who might appreciate it but normally could not afford it!!!

It will start tomorrow so I'll keep you posted!!!

Thanks again

 

JC Findley

11 Years Ago

When it comes down to it, it never hurts to try. It might just work.

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Thanks JC :-) I just hope the parachute works :-)

I have just created the event in facebook...Here is the link if anyone wishes to witness is progress in Real Time :-)

https://www.facebook.com/events/489750331067805/

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Well, I am giving it my best shot, here's more build up!!!...(I have used Jeffery's comment and changed the font for the main text). Any more suggestions are always welcome!!!

It is actually an original work that I also have on my FAA portfolio...

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

I am including some giveaways!!!!

The first one to guess correctly the first work to be offered for Auction before is launched can choose a Completely Free Postcard from the Heart with Love Original Acrylic on Wall paper (unique pieces normal price €35) from The Seasons Series of his/her choice!!!

http://xoanxocespon.wix.com/postcardsbyxoanxo#!seasons/c1idt

2 Clues

1-See the previous video
2-It can be found in the following link

http://xoanxo.com/CurrentWork.html

Only a guess per person!!!

 

I think it is a great idea. I would love to see it works for you and maybe some of us artist's will try it also. Keep us posted!

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Thank you very much Leah!!! At the moment is a bit scary to be honest...For me completely uncharted waters, this thing is making me feel more like an entertainer than an artist...but I am also quite enjoying it :-)

I have decided to run it simultaneously on FB, G+ and a Dutch local auction site (e-bay type) I have some guesses already coming in for the launching work...we'll see!!!

I'll keep you posted and thanks again!!!

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

This is what I have published at xoanxo.com, if you think I am missing some kind of vital info every input will be much appreciated:

Welcome to Xoanxo's First Ever Silent Auction!!!

What is it???

From the Friday 11th of January 2013 until Thursday 24th of January 2013 I will be organizing a Public Auction of some of my works. This Auction will conclude with a Silent Auction held during two days at my Studio, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 of January, 2013.

How does it work?

During the mentioned dates, several of my works will be published at different Comunity Sites, Facebook, Google +, etc. for Public Biding. The works will be sold to the highest bidder at any of the published sites. The links will be shared here as well as the highest bid at any of the sites:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/events/489750331067805/

Google+

https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/ctdm8v14t43hh5qkc399s7gf3o8

(More to come)


All works that have received online bids will NOT be offered for Auction at my Studio on the 26th and 27th of January. Any work that has not received a bid during this period will be offered at the Studio Auction at a lower starting bid, additional works will also be offered during the event at my Studio.

How Can I Bid?

You can bid publicly online at any of the sites that the auction will be held or privately by e-mail at xoanxo@xoanxo.com

You can also bid personally at my Studio on the 26th and 27th.

How Much Can I Bid?

You can bid as much as you like and as often as you like, but always in quantities decimal of 5 and must be above the minimum bid price. The Currency will be in Euros

If I do bid and win how do I pay?

You can pay by bank transfer or Paypal, payment details will be sent when required.

What would prices include?

Prices are for the works only, include VAT, and do NOT include frames (unless specified), passpartout (unless specified) and delivery.

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

First Work has just been published....

Title: Moonlight
Medium: Acylic on canvas
Sizes:60 x 50 cm
Year 2009 - Aerdenhout
Original Price: € 450
Minimum Starting Bid: € 185

Art Prints


Description/Descripción:

This is a milestone painting in the developing of my current drip and palette knife painting style and the result of many experiments on smaller scale on what I call a sketching process (I often experiment techniques on smaller works that I later apply to larger works).

In this painting, dripping, where I often thin heavy textures by applying water and where I collaborate with gravitational forces, is not so apparent and was applied on the background to create a stark contrast with the heavy texture, applied with a palette knife, of the foreground. This contrast in texture, color and tone (between the background and a much lighter foreground) gives more solidity to the lighter elements and creates a sense of space within the painting where Light becomes its most solid Element. In this way, the emphasis is given on the light rays that conceal the more mysterious dark side of night.

Yes, we call it Moonlight but we all know that the moon acts as a mirror to the sun and “Moonlight” is mainly “Sunlight” and “Starlight” that keep illuminating us during nighttime.

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Second work on offer:

Title: Grapevine Line
Medium: Acylic on wall paper
Sizes:50 x 23 cm
Year: 2012 - Aerdenhout
Original Price: € 120
Minimum Starting Bid: € 45 (Unframed, includes passpartout)

Photography Prints

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago


Latest Action....

The first one to enter a comment at my Facebook Artist Page with the correct title of the third work to be offered for Auction before is launched can choose a Completely Free Postcard from the Heart with Love Original Acrylic on Wall paper (unique pieces, normal price €35) from The Seasons Series of his/her choice!!!
Here’s the link to my Facebook Artist Page:
https://www.facebook.com/Xoanxo.ART
http://xoanxocespon.wix.com/postcardsbyxoanxo#!seasons/c1idt

1 Clue:

Watch the video and follow the clues

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Third Work on offer (2 more to go):

Title/Título: Let The Sunshine In 5
Medium/Medio: Acylic on canvas / Acrílico en lienzo
Sizes/Tamaño:69 x 49 cm
Year/Año: 2010 - Aerdenhout
Original Price/Precio Original: € 675
Minimum Starting Bid/Oferta Mínima Inicial: € 395 (Unframed)

Art Prints

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

4th Work on offer...

Title/Título: Coloured Wall
Medium/Medio: Acrylic and chalk on Paper / Acrílico y tiza en papel
Sizes/Tamaño:40 x 50 cm
Year/Año: 2012 - Aerdenhout
Original Price/Precio Original: € 395
Minimum Starting Bid/Oferta Mínima Inicial: € 165 (Unframed)

Photography Prints

 

SAIGON De Manila

11 Years Ago

Great going Xo, I can sense the entrepreneural spirit in you in this interesting times!
If I can only invest my recent marital savings to your blue chips art, I would.
But I cant challenge my latest subscribed dictum "happy wife happy life" =)

Good luck anyway and more power to you!

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

:-) Thank you very much Saigon!!! The way it feels at the moment is that this would be my first and my last event of this type. I will probably give up on my marketing activities too, specially for the net (Facebook, etc.) !!! Planning to focus on what I really enjoy "Art as a Practice" :-)

I will share the results of this initiative in this thread before I close it, it might give someone some ideas!!!

One more painting to go, and the event at my Studio. Quite an effort, but I have learned a lot :-) Some things, not matter how many times told and by who, one needs to experience for oneself!!!

Thanks again Saigon, much appreciated!!!!

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

***5th and Last Painting Offered at Xoanxo's Silent Auction
11-24 January 2013

Title/Título: Symbol Colours
Medium/Medio: Oil on canvas / Óleo sobre lienzo
Sizes/Tamaño: 100 x 80 cm
Year/Año: 2011 - Aerdenhout
Original Price/Precio Original: € 1200
Minimum Starting Bid/Oferta Mínima Inicial: € 550 (Unframed)

Sell Art Online

 

Sydne Archambault

11 Years Ago

I really appreciate your initiative to marketing. Very curious as to how it goes and am hoping it is a success.

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Thank you very much Sydne!!!

Here's the latest video-advert I have just made...

 

Xoanxo Cespon

11 Years Ago

Glad the whole thing is over!!! I did say I would give feedback and suffice to say that after a considerable amount of work I am not planning to do this kind of thing ever again!!!

Conclusions, for me:

"Don't wonder, do it, and you'll find out"
"The secret of inevitable success lies in the absence of expectations"
"Art for Art's sake, or don't Art at All"

Thank you all for your support and best wishes in this thread, they are very much appreciated. Of the 3 main objectives, make my art more affordable, generate some sales and raise awareness about my work...the first objective I think I achieved, the second I didn't and the third... vaguely....

All in all, many lessons learned, now I need to soak them in....










 

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