Digital Art

Lawrence,

What other sites are you on? How long have you been involved in this endeavor?

Effort is a must, and if that means a little conversation in the midst of link posting, than you must do it.

Otherwise you will not be found.

This is called social-media... and discovery takes time.

sales can only happen because people saw them. if you don't advertise or tell anyone you have it, how can they see or like it?

for now though you have to get better images of your things


like this looks blurry and gritty to me. your name is all faded.


you may want to smooth the edges of the cat, because the stair steps on there now, may be complaint if it prints.


the title shouldn't be on here like it is. i don't know if the printing dept has a rule against that though.

you'll want more keywords, and descriptions. but mostly keep in mind your competition, people drawing with a mouse can only do so much with it. you should invest in a tablet.


---Mike Savad

Lawrence,

I enjoy how your apparently strong beliefs are handled in a gentle, non-threatening way.

Mike, you can do quite a bit with a mouse. All of my digital work is done that way :)

Once again, the OP did not ask for a critique of their gallery or work.

Amazing.

Lawrence - in your "bio" you might explain some about how you create your art - it doesn't belong in the description - the description is just that - a description of the art work. The cross with the turquoise is nice - I don't need to know that you created it with a mouse and computer program. All of my digital art is created with my photo manipulation software and my mouse - the software provides the paint/color, the mouse is my brush/art tools, the screen is my canvas while I'm working. - none of that is a description of the piece of art that, when finished, that you see and is for sale. I am not great with key words or tags either.

I also note that you've been here a little over a month - it was three months before I sold anything - and my first sale was a digital abstract. IF you can find the audience that is buying abstract art - it sells.

and once again tiny i did not give him a critique. tiny i do think that unless you have something to add to a discussion you shouldn't because you don't seem to know the difference between a critique, and the printability of an image.

thats what's amazing.

---Mike Savad

I love your use of color, Lawrence!! Your designs are wonderful.

I agree ... I love the color choices in your work Lawrence. Don't get discouraged after two months! I have been here two years and have only sold a few cards....I have done nothing to market my work and don't expect to see any sales unless I find and/or make time to do that. At times, as most artists do, I decide my work is awful and delete a bunch, but the truth is that as much as I would enjoy seeing an income from my work...I get more enjoyment from the process of creating it. I suppose if I sold a piece for say 10,000 dollars that might give me some extra joy but for now I just enjoy the process of creating. Perhaps someday when I have more free time...who knows.

I hope you continue to enjoy creating new work.

Great work Lawrence!






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He didn't ask if his images were printable either Mike, you seem to just offer that automatically these days. And yes Mike, each one of your comments is a "critique". It does not matter if discussing the gallery, the image itself or whether or not it is printable, they are all critiques.

tiny, no one asks that but i tell them anyway. because there is nothing worse than getting a sale and finding out you won't get that sale because it was unprintable. more so, if it's blurry, or chunky, a buyer may look at it and say - i don't want this because it doesn't look clean. everything matters. no, a critique is talking about style, method, etc. i only point out if it will print or not. i do it as a service, and it helps many out. i don't like finding out i got a good sale while on vacation and i almost lost it because i couldn't fix it where i was at the time. so knowing now, at a time when it can be fixed - that's important info.

most people assume their images are perfectly fine until they aren't. your only here to make trouble and instigate.

if he's having a hard time selling on different sites - there is usually a general reason for it.


---Mike Savad

Mike,

You have always insisted that this is a store....And I know you want to help others to sell.

But, can't you be a little more tactful in how you do it.?

Don't you think that calling someone's work, "things" might be a bit strong.

Quote:..."for now though you have to get better images of your things " (Mike Savad)

As good manners dictate, when I'm not asked, but I see a problem, sometimes, only sometimes, I dare to privately email the artist, to save any embarrassment...all these posts go into google! I would really resent seeing this in print...at google, or here....agree with Roger.
I never see a negative, "helpful", comment elsewhere, except when a critique is requested.

Perhaps admin might clarify whether opinions unsaught should be considered unwelcome. The clarification might suggest same opinions be given privately, when asked for, and never if not sought.

this is how i speak, what you consider to be good manners is just how you speak. right things. my things are also called things. its a word.

i find it amusing how people never actually help the person asking a question, but feel it's totally criticize the answers. the only thing they have to add to this is comments about someone else's comments. and if it goes into google - so what? will people be looking for terms like that? if the images look good, let them be the judge of that. simply saying in the public forums that google sees - that your not selling well, doesn't bode well either does it?

---Mike Savad

Old fashioned, I am..."Speak when you're spoken to", but mind your P's & Q's......lol. In other words, who asked you ?

why post that your not selling, and coming up with a conclusion, if he wasn't asking something in his own way? why join a thread, if you have nothing to add, but instead attack me in your own way.

he asked indirectly, otherwise there would be no thread.


while marketing is a great way to sell. presentation is above, marketing. and if you have a product that isn't quite presentable, then it may not sell. but everyone is too busy complimenting him and trying to make him feel better. he already said he has lots of likes and compliments already. unless your planning on buying something that is...


---Mike Savad

IMHO... I find Mike's hammering on these issues of chunky, stair stepped, blurry, crooked, poorly cropped... to be one the most helpful things anyone here has done. These topics I think are ones that new members will read and go back over their uploads to check to see if any have these "defects" that will prevent a sale from completion.

So Mike... keep at it, and don't bother commenting on the commenters ;O)

thanks, i usually ignore the nay sayers, they feel like they want to add something, a consoling word. but this is a business, and work has to be presentable. i've been spending weeks fixing old images that are just not presentable compared to today's standards. i did like 200+ last year. and i think the rules will only get tighter as the tech gets better. standards have to be high - because the buyer is the first say if something is sellable, and if they think it doesn't look good. or it looks like something they can make, there won't be a sale. that's pretty much that.


---Mike Savad

I'm with Mike for the most part. However, Mike, if you're going to critique an artist in a post where he doesn't ask for one, shouldn't you keep only major issues, like obvious cropping, blur or pixilation? Those are deal breakers in terms of printability. However, your mention of the jagged edges on the cat image is a judgment call, as is grain in some instances. Textures can be interpreted as grain, and while "stair-stepping" (I call it jagged edges), has no place in certain pieces, I think it fits with the cat image.

again that was not a CRITIQUE. believe me, you would know when you saw it.

jagged edges is another thing that the printing dept frowns on. even if the texture is supposed to be there, you still don't want to have to convince them of that because you still may lose the sale. like i almost lost one because i had a canvas texture that they thought was noise. while it could be a judgment call, it's another thing a buyer may look at. most lines these days are smooth, and in the days of yesterday, they had that look. a buyer may say - hmmmm... i can make that. in any case it should be made aware of anyway.

so does anyone on this thread have advice for him on how to sell?


---Mike Savad

Well... just search for threads about marketing.. there are many to choose from.

Technical print-ability is often a big part in whether work is saleable or not. The customer is not daft and often is turned off by a works blurriness or blockiness

If someone comes on asking why they are not selling, printability issues should be pointed out to that member. There is no issue with Mike doing this

If a person asks for a critique, that is different and anything goes (with respect)

Lawrence did not ask why he was not selling but did point out that he was not. For that reason, any advice on his printability is acceptable.

Any critique of his work itself (not just liking the work) is not. If you like his work then go for it :)

Lawrence, I really like your work as it is unique and would make great prints, if the printability was not an issue. Although I am with Patricia on seeing that some of the stepping is actually great on that cat, you do actually have a stepping issue where the work is slightly pixellated

The image Mike pointed out



will not print at all and is blurry

So, you have very marketable work which would make fabulous prints but they are not marketable or saleable until you get better images of them and that may be what is putting people off

Take a look again at how you are copying your work and I can see you selling quite a few


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Perhaps the OP should come in and tell what he thinks of the critique conversation. Might help him in that area of "conversationalist" that he mentioned in his opening statement.

I'm believing more and more that this is becoming a place for those who are really more hobbyists than artists in business.

I don't consider the information Mike has given here a critique of Lawrence's work. I've had Mike critique's willingly, and there is a difference. It is good that people are posting they like the work and encouraging, that's helpful for moral support and I think that is great too, but it's not going to help when a buyer looks at an image close up and it's blurry or blocky and all the other reasons Mike has generously offered. Also for other members who read threads but do not participate, they will benefit from this information too if they're smart.

Hi, Just wondering what I can do to get my art noticed and sales? Not sure what I'm doing wrong, been on Fine art america since may of 2013 and haven't had any sales yet.. any suggestions?

One thing Lawrence probably did not have in mind was turning his thread over to a back and forth discussion on the nature of critique...

It might sting a bit to hear why your work is not selling - but that sure beats sitting around wondering why..., & feeling unnoticed.

See how much that one brave little step brought your work to other's attention Lawrence ?
I was raised to " be seen, & not heard ". That obviously backfired.


Danielle - why don't you start a thread so that we can visit with you in that one.

Edit: in your descriptions Lawrence, use that as an opportunity to explain your piece to someone who could not see it. It helps to get you placed properly in Google. Describe colors, shapes & emotions

Lawrence, here's the definitive thread for your future reference, and other newbies who dare to wonder....

http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=908258

Thank you to everyone who is keeping this to the saleable aspects of Lawrence's work. This is why this is such an awesome site

Yes, Lawrence, please, come back in

@Danielle

Forum etiquette frowns on starting a thread inside of a thread. Best to ask your question by starting your own thread so members can direct information towards your specific questions and needs. ;O) This thread is about Lawrence... (at least that should be intent)

Well, Abbie, ..I,d still be mortified when I didn't ask for critique/opinion and would respectfully suggest that a newby be directed by Mike or anybody to Mike's two permanently bumped here advice threads....to take the sting out of the posting suggestions unasked for...and..BEFORE posting an opinion/critique ...then the newby could chose whether to contact Mike, et al....off forum.

Lawrence you artwork is so pure and gentle. I absolutely adore your style. When more people get a chance to see it you will start selling. This is all done at your pace and what you are comfortable with. The more you put into it the more you will get in return. Stay active in the art community here and on twitter and other places. Give it time, the money will come.

http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=1192902

Mike's other thread useful generally (although there are three links-signature,lol)

here's the thing vivian - you have something in your teeth, or your fly is open. but you don't know that. based on your logic, if i point out something that can mess up your day, wouldn't you rather know it fast and harmless? or should you find out at the end of the day? it's not likely that you would ask - hey - is there something in my teeth? is it drafty or is it just me? because if you don't know to ask, you'll never ask, and when it's too late, well, that stinks.

i have enough people coming to me in private mail, and even email - i'd rather have other people answer these questions because i think it's far more useful. if i had everyone come to my private box as to why they aren't selling, i wouldn't get anything else done.

now if there were as many helpful replies as their are complaints about my style of answering - there would be far less issues with other people. the constant yammering about non-important things is kind of over whelming. vivian, the only things you had to say in this thread - were about my comments. and didn't address the op's statement.


---Mike Savad

I addressed your response to him....and understand it would overwhelm your inbox, but, if you posted to an OP with links to your threads, then their experience and knowledge would improve. I am sorry we disagree,Mike, but am entitled to an opinion, too, and feel sorry for people who get hammered when they didn't ask for opinion/critique....semantics....but, you carry on your way now....and give some thought to posting links to your threads ....

Addendum...this, like many threads, often contains posts in reply to other than the Topic...it is the ongoing nature here of forums.

"Back on topic", lol

.One of the necessary qualities to being an artist is Sensitivity....

And Lawrence, the sensitivity in your fine work, certainly shines through.

Mr.Nusbaum, you certainly are a Fine Artist.

when i speak - i'm direct. i don't believe in padding answers with fluff that have nothing to do with the content. to outsiders this will look as if i'm being a jerk or insensitive, when in reality i'm saying the things that need saying without the extra words. thing is, you don't know how he or others feel, and most like the simple directness of how i communicate. it's what i say, not how i say it.

when people go on and on about something, then finally get to the point of why they are even there, i've already walked off bored because they never got to the point.

anyway, vivian - i still don't see your response directly to him. don't use me as a proxy. he did not get hammered on, trust me on that.


---Mike Savad

I don't have to respond to him to make a point....it is Discussion...people also respond to each other, other than to the OP.
What do you think of my suggestion that you post links to your threads, if you're not asked for a critique?

because it's presumptuous and actually more rude to simply say there are printing issues. its like eating at your house and instead of saying anything, i hand you a cooking for dummy's book, or a dvd on how to cook. that's why i don't do that. and some of the things i say in those texts, don't always apply.


---Mike Savad

Sorry I posted on this page.. I started my own thread.. Thanks for letting me know.. I really didn't know how this all works.. So sorry.

Carry on,Mike...I've wasted enough time looking for a modicum of tenderness....so have you....you just don't get it.....absolutely nobody else in this entire membership turns up like you do, to analyse,advise," help.'.....good thing we have you here...

yeah i help people, is that a bad thing? have you helped others?

i have no tenderness. but you'll never get that either.


---Mike Savad

Yes, in ways you could. Never comprehend, of course
Carry on, your way,
Over and out

Okay that is plenty of enough!

Both of you and anyone else that wishes to discuss each other and NOT the topic, take it outside

Do not respond