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Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Fellow Artists....don't Feel Bad

If you still haven't been discovered and your worked published by a big publisher, don't feel bad. Last year a major publisher chose 8 of my works to publish framed works in 240 stores nationwide. WELL, even with such a BIG break....my work must still be chosen (by the customer) among many fine works by known artists. Seems you go from one pond to the next when it comes to getting somewhere in the Art World. You better LOVE what you do, cause that is your greatest REWARD.

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Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

um, ok, whatever.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

April Moen

9 Years Ago

Bill, I hope you stretched before patting yourself on the back like that. Wouldn't want you to pull anything. ;)

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

your modesty is overwhelming. and considering this happened at least 6 months ago, and apparently nothing since, and it seems your just trying to stir the pot on here, i do wonder what the point of this thread is.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

James B Toy

9 Years Ago

I once had two photographs for sale at a home decor gallery. One sold within three days, after which the store owner gave me back the second photograph saying she didn't want to have it for sale anymore.

Here's the photo she sold. I can't remember which one she rejected.
Sell Art Online

 

Rafael Illustration

9 Years Ago

Great Thank you!

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Nice work James.

April and Mr. Bear: I am not trying to pat my own back here, just trying to share how SUCCESS is not all that it appears to be. I stopped in at a store and asked if they had a catalog from this publisher. Sure enough, they pulled out a huge 500 page catalog from the publisher with some very impressive work in it.

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

success is, getting dozens of things in store, and at a constant rate. i've had cards, cd covers, trivia cards, canvas prints, and a line of placemats made with my images, to name a few. though i don't need to rub it in. and i wouldn't call it a success if you only had the one deal in one year. because before you long vacation, you mentioned this already.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

TL Mair

9 Years Ago

That's how I took it, sometimes it feels like success, and things are going to start happening...then they don't!!

I had several of my images hanging in a local business complex, I thought things would go at least a bit different, I sold one image from there, and it was one I really didn't think would sell, nothing else.

Terry
tlmair.com

Edited to add: Mike and I were typing at the same time, mine was supped to be above Mike's then it would make more sense...just saying! ;-)

 

April Moen

9 Years Ago

Bill, the way it reads to me is: 'Fellow artists, don't feel bad that you *still* haven't reached the level of success that I have, because even from my lofty perch, I still encounter stiff competition.' Maybe that's not the way that you intended it, but that's the way it comes across.

BTW, congrats on your accomplishment.

 

Richard Reeve

9 Years Ago

Surely, we all have a different measure of what we call success, depending on where we are in our lives/careers :D

- Richard Reeve
reevephotos.com

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

I guess we are only allowed to bring up what others think we should talk about.

Mike, there are plenty of things you have brought up in discussions that were very questionable for discussion, so I am just following your lead. Or don't I get the same "space" you do?

All I am doing here is sharing how "emotional" it may be when you get your hopes up. Is that a bad thing? Can't we share what the heart of the artist goes through here?

Terry, it's not that nothing is happening with my "contract" but how long it all can take. TICK TOCK...TICK TOCK.....

 

Janine Riley

9 Years Ago

Ah, that elusive Brass ring on the merry - go - round.
Always reaching...life's ups & downs.


This is true Bill. Whenever we elevate ourselves to another level - there are always new goals to achieve.

Are you enjoying the journey, that is what matters.

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Yes Richard, we have different measures of "success".

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

questionable? no. never.

you posted this to show off and nothing more. i read it as -- i'm looking down on everyone because i sold a few things. maybe i read your intention wrong.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Jim Hughes

9 Years Ago

I feel bad.

 

JC Findley

9 Years Ago

Congrats Bill.

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

You never know who looks at discussions, and this one is no exception as I just got an email from another artist in another country asking for something very special. It's for those who appreciate what we do that we do what we do.

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Janine, I enjoy the "journey" regardless, but it sure is nice when someone appreciates all the work you put into something...right?

 

Darice Machel McGuire

9 Years Ago

Congratulations Bill, your post is a fine example of what can come, or not, of ones hard work. May you continue to have successful moments in your art career.

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Thanks Darice. You are right....we all need hope to keep doing what we do. It's nice to know that with all the odds that seem to be against us...we can still make a splash. Let's make a BIG SPLASH.

 

Stephen Kutos

9 Years Ago

Dear Mike, Do you ever get tired of acting like a jerk? I think it's wonderful that you have images on everything from greeting cards to toilet paper...but I don't know that it's necessarily something to brag about. Recently, I read a post from someone who was bragging about how you have changed over time and had become a real human being. I have to say, I think he was a bit premature. You most certainly are not "the man" and I can't stand your vapid work.

Mr. Stevens, I appreciate what you had to share. I think it's very important to understand that things are rarely what they appear. It's a shame that the internet seems to cause little people to puff up, exaggerating their own importance. Mr. Savad likes to hide in his cave and pounce on anything that strays too close...like Grendle.

 

Drew

9 Years Ago

Congrats Bill! Big difference from your gloom and despair thread several months back!
glad to see a glimmer of hope.



http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=1976375&targetid=1980573#1980573

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

stephen - troll much?


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Richard Reeve

9 Years Ago

I'm gonna get me some popcorn... ;-)


- Richard Reeve
reevephotos.com

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Liane Wright

9 Years Ago

Never a dull moment here. :-) I'm just glad someone is selling. i was selling every month till November and the bottom dropped. Nothing since. I'm depressed. :-(

 

Cynthia Decker

9 Years Ago

This isnt' directed specifically at you, Bill, but at everyone reading the thread.

The thing is, it's unreasonable to expect to hit your first pitch out of the park. Your success with a publisher may eventually be monetary, but the initial success is the opportunity to build this relationship and leverage what you learn so that your next experience is more fruitful, in whatever way you want it to be. This shouldn't be about feeling good or feeling bad, this should be about being one step out from where you were when you started to aim at your goal.

"The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried." ― Stephen McCranie

 

Bob Figg

9 Years Ago

Where did the publisher first notice your art? Also, did you do a background check on the firm prior to your signing a contract with that firm?

 

Janine Riley

9 Years Ago

Here's a question to you Bill...
You have a published deal, & you are in 240 stores Nationwide. That is a big deal. Now, how many sales will it take for you to feel "not bad " ? 100 or 1000 sales, is staying in 240 stores satisfying - or will you want 260 more ? Another publishing deal, or 10 more - or 50 in the next 5 years.
This is the problem of human nature. Once we have arrived - there are more shiny things to reach. It really is up to each individual to define what would make them feel like a success.

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Cynthia, you are so right. The thing with us artists is that we get our hopes up and we get our feelings hurt...even when we have to wait. Maybe Art is a kin to romance. How many times in romance do we fail? Seems we are in a state of "waiting" with much in our life.

Bob, I think they saw my work on Art.com. Yes, I checked them out. They ARE legit and BIG.

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Janine, I figure one sale per store per month. Works sell for about $80.00, and at 5%, that's only $4.00 each, but times 240 which is around $1,000 a month. That's on the low side. I really don't care cause I'm fine without the success. I have it "made in the shade" as it is.

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

5% isn't much for the artist side, most agents i know of aim for 20%, however you math assumes you'll sell something in every store, every day.

usually for deals like this, its better to get a certain amount up front, or stuff like that can sit for years on their shelves. is this an exclusive deal? is there a contract stating they have to sell it in 3 years, so it can be released again?

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Janine Riley

9 Years Ago

I can certainly see you reaching that goal.

Thank you for putting those numbers out there.
It is important for people to see what published deals can look like. We see Art out in the stores & think " Ah..., that Artist is successful...." . It must be realized what amount of work goes into getting there, & what it takes to stay on top.
Whether it is 30K, 60k, or 160K that a person needs to get by - that is a whole lot of work to push.

How's that little dear one ?

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Mike this is DICKSONS. They do business on their terms and anyone they contact are more than happy to sign at 5%. If I sell 5 pictures per store per month, we are talking $5,000 a month. The problem is that most stores that handle gifts and stuff sell way more junk than Art prints, so you can't get your figures too high.

You are right on Janice. It's tough no matter how you slice it.

Are you asking about my two legged "dear" or my four legged one?

I agree Cynthia.

 

Cynthia Decker

9 Years Ago

IME, royalties are much preferable to an advance payment.

If for whatever reason your work doesn't sell, you have to pay back the balance of the advance at the end of the contract. Me, I prefer the idea of maybe smaller chunks of income up front, but no surprises down the line.

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

these are all theoretical numbers. many companies will give you XX amount up front, then a royalty. its hard to say how much art will sell in a store like that. if you were selling bibles then yeah, maybe. i don't know who dicksons is btw. many may sign up for that low, but only with a promise that a certain amount will be paid. and usually it's of wholesale not retail, and then it becomes tricky - because they can make up any wholesale price they want. it would seem odd to take it from retail. but maybe they do it differently there.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

You know Mike, we would like to think we can have the cake and eat it too, but artist rarely get to call the shots. It's hard enough to get a deal with a major company much less name your own terms. They can just as easy pick someone else who will go for 3%. 99% of artists would take 5%....especially with the economy as it is. I am used to selling over 10 times as much in past years as I am now.

 

Suzanne Powers

9 Years Ago

Thanks Cynthia for taking the time to give what you know to this discussion. I see you as an experienced artist that has valuable insight.

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Well, FAA seems stable today. HURRAY!

Yes, Cynthia knows what she is talking about and that is worth a lot to others here.

I just looked at the weather and on the sides and top I saw banners with my art work (three pieces) being advertised by Art. Com.
HURRAY....right? It will be interesting to see if there are any increase in sales from that.

 

Christian Lagereek

9 Years Ago

Thats quite Ok! last year in October, the rondannini gallery in Rome sold 6 of my prints, 90x70 cm, same as two hanging at the Tate gallery in London for the meager price of ,$. 165000.
I am quite satisfied.

 

Jai Johnson

9 Years Ago

I have two pieces published by Dicksons as well:
http://www.jaiart.com/inspirationalart/h6acacfbc
and this one with a verse they added:
http://www.jaiart.com/artisticbirds/h53c3870e

It's good you got several pieces published with them...but don't count your $$ just yet - I haven't seen much at all in terms of royalties from them. Here's hoping you'll have better success with them.

--Jai

 

Loree Johnson

9 Years Ago

Hate to burst your bubble Bill, but if you clicked on your own work on Art.com, then that is why they are showing as ads when you check the weather. Google keeps track of what you look at and shows you ads for that.

 

Cynthia Decker

9 Years Ago

Yea, ads are targeted to you based on what you look at on the internet.

SOP these days.

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

yep, if you don't block the ads like i do, it only favors what you look at the most, which is your own work, and then it shows it there. other people may be getting antacid ads, and things like that.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Ok, so that is that.

Jai, good to see you with Dicksons as well.

Christian, good to hear you have your work where it will be seen.

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

So Mike, how much time do you spend on TWITTER per day?

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Another double post. Anyone else getting these?

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

i don't spend any time on twitter. however many others do. some breathe twitter. same breathe facebook, i spend a few mins there every other day. it's not interesting to me, but it is to other people. and that's the thing.

it's also not about spending time, if you hashtag it right, bots will sweep those things up and place them on the right sites for you. but only if your there.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Darrell Storts

9 Years Ago

Hey folks. Don't knock this guys short success. If I sold something at least every once in awhile I'd be crowing too. Why so negative.

 

Bill Stephens

9 Years Ago

Sounds like a lot of work, and how many artists are doing the same thing? I'm in a position that even without Dicksons, and am in a very good place to face 2015. Heck, without a penny coming in I would live almost as well as I do now.

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

its not being negative, it's being realistic.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

it sure is a lot of work. advertising, making new stuff all the time - its a full time job and a half, but if your not into it, you won't sell much. you have to dedicate yourself to do these things.

if your doing well, then the last thread about not doing well doesn't apply to anything at all. and complaining about the lack of sales is totally moot now isn't it? so none of this is an issue then.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Cynthia Decker

9 Years Ago

At the high end I spend maybe 30-45 minutes a day on social media marketing and POD/website upkeep. If I don't have anything to share, I like to look at stats and new followers. I send thank you notes and a link to my website, that kind of thing.

If I have a show or other event, I share it. If I release a new work, I share it. If I make a sale, I share it. If I have a giveaway or some other perk for my fan base, I share that. I don't post commentary or pictures of my daily lunch or anything like that.

Some days I don't do anything at all, some days I do a lot.

 

This discussion is closed.