Do Buyers Want To Know . . .

Generally, no.

i can't imagine anyone really asking about it. if they ask, tell them direct. its really no different than you asking a chef their methods. if someone says - nice painting.. i simply say thanks.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Process is always important in high end art, not so much in decorative artwork me thinks. If you buy art at Pier One do you ask about the process?

I have seen a number of avitars/users that acutally multiple people. I am trying to figure out when/how two people become one person/user/artist? I am seeing it more and more on facebook and twitter. Maybe we will soon have to come up with a name for a multiple person? I wonder if they will be the next social battle ground for human rights?

Thanks everyone!

Robert, my husband and I have a joint account because it makes more sense for us right now to try to market just one page since we both do photography together. I mean, if we are trying to do a business together, why have individual pages? Our artist's website is called Murdock's Gallery, and we state in our bio that we work together.

I also do art so if I ever get to the point where I have enough art for a separate page, I guess I'll consider it then, but right now it seems like too much work. I do have a personal website that is of only my name and work, and that site links to here for prints. For now that seems like a better option than trying to juggle two FAA sites.

~ Angela

Hey Angela....I have a warped sense of humor this time of the week....I did not mean any disrepsect. To throw in my two cents on your question, I think the stuff on your site looks nice. I woudlnt care what anyone else thinks other than those who share your vision. Good luck to you (both)

I would open separate accounts. Divide and conquer. You can favorite each other. Plus consider Sony and Cher had separate careers in the end. You never know if one will become more famous than another.

"In your experience do buyers want to know how a digital artwork was made?"

If you had a buyer in front of you and you launched into a spiel of how digital art was made, you would see their face glass over, theirs roll left then right looking for the nearest exit and on the first breath you took, the crashing noise you hear next will be your buyer going through the nearest door without opening it.

On the internet, they just hit the mouse and they are gone and you hear nothing and never knew they were even there.

Now, if they ask, that is a different story.

Most buyers buy what the like when they see it. They really don't much care what it is for the most part.

Hi, Angela,

Some buyers want to know, some don't care. I sometimes receive email queries on that topic, or questions through my blog.

At real-world shows, I get asked detailed questions about my process all the time. Sometimes, those conversations encourage sales, and even repeat sales. This happened so often that, years ago, I started taking along a stack of printed sheets with a civilian-level explanation of digital art. Interested parties can take that away with them and gain some much-needed knowledge. Many buyers and collectors feel more confident about making a purchase when they stop believing 'the computer did it.'

I've done a similar page on my website --

http://www.art166.net/about-digital-art.html

I don't add those details to individual descriptions, but have added a blurb about it near the top of the bios and profiles on my various sites..

I've been making and selling digital art for a l-o-n-g time, and still think part of my job is to educate the buying public when possible. I remind myself that not everyone is technology savvy, and many people still think digital art -- especially photo-manipulation -- is some kind of computer trick, 'No Artist Required.'

I don't want potential buyers to believe that, if I can help it! :-)


EDIT TO ADD -- After reading Floyd's droll comment, above, I'll add that sometimes, it's all about how the information is presented. Don't use jargon, and don't talk down to your audience. Also, if someone asks a question, they deserve an answer that makes sense. That works for me!

" I am trying to figure out when/how two people become one person/user/artist?"
"Maybe we will soon have to come up with a name for a multiple person? "

Robert! I can really have you wondering if I told you the story of why 90% of all of the my photo's have Barbara Snyder's name (my wife) on them!

We have been doing that for years and years.... lol

It has to do with some arguments are not worth winning! :-)

I would not think opening two accounts would be a wise move. That will take the twice the work and result in less effort.

There are several couples doing very well here with joint accounts.

I would maybe consider using Murdoch Gallery here also. It goes to branding and thinking in the long term. And creating a logo instead of the two person avatar.

Just thinking out loud.

To answer your (original) question: NO

Never offer it freely, don't add it to your description. Generally they don't even care if it was a difficult image to compose. Stay on track!!

The ONLY important aspect would be if a prospective client likes it enough to purchase in a size you offer. Then you need to get them to checkout as easily as possible. No curveballs, no knuckleballs.. get to checkout.

Just put the artwork in it's correct category and you'll be fine :)))

Robert, no worries! I didn't think you were being disrespectful.

Wendy, I do seem to get lots of questions about it, not from buyers but from family and friends. I guess for that reason I've tried to get in the habit of keeping a few process shots as I work. I don't do photo manipulations, but for my digital drawings I try to keep the original sketch, and a few WIP shots at different stages so if anyone is ever curious, I can show them how I work.

I won't add all the extra stuff to descriptions, but will be ready to answer questions if I get them. Thanks again everyone!

I don't think most folks know what they are asking. I get the how long did that take you to do question all the time. Having grown up in a family of artists I remember my mom saying, "it took me 40 years" which is true but a little rude I've come to think. I try; to say it a little more gently so they understand that it takes years of study to make a high quality quick sketch let alone a two week oil painting.
When they ask how you did that they don't know how lengthy and boring the answer can be. It's like asking an architect how they designed a bridge and having them launch into the stress tests and metallurg. Not many want to know.

David, I'm betting you can answer questions about your art without making things lengthy and boring. As you said, the anser can be that way, but it certainly doesn't have to be.

It's like selling a house or car: hit the high points and the 'required disclosure by law' stuff, then let the potential buyer decide if they want to dig deeper. Put all the rest in the contract! :-)

Many people think, I still use film when they see my black and white photographs. They associate black and white = film, digital = color. 😎

Most photographers enjoy talking shop talk, photo speak when asked,...I haven't seen buyers ask me any technical details yet though

Although I would gladly provide the onfo if asked

My images have such a wide range of processes that I keep it as simple as I can. I am a fine artist in watercolor but have branched out into digital painting. And by that I mean real painting, not manipulating a photograph with a program and calling it a painting. Often I use "real" art layered with "digitally painted" art, textures, backgrounds some hand painted on paper others hand painted on the screen. The easiest and simplest way to differentiate is Mixed Media - watercolor or Mixed Media - Oil Pastel if it's a cross breed.

In the big picture, I think most customers are interested in the end result more than how we got there.

I'd love to hear others' thoughts on this as I'm evolving as my art skills evolve.

P.S. I appreciate the suggestion of Works in Progress on digital painting. I hadn't thought to do that but will for future use. I think that would be very helpful for a buyer who is interested in many ways of knowing that an image really developed out of an artist's imagination and hand - no matter its medium.