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Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Why Not This One???

It always surprises me as to what paintings people choose. I love this painting but it gets no attention. It's actually one of my favorites. I stopped even putting it in contests. Why do you suppose that is? Be honest.

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Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Please open it to see it without the watermark. There are a few paintings I added it to when I first came here that I can't seem to get rid of.

 

Shirley, I'd be honest . . . if I had an answer for you.

Many of the pieces I expect so much from get no attention and have never sold. There's no rhyme or reason when it comes to guessing how humans might behave in any given situation. It's the same with music, writing, and other creative endeavors.

I'd guess we've all been there.

 

Joy McKenzie

8 Years Ago

Shirley, to me....and I am in awe of people who can paint...I find the pink coneflowers to be off in color. I know they come in varying shades, but these look very orange, to me. They don't convey the freshness of spring like a more delicate pink color would. I do love your work on the left and right sides of the painting :)

That said, the bulk of my work are colorful kaleidoscopes. The ones that have sold more than once here are the few white and gray ones. I have a pillow that has sold 23 times on another POD, where I have over 900 pillow designs. It is a very basic red, black and gray woven design that for some odd reason people love. So...who knows what people like?

 

David Randall

8 Years Ago

I sell images that I think are awful. I sell images my wife doesn't like. We both laugh.

I have images I like but can't seem to sell. I don't expect that will change.

Whatever.

Kinkade sold his nostalgic cottages rather well but didn't sell other things he did in a different style. I knew a sculptor who was extremely successful selling geometric brushed steel sculptures but had to starve for several years, change his galleries etc. because he wanted to do more organic shaped abstracts. It's a very strange world.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Thank You Wendy! I know it's a fickle world.

Hi Joy, yes, I tend to throw color and then decide what it can be. Thank you for the critique.

Is there a critique section here? I'd like some opinions on some other of my paintings I wonder about.

 

Dorothy Berry-Lound

8 Years Ago

It never ceases to amaze me what people like an don't like. I like it Shirley I wouldn't worry about it. My Mum often says to me 'I can't believe nobody has bought that one' and I always say 'that's because the right person hasn't seen it yet'.

 

Leonardo Castro

8 Years Ago

To be honest, things that should not be understood, but just observed. This is art!

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

I hear you David!

Dorothy, I hope the right "persons" come along for all of us!

Thanks Leo!

 

Cynthia Decker

8 Years Ago

I think something is going to sell, and it never moves. I make something on a lark, just for fun, and it becomes my new best seller. I have given up trying to figure it out. :D

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Cynthia, LOL!

 

Toby McGuire

8 Years Ago

Drive three hours at sunrise to a location knowing the tide and where the sun is going to rise? Will never sell, not even once... Pull the car over on a whim to jump out and take 2 or 3 shots to test out a new lens in the middle of the day? Best seller.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

So funny Toby!

 

Roy Pedersen

8 Years Ago

Shirley,If you want a critique of your work just open a new discussion and ask for one.
You will then get fair comment on your art.
it can be painful but remember it isn't personal and you can take it or leave it

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Roy, I'm a seasoned artist so critiques are my friend! Thank you.

Joy, are the colors better in this one?

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Neva Cruddas

8 Years Ago

I like the blend of colors you have in this piece. It has a very happy feel to it. To me spring is a happy time in nature, so the title fits it well. With that said I don't know why it doesn't get attention. I have the same issue with my work. My favorites tend to get less attention than my pieces I feel a bit awkward about.
Neva Cruddas

 

Neva Cruddas

8 Years Ago

oops..

 

Lynn Bauer

8 Years Ago

I don't think there's anything wrong with it, at all. It just hasn't been seen by the right person, yet! Keep putting it our there!! :-)

 

Joy McKenzie

8 Years Ago

I do like the more pastel-ly look of the second one, but I love the composition of the first one. But I'm only speaking for me...again, people who can paint just knock me out...and I'm sure there are buyers for both pieces. Just have to get them in front of the right eyes. I'm starting to believe that more and more. There's a lid for every pot...just as there's a buyer for every artwork. I think the only way we can even stand this process of being an artist/promoter is believing that.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Thanks Neva, yes, Spring is light and happy!

Thank you Lynn, I'll keep looking for that right person!

Joy, you are right. I tend to jump into paint without thinking of anything except colors. I like to pull chaos into focus. Thanks!

 

Michelle Spalding

8 Years Ago

You never can tell which pieces will be popular or not. It's interesting to see what people choose when they're buying art for themselves vs just admiring art. I think despite all the ways art speaks to us - subject, composition, theme, meaning, style, etc., I have noticed when it comes to expressionist or abstract, color seems to be one of the most dominant deciding factors for whether a piece gets purchased. It never occurs to me when I'm creating art for some reason. But I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say something like "it ties the colors of my room together" or "will it go with the furniture/rug". I call that kind of art purchase "wall jewelry" because it's considered more a decoration or accessory than art.

What was my point? Oh yeah. I think when people are shopping for art online, there's such a huge selection of art to choose from, people are more likely to narrow down their choices based on colors that will work in an existing decor. I happen to love this watercolor because it's so saturated and the colors are just delicious. If I were choosing art for "wall jewelry", it would definitely go with my decor - juicy, bright, colorful. My guess as to why it gets overlooked is for the very reason I'm drawn to it - the colors explode off the paper. I think overall people still lean toward muted, pastel, or neutral colors even when choosing art not because they prefer it, but because it's what goes with their decor. Kind of a shame, really. I call it the Pottery Barn era. It's overstayed its welcome, imo.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Michelle, you are so right. Actually I was hoping in the beginning to attract some textile pattern buyers. I have recently begun Tweeting. We'll see.

I also do silks, but it is very hard to compete with over the counter scarves for $7.00 to $14.00. Most don't care about a one of a kind scarf design. Nor original art.

I guess one is either decorating their house and matching their couch or collecting real original pieces. Not many collectors I guess.

 

David Bridburg

8 Years Ago

Shirley,

My youngest sister is a very talented writer. When she met her husband to be, who is an MD/Ph.D, the two of them decided to write a romance novel for fun.
They had two hundred pages of garbage put together within a couple of months.

Then they sent it out to a few publishers. The response was a resounding NO, your characters are two well defined. This from several publishers. In other words
they had not dumbed the book down enough. They laughed and wrote it off, while getting married and living happily ever after.

Dave

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

LOL, I'm living happily painting away! But I'd still like to sell some more.

 

David Bridburg

8 Years Ago

Marry a doctor.

Dave...willing to take his own advice.....

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

I've been married to the same man for 48 years. He's a retired Anesthetist. Now just on SS. I guess we are on a fixed income. More time to paint but I need to sell too.

 

Mark Blauhoefer

8 Years Ago

I thought this was going to sell like hotcakes, but alas, zilcho!

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Robert Kernodle

8 Years Ago

You asked for honesty.

I will give you honesty:

The flowers in the image you first posted are very orange, very droopy (suggestive of dead flowers, maybe), and very dominating in intense color, with respect to the overall surface area of the plane. ... A quick glance at the image reveals an overpowering mass of orange, and a split-second, first impression probably is NOT one of flowers, but maybe a scab or open wound.

I am NOT saying that this is what I personally see, but I am suggesting why others (as first-time-ever viewers) might not see what YOU see.

Now your Pastel Places is much more appealing in a split-second viewing.

In the first image, the dominance of orange/pink seems to hide the detail. ... In the second image, the more dominant yellow REVEALS the detail, and the yellow is more cheerful, compared to the orange, which is more searing somehow.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Robert, now that is a colorful critique! Thanks. My paintings have never been called scabby or like an open wound before. It made me laugh. I'm going to take your comments to show my friends tonight at my Birthday party. You will be the topic of conversation. Funny! Thanks for your honest words.

 

Robert Kernodle

8 Years Ago

Shirley,

Keep in mind that I was referring to a first-impression, reflexive, no-thought encounter for the very first time EVER.

Here's some more fodder for your laughter tonight (Happy birthday, by the way.):

Did a nuclear bomb go off behind those flowers? ... Are they on fire? ... Is THAT why they are melting?

Among the insults that are certainly to fly at me tonight (i.e, "What an idiot!", "Dumb %$#!", "Amateur!", "Philistine!", etc.), don't forget to add "Stylishly risque'!", "Intelligently probing!", and "Uncompromisingly straightforward!" to the mix, ... just to balance things out. (^_^)

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Robert, I am no way insulted! I strive for out of the box effects. I never know how they will turn out. I just follow what I see at the time in the colors. I would love for you to go to my site and tell me which painting you like and why.

I love spicy conversations!

 

Gregory Scott

8 Years Ago

I don't think realism in the colors need be an issue. Your palate can vary substantially from realism, and still be quite pleasing. I wouldn't worry about the color issue from that perspective. Don't let the real world become a limitation to your vision. Art is about imagination too. I've seen plenty of off-reality palates on painting that would sell well. How about Starry Night, with all those over-saturated colors, for example? Sure it didn't sell well initially, but that's just an appropriate example of how capricious the market can be.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Thank you Gregory!

I don't do reality too well. I do portraits and sculptures fairly in reality but mostly I have to just dive in and follow the paint across the paper.

 

Go figure, Shirley, as in no rhyme or reason. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. You know I think your work is SO lovely & lively! One can only 'imagine' why someone is drawn to a certain piece of art, or not, and what motivates them to actually buy? 'Imagine' is my most popular & winningest piece here, but NO sale$ of it yet on FAA.
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Neva Cruddas

8 Years Ago

I personally much prefer "The Magic of Spring" compared to "Pastel Places". I am also on the opposite side of the fence from Robert.
I guess it's a good example of "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

I say keep painting from your heart and what moves you.
In my opinion (born out of personal experience), the moment
an artist begins to listen and worry about what others want from their art is the moment
brilliant work can no longer be realized, originality falters and discouragement sets in.
Neva Cruddas




 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Brooks, I can't believe that one doesn't sell. It's beautiful! Nostalgic too!

Neva, thank you. I think it says something about the art when there is such a wide gap in how it is felt.

I pride myself on freedom, the use of color and letting the paint tell me what to do. I can paint reality but it's just that... reality.

 

Neva Cruddas

8 Years Ago

I agree.

 

Brian MacLean

8 Years Ago

My last two sales were of images I almost didn't even upload.... Go figure

Photography PrintsArt Prints

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Brian, those are nice. I wonder where they hung them.

OK, here is one that sells well and is over the top as far as color.

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Robert Kernodle

8 Years Ago

Intuitively, I totally get why Girlyl Girl sells well.

You suggested that I go to your site and pick my favorite of yours, and, imagine that, I believe that THIS one is the one I chose, before I even read your post about it.

It's not a question of realistic colors at all, in my mind, and I was not suggesting this in my earlier comments. .. Rather, it's a question of the dominance of one color or color group over another and how people might or might not react similarly to a given dominance there.

MY reaction to a dominant orange that subdues the subtle detail of a similarly toned pink is to blur it all together on a quick glance, and I believe that others might do the same. On the other hand, yellow with the sort of separation you have used in the images I like reveals the shapes and the details in a quick glance.

Your are an awesome painter, no doubt. ... I could not even come close to what you do in any color.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Robert, I totally get what you are saying. And yes I see what you mean.

You have an eye, whether you paint or not, you know what works. Sometimes I get off on a tangent and impress myself with color. Sigh...

This may be too much information but, I like to throw an odd color into a mix just to see if I can make it work. Or close my eyes and choose three colors and just go with it. I have a lot of stinkers though.

 

Floyd Snyder

8 Years Ago

This is exactly why I do not buy into the much touted "upload only your best" theory. I have no doubt in my mind that a lot of people that do buy into that theory are leaving some of their best sellers out of their galleries and no one ever sees them.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Floyd, that is definitely something to think about. I have hundreds and hundreds of paintings. I mostly sell prints. My site is only a few of them. I'm going to have to look at them with a new eye.

 

Mike Savad

8 Years Ago

it depends why its your favorite. i think there is too much pink in there, and i don't know how many decorate with pink. often if your making something you may be attaching some memory of something else onto it, and you favor it over the others. maybe when you painted it, something fun happened. hard to know. whatever it is they bought, study and compare.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

 

Mike Savad

8 Years Ago

the one that is selling has bright yellow in it, i'd make another to see how it sells.

the pink one, up close, the flowers look a bit dead, the flowers are droopy.


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this one i find rather orange, i'd expect the petals to be whiter looking. and again, the petals look droopy in this.

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where as this is brighter and more cheerful.

it may also be your descriptions. the top one lists the flower types i believe, the one that sells says its for a certain kind of person. so you may be selling moods more than anything else. sometimes you have to tell the person what they feel... this is for a happy person. this is for those that are depressed, etc.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

 

Alicia Hollinger

8 Years Ago

I think one of the problems is the size of the image. When just looking at these small icons, everything is compressed, and to me, the red color kind of clashes with the blue, but I'm sure in the full size image, it looks great. When the eye sees something so close together in the tiny image, it can make colors seem to clash that don't in the full size image. The same thing happened to me. I did a piece with both red and blue, but pastel-ish like yours, not like flag red and blue, and in the full size image, I loved it. Then I posted it and the small version makes me wince every time I look at it. I don't even enter it in contests because I hate looking at the icon so much. There are several of my pieces that look kind of crappy as small icons and I'm almost ready to delete them, but then I see the full image, and I think, oh yeah, it's not really that bad, I still like it at full size... So if people are not clicking through to see the larger image (which is still not that large) they will never see it in its full glory...

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Thanks Mike. Yes, I see what you mean. Yeah, pink is not my favorite color. I love red myself.

Yes, emotions are definitely involved. Whether it be mine or the viewers. I try to make them emotional.

It always surprises me what people choose.

I would have thought my boats would sell best... no, flowers do.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Alicia, I would hope those commenting here are opening to the fuller view! It makes a tremendous difference.

I agree that most of mine do not look good in those small thumbnails. It's hard to get people to open them.

GLORY!

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

I did want to say that these paintings are either 15'X 22" and 22"X 30" so they are rather large, which makes a difference too.

I appreciate everyone's time!

 

Mike Savad

8 Years Ago

but try describing your images in emotional ways, the people these might be attracting, describing it in a less clinical way, may be the kick they need to get it. sort of a positive affirmation thing.

and that's the other thing, when i make my images i try to create them so i know they will look good or eye catching as a thumbnail. if you have too many colors, or clashing colors etc, they may not click on it, because it will look like a smear, especially on a phone. so as your working on it, since you paint, you can either view it with a phone from a distance, or step back, or use a reducing lens. all to get an idea of what it would look like tiny.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Thanks Mike. Maybe I should only show a portion of the painting. ???

I'm not sure how I would make one of my paintings any differently. When I plan too much, they look planned and less free. I want to please people but I have to paint what I feel at the time.

Usually I begin with chaos and push it toward reality. I guess one has to choose freedom or sales.

 

Mike Savad

8 Years Ago

the whole thing should be shown. its how make it and balance the colors out. glancing at your work, i'd say most of it has a lot of dark colors in the center and light around the borders. the one that sold was opposite of that. so it probably attracted the eye faster.

you can choose both, but you'll have to experiment to see what works best.

sometimes what sort of works is, looking out the corner of your eye and see which one attracts your attention first. you'll find the ones that are very busy, with a lot of flowers or colors will look like a big blob.

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brighter things like this, my eye caught on to. your keywords are really lacking here though - none of the flower types are listed.

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i saw this out of the corner of my eye, looks like an eye, which brings in eyes. but the description is lack luster as is the keywords. always list the flower your working with. people won't find this by typing flower, they may if its a certain kind they grow.

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i turn my head when viewing these, notice the theme? yellow catches the eye faster. people graze through a pile of images in seconds, so you only have seconds to attract them. in your case, yellow should be a color you use more, but only as a flower, not as much as a background.


Art Prints
titles can make a difference, and people like making fun of clowns, but i wouldn't call it this, or that you intended it to be anything else. i'd keep the creep show vibe, but you should title it with more of a psycho twist and describe it as such. then market it to the funhouse, thriller crowd. any of the clowns would fit that theme, clowns are creepy.

so i would try focusing on the brighter and more pastel colors, and lay off the darker, more jumbled looking ones. and experiment. but naming those flowers is important, the keywords are very short.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com



 

Sharon Cummings

8 Years Ago

I agree with Joy...It lacks a "freshness" that I expect for a Spring painting...but I really like it otherwise...the composition and technique are great.

I've found no real rhyme or reason to sales. My personal favorites do not sell well. The ones I don't care for usually sell well. And if my husband says he doesn't like it, it is usually a best seller! LOL

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Ok, I'm going to change some new names and add some better keywords. It's very hard to name and tag hundreds of flower paintings.

Any name suggestions for the hot pink one, The Magic of Spring???

How about the clown one?

Thank you Mike!

Thanks Sharon. That is very true!!!

 

Mike Savad

8 Years Ago

i dunno. i wouldn't worry too much about the clown ones. i don't know how many people decorate with clowns, i'd concentrate on the flowers more. remember though every title you change, breaks a link. so i'd work mostly on descriptions and such and new stuff i'd work on titles and things.

i'm not sure what to call the pink one, but i'd probably name it after the color, but not pink. and name it after the flower that it is. i wouldn't make it too general.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Thank you
everyone, for the advice!


 

Floyd Snyder

8 Years Ago

"I'm going to change some new names "

Remember, when you change the names, you destroy all the links that are out there already.

Not saying don't do it. Just reminding you of that.

Here's another idea. Change the image just a bit maybe using some of the suggestions give here and upload the new version and leave this one alone.

I do this all the time. The thing that amazes me there is the one I think will sell the least ends up selling the best. You just never know what people are going to buy.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Mike and Floyd, I did not realize that. So much information comes out in these discussions. I appreciate all of it!

 

Kevin Callahan

8 Years Ago

Shirley, I have not a single critique for your work. It's good work and I think one should own their work and not over analyze. Many years ago I undertook a large 3.5 X 7 foot painting of what was a closeup of a grassy meadow, a favorite place of my wife. In the process of doing the work someone suggested a horse would be nice, well it was so close in all I would have had was a horses hoof. But that got me thinking, so I began to add insects to my meadow. I used to get small children who would look at it for long stretches and count the bugs. It hung in three of our homes around the country and eventually sold for a very good price to a couple in New Jersey. What may seem to be a poor decision (painting wise) today, might become tomorrow's genius.

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Kevin, I have heard many times that I should add fairies or something into my flower paintings. No.

 

Kevin Callahan

8 Years Ago

No, not what I was suggesting argh! Besides they are your paintings. Just recalling a thing that happened to me. BTW love your Ugly Clown.

 

Fairies? Lol. I know YOU know, but I always consider the source as to any sort of critique or suggestion, if it happens. I realized you asked, BUT!
Private messaging you. Titles, as we know, are as personal to us artists as the work, yes. Your gallery, btw, is fabulous.

 

Ray Shrewsberry

8 Years Ago

Shirley - there is nothing wrong with your artwork.

I've discovered - what sells will always surprise you. I've also discovered not always the best image sells. I honestly think it is more about marketing your images.

You could help yourself get found by using more tag words. I believe that is your real problem, not the artwork.

Thanks - Ray

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Thanks Brooks, I hear you!

Ray, I have been working this morning going through all my paintings and adding as many tags as allowed. (I've only gotten a couple done though, it takes time)

One question I have is, since most of my flowers contain the same type flowers, is it ok to use a lot of the same tags? Also with shrimp boats... same tags???

 

Floyd Snyder

8 Years Ago

The tags in one image has nothing to do with any other image.

If it is in the image, it goes in the tags. Even if that is every one of your images.


I have a thousand seascape images, there is a whole list of keywords that go into everyone of them.

 

Mike Savad

8 Years Ago

every image needs its own tags. as long as you keep the right words to the picture that's what you want. you don't know which image people will come in from, so you list it all. and if you can get the latin genus, do that as well. along with color, mood, different color words and so on. focus more on the art and less on the medium.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Thanks Floyd!

Mike, thank you, I'll do that.

 

I love your painting! But it has only been uploaded for 8 months and hasn't been discovered yet. Our most popular images at our art fairs took 2-3 years after uploading here to be discovered. And now they are selling very well. Give it time and make sure your keywords are up to date.
Celebrate life, Debra

 

Shirley Sykes Bracken

8 Years Ago

Thank you Debra! Yes, I opened an account way before I uploaded anything much. Now I am working hard on the tags.

I celebrate life every day! We are retired and I paint 24-7. But I have always painted a lot! I still have hundreds of paintings to upload. I decided I'd fix all the tags first. Takes a lot of time.

Thanks Dave too!

 

This discussion is closed.