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Name or Pseudonym?
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Message
Posted
Hello.. I'm new here and was wondering if anyone had some advice for me.
I'm new to selling artwork, I haven't quite reached the point of being known outside of my local area, so it's probably prudent I ask for this advice now. I have been using a 'name' for my art rather than my own name, and I'm worried it may be limiting/stereotyping my art and I was wondering if anyone else uses a brand name such as 'Dark arts' or ' Air arts' (some random names) rather than their own name i.e Bryan Webster - Fine Arts.
Dark Arts for example, I feel would limit artwork to the macabre etc..
In fact I may have answered my own question there, haha... I'll leave this up for some feedback from others if anyone has some input :)
Thank you for your time,
Bryan
Posted
Hi Bryan and welcome to the forum. As you say, use your real name - I really can't see any or advantage in using a pseudonym. If I were purchasing a work of art I would be most hesitant about buying it unless I knew who the artist is or was. The only exception to this is probably Banksy. The same goes here on the forum where most regulars like to know the name of other posters and I see you have identified yourself with a real name so no problems there!!
Posted
Agreeing with the others here, basically - whenever I've used a pseudonym, for my blog, or a name other than my own for my website, I've regretted it - unfortunately, I have a common name; I blame the parents ..... and I do get confused with others. But if people do know your name and want to look for you, they're unlikely to find it if it's just tucked away on your blog or website; it needs to be out there. In fact, I think I'm about to start a Wordpress website as a portal to my main one, using my own name this time rather than isleofwightlandscapes.net, which my site-builder and I should have known would be a swine to find (I say I think I'm about to start because my other identity is Procrastinator Extraordinaire - if I can put something off, I will: but I'm tiring of invisibility online: it does rather defeat the object).
There's a reference to Fine Art on my website as well - not my doing, the site designer thought it would be a good idea: I confess to having very little idea of what it's supposed to mean, and it does sound a bit precious.
http://www.isleofwightlandscapes.net