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Pictures for sale
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Message
Posted
I have never posted on the forum before, but I'm curious to know what people think.
There are 192 pages of pictures for sale, some dating back to 2015. That has put me off offering any of my work for sale.
My assumption is that people don't buy because we're all artists and have a house full of our own work! I certainly have.
Am I correct? Do people manage to sell any of their work? Is is worth offering anything?
I'd love to know what you all think,
Peter
Posted
Once or twice - I THINK - I've put a For Sale tag on, but yes, I think it's a waste of time. I don't believe people come here to buy, because as you suggest most people here are artists, of one kind or another, and have homes crammed with works we haven't 'yet' (ie, over around 25 years!) sold.
I suppose it's worth a punt, if you happen to think of doing it: but while I've never sold anything directly from this site, I have been spotted on here - and people have contacted me for commissions. I think they'd have done that, though, whether I'd put For Sale on pieces or not.
Posted
I did have someone contact me to buy a painting on here once. (I had the medium, size and price all stated on my listing), but the person changed their mind (they wanted to see it in the flesh before deciding!)
I agree that the ‘market’ so to speak, is limited, as everyone on the site is an artist. But, I do like other artists work on the walls in my house, (as well as some of my own).
What IS off-putting is when people don’t list the price.
I would much rather know that I can afford someone’s work before making any enquiry about it, so that I don’t feel awkward about changing my mind if the price is over my budget.
Edited
by Helen Martell
Posted
I completely agree about listing the price Helen, I wouldn't dream of looking at anything that hadn't a price given, on here or anywhere else.
Heather, that's an different approach that hadn't occurred to me. I still get the feeling that trying to sell a picture is a waste of time though.
I suppose the best way to find out is to have a go and see what happens. I might just do that....I might be pleasantly surprised!
Peter
Edited
by Peter Smith
Posted
I put a few on some time ago to ‘test the water’ so to speak, and I did price them sensibly, or so I thought… I didn’t sell any or have any enquiries!
They were a dozen or so of my oil landscapes and seascapes, boats and stuff mainly on canvas board, but unframed.
But let’s be brutally honest here, the art market is dead at present, people just haven’t got surplus money for non-essentials like art… chances of selling your paintings, on here or anywhere else at the moment is remote at best!
I’ve got work on the Artfinder website, same scenario again… dead as the proverbial Dodo!
By all means give it a try, I suppose it’s down to the quality of your work and price… price anything low enough and you’ll probably sell it!
But I don’t want to give my work away for peanuts!
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
I think that sums up the situation perfectly Alan; I'm not bothered about selling pictures, I'm just curious really. As you say, I'm not prepared to give my work away. I had a look on Ebay, there are hundreds if not thousands of pictures on there.
I think we have to accept that we're painting for fun and if someone else likes it that's a bonus. It's been an interesting discussion though.
Peter
Posted
Etsy has been suggested as a place to sell in the past, but the trouble is - it's sort of admitting that you can't sell anywhere else; which may be true, but doesn't do your reputation any good. On the other hand, I have seen some reasonably realistic prices being asked on there.
I've also seen others that are absurdly under-priced, though - so as a gallery, it's a problem: showing your work alongside those who are happy to sell a framed watercolour, no less, for £25 - a price at which at best you MIGHT just be able to cover your costs, but frankly I don't see how - just devalues it, and invites the question if X can sell for that, what's so special about you that you're asking for £250? To which there's no easy answer, other than that a) one does like to eat occasionally, and b) because it's worth it!
Posted
Heh .... I live in a ground floor flat: don't run a car (COULDN'T run a car!); I'm no slave to fashion, so am not buying expensive clothes every month; and I've got the financial problems we've all got - but: I don't starve ... and at least we don't need the heating on for a month or two; even three if we're lucky!
But yes - starve while you're living and working, become sought-after (maybe) when you're dead - if anyone knows how to reverse that situation, don't hesitate to let us all know.....
I think that to sell - especially in today's dismal market - you have to REALLY want to: approach it like a business, push yourself on galleries and let 'em know how lucky they are that you've decided to patronize them. I can't be doing with all that any more: I've done my share of it, and made some money back in the day, but given it's never going to make me rich, AND I don't want the labour, the accountancy, the expectation that I'll keep the flow going .... plus, the whole art market really does stink .... I'm painting for myself for the most part; and am a lot happier for it.
Still - if anyone would like to favour me with a hugely rewarding commission, don't hang back.... I'm only semi-retired, and the pull of filthy lucre has not yet lost its appeal.
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