SNEAK PREVIEW .... ON THE VINE - PRINTS - POSTERS - TOTES

SMALL TOTE - ON THE VINE by Sea Dean

I've just put in my order for Art Walk weekend. I've added another 4" x 6" matt print to my collection, a tote, flashlight keychain, USB jump drive and posters. I think my ON THE VINE painting looks amazing on these products.

MATT 6" x 4" PRINT - ON THE VINE by Sea Dean

8 GB USB - ON THE VINE by Sea Dean

FLASHLIGHT KEYCHAIN - ON THE VINE by Sea Dean

POSTER - ON THE VINE by Sea Dean

To purchase any of these preview items please contact me via comments,
or Daily Paintworks email link here.

POWER AND MAJESTY MESA - A scene from the south west, Arizona

POWER AND MAJESTY MESA
PROFESSIONAL ACRYLIC PAINTING BY SEA DEAN
5" x 7" on Canvas Panel

To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. Larger originals or prints may be available by contacting me.

This was inspired by a challenge photo. I painted this on canvas panel and it came together very smoothly. I love those pinky orange southern colours and the contrasting shadows.

Thank you for viewing my Art. Feel free to visit my online gallery or leave a comment.


Cat # 13074 Power and Majesty

NEW LINKS PINTEREST AND ACEO MINIATURE GALLERY ON FACEBOOK

Well I know I´ve got a bit behind in painting, but I have a heap of good excuses. I´m in the last days of Leslie Saeta´s online marketing class and trying to catch up. I´ve also been thundering away on the computer updating and expanding my PINTEREST Boards and my BLUE SKY RED EARTH Facebook Gallery.

Here are some links

PINTEREST http://pinterest.com/blueskyredearth/

ACEO Miniature gallery on Facebook (I think you have to be a member) 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.180656558650529.40282.168549916527860&type=1&ref=notif&notif_t=like

And remember if anything takes your fancy there are a few days left of my promo. If you purchase any painting, even an ACEO you get a free print of another of my paintings. This is only till the end of May. 

Look how beautiful they look in just a simple frame. Single, DUO, and TRIO.

SWEETNESS and THE TOP 20 PLACES TO SELL YOUR ART

Even if you are not taking Leslie Saeta's Art Marketing Class, if you're an Artist this is the one thing you need to do to increase sales, listen to this internet radio show.  
THE TOP 20 PLACES TO SELL YOUR ART

And DAY TWO of Leslie Saeta's class is about promotion.

Here is a painting from earlier this year that I don't think had enough exposure. I know I'm the Artist, but I really love this happy little painting. The colour combination is unusual and I think, pretty awesome. I know I always say this, but it is even better in real life. It has iridescent bronze accents in the wrapping and lovely loose brush strokes. One of my best paintings this year.

To me pretty candy is directly related to happy times like romantic evenings, Birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter and Christmas. PAY ATTENTION GENTS, I would give this as a gift with a box of candy, one can be eaten and one kept as a memento of the occasion. Girls like this kind of thing!

SWEETNESS
ORIGINAL ART ACEO
2.5" x 3.5"
To view my Gallery or purchase this painting please visit Daily Paintworks. If there is no current bid you may contact me for the "Buy Now" price. Larger originals or prints may be available. 


To create my own little celebration, and as a thank you to my wonderful patrons, I am starting this auction 7pm GMT Saturday at just $1.


Cat # 13002 Sweetness ACEO

NOTES ON GREAT WEB IMAGES - SALE LAST DAYS

This is a very big question but to simplify ...

1. First take the largest size and highest resolution digital photo that is possibly with your equipment, using the TIFF or RAW setting on your camera for image type (not JPEG if at all possible). If you dont know how to do this read the instructions or Google it. This is important because in these formats the photo is protected from digital degradation and will remain as crisp and clean as the day it was taken. Put these images in a special file marked ORIGINAL. This is used to make copies for prints or other future uses. You always leave this original intact. If your works are small enough to fit on a flat bed scanner, this often gives the best image.

2. Make a copy of the selected image and convert it to JPEG. JPEGs are best for most uses, such as submissions, Facebook, websites etc. because they are read by most programs and load quickly. I use Paint which is available on most computers and is simple and basic, but you can use most photo manipulation programs. Perhaps you even have one that came with your camera. 
a) Open the image in Paint.
b) Go to FILE, then SAVE AS. 
c) On the lower portion of the pop up select JPG as the file type.
   
3. Check the resolution.Dpi is not cruicial but there is no need for greater resolution than 72 dpi because most computer screens use this resolution. Larger files just take up space on your computer.
a) In Paint go to IMAGE then ATTRIBUTES to see dpi and dimensions. Here you can select inches, centimeter or pixels.If you change the dimensions make sure you don't change the ratio of width to length. In the newer Paint versions there is a place to select "MAINTAIN RATIO"

4. Most online galleries use 500 - 600 pixels on the longest side but there will be details in their instructions. Usually there are minimum size requirements, but I prefer to keep my images large enough for the buyer to make a decision but small enough to prevent largescale copying and printing by the unscrupulous without permission. I also try to limit the largest view of the painting to the original size or smaller. e.g. an ACEO image would be no larger than 2.5" x 3.5". This is easy in Paint. Make sure you are working with a copy and play until you get the hang of it. You will eventually get used to it and it will become second nature.
a) Go to IMAGE then RESIZE or in older versions STRETCH
b) Try reducing by changing the two 100% to 20% or increase by changing 100% to 150%
c) Go back to ATTRIBUTES to see the result. 
d) When you get the dimensions you want go to FILE and SAVE as and give it a name. 
I usually save 3 versions:
SMALL - 600 pixels longest side for web
MEDIUM - 1000 pixels longest side for a few sites and for emailing galleries or clients when they ask for more detail.
FULL - original size for my records

5. If at all possible save all images with RGB, this will ensure good colour rendition when posted on any website. 

LAST WEEK of my customer appreciation Miniature Masterpiece Auction Sale.

These are impasto Acrylic paintings on stretched gallery wrap canvas which regularly sell for $125. Auction starts at $49. Bid and if you win you choose the painting you like most of this selection. Most of these will be shipped to my galleries in June so now is the time to act. Click on image to bid.

SALE - MINIATURE AND MINI MASTERPIECES

VARIOUS MINIATURE AND MINI MASTERPIECES BY SEA DEAN

6" x 6" Gallery Wrap Canvas (don't require a frame)

SPECIAL till April 30th $49US ($25 for Minis) + $21US Worldwide Shipping

Some here are scanned so appear brighter, but all are bright and colourful little gems

Above is a collection of 22 Miniature Masterpieces 6" x 6" on Gallery Wrap Canvas (plus 3 Mini Masterpieces 4" x 4" on Canvas Panel - Bottom row center). From now until April 30th, choose any of these paintings for the special price of $49 US ($25 for Minis). This special price is only available to readers of my blog who contact me at blue sky red earth at live dot ca to receive the special Paypal invoice. I will ship the painting anywhere in the world for $21 US.

The concept behind my MM collection is that they are painted on 5/8" Gallery Wrap Canvas which does not require framing. This means you can display them immediately and it is cost effective. However, I think individual paintings also look spectacular in a dramatic wide black frame. Another part of my concept is to mount them in a collection as seen here. I have specially designed mounts which allow you to move the paintings around to keep your collection fresh and interesting.

Left to right, top to bottom - 

Mount Albert Edward - The Island - Peaceful Afternoon - Dancing Daisies - Bed of Flowers

Daisy Chain - Alpine Meadow - Never Blue - Misty Sunrise - Fragrant Gardenia

Happy Little Garden - Juno's River - Blossom - An Apple a Day - Radiate I

Spring to Life - Radiate II - Flowerburst - Henry - Rose Sorbet

Star Performance - Red Rose Mini - Blue Rose Mini - Yellow Rose Mini - Virgin Blush

SUNNY and TO PRINT OR NOT TO PRINT

The proof of a true miniature is that you cannot tell the size. If this work didn't have a seemingly rather large signature I think you would find it hard to guess from this photograph. It could easily be a large palette knife painting.

SUNNY 
ORIGINAL ACEO OOAK 2.5" x 3.5"
To purchase this painting or view my Gallery please visit Daily Paintworks. As always, larger originals in the same series or prints may be available. "Buy Now" price available on any auction where bidding hasn't started. 

I know enough about internet marketing, to say you can't just post your work online and hope it will sell, you always have to add enormous effort, at least until you become well known. It's important how you choose to spend that time which you've allotted for marketing. Chatting with friends on Facebook or Twitter is not the most beneficial use of your time.

For my Art business I have one website, Artslant, one sales site, Daily Paintworks, one FB page (Blue Sky Red Earth Virtual Gallery) and one FB Group (GET YOUR ART OUT THERE). That is as much as I can handle because I do actually have to spend time creating as well. I split my time roughly 50/50 between the studio and the computer.

I know many successful Artists who use Fine Art America to fulfill print orders to avoid the hassles and time it takes to print, frame, pack, ship etc. I must admit that my total experience with FAA is posting one of my best paintings and checking stats every now and then. I haven't sold anything in over a year at FAA, not even an Art card. However, I believe with the right marketing effort it would be beneficial. I would really like to hear from anyone who is having success with FAA or another fulfillment site and if so what are you doing to achieve sales, or is it just correct pricing that works?

FAA Promo Video

There are many other sites where you can market prints such as Ebay, Etsy, Red Bubble, Ruby Lane etc. but on those you do all the printing, matting, framing, packing, shipping etc. which will really cut down the amount of time you can dedicate to creating new work. Every task which takes you away from the studio is removing you from the creativity which attracted you to the profession, so unless you're making enough to pay for an assistant, you have to decide "print or not to print".

I would really love to hear your thoughts on this. Also, if you are a purchaser, how do you feel about owing originals or prints? Are you happy to pay less for a limited print or very little for an Art print or are you willing to pay a premium for the original?

Cat # 13042 "Sunny"