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Stella in Butterflies 2007-05-20 02:30:02 In the post 2 days ago, Chris O’Byrne (www.onlineartsmarketing.com made suggestions about starting and promoting a website for my Enhanced Animal Images. His ideas got my creative juices going!
Stella
in Butterflies, Digital © Diane Clancy
Here is part of his comment “Give something away for free in exchange for a name and email address (yup that again). The freebie could be a five step mini-course on how to photograph your pet. After you get that information and the potential customer has received the mini-course, send them an offer to take one of their pet photos and enhance it for $9 to $19.”
I am not a photographer - I am a designer and artist. But it helped me realize what I could give away that would be very unusual. As far as I know, no one else makes these kinds of enhanced animal images. I have shared in my past posts how to do this. But I could put together 5 steps (I guess 5 - I would have to see how it came out) on how to make your own enhanced animal Irie in Flowers 2007-05-19 03:08:02 When a local person saw some of my other animal images at the local Visitors Center, she called me up and ordered a print of her own dog, Irie. She had a nice photo showing his bright blue eyes. I am delighted that a few orders have come in for people asking me to make their own animal companions into these Enhanced Animal Imges.
Irie in Flowers
, Digital © Diane Clancy
In yesterday’s post I talked about online marketing and the next steps to take. I asked for feedback and Chris O’Byrne (www.onlineartsmarketing.com) made a suggestion to start an Ebay store. Chris said that if I made $16 per month, I would cover the costs.
Chris also suggested that I could put single items up for bid and have an “About Me” page. This fits better in with my budget and seems a good way to ease in. I have a couple of friends who have sold there before. But even though they are artists, they sold camera equipment or antiques. But still I can ask them for hints.
Chris also made t Flowers XVI 2007-05-17 23:43:23 Online marketing is pretty exciting to me still. It is amazing that 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anyone with computer access can go to certain online galleries and shops and look at and buy my work! I am thrilled that I have work at ArtFlock and Etsy.
Flowers
XVI, Digital © Diane Clancy
Now I need to take this to the next level. It seems like I should open an Ebay store to be more visible and have work available in more places. I am finding there are many places one can have work sold on the web.
I think I could probably spend 18 hours a day keeping up with all that. Obviously, I don’t have that much time to work on selling online. Also, I want to sell only at reputable places. Any information people can share with me (and my readers) about selling online would be appreciated!
~ Diane Clancy
Technorati Tags: ArtFlock, Etsy, Ebay, online marketing Lady in Flowers 2007-05-16 22:54:48 I want to thank everyone for help who has been giving me feedback about my business cards. I also went to an online chat about business cards the other night at Self Representing Artists (www.ebsqart.com). It was interesting. I learned about the chat at Alyson Stanfield’s Art Marketing Blog, (www.artbizblog.com).
Lady in Flowers
, Digital © Diane Clancy
It is amazing, inspiring and overwhelming how much information and support there is out there on the web. Just amazing! People have been extremely helpful to me as I have getting my blog set up and taking my marketing to another level.
I want to get a newsletter going to keep in touch with my collectors, current and potential. All the advice I have seen says this is a great idea. I have been looking around trying to make decisions - things are not clear to me. When I looked into blogs, it was clear I wanted to use WordPress. I am so glad I did!
But with the newsletter project, I don’t see which way to go right now. It Sight 2007-05-16 03:30:12 All kinds of business advice emphazine a mission statement, Unique Selling Proposition (USP), Extra Value Proposition, purpose of business, business philosophy, Value Added and positioning oneself in the market. These are all focused on what makes you and your business unique and what you offer your customer that is compelling to them so that they will choose you and your business.
Sight
, Collage © Diane Clancy
I have had a mission statement for quite a while that I thought worked very well. In the business class for artists last fall we spent a lot of time tweaking and refining our mission statements. Mine went through several changes as we all gave each other feedback.
But these last two weeks as I have been working on my business card, I have found another very helpful resource that gave me new insights and new ways to look at how I position and market myself, my skills and my work.
There is a site, Online Marketing for Artists, that I am finding very helpful. At this site/blog Business Card for Art Business-Vertical Revisited 2007-05-15 01:05:43 I hope you can indulge me one more day on my business cards. I have been getting very mixed reviews about the horizontal and vertical versions of the business card for my artist business.
Business
Card for Art Business-front-vertical © Diane Clancy
People’s reactions have been strong enough that I am probably going to do a card horizontally and a card vertically. Most people have very much liked the card - but only one version and not the other. (Most people have really enjoyed the card for my graphic design and web design business - post from a few days ago.) I happen to like them all. (I guess I should since I designed them!)
Business Card
for Art Business-back-vertical © Diane Clancy
At this point I would very much appreciate some feedback about the back of this vertical version of the card. I am not sure if the vertical design of the back is innovative and unusual or just plain annoying trying to read the text. Or something else all together.
Business Card for Art B Read more: Revisited
, Vertical
Business Card for Art Business - Vertical 2007-05-13 22:05:04 Today I received a suggestion of how to redesign the business card I am making for myself as an artist. I wasn’t sure I liked the idea (after all, I had an idea that worked!) But I am usually open to others’ suggestions because I find it often enhances my own work and vision.
Business
Card for Art Business-front-vertical © Diane Clancy
I would greatly appreciate feedback how people react to this card compared to the horizontal card I created a few days ago. You can see the horizontal card in the post Business Card
for Art Business. I do like the fact that the images are a little larger so you can see a bit more detail. But it also feels awkward to me that the list of types of work I create are not visible at the same time as the images themselves. Given that the business cards are for you - the collector (potential or current), I particularly want to hear from you which card would work better for you.
Business Card for Art Business-back-vertical © Diane Clancy
The Read more: Vertical
Business Card for Design Business 2007-05-12 21:32:50 Those of you who have been reading this blog regularly may notice that the icon at the top of the browser bar and in the browser address bar has changed. I have been going through a whole series of images as I have been deciding which would be most effective. I like the eye. This is the icon I am using to represent myself at ArtFlock and Etsy also.
Business
Card for Design Business-front © Diane Clancy
Here is the other business card that I designed yesterday. It focuses on my work for other people as opposed to my own art work. I have gone through a lot of changes deciding which image to use to represent me and my business. I think this image is a keeper for the business card. Colorful and representative of my work without disturbing some people.
Business Card
for Design Business-back © Diane Clancy
I was going to write today about the phrases I have used on the two business cards, but that will have to wait. My dsl is being very finicky this afternoon so I am outside the loc Business Card for Art Business 2007-05-12 03:20:30 I have been working on my business cards for awhile now. Given the variety of my work and mediums (as discussed last week), it has been a conundrum for me trying to decide how to represent myself and my work. For clarification, the border around the card is so you can see where the card begins and ends. A couple of days ago I figured out how I can showcase more than one image in a way I sure hope is effective!
Business
Card for Art Business-front © Diane Clancy
Some of my artist friends are using an image that covers the whole front of their business cards. That can certainly be striking and effective in certain circumstances. But for my business, I do not think it is the right “look.” Given that I already have various lines of work, I think having some information about these different aspects of my art is crucial.
Business Card
for Art Business-back © Diane Clancy
I hope you can read the words all right - I hope that it is dark enough in this jpeg version. In the Freckles in Butterflies 2007-05-11 03:13:39 My enhanced animal images are pretty unique from what I gather. These unusual digital paintings are among my most universally popular images. Often when people see their “own” animal companion, they immediately stop and buy a card - and often all the cards with that particular animal. I have had requests to put people’s own animal companion into a field of flowers. This special series is admired by many.
Freckles in Butterflies, Digital © Diane Clancy
Continuing with the idea of licensing (from yesterday’s post), I think it makes the most sense to start with the Enhanced Animal Images. There is no question which paintings belong in the collection. Many companies want a group of at least four images so they can create sets of products - like four place mats.
I have plenty of these paintings using a variety of cats and dogs (and even a doe and bear cub). There are a butterfly theme and three flower themes. These images might be marketable to more companies tha Lady in Butterflies 2007-05-21 18:58:26 This photogenic dog is a family member of my brother’s family. The kids love her greatly. In a post 2 days ago, I talked about starting a new site (within my regular site) for my enhanced animal images that I make. I take a photograph of an animal companion (this one is supplied by my brother) and put them into a field of flowers or butterflies.
Lady in Butterflies, Digital © Diane Clancy
Yesterday Neda responded to my post with, “Good idea. Want some suggestions for the new business? How about “Petproject” or “Yourpetproject” or “digi-pet”?? Submitting these just for fun!” Thank you, Neda for being enthusiastic and having suggestions!! I appreciate your ideas!
I hadn’t thought about having a new name for this part of my business. I have been using “Enhanced Animal Images” for these images. I have also been using the words “animal companion” rather than pet to show the significance animals have to many people. What do you think? What would y Flowers XIII 2007-05-20 16:45:43 With these flowers, I hoping to encourage some more warm weather to arrive in the Northeast of North America. It has been a little chilly. One nice thing about spring (here in the northern hemisphere now) is that it breeds new beginnings, fresh starts and hope. For me, spring is about both inspiration and “allowing.” The life force is in a phase that supports growth and upward motion.
Flowers
XIII, Digital © Diane Clancy
In the spring it is very clear that the life force itself, the universal flow, actually is a power in itself that moves us along if we “allow” it to. Part of taking action is the active part, the “yang” in some cultures. Another crucial part of action is the receptive (rather than passive) part, called the “yin” in some cultures.
In many western cultures, such as the U.S., the active or yang aspect is emphasized, over-emphasized according to me. The receptive part of action often gets dismissed in this culture. Being Business Card for Design Business - Final Version 2007-05-24 20:41:36 I am so excited because my first business card that is not a Staples freebie is printed and it is in the mail! Both the front and back are somewhat changed so I wanted to share the final versions with you.
Business
Card for Design Business-front © Diane Clancy
I would still very much appreciate your feedback on the name for the “Digitally Enhanced Pet Images” or “Digitally Enhanced Animal Companion Portraits.” I need to get the name finalized before I can print my other business cards. People’s input is still greatly appreciated as each day things get a little clearer.
Business Card
for Design Business-back © Diane Clancy
If you would like to read more details about the decision, please look at the post, Bambi in Butterflies, the post Violet in Flowers, and the post, Lady in Butterflies. People have written terrific comments for these posts also.
Thank you again for all your help!
~ Diane Clancy
Technorati Tags: business card, enhanced animal imag Read more: Final
Bambi in Butterflies 2007-05-23 18:36:32 Thanks to your help, I am close to pinning down a name for my “Enhanced Animal Images,” probably soon to be known by another name. Some of you thought “enhanced” meant photo restoration - Sue O’Kieffe made that observation. So that isn’t such a great thing. I looked up in a dictionary and thesaurus and I didn’t find any good synonyms.
Bambi in Butterflies, Digital © Diane Clancy
The last two days I have discussed this conundrum in posts Lady in Butterflies and Violet in Flowers and there have been some terrific comments. I am going to share what Chris O’Byrne (www.onlineartsmarketing.com) suggested. I would like to get your feedback.
Chris says, “I was just listening to a marketing cd yesterday that emphasized how you can’t (and should not try) to be all things to all people. Choose a narrow niche and go deeper. Better yet, choose more than one niche and market those separately.”
Chris continues, “If I saw Enhance Violet in Flowers 2007-05-22 20:47:51 Yesterday’s post had several great responses to my request asking for feedback. Thank you again for your help. Again, I am going to ask for more feedback. Here is the family companion of my sister’s family - she has her own sitting post at the window.
I thought it might be helpful if you could see what I do. Here is a picture I took of Violet. The second image is what I did with the image to make it into an “Enhanced Animal Image.” I cut Violet out of her picture and created a field of flowers for her to play in. This is how I enhance animals.
Violet III, Digital © Diane Clancy
In a comment yesterday Sue O’Kieffe (whose blog is Sacred Circles Mandalas) says, “When I first saw “enhanced” on your website, I was expecting something like restored photographs of animals, so maybe there is a better choice of wording.” I had no idea that someone would think that - although, of course, someone would. So I am asking for help in renaming the mag Read more: Flowers
Flowers X 2007-05-28 20:36:37 In yesterday’s post I shared my research of the day about feed readers and FeedBurner that allow people to subscribe to blogs so they can read the posts without going to the blog. Free newsletter subscriptions, often through FeedBlitz, are one way of subscribing. Another way of subscribing is to use a feed that brings the link right to a feed reader that you have on your desktop or web browser.
Flowers
X, Digital © Diane Clancy
Today a reader shared another tidbit with me for making effective use of feeds. This reader stays linked in to a lot of feeds every day; he makes great use of them and has studied what works and what doesn’t - at least from his perspective.
He is suggesting that the feeds contain only a summary rather than the whole post. That way it still gives people motive for coming and visiting the blog. He added that it is different for people to read a post on the blog where there is a whole effect - I agree.
You may have noticed that I like bells and Flowers I 2007-05-27 22:53:40 Tonight I learned more about feed readers and rss feeds. I had feeds on this site - for rss1, rss2 and for comments rss. So I thought I was doing it pretty well. But for some reason I decided to go exploring and learn more about the world of feed readers in general and FeedBurner in specific.
Flowers
I, Digital © Diane Clancy
Now I remember … I checked out the sites of people I tagged yesterday and one person, Chris O’Byrne, had an article, Subscribing to Blogs, on feed readers and pointed to another article, Blog Readership Rising, on another blog. So off I went into the wild blue yonder …
One thing I found out reading at FeedBurner is that they recommend using a feed reader on your desktop rather than a web-based news feed reader. I have looked for the article there and I can’t find it again. But they said that some of the most popular news feed readers sort of take over your feeds and go snooping. Sorry I can’t find that quote. But the essence i I’ve Been Tagged! 2007-05-26 19:36:46 First off, I want to tell you I have chosen the name for my animal images - “Fanciful Animal Images.” I am thrilled with the name and appreciate everyone who helped me get to this result by your input! I don’t think I would have found this name without you.
I’ve been using this eye from Conundrum I as a logo for my shops. If you are a quilter, you will recognize some of the traditional quilting fabrics in this eye that has been cropped from my collage.
Eye Logo, Collage © Diane Clancy
Secondly, I’ve been tagged by Lisa Call of New Work and Inspiration, a great blog where she discusses her quilting. I am going to quote Lisa from her site, “It’s basically a chance to nominate blogs that you find interesting and informative. … (it) is a meme where I’m suppose to list 7 random things about myself and tag 7 others to do the same.”
I am kind of excited because I first read about it on a blog a few weeks ago - an art blog of a success Read more: Tagged
Animals IV 2007-05-25 20:31:52 This is one of the “Vivid Whimsical Designs” that I mention on the art business card that I am working on right now. Lisa Call (blog.lisacall.com) made a helpful comment that sends me - and hopefully you in a slightly different direction.
Animals
IV, Digital © Diane Clancy
In a comment, Lisa says, “Love the business card but I guess I’m not so excited about digitally enhanced as a phrase to describe what you do. It sounds so technical to me. You are doing something more decorative/arty - digital sounds to sterile to me for what you are doing. I’d also toss the word “digitally” because it doesn’t matter how you do it - you want someone to understand what it is. What type of enhancement are you doing? What word would you use for that?”
Lisa continues, “Colorful, Joyful, Playful, Nature … If I were you I’d make a huge list of words that describe the additions you make and maybe a combination will jump out a Emma in Butterflies 2007-05-31 19:41:32 Emma looks like she is having fun … walking through the butterflies with her dainty little paw gracefully poised. What fun to have these beautiful, colorful butterflies all around. This is part of “Fanciful Animal Images” that are so popular with many people. Emma doesn’t have to worry about prioritizing in her life. Well, that may not be true, she probably has to decide which butterfly to chase.
Emma in Butterflies, Digital © Diane Clancy
But I bet you are like me - often not sure how to prioritize the many tasks that lie strewn over my life (and house.) Actually, I too have many beautiful butterflies to chase … marketing these animal images (making the site, creating more images), online stores (posting more items in my stores, setting up CafePress, starting eBay), reworking my business card as suggested, work for clients, catching up on reading, researching and email, and, oh yes, painting - that’s right, I am an artist. I am sure you know Flowers II 2007-05-30 20:30:39 I got a lot of organizing and clearing up of piles done today, but I am tired tonight. I know when this happens, I need to realign with my higher purpose of why I am creating and marketing and all the other things too. I need to tap into that spirit of joy, allowing and flow that is right there … once I stop and focus on it. I need to remember that there is meaning to what I do. Once I refocus my attention toward this other reality, I feel renewed. Perhaps still tired, but renewed. I feel more refreshed than when I started writing this post - whew! This stuff still works!
Flowers
II, Digital © Diane Clancy
As I was deciding what to write about tonight, I checked Alyson Stanfield’s Art Marketing Blog (www.ArtBizBlog.com). There is a great post, Avoid Art Career Overwhelm, which announces that creativity coach, Eric Maisel, will be with Alyson in a free, 30-minute teleseminar next Wednesday, June 6. He is going to talk about his solutions for dealing with the feelings of Flowers XIV 2007-05-29 20:50:16 Today Neda of Papiers Collés wrote in yesterday’s post, “Diane, how about you have ANOTHER blog and you take people like me step-by-step through all this? I bet there are many of us in our 40’s and 50’s who really want to know more but are paralyzed the sheer amount of technical info? You can do it!!! Pleaaase!”
Flowers
XIV, Digital © Diane Clancy
I am not going to start another blog, but I would like to keep writing about technical stuff as I learn it. Perhaps it will help someone else out. If people would like me to, I can certainly either share info as I learn it, answer questions to the best of my ability, or I could every several days dedicate a post to another piece of setting up a blog.
I have several friends who are planning on starting blogs soon. That could be one way of documenting the process in a way that might be helpful to more people. If I tag the information well, then someone can come along and use this as a resource - hopefully in relat Bucky in Butterflies 2007-06-03 19:35:19 Another day with the computer here … As you know, shortly I will be setting up blogs for a couple of friends. So I have to know what I am doing and what the choices are. Toady I set a blog up at WordPress - they are hosting it. The address is dianeclancy.wordpress.com and the other new one is dianeclancy.blogspot.com (yesterday’s work.)
Bucky
in Butterflies, Digital © Diane Clancy
It has actually been quite fun seeing the differences among the 3 choices. On this WordPress blog, that I host on my site, I can make lots of adaptations very easily because I can get right in to the guts of the code and tweak things to my heart’s content.
But on the Blogger blog, there are drop and drag templates that are quite simple to use. They have a lot of flexibility and you don’t need to know html to use this site. - (You don’t need to know html to host WordPress on your own site either - I want to make that clear.) - But I was frustrated at various times when I trie Flowers III 2007-06-02 19:28:57 This is going to be a little of this and a little of that. Yesterday my business cards for the design business came and I love them! Thank you for all the help from you, the readers and commenters. I am still working on the business cards for the art business. … I love these blue peacocks!
Flowers
III, Digital © Diane Clancy
At the moment my new blog is called Diane Clancy Art. I had run into a problem looking for me (Diane Clancy) on Blog Flux and Blog Top Sites, which recently merged. I signed up and then looked and looked for “Diane Clancy.” I figure looking for my own name I have a prayer of a chance of being on the top page.
But I never did find anything for Diane Clancy. So I started looking for key words I had put in - like “quilting.” My blog came right up for that. Then I realized that because my blog name is “Diane Clancy’s Art,” with an “’s” at the end of Clancy, it wasn’t showing up for Cl Flowers IX 2007-06-01 21:41:47 After 3 days of catching up on organizing, I am ready to come back to the real world - computers … enough of sorting through and deciding where things go. That is hard enough on a computer - never mind the offline world. (Mostly joking). But I did go try something new on the web tonight …
Flowers
IX, Digital © Diane Clancy
Because Neda of Papiers Collés asked me to write about setting up a blog (even though her blog already showcases her incredible collages), I decided I should go look at Blogger. So I did.
The result may be seen at Diane Clancy Blog (http://dianeclancy.blogspot.com) (as opposed to Diane Clancy’s Blog). I had been curious anyway what Blogger was like. I started blogging with WordPress and have been very happy with it. (Now I want a little of each - the story of my life). It all started when I wanted to have an image for myself when I comment on the Blogger posts … since most of the other artists do. I hadn’t realized that I co Animals II 2007-06-06 21:32:12 Good news on the painting front! I finished the pastel image that I have been working on … “Reflections in Blue IV.” No - this is not that image - it still needs to be photographed before I can show you. I have only posted Reflections in Blue I, if you would like to see the first painting in the series. Once I get the painting photographed, I will show them fairly close together so you can enjoy them.
Animals
II, Digital © Diane Clancy
I didn’t get any feedback on my question about the different WordPress looks for blogs … yesterday’s post has the details if you would like to check it out.
I also want to remind you of Chris O’Byrne’s request for feedback - with the offer of a free book for anyone who responds. Details can be found in this post.
A few days ago, Alyson Stanfield featured one of my images and also some of my information on her blog. Pretty exciting! Going to keep it short tonight … thank you for stopping by!
Flowers V 2007-06-05 20:13:34 I am curious whether you prefer the look of my WordPress hosted blog Diane Clancy or the look of this blog right here. I suppose they both look pretty nice, but I am lucky enough that several of you come and read and comment most days. So, I would like to know your input. I can’t do some of the fun whistles and bells on the other blog - and, obviously, I do like those extras!
Flowers
V, Digital © Diane Clancy
Switching blogs here, I like the clean bright look of the Blogger blog I started the other day - Diane Clancy Art. At the moment I have put my Esty shop on the sidebar. I like seeing the bright colorful images there! Between the banner, the Etsy shop, and the painting in the post, I love the look. I sort of hate to post anything else because it looks so pretty - to me, at least.
Yesterday, I added more complete search capabilities to this blog (this one here). It now searches tags, comments, everything - not only the posts. So if you want to look at an old post and ca Winterberry in Flowers 2007-06-04 21:07:15 Tonight I have an incredible offer for you that I don’t think you will be able to resist! Chris O’Byrne writes “I am writing a book that will answer all of your questions and everyone that adds their question in the comments below will receive a free copy when it is available later this summer.” The first part of the comment is below - but first I wanted to catch your attention - a free book!
Winterberry in Flowers
, Digital © Diane Clancy
Chris starts, “What is the number one most pressing problem or need you have related to selling your art online?” This post is What Do You Want to Know about Selling Your Art Online? He is letting us know that anyone who contributes a question will get a free book when it is available. So, let’s put on our thinking caps and go make comments!
I know I have a lot of questions and I bet a lot of you do too. By the way, while you are there, you may want to check out the rest of his blog Online Arts Market Flower Essence II 2007-06-09 23:18:37 I also want to figure out how to share in a particular personal way that Neda at Papiers Collés excels at. I truly enjoy reading how she shares her soul. Not every day, not every post, but I feel she brings in the personal in a very special way (and so do some of the other bloggers I read too - like Sue O’Kieffe at Sacred Circles Mandalas.)
Flower Essence
II, Digital © Diane Clancy
I read a post - right at the beginning of my short blogging life - that talked about how this person’s favorites blogs were the ones who combined information, techniques, thoughts and the personal - blended in a way that is interesting (I have no idea where I read that.) I guess I had that idea in my mind. Also, I see which blogs I enjoy reading the most and strive to do similar writing here.
This is a follow-up to yesterday’s post about whether to start naming my posts based on content rather than image… But then again, often in comments, I (or someone else) have written quit Flower Essence I 2007-06-08 15:19:01 This is the second in a set of 4 - they should probably be a video - to have them progress from one to another … that is on the mythical list that I probably need 5 lifetimes to complete. But, I have another question for you … again …
Flower Essence
I, Digital © Diane Clancy
I am reconsidering my initial way of organizing this blog. I started out making the names of the posts the names of the painting I was sharing with you. Seemed reasonable to me. But then sometimes I have talked about a certain topic and then it is not so easy to find the post again. So I am thinking, perhaps I should (from now on end) start naming the posts more related to the content rather than the image.
At the beginning the names and content weren’t as different, because I shared a lot of info about techniques that I use to create images … but now that is rarer. And people have been asking me questions about how to do this and that - and I love that! So I am being drawn in
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