Selling art on etsy?

Question

I want to start selling my art on Etsy. I paint with oil and acrylic on canvas. I do not know how to go about producing and selling other then painting and posting it with a price. i guess my questions are....

how do i price them?

how can I make copies of a canvas painting without having to repaint on a separate blank canvas?

is there a website or app that i can use to have other artist Critique my art and receive opinions?

what s the best way to treat a painting when its dry? i have been using the spray can finishers but that seems too simple or is that okay?

and how do i describe my art style?

and if there is any other advise or info you would like to share im open let me know =]

Answer 1

I recently have listed some commission portraits on there, but yet to have any interest in it. I found it a very confusing process too! I had a look at some other peoples profiles and took a look at how they set theres up and tried to learn from it. It depends on your style whether it's your own orginal art or commissions you are doing, where people tell you what they want. To get prints you take a high quality picture of the painting and you can take it an photo shop like Kodak or Jessops and they will print it onto high quality gloss paper, or whatever you choose. A lot of artists do this to keep selling on the work even when the original has gone. I know you can have things printed onto canvas but I'm not sure how a painting would look printed on like that, i suppose that's an enquiry you would have to make.

Answer 2

Take your work to a printer's, one who prints onto canvas. If you sell the original, you must make it clear to the buyer that you are having prints made of it…………..it is worth more as a one off painting but if it's popular and you sell prints you may make more in the long term.



Take photographs of all your work, print them and put them in an envelope and address it and post it to yourself. Do not open it when it arrives. This is your copyright, keep it somewhere safe. If you find someone has copied your work you can take the envelope and contents to a solicitor. The date stamp on the sealed envelope is evidence of when you created the work.



I know nothing about etsy but If I was going to sell my work on line, I would have my own website, it is more professional.

Answer 3

I don't have the answers to your questions...but I have a few suggestions. I would consider going to a local art guild or search for an artist forum in your community not just online. In my small town there is an art gallery run by artists, nothing fancy or uber expensive-just a gallery. They are a cooperative of artists. There may be something similar in your town. I would start there...you don't want to start putting your artwork online until your images are properly protected (legally) and also artists like that are usually well experienced. You could also start by asking a few art teachers in your local schools. One thing I have noticed is artists like meeting other artists. Not to become long life friends or to compete with each other but I think there are more non-artists than artists. Trust me I have nothing against art online...it's almost a 'must-do', BUT don't forget there are other sources of information too. You might just meet someone who can answer all your questions. Anyway, good luck!