Changing with the Times ~ Developing our website!
These are exciting times in the art world! There is a paradigm shift going on that offers more opportunity for an artist to introduce his/her work to many more people than ever before. Now an artist can showcase their work to the world through their website and not just through a gallery!
Website homepage
As an artist I am very lucky to have my wife Jen helping me with our website. She has become quite proficient as my “webmaster”. We recently restructured our website to become more user and customer friendly. A viewer can more easily determine which paintings are for sale and which are sold. They can also see the asking price, which saves the frustration of having to contact the artist via email. We have also incorporated e-commerce for all available works from prints to originals! The luxury of staying home, shopping online and paying effortlessly with a credit card appeals to a growing number of art collectors.
Trends in the art world show that many more people are buying art online. Statistics from the Hiscox and ArtTactic survey shows the following:
• 71% of art collectors have now bought online
• The younger generation is more likely to buy than the older
• 55% of people 65 and older have bought art online, sight unseen
• A high percentage of the online art sales are under $15,000, but a growing number of sales are higher, indicating the growing confidence of buyers online.
Obviously, confidence in the seller/artist is important. On our website, I’ve included backstories on each painting to help explain techniques, tell a story, or explain the thought process behind each painting. I want people who are drawn to a particular piece to feel they know it intimately.
Fortunately we’ve already experienced success selling both prints and originals through our website. One very positive experience was having an international corporation discover my work through an online search for maritime art. They hadn’t seen my work in person or met me before, but felt comfortable enough to commission me to paint a rather sizable maritime painting for them.
It is a very encouraging sign that an artist can become much more self-sufficient in this tough and competitive art world!
Still, few gallery and artists’ websites are set up with e-commerce capability. We’re excited to be a little ahead of the curve, now offering our customers/collectors the ability to buy directly and securely with their credit card. We also offer 100% customer satisfaction and the ability to return a painting within a limited time frame if not totally satisfied.
Thank you as always for being interested in my art. I hope that if you are inclined to peruse our newly reformatted website that you will find it an enjoyable experience!
We’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment below. Thanks again!
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion...”
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Drawing by William R. Beebe