Some more things up for auction

A few more art up for auction.

Art Sale!

I am having a BIG sale on a lot of originals art over the next week, as I try to raise money to attended the annual conference for the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in LA. Bid early and often and help send this starving artist to the conference! Here are a few of the items already up for sale. You can view all items for sale here.

Starting at $25

Ebay fee increase bad for artist

Well last week eBay announced some changes in fees and feedback. The new fees mean an increase for most sellers in the amount that eBay takes from each auction. Additionally, sellers will no longer be able to leave feedback for buyers. Here is an example of how the fee increase will look (borrowed from Ebay Morons Galore!)

Item starting at $9.99, ends at $17:

CURRENT FEES:

listing fee: .40
gallery: .35
FVF: .89

total: $1.64

FUTURE FEES:

listing fee: .35
gallery: free
FVF: 1.49

total: $1.84

Difference: $.20

eBay is becoming less and less friendly for self-represented artists, who are supporting themselves with their art. This confirms that my decision to move to Etsy as a wise one, and I don't think I will be going back. Etsy is only one of many other online sales sites seeing an increase in new members since eBay made their announcement. Online Auctions is another auction format site that has been welcoming former eBayers with open arms. They even graciously created a category specifically for OOAK dolls.

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know how are eBay's new fees going to effect you. Will you be sticking with eBay, or looking for a new home?

There will be a worldwide boycott of eBay starting Feb 18-25th. Click here for more information.

Art for Sale on etsy

You may, or may not, have noticed some new additions to my art for sale through Etsy. I have decided to give Etsy a real try this year. So far my sales through this lovely auction site have been half hearted. But I see a lot of potential in it, and I haven't been getting as many sales as I would like through Ebay lately. So for the next several months, I will be pouring a lot of effort into my Etsy store. And as soon as I get the ink for my printer, I will be offering prints there as well.

New Auction: Golden Princess

The original 8 x 10 painting "Golden Princess" is up for auction, starting bid $45.00, 5 day auction.

Ebay + Paypal fee calculator

I thought I would post this neat tool I found today, Ebay Calculator. Its a calculator that will let you know how much your ebay fees will be, as well as your paypal fees, and show your profit. Very hand when listing products for sale from your others shops.

http://www.ebcalc.com/

Auction

My night elf original painting is up for auction! $25 starting bid.

New ACEO for fall

"Autumn Moon Dance"

This fairy is dancing under the autumn moon.
View auction

And this fairy princess is relisted....
Auction

Two new auctions

A new ACEO up for auction...in plenty of time for Fall. "Pumpkin Thief" View auction.

And Waiting is up for auction as well. Both 5 days. Shoot...should have staggered them a bit. Oh well. View auction.

Just when I needed some encouragment...

...Josie comes along. Yay for good feedback! *hugs Josie* I needed that.

Trying not to get discouraged

So the last 5 of my auction ended without any bids. Very discouraging after the first 4 ACEO sold with no problems. I'm trying not to let it discourage me, but I can't help but wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Its hard to keep plugging away, but I won't let myself just quit because persistent is the key to anything. So I will keep painting, and keep trying to sell.

This weekend I'm cleaning out my old bedroom at my mom's house, in anticipation of her selling her house. Its very weird to find stashes of old notes from my girl friends written in 7 grade, and broken trinkets and treasures that I used to hoard as precious objects. Now, they go into the give away box or trash with no hesitation. Funny how ten years can go by so fast.

Oh, and I turn a whole 25 years old today. :) Happpy birthday to me!

New Auction

A new ACEO up. View Auction And I've opened a new Etsy shop, to keep some of my stuff up for sale: http://stringfellowart.etsy.com

Auctions for this week

Here are the ACEO's and Originals up for auction this week:


And an original 5 x 7 painting:

ACEO Summoning

A elf princess summons the fairies with her magical rod.

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayIS...:IT&ih=019

Fairy ACEO

Another one, 5 days, $5.00 starting bid, Free Shipping End time: Aug-11-07 16:53:56 PDT
View Auction

ACEO Constellation Mermaid

Starting bid: US $5.00
End time: Aug-10-07 09:56:56 PDT
Shipping costs: FREE

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290146654524&category=151719

ACEO Nightlights

A new ACEO, on black cardstock, and colored pencils. $5.00 starting bid, free shipping!
Ends: Aug-07-07 13:18:50 PDT
View auction!

New ACEO for auction

Color pencils 2.5 x 3.5"
5 day auction, $5.00 starting bid.

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayIS...0145420992

More goodies on ebay

I am pleasantly surprised again today, while browsing through the OOAK Dolls>fairies (etc) category. More unique dolls are coming up for auction, and to my delight, selling. Here are some examples:

Grumpy-Chick-Studio
#32 "The Royal Pain"
Artist Sheri Lewis

Sheri's Grumpy Chick have been popping up on ebay for a while now, and are just delightful, hilarious, and grumpy all at the same time.

Click here to view auction

Walker
StudioWillich
Artist Jill Willich

It is great to see a new creation by Jill Willich. Her work always inspires me, and she is dear to my heart, since her tutorials are what brought into the world of doll making.

Click here to view auction

Avarona Milkweed
Artist Coppermouse
A one-of-a-kind 26 inch hand-sculpted paperclay and cloth doll.

I just love this dolls. I have not seen any of this artist work until this lovely fairy, and I delightfully browsed through her blog as some of her past work. Check it out!

Click here to view auction.

Two months until NIADA

Well, its two months until The NIADA doll conference in Detroit. For those of you who don't know, I will be heading out there, and taking a doll or two with me to be critiqued one on one by a NIADA artist. I'm a little stressed about it all, because I have so much on my plate right now. We are moving into our new condo June 9th, so from now until then will be packing, packing, and more packing. I have a book cover to paint, and a few commissions to take care of. And then will begin the UNpacking process. I'm a little worried that I won't have the energy/inspiration to complete a few masterpieces to take with me. I'm sure I will, but I will be spread a little thin between now and then. Nothing new I guess.

On an unrelated note, I just decided to commit to making at least one new post per week, good quality posts that contribute some how to society. Maybe not YOUR society, but mine at least. So on that note, time for some Megan Musing...

The other day, I was participating in a discussion on OOAKGuild about creating art. More specifically, struggling with the pressure to create art that is popular, and is "right" for the market. Often we fall into the trap of conforming to what we perceive as the "market" norm. I think this is easy to do on Ebay especially.

One of a kind fairies dolls have been popular on Ebay for years. They sell well, but it is a very narrow field: beautiful fairies and mermaid females, 6-8 inches tall. So the pressure is there to make artist dolls that fit into that category, because, heck, we all need money. But I think we're starting to see a shift in the market (and by the "market" I'm specifically speaking of Ebay). Artists are branching out more, getting back to listening to their muses. Of course, this means broadening the collectors horizons, bringing them out of their comfort zone and introducing them to the whole world of artist/character dolls. And why is this happening? Because the darning faithful few keep listening to true voice of their muse, and paved the way of others to follow.

Time will only tell if there really is a market on Ebay for the "unpretties" artist dolls on Ebay. I believe there will be. But we shall see.