Sell Your Artwork: Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is on your jury?
• Our jury is comprised of members of the Artful Home merchandising department and is always led by Michael Monroe, who is currently Executive Director and Chief Curator for the Bellevue Arts Museum in Washington. From 1974 to 1995, Monroe curated the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, the nation’s most prestigious venue for twentieth-century American craft.
• What criteria does your jury use?
• When jurying artwork for inclusion to Artful Home, our panel uses the following five criteria:
• The work must not be copies or knock-offs of another artist’s work.
• The work must show evidence of the artist’s/designer’s vision and Concept.
• The work must be made by the artist in the United States or Canada, or designed by the artist and crafted in the United States or Canada.
• The work must exhibit a high quality of technique or craftsmanship.
• The work must be from a consistent body of work.
• Once my work is juried onto artfulhome.com, may I add any piece of work that I choose? Is there a limit to the number of pieces that I can show?
• Once you are accepted by Artful Home, you can submit new work to the site without having to pay the $35 jury fee. Our merchandisers review all new artwork and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions, but there is no limit to the number of pieces you may show on the Artful Home website.
• What is the membership fee? What does the fee cover?
• Artful Home charges a one-time membership fee of $300 to help offset the costs of getting an artist live on the site. You may also choose to pay this membership as $25/month for a one year period.
  • You will have your own Artist Profile page on artfulhome.com, showing your artist statement, resume of achievements and awards, and an unlimited number of works.
  • We will immediately begin marketing you and your work through our Paid Search Engine Marketing program and our affiliates, at no extra cost to you. (Once you’re on the website, try searching for your work through Google! We think you’ll be happy with the results.)
  • Your work will be searchable from within our site, and will be featured in collections through our online marketing efforts.
• Once you’re part of Artful Home, our merchandisers may also choose your work to be featured in our email marketing, catalogs, on our website homepage and landing pages, and through print publicity materials.
• Does this entitle me to be in the Artful Home catalog?
• All artfulhome.com artists are eligible for catalog participation, but the decision of who is featured in the catalog is left exclusively to our merchandising team. They select artwork based on sales, seasonality, and freshness of look.
  
  Our merchandisers choose artwork only from artfulhome.com, so best way to become part of an Artful Home catalog is to first be part of artfulhome.com.
• How much control will I have over my work?
• A great deal. You will be able to upload your own images, set your own retail prices, deactivate works of art, update your artist’s information, and change your prices whenever you want.
  
  Changes are reviewed by our merchandising staff before going into effect, but we respect our artists’ wishes in how their work is presented.
• How many pieces can I have on my retail page on the site?
• Provided that your work is approved by our merchandisers, you can have an unlimited number of pieces hosted on the Artful Home site. We recommend a minimum of 4-6 works for your retail presence.
• Why should I choose the Artful Home over other art e-commerce web sites?
• Unlike other e-commerce sites, Artful Home supports its artists with direct mail catalogs, email marketing, search engine optimization and paid marketing, and a website that attracts over 1.5 million visitors annually. This year we plan to mail nearly two million catalogs, send out over seven million emails, and spend more than $200,000 marketing your art online via search engines. No other art listing site can compare to that.
• How should I write my Artist Statement and bio?
• Our customers love hearing about you, and to give them the best experience at Artful Home, we ask all of our artists to follow a standard format when writing their Artist Profile Page. The Artist Profile Page can be broken up into six parts, with specific requirements for each.
  
  Artist Quote:
  Your quote is the first thing a customer sees on your Artist Profile Page. You should write a short, poignant quote that you feel represents you and your work. You should write in the first person, with yourself as the subject.
  
  Example: "I focus on good proportions, careful craftsmanship, and practicality as well as beauty in each of my pieces."
  
  Artist Statement:
  Your Artist Statement is the first of three bio paragraphs on your Profile Page. You should write one paragraph, written in the third person, explaining your attitude toward your work. This can be about your inspirations, why you create art, or what fascinates you about your subject matter or medium.
  
  Example: Furniture artist Brad Smith wryly describes his work as "rusticated, post-agricultural contemporary country." He works from his studio on a Pennsylvania farm, incorporating parts and implements from its agrarian heritage. Ax handles, pitchforks, old planks, used farm equipment, all become a part of his unusual furnishings.
  
  Technique:
  For this section, write one paragraph, in the third person, explaining how you make your artwork. Focus on the techniques or materials that set you apart from others in the field. This can include the nuts-and-bolts description of how you actually create your work.
  
  Example: Smith creates his furniture one piece at time using both traditional and modern techniques. His most unusual furniture-making tool is a 100-year-old ax-handle lathe he has refurbished to perform a multitude of tasks.
  
  Training:
  For this section, you should write one paragraph, in the third person, describing your training. This is the last full paragraph of your bio. Focus on the training and education that helped you to develop your current line of work. This can include degrees, workshops, apprenticeships, who you’ve studied with, and/or to what degree you’re self-taught.
  
  Example: Nicholas Kekic is a third generation glassmaker. His grandfather was an industrial glassmaker and his father was a founder of the American studio art glass movement. Within this family environment, Kekic’s appreciation for handmade objects and the process of their creation was nurtured.
  
  Exhibitions & Awards:
  This section is similar to what might be on your artist resume. List the event name, followed by location, then city/state or city/country, and the year. Include exhibitions at museums, art centers, public galleries, and juried art shows. Do not include private gallery exhibitions.
  
  Examples:
  American Craft Council Show, Baltimore, MD, 2005
  Arte Al Aire Libre (Annual Juried Show), Galeria Ulises, San Jose, Costa Rica, 2002-2007
  
  Collections:
  This section is presented similar to your Exhibitions & Awards. Include public institutions, businesses, corporations, etc. Do not include private collections here.
  
  Examples:
  Maurine Littleton Gallery, Washington, D.C.
  Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
• What are professional quality images?
• Beautiful photography is perhaps the most essential ingredient in selling your artwork in an online and catalog marketplace. We recommend that all your artwork is photographed by a professional photographer with experience shooting artwork.
  
  It is important to note that the goal of these photographs should be giving a potential customer the best possible view of your piece. In our experience, highly elaborate settings or busy images distract customers from purchasing a work.
  
  When submitting images, please keep the following guidelines in mind:
  • Images should be JPEGs between 550 and 2000 pixels in their largest dimension.
  • The image must be saved in the RGB color format.
  • The image should be under 2MB in size.
  • Images should not be interpolated, or "upsized", to meet the above requirement.
  • Three-dimensional artwork should be presented against a clean, neutral background suitable for the work (in most cases, a white, black, or gradated background)
  • The artwork should not be photographed against a highly textured background, and should not be shown in an elaborate room setting.
  • Images should not be grainy or contain digital noise.
  • The artwork should be well lit, highlighting its best features, without hard shadows or excessive flash reflections.
  For additional information, please view these resources:
  
  Marketing Dollars Spent on Photography is Well Worth The Money (pdf)
  Finding Photographers (pdf)
  How to Photograph Artwork (pdf)
• What information do you need about my artwork? What is "complete information"?
• Though a beautiful image can sometimes sell a work of art to a customer on its own, a complete, accurate description is often times just as essential. Our customers not only need to know what your work is made out of, but they love hearing how you make your piece as well.
  
  Though the specifics vary from medium to medium, we need to know the following about every work of art from its description:
  • What the piece is made from
  • How large the piece is in any pertinent dimension (height, width, depth, etc.)
  • What techniques the artist used to make the piece
  • The work’s inspiration, or any special information relevant to its creation
  
  Conveying these points is essential to presenting your work to our customers, and this information can only come from you. Beyond these common points, some categories of artwork require more detailed information:
  
  Metal Artwork should explicitly state what metal the work is made from, whether it is oxidized or patinated, and if any special care is required to keep it in its intended condition.
  
  Wood Art should explicitly mention whether it is made from solid wood or veneer. You should also state the species of woods used in the piece.
  
  Fabric Artwork should list all the fabrics that the piece is made from, listed in order of predominance. If a piece is meant to be worn, be very detailed about your sizing information and what sizes are available.
  
  Art Jewelry
  
  Lighting
  
  Paintings
  
  Prints, Drawings, and Photography
• If I am selected for a catalog, do I have to provide a sample and ship it at my expense?
• All photo samples are shipped on the Artful Home UPS account and paid for by the Artful Home. Artful Home does not purchase photo samples; they are returned to the artist.
• If I have difficulty loading images or deactivating work, is there someone to help me at the Artful Home?
• Yes, always. We pride ourselves on being true partner in selling your work. Artful Home has staff available during normal work hours (CST) to assist you, if you incur problems. Call: 877-223-4600 for assistance.
• Can I load a video on my Artist Profile Page showing how I make my artwork?
• Great idea and one we are looking forward to adding to our site soon!
• If I set the price, what do I receive from Artful Home when a work is sold? Am I reimbursed for packing costs?
• Similar to a typical gallery arrangement, we will split the sale with you 50-50. Remember, you have full control in setting the price of your artwork, so be sure to factor in the cost of shipping materials. We provide you with our shipping number, and we also cover the cost of shipping, but you will have to purchase packing materials (such as boxes, bubble wrap, etc.).
  
  If you are shipping a large work that requires crating, we will ask you to list that cost in addition to the cost of your item. We will then send you your 50% plus reimbursement for the entire cost of crating.
• When do I get paid for a work that I have shipped to a customer?
• You will receive your payment approximately 30 days after the ship date.
• What happens if a customer returns my work?
• Artful Home accepts a return for any reason if it is within 14 days of delivery. All returns will be sent to you. If it is damaged during this return process, you should save the packing materials for inspection by the carrier. We insure all our shipments and will reimburse you for your loss if the claim is successful. In any case neither the artist nor Artful Home receives payment for a returned item.
• What happens when a customer orders my work?
• You’ll first receive an email informing you that an order has been placed. Next, you’ll log into the Artist Center to view the order and requested Ship Date. You will then commit to shipping the work, create and package the piece, and print the shipping label using the Artist Center. The shipping cost is automatically charged to Artful Home.
• What is the Studio Sale?
• Studio Sale started as several limited time events for artists to clear inventory from their studios, and offer customers a unique savings opportunity. This event is now held twice a year.
  
  You can choose to add artwork to the Studio Sale at any time, using it as a powerful tool to move artwork from your studio. When adding a Studio Sale item, you can choose to discount it by 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% from its normal sale price.
  
  Artful Home receives a commission of half of the discounted price, not the normal sale price, of the work upon its sale.
  
  At several points throughout the year, Artful Home will have marketing campaigns to promote the Studio Sale, and we encourage you to add new works to the Studio Sale before these events.
  
• What artwork should I add to the Studio Sale?
• We created the Studio Sale to offer artists a great opportunity to move existing work from their studios. In general, we recommend you sell a work through Studio Sale if you have a limited quantity of it immediately available (you must be able to ship the work within a week), and do not intend to create that work again.
  
  We’ve found our artists use many different reasons for choosing to sell a work through Studio Sale, however. For example:
  
  *If you’ve been experimenting in a different medium, or created a work that presents a very different artistic voice, you can test the interest in this new style through Studio Sale.
  
  *If a normally priced work has been selling below your expectations, and you plan on deactivating it from the site, try selling it through Studio Sale first.
  
  *Though Artful Home does not normally sell framed artwork, you may sell an already-framed work through the Studio Sale.
  
  
• Can I place a work of art that I sell at regular price through Artful Home in the Studio Sale?
• You may discount any work you already sell through Artful Home through the Studio Sale, but there are several conditions you should be aware of:
  
  * Once placed in the Studio Sale, you WILL NOT be able to remove the item from the Studio Sale except for deactivating the work completely from Artful Home.
  
  * The work will be unable to be part of any other promotion Artful Home runs beside Studio Sale.
  
  * Studio Sale items are never featured in the Artful Home catalog or other print marketing, except in Studio Sale specific marketing material.
  
  These rules are necessary so that we can consistently present a breadth of artwork through Artful Home, and to maintain the effectiveness of our other marketing promotions.