Wow! Excellent detail and analysis. I have some experience with MakersPlace, and do realize that they get their cut when something sells. But I've also had actual paintings in physical galleries, and not only did I have production costs, fuel costs driving the paintings an hour north to the gallery, AND the gallery owner took 50 PERCENT of every sale!!! On the plus side, the gallery had a charismatic owner who succeeded in SELLING the work I brought to her for sometimes TEN TIMES the price that I would get selling the work in my lawn.
I sell paintings off of blankets in my front lawn during the summer months for $10 or $20 each. The gallery sold my paintings for $100 or $200 EACH! (One sold for $300.00 cash. I made half of that price, but my cut was still $150.00 for ONE painting that, on my own, I would have been lucky to get $30 to $50 for!
What I'm getting at is that REPUTATION counts. I love your plan and feel it can succeed, with a substantial effort and focus, because a reputation CAN BE BUILT with some serious HUSTLING!
If we (should I be allowed to play, too) can get interesting artists making interesting art, get chroniclers and storytellers to spread the word about (and the IMAGERY of) the project, and can attack on multiple fronts (Hive, Twitter, Ello, Cent, PublishOx, Instagram, WordPress, Faceboot, Tumblr, Medium...), and use video interviews ABOUT the project, LIVE get-togethers for "openings," record podcasts talking about concepts, art styles, how-tos, history of the medium for outsiders and newbies, etc., to inspire artists, collectors, spectators, journalists, and curiosity seekers to check the project out and, perhaps, join in. (All of this should be FUN, exciting, creativily portrayed, and slanted as a UNIQUE ARTISTIC ENVIRONMENT.)
This is how movements work and grow: Dada, punk, Fluxus, rave culture, and so on...)
Exciting stuff! I enjoy many of these activities and would happily and with great enthusiasm love to extend my services!
Richard,
I've shared this with people, so that they can extrapolate from the information, and develop their own paths.
You need to be responsible for your own work, and making your own projects happen.
I don't need your services -- I am just sharing information so that people can take the information and apply it to their own work, and in doing so, might be able to improve their art careers and business skills.
It sounds like you ought to pursue your relationship with that gallery.
Thanks for saying hello.
Interesting. The gallery closed, so further relationship would be difficult. And, frankly, I am already responsible for my own work and have followed my own career path, but I am also a fan of collaboration and thought I sensed in your presentation of your research the possibility for a community based effort which might have been entertaining to be involved in. If this is not the case, no problem. I have plenty of irons in numerous fires to keep myself busy.
If your gallery went out of business, but a gallery will sell your work for 300, and you only get 30 on your lawn, then I would recommend trying greeting cards to sell in shops, or shop galleries, or children's book publication, or if you're particularly passionate about someone or some project, then I would recommend directing your work toward that thing.
This could be a non-profit charity, or an educational event for children, or mental health support groups.
Thanks for replying.
I'm not interested in collaborating with you right now, and my opinions might not be that useful for you, but they are there if you would to make use of them.