ebay frustration!

I have a pile of new paintings sitting here beside me waiting to be listed on ebay. Yesterday I spent hours and was only able to list one item. Not productive. This morning I wasted more time trying to list one item for the fifth time. It might not be as bad if my paintings were selling for thousands of dollars but they aren't and I depend on volume sales for income. I checked out the user answer page and there are a large number of sellers having the same problems. Ebay has just "upgraded" the listing page and it looks good, now if it would only WORK! It has been locking up my whole system and I have had to reboot numerous times. I was just starting to feel that I was getting somewhere, I had had a number of sales and was pumped to do even more. I guess I will be looking for a more reliable site or just put it all into my Etsy store. Here is the painting that I've tried listing five times at least.

new ATC's

Here are a couple of my new one painting a day ATC's that are on Etsy.

As you can probably tell, I'm crazy about crows and ravens.

New Contest!

Another new contest for me! This one is an EBSQ nibblefest monthly contest. Each month there is a theme, this month it is "doors". On the 20th of the month contestants list an item on ebay for .99. Whoever has the most bids (single bidders only) wins! This is great fun. A good push for creating and a possible large audience. Here is mine.

contest

I belong to the ebay ACEO group. Every month there is a contest with a theme. This is my entry into the April "flowers and showers" category. It might seem to take away time needed to work on other artwork but I find it does help to "organize" thoughts and ideas. Plus it's fun!

frida kahlo

I've finally photographed and uploaded my diptych of Frida Kahlo and her twin skeleton. I did this on two heavily textured canvasses. I used layers of paint and modeling compound to achieve this look.

The other painting that I have just finished is "The Black Shawl". This woman is a little more realistic than the smaller works I have been doing recently but it also has a semi-abstract feel.

I have just listed both of these on ebay.

Van Gogh, Grant Wood and Dali with Crows

Today I decided to list some paintings on ebay and etsy that I do off and on to keep myself busy. (haha) A couple of years ago I began to do my own versions of some of my favorite paintings and add crows or cats to them. These were great fun to do and were very popular. For awhile I couldn't do them fast enough. I have a couple left and I think it's time to do some more. I also do commissions like these. If someone would like to have a version of their own favorite painting with an addition I will do it.

ATC EBSQ

I have been doing one ATC per day for sale on etsy. It was a challenge that a few of us tried and not many are left. I am also doing the one painting per day for ebay as well. A couple of years ago I did one collage per day. Each day I would pull a number out of a small basket and create a collage based on that number. I found it a real challenge to my creativity. With these paintings I am stretching myself even more. I lie awake at night thinkin about what tomorrow's pieces will be. I have also rekindled my love of painting fruit and vegetables.

Another thing I am over the moon about is EBSQ, a group of artists' who sell their work on ebay. I have been a member for a couple of years but am just now taking advantage of the full range of goodies that they provide. I create my auction templates and print certificates of authenticity for my buyers. I also love to interact with the other artists.

favorite website

One wonderful thing about doing art and craft fairs is the people we meet. I have met so many people over the years that have inspired me, entertained me through long hours of "selling" and given me the chance to see the their work. This is the website of one of these people. www.andreataylor.ca

Here are a couple of my latest paintings. These small works are great displayed on their own or in sets of four.

Junoesque women

Here are the women I have been working on this week.

This is tulip time here in the Northwest. Every year I am amazed anew at the vibrant fields of color.

favorite etsy artist

I just have to put this wonderful etsy artist here for everyone to see.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=38394
Her work just amazes me.

New work

I guess it might be a good idea to post my new art pieces here to make this more interesting.

I have been working on a series of women friends for a couple of years. I like to use the pure color right from the tube for these. This one is called "Gin and Lemonade". The two women are playing gin rummy and drinking lemonade, not sure if there is gin in it or not! The lime green of the tablecloth is a color I obsessed over about a month ago. I just HAD to have lime green. By the time I found just the right color I couldn't remember just why I wanted it so this is the first time I've used it. I do love it, though. I have this listed on ebay right now.

I am also doing two series of "one painting a day". One for ebay and another set of ATC's for etsy. I started them five days before finding out my husband had been scheduled for surgery on his leg. So now I'm running up and down stairs, making trips (on foot) to the drug store, giving him a daily injection, oooh, and drawing, painting and listing two different sets of paintings. Well, the more you do the more you can do I keep hearing. Now to see if it's true!