Thank you for purchasing LETTER PERFECT, the easy way to remind your collectors of the value of your art. Just... 1. Enter your own text into the appropriate capitalized elements. 2. Copy and paste the following into your email document. ---------------------------------------------------------- Dear Collector, Thank you for requesting... 10 TIPS ON BUYING GREAT ART ONLINE Buying art online is a growing trend despite problems like variable onscreen image reproduction, verifiable dealers and artists, and determining true value. Still, a large number of collectors are entering the market this way. Whether you wish to enlarge an existing collection or are new to the fine art field, there are ways to minimize the pitfalls involved. 1. FOLLOW YOUR HEART. This is a time-tested maxim. Few, no matter how experienced, can predict future increases in the value of an artwork. Preferences change and what was wildly collected a quarter-century ago may be less valuable if it is put on the market now. Web sites tout the glories of this or that, but your educated intuition and preferences are more reliable. Many famous collections stand on their own as a reflection of the interests and taste of the collector, not the specific artists represented. Make your collection YOURS and you will achieve maximum gratification. 2. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BUYING. Be sure you understand the medium or the method of reproduction used. Certainly, know whether the work is an original or a reproduction. Even paintings that look original may simply be “enhanced” prints on canvas where areas are painted with thick paint to give the appearance of an original. If the work is a print, know whether it is a limited edition lithograph, poster, or giclee. Ask about its permanence. Were archival materials used? For sculptures, investigate the medium. If it is one conducive to multiples like bronze, ask about the number cast. 3. KNOW FROM WHOM YOU ARE BUYING. Is this web site or listing of a dealer, gallery, artist’s representative, artist directory, or the artist himself? Dealers and galleries take work on consignment from living artists or current owners of the artwork. Occasionally, they buy work directly from the artist or owner. Representatives and artist directories usually get a percentage of the selling price. Ask the agent how long he has been in business, since longevity is a measure of his ability to honor his commitments. Buying directly from the artist may be preferable, in that it allows you to establish a personal relationship with him or her. It may surprise you, but artists relish this. It has been one of the major benefits of selling on the internet for artists. Not only is it more fulfilling for them, it can fuel their future work and tell artists whether they have achieved the true goal of fine art… communication of their ideas. 4. RESEARCH THE ARTIST. Whether you find the work that interests you on the net through ads, auctions, or web sites, you should learn as much as you can about that artist. Read his resume or biography. To which professional groups has he been elected? Has he won awards? Has he shown locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally? What other sites show his work or list him? Use online registries and other sources. 5. CHECK THE SELLER'S REFERENCES. Any cross-reference that verifies that a seller is a legitimate and reputable businessperson is necessary. Auctions like eBay have the advantage because of the feedback system. If a seller, whether an artist or a dealer, has many sales with little or no negative feedback, you can expect to be treated professionally and honestly. With other methods of purchase, verify phone numbers, addresses, call the Better Business Bureau, look for endorsements from companies that verify businesses, and so on. 6. SET YOUR MONITOR FOR MAXIMUM COLOR. Many variables make viewing artwork on the internet and online imaging difficult. The seller cannot control the brightness or contrast settings on your screen. Sometimes a color that is a lovely coral was shown as bright orange on a different monitor. You will come closer to a true reproduction if your settings are maximized. Still, the artwork may not look like what you expected. That leads to our next tip…. 7. IS THE SALE GUARANTEED? The unavoidable and undeniable problems with color reproduction and visualization of artworks in the online forum make it appropriate that you demand a “satisfaction guaranteed” commitment. It’s very hard to fully visualize a 36” x 48” painting from even the largest image online. The customary policy calls for the buyer to pay for all shipping, but you should be able to get a full refund for the price of the artwork if it does not prove to be as described or does not meet your expectations. Most reputable dealers and artists willingly offer this guarantee. 8. BE WILLING TO PAY A FAIR PRICE FOR QUALITY ARTWORK. The online market and auction formats, which often offer secondhand or clearance items, have produced expectations that cannot always be met. Internet marketing experts advise sellers NOT to sell something they produce if they expect a decent return. Picking up an item at a garage sale, shining it up, and reselling it for three times the purchase price is much more profitable. This is especially true for auctions. However, an artist selling on auctions or online is producing a new, unique product. He must invest years of experience, miles of canvas, and a lot of computer time to bring his “product” to you. 9. ASK FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. This is a guarantee from the seller that the work is an original work by the artist named. If you are buying from an artist who created the work, this is a simple matter. However, if you are buying from a dealer, gallery, or artist’s representative, he must provide clear documentation attesting that the work is authentic. An appraisal from a certified fine art appraiser is even better, though it might add cost. 10. BE SURE THE SELLER USES A PROFESSIONAL SHIPPER. After investing the time and effort into finding and verifying all the facts about your artwork, a safe delivery is a must. Most shipping companies - Federal Express, UPS, etc. - set higher requirements for the packing and the claims process for fine art. Be sure that the seller uses a company thoroughly familiar with these rules. Also, be sure the shipper uses one that allows tracking and that the seller fully insures the piece. By following these tips, you can enter the fine art market online with confidence. Look forward to the many rewards provided by owning a unique, one-of-a-kind piece of original artwork. Copywrite: www.susanfgreaves.com Best regards, ENTER YOUR SIGNATURE AND LINKS TO YOUR WEBSITE, AUCTIONS, BLOG, ETC. ---------------------------------------------------------- Dear Collector, It’s true. You can afford original fine art by recognized artists. Many collectors are making direct purchases from artists' websites and online auctions. Perhaps you should consider this option, too. ENTER 2 OR 3 PARAGRAPHS ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WORK Whether you are ready to add to an existing collection or want to purchase a piece to start a collection, you will get value, quality, archival materials, and the pleasure of owning a one- of-a-kind piece by an artist recognized by his peers. All that AND a beautiful painting to fill your heart! Please return regularly to my web site and enjoy the art there. Also, to visit my listings on eBay for GREAT BUYS, go to: ENTER YOUR WEBSITE URL AND/OR THE LINK TO YOUR EBAY AUCTIONS Mention this letter when you buy a piece from the website or eBay listing and get 10% off! Best regards, ENTER YOUR SIGNATURE AND LINKS TO YOUR WEBSITE, AUCTIONS, BLOG, ETC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Collector, Who needs art? The truth is no one. What would life be like without art? Clearly, less than otherwise. As wonderful as that summer sunset was, can you picture it clearly in your mind and recall all its nuances? How often would you stop to think of the colors reflected in a lake or the shimmer of leaves as breezes play through them? Do you remember the glow of a backlit flower? Does a photograph of your grandfather really tell of the humor in his eye or the character in his backbone? I (ENTER YOUR ARTWORK ACTIVITY...paint, sculpt, etc.) and I hope to add to YOUR life in ways such as that. Please visit my web site and enjoy the paintings there. Mention this letter when you buy a piece and get 10% off! There’s no risk. All sales are guaranteed. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, return it! Best regards, ENTER YOUR SIGNATURE AND LINKS TO YOUR WEBSITE, AUCTIONS, BLOG, ETC. --------------------------------------------------- Dear Collector, Have you given any thought to how art fits into your home? Consider these: Hang an oil painting in your bedroom and awaken to the glow of light in a forest. Put a landscape in your living room and enjoy the sweep of unbroken sky. Place a small still life by a desk or other intimate corner and be reminded of the delight of reflected light. Hang a portrait and address the mystery of human nature. Locate a floral painting in the dining room and enjoy romance that lets you almost smell the fragrance of glowing blooms. Encounter an image in your hallway and glimpse a moment in time in a café scene. Need I go on? Please visit my web site and enjoy the art there. Mention this letter when you buy a piece from the Sales Gallery and get 10% off! There’s no risk. All sales are guaranteed. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, return it! Best regards, ENTER YOUR SIGNATURE AND LINKS TO YOUR WEBSITE, AUCTIONS, BLOG, ETC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Art Patron, What is… Lovely as a sunrise? Colorful as a blanket of wildflowers? Treasured as your sweetheart’s smile? More lasting than your china pattern? Impressive as next year’s luxury car (and lasts longer, too)? Uplifting as a child’s giggle? Answer: ENTER YOUR MEDUIM Please visit my web site and enjoy the art there. More paintings are added to the galleries regularly. Mention this letter when you buy a piece from the Sales Gallery and get 10% off! There’s no risk. All sales are guaranteed. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, return it! Best regards, ENTER YOUR SIGNATURE AND LINKS TO YOUR WEBSITE, AUCTIONS, BLOG, ETC. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------