Selling Art on Ebay for Beginners

Selling Art on Ebay for Beginners

 I've been an artist all my life and dabbing with selling online throughout the past decade. I have tried many different online platforms but Ebay has been my favorite place to sell so far. I will give you the information I have accumulated through trial and error to save you some time. But remember my tips may not apply to you since we are all unique and different artists. You are welcome to view some of my art here. If your art compares to mine then you may have similar selling results. 

What Sells Best

-Abstract Paintings

-Commission Portraits

Surreal Painting by artist: Amy Prendergast

-Surreal Paintings

Abstract Original artist: Amy Prendergast Copyright 2015 

Pet Portrait by artist; Amy Prendergast

What doesn't Sell so Often

-Drawings (other than commissioned portraits)

-Landscape Paintings

-Figure Paintings

Charcoal Drawing by Artist Amy Prendergast

Landscape Painting by Artist Amy Prendergast

Figure Painting by Artist; Amy Prendergast


Why does some Art Sell Better?

As far as subject and style goes here's my take. Some pieces don't sell as well as others because there is VAST competition and most pieces listed in those categories don't stand out. There are too many "look a Likes".
Let's take Landscapes for example. I absolutely LOVE to paint landscapes! Maybe you do too? I think most beginner painters do lots of landscapes. The beauty of the world is everywhere. You clearly see that on Ebay by clicking on Landscape Paintings. Just when I added this link there were 15,529 listed and that's only in Direct from the Artist selling! I'm not knocking anyone's landscape paintings. I love to paint them, I love to look at other artists landscapes paintings also. You may get lucky and sell some landscape paintings. I have sold some but not a lot. I did recently sell this painting...  

Ocean Wave painting by artist Amy Prendergast

I took a different approach to a landscape painting and narrowed in on the wave in-particular instead of painting the entire ocean with the beach etc. This was still pleasurable for me to paint but it gave a different "spin" on the subject matter. Think outside of the box when creating a piece to sell on Ebay.
Abstracts have sold the best for me on Ebay although they haven't been my favorite subject they still have made the most sales. My thoughts on why this is, it's different. An abstract is like no other. Even though the Abstract listings seem to even have MORE competition then listing in the landscape section it's still one of a kind, unique.

Leave me a comment. I would love to answer any questions you have:)

WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT VANGOGH?

 What's so great about Vangoh? In my opinion a lot! There are so many aspects of who he was I find amazing but to sum it up simply I would say; Vincent Vangogh was socially awkward, in turn, made him a deep thinker. He harnessed what he learned about life and showed others through his artwork. He was a non conformist.

WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT HIS PAINTINGS?
  He painted like no other from his time. He chose subject, that to most artists, didn't matter. He let us "see" what he "saw" and how he felt about the world. He found beauty and meaning in simple things, or I should say, things we take for granted or just pass by.
 His technique was bold and strong. Vincent had confidence in his paintings with how he used brush strokes, placed subjects, used perspective and color. But most of all Vincent Vangogh could "see" like the true artist he was and capture that on canvas. When his brother asked him how he painted something he said "I look at it until it becomes a dream, then I paint".
 Vincent Vangogh most prominent technique was the way his used his brush strokes to immolate movement. You can see this clearly in his painting titled "Starry Night".

HOW DID HE LEARN HOW TO PAINT?
 Vincent was a self taught artist. He was very intelligent and gathered lots of information. During the years he vigorously used his talent, he would stay up all night working on art. He only slept an hr here & there when he physically couldn't keep his eyes open.
 He said to his brother Theo once "One must learn how to draw well before using color". And that he did. He drew continuously for 2 years almost daily for hrs on end before he ever began to paint.  
 Once he mastered drawing, he first painted with watercolor before moving on to oils. He did lots of still lives and Plein Air painting, using a view finder to help with perspective. His still life work subjects were mostly of flowers, plants and his shoes. He eventually incorporated painting models from life.
 Vincent read lots of books on painting, studied and collected prints from famous artists and painted with fellow artists when his personality would allow. When in the company of other artists they would discuss painting on end bouncing ideas off each other.

My INTERPRETATION of a Great Master
Vincent Vangogh

Van gogh Reproduction

My interpretation of Starry Night. Now I have a deeper understanding of Vincent van Gogh. Extremely difficult to paint motion this way! Hope I don't cut off my ear any time soon.

Starry Night, Reproduction of a Vincent van Gogh, by artist Amy Prendergast

 Why I Painted This Masterpiece
  I feel the master artists are famous for a reason. They all have different techniques and style. I wanted to get inside the minds of some to understand more about their creations. There's a vast array of famous painters to choose from so I zoned in on a few of my favorites. I love Vincent Van Gogh's work. He was a true genius. Starry night is probably the most famous piece of art he ever created, along with "Sunflowers". I myself am drawn to "Starry Night" because of the mood and colors but mostly the movement in this painting. I wanted to replicate this work to understand where he put brushstrokes and how he placed them. Also the placement of Van Goghs subject matter is interesting to me. I would be thrilled to sit down, talk to Vincent himself and take a painting lesson from him:) Since that's not possible the next best thing was to recreate one of his famous pieces of art.

Reproduction Turner

My interpretation of a Turner painting "The Fighting Tameraine"

Artist of the Month Jul/Aug

Last night I won Artist of the Month through LRAA for this painting I titled "Wave". It will be on display at the Laconia Library from today until Aug 17th:)

People's Choice Award

I won the People's Choice Award for my painting titled My Zen in the LRAA 75th Annual Exhibit! I would like to thank everyone whom voted for me. The competition was large, I feel blessed:) All art pieces will be on display till Aug 2nd at Vynn Art Gallery in Meredith.

LRAA Exhibit

Emily, by artist Amy Prendergast. Copyright 2015

View these two pieces by artist Amy Prendergast at Vynn Art Gallery for the LRAA Exhibit.
The Exhibit runs July 17th through August 2nd 2015.
This is the Lakes Region Art Associations 75th anniversary! There are 310 + paintings to view by members of the Art Association.
Peoples choice voting will run through the 19th.
Vynn Art Gallery is located at 30 Main St in Meredith NH (behind Mills Falls) beautiful tourist area:)

My Zen, painted by artist Amy Prendergast. Copyright 2015

 

Summer Fun

Just completed painting #36 titled Summer Fun. Inspired by my niece Brooke Rollins who let me take over 100 pics of her swimming in the pool at a house party this past weekend. Ty Brookie:) You're a great swimmer and beautiful model

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Northway Bank Display

View EASTER painting by artist Amy Prendergast, on display at Northway bank in Belmont NH until July 20th 2015. Prendergast won artist of the month for this piece through LRAA. Size 16x20 canvas in acrylic medium.

Display 2015

 View 3 original paintings by artist Amy Prendergast on display now until June 14th 2015, at Meredith Village Savings Bank in Laconia NH on So. Main St.