Just Abstract Art blog

I am having a bit of a clear out of my studio to make more space for new works. Recently with my children taking up so much time I have found that although I have created lots of paintings I have not had enough time to also add them to my website or list them on ebay!

I keep thinking “I must photograph that painting today” but never get round to it and find myself painting something new.

I am now in danger of painting my self out of the studio and so have decided to have a sale from now until the end of August and I will try and get as many paintings on ebay as possible. Buy it now paintings will have the “Best Offer” option and all offers will be considered. If a painting does not have a buy it now or best offer option I can add one if you email me about it.

 Here is one of my recent paintings with a buy it now option.

On of my favourite flowers is the ox eye daisy. They are flowering everywhere at the moment, we have them growing in the long grass on the banks in our garden. The butterflies and bees love them and they look really cheery, huge yellow middles and, in the sunshine, almost velvety, sparkly white petals. They look to me like they are smiling!

I enjoy painting these flowers and have just listed one of my recent paintings on eBay.
Click here or the photo to take a look.

Most artists who sell on eBay has at some stage been blatantly copied by another artist or find that other artists have stolen ideas. Sometimes it can look like copying but is just an innocent case of same idea different person, and it is easy to jump to the wrong conclusion. What if the copying is a bit more than just copying paintings………………

As I mentioned in a previous post ( just a couple of days ago ) I have closed my eBay shop but will still running the occasional auction. What happens next - my “eBay stalker” has also closed their shop. Amazing, in one way it is quite amusing that I have literally been copied with my every movement with regards to selling Art over the past 7 years or so but it is also pretty creepy. (and weird!)

Here is part of a post from my old eBay blog ……

“Problems with listing on eBay - you would think that painting for a living and handling the majority of sales your self would lead to a hassle free working life - with no stresses or strains, bitchyness or backstabbing - well not so….

As I mentioned in my previous post my eBay ’stalker’ is back. Well not so much a stalker but a copycat artist who has been an annoyance for, well, years now.

Copycat artists are all to common on eBay. Something that many new artists starting to sell don’t realise. Often they are quite high volume eBay sellers who copy paintings by printing them from the eBay image and selling them as prints, sometimes they can be a group of ‘artists’ based in other countries who literally copy paintings, usually though these are on unstretched canvas. Sometimes it can be more personal….

Almost ever since I have sold my paintings on eBay I have been plagued by another eBay user - way back in 2002 this artist used to copy all my ideas - I would paint something, list it on eBay and then a week or so later I would see my painting ‘ripped’ off by this other artist, copying just enough to have used my ideas but not enough to be a real copy. They do say that imitation is the highest form of flattery! The copying has continued on and off ever since - even down to stopping listing on eBay back in June 2006 - I stopped listing due to needing to take life a bit slower with a problem pregnancy and this other person stopped as wall. This person must have me on their favourite sellers - quite an honour - as soon after I recently started listing, what happens? This person starts painting and listing again too!!” Bizarre!

I have not listed anything new on eBay for a while now as I have been involved in an exhibition elsewhere. I have however written a new guide on what to look for when purchasing art on canvas on eBay………………..

 There are hundreds of artists selling their art work and paintings on eBay now. Most of the time you will purchase a real, hand painted, original work direct from the artist - these are usually a real bargain (direct from the artist with no gallery mark up), and usually high quality, beautiful works. Most artists selling on eBay are genuine artists, people who love to paint and genuinely make a living selling their work. However, as with all trades, there are those in it just to make a fast buck and leave you with inferior, poor quality art, not something you would want to hang on your walls.   Here are some things to look out for. SizeAlways check the size of a painting before buying. If you are not sure of sizes make sure you get a ruler an measure out the size of the painting. It is even worth making paper templates and checking the painting will look good and fit the wall where you hope to hang it. Checking the size is especially important if an artist uses a mocked up picture of a settee or room showing how their painting may look. Often these do not represent the real proportions (as usually stated in the auction) and you should make sure you know the real size before you place your bid. If it seems to good to be true it probably is….Beware of people claiming to be artists who sell their paintings in galleries yet they list their works on eBay for a few pounds - if they were selling for hundreds in galleries would they really regularly part with the same work for only a few pounds?  Check that a hand painted painting is all hand painted.If you are looking for an original, make sure you know the entire painting has been hand painted. Often images are printed on to canvases and then ‘artists’ will add a couple of brush strokes. The painting can then be said to be ‘hand painted’ but it may not be exactly what you had in mind. Stretched or Un-stretchedIf you are buying a canvas painting make sure you know if it is stretched or not.Most artists paint on stretched canvas and ship the paintings already framed. Make sure you know what you are  buying before you place your bid. An un stretched canvas may be easier and cheaper for the artist to post but you will need to get it stretched once you receive it. The cost of having a painting stretched can be huge - much more than the difference between shipping for a stretched verses an un stretched canvas. Before buying an un stretched painting it would be a good idea to contact a few picture framers in your area to find out how much a stretching service would be. That way you will know how much you will be looking to spend on top of the cost of the painting and the shipping. CommissionsIf you are buying a commission from an artist make sure you know how long the commission will take and the colours, design and size. Check if the artist will send you a photo to approve before sending your painting and if you want something in a different colour if the artist does not state that this is possible in the listing it is probably best to email the artist before you buy. Read Feedback

You should always check a users feedback before you buy on ebay - are people happy with the product they have bought? Take a look at the artists ‘about me’ page and see if they have a website - if so take a look. Have FunThe most important thing when buying an original piece of art is to have fun - enjoy it. Enjoy searching for that perfect piece. The expectation as you wait for it to arrive. Have fun unwrapping it (like a Christmas present) and enjoy the colour, the design and the texture of the paint and brushstrokes. If you choose something you really like hopefully you will have something you will really enjoy and love for years to come. There is a painting out there for every one - where will you find yours?