Virtual vs Reality

One of the surprises this year- and there have been a few- has been the success of my virtual gallery on ETSY. (see the thumbnails next to this post).

Last year, just for fun, I started showing my artwork through ETSY, the "handmade" internet marketplace. I had no expectations. It seemed like a good way to get the new work out there.

A year later, I have sold many paintings and drawings on ETSY, and I'm thrilled every time I get an email for a new sale.

But success for an artist is also defined by how many people see the work. In one year I've had over 100,000 page-views of my work on ETSY.  Amazing! No matter how hard Jaye and I work at our studio/gallery, studio21south, we are content to see a small crowd of art lovers at our openings.

I also realize that, compared with online viewing, standing in front of an actual painting is a totally different experience.  I know that I cannot feel the same thing looking at a reproduction of, say, a Sargent at the Clark museum, as when standing 3 feet away from the actual work. When I see somebody looking- really looking- at a painting at one of our shows, I am grateful. After all, that's why an artist makes art- to share the experience.

I can read that 100,000 people saw my work, and that is thrilling. Actually seeing people respond to an individual painting is a more satisfying measure of success for me. Hopefully for the viewer as well.