I’m in the process of culling my art-related deli.icio.us bookmarks to create an art-centered repository for myself and for you. You can subscribe to the feed here.

I’ve been exploring different online purchasing opportunities for those who wish to own some of my artwork at a reasonable price. More details on this process to follow. For now, check out the stuff I have available at ImageKind.

A number of years back, I wrote to the artist who draws James and told him how much I admired his work. He responded by sending me this postcard.

I don’t remember his name, and I can’t find the comic online.

Can anyone help me figure out the artist’s name and point me in the direction of the comic if it’s available online? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks.

THE ALBUM WILL COME AS A 48.4MB ZIP FILE CONTAINING 10 X 160KBPS DRM FREE MP3s.

All you have to do is perform a Google News search for “Radiohead”, and you’ll see that much is already being written about their decision to make their new album “In Rainbows” available for download at a cost of, well, whatever you’re willing to pay as a consumer. Yes, this is revolutionary, but let’s take a closer look, and then let’s draw some parallels before deciding what, if anything other artists can learn from Radiohead’s bold move.

Free art has been available for a long time. I have degraded images of some of my art available for your viewing. How am I to stop you from “stealing” it by downloading it to your local machine, or even making prints of it yourself? I can’t stop that. (If you DO decide that is the route you’re going to take, please consider making a donation of whatever amount you’re comfortable with). I’ve also given away my artwork for free before. Sometimes, I don’t know who the recipient of the free art is. Other times, I have the pleasure of meeting the cheapskate art lover. Either way, I look at it as a way to spread the joy of art, as well as getting my name out there. If I made enough money to hire an accountant, I’d have him write off the free art at whatever value I assign to it and claim it on my taxes as a marketing expense.
Street musicians and performers have been using the “give what you’re comfortable giving” business model for years. Sometimes, they even make enough to get by. Even restaurants sometimes give away free food to entice you into coming into the restaurant and experiencing the art of their chefs, for example.

In the case of the restaurants, they are hoping that you’ll come into their establishment and buy more food. Similarly, Radiohead is offering their music for free, if you want it. But, as they say in the email which they send to folks who have signed up to download the album tomorrow, the songs will only be ripped at 160KBPS. I like my digital music at 192 or better, and I’ll bet that audiophile fans of Radiohead are willing to pony up some cash for an actual CD of the music, as there are rumors floating around that Radiohead will sign with a label to distribute the album in 2008. Think you can avoid the lines getting the digital version? Nope, there’s even a digital queue:

But can visual artists, for example, afford to give away their best work for free? Maybe degraded digital copies of it, sure, but originals? No, I don’t think they can. And I’ll go one step further and ask all artists who are just getting started not to underprice their artwork. Doing so de-values artwork by other artists of the same caliber and makes the art-buying public thank that paying full value for art is not necessary. I was in a gallery over the weekend at which the featured artist was selling small 5″x7″ framed original watercolors for less than $100. An original is worth more than that, my friend.

For more about how to price artwork, have a look at this article.

Donate and Support the Artist

If you found this article useful, please consider making a small donation. I accept donations in any amount, none are too small or too large. All donations and gifts will be used to further my artwork. Donations are easy to give online, via Paypal or if you would like to work out any other method of supporting your local arts, please contact me directly via email.

A steady stream of foot traffic made its way past my art on Friday. Many of the women who were in attendance also were enticed into buying a trinket or two from the boutique, as i noticed the cash register’s buttons wearing out, which is good. Alas, no one purchased any artwork. On Friday, anyway. The work will be on display on available for purchase through the end of the month, so if you’re around downtown Missoula, stop in and see it.

The Miss Zula’s show marks the first time I’ve exhibited anywhere that requires a cut of the art sales. In this case, I believe it to be a fair trade, as they took care of the advertising in the weekly and daily newspapers here in town, as well as refreshments. Being on a shoestring budget right now, that’s good for me.

The next show I have scheduled isn’t until the holiday season, and it’s a group show. More on that as time progresses.

Please join us at Miss Zula’s this evening for an artist’s reception featuring the work of Marc Moss (yep, that’s me). Tonight’s exhibition will include original paintings and collage. Browse the artwork, browse the boutique, take home some jewelry and some original art. Light refreshments will be served.

Reception from 5-8PM. Miss Zula’s is located at 111 North Higgins Avenue in Missoula.

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