Avoid Art Scams

[@annielittlewolf2017]

Such important information for us beginners! I’m going to be setting up a website (using your instructive video) hopefully next year, and sure as heck don’t need to be scammed! Luckily, my husband is a (retired) lawyer, and is pretty good at spotting them!

[@LisaFrancesJudd]

Always money in my bank account before anything leaves my studio!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Lisa Frances Judd that’s a good philosophy - same for me. Thanks for watching!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thanks for watching! Have you been scammed? Did you fall for it? How often do you get contacted? Let me know, so we can all learn from it.

[@natlisan]

Thanks David!!!! This is a great topic that not many artist's have spoken about. I've actually been approached several times with that very same email! I mean it's like cut and pasted!!! They also said "I'll send you a check and a person to pick it up". As soon as I started asking too many questions though the communication stopped died. I also told them that I wasn't going to be sending any art until the money was in my hand, so... I guess they just got board or caught on that I'm no fool! I know it's easy to get caught up in excitement put please keep a clear head folks! If it sounds too good to be true chances are it is.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Nathan Dixon thanks for sharing. Happy to hear you recognized it for what it is - be careful out there. Thanks for watching!

[@moniquestevens9709]

Good info,thanks!

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Thanks for watching!

[@ShawNshawN]

Great job to share for beginning artists. Best just to always insist on payment before shipping anything. Yes, the bad grammar is a tell tale for Chinese rip offs.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

ShawN shawN thanks for watching!

[@sharondoolan2314]

Thanks for the heads up, I have just started up my web site

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Sharon Doolan you’re welcome.

[@dragon6ft5]

Sorry to go off topic, but I need the advice. How does one get into/approach a gallery? I finally have more than 100 paintings, some of which are not too bad. Is it a portfolio, bring in actual paintings? Just saw up or try to get an appointment. Thank you for your professionalism and advice.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Bill Mondragon you have access to the entire world via the internet, why on earth would you want to be in a gallery? Develop your brand, promote your brand and sell your own work. Between 2008-2010 50% of the mid tier and lower tier art galleries went out of business. Galleries that used to represent 15-20 artists now represent 70-80, with usually 2-3 artists per gallery that actually support the gallery with sales. Those are the artists that the gallery shows - your work will be on the floor in the storage room. Learn to sell your own work, then get out thee and do it. Sorry for the tough love, but this is the 21st century. Most galleries still live in the 20th century.

[@BirdieB12]

@ david m kessler This video really helped a lot. I do have a question on your ArtBiz course do you discuss and cover how to set up media sites like websites and social media for exposure and sales?. I am wanting to create a website yet I have no idea where to begin much less the steps to take to proceed after that.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Leah Benavides thanks for watching. The Art Biz 101 Course delves into websites and what should be included. I don’t give specifics on designing or setting one up - that would be too exhaustive to cover.

[@mincumonica]

Thank you David on this information. I can see beginner artist like me being an easy target. I also have a question for you that I been wanting to know since I started watching your videos. Where are you from? I’m from Georgia and my husband and I are trying to guess. I say NC I noticed a southern accent and he says Texas which is also similar.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

Monica Warren I grew up in Virginia, but have lived in North Carolina since 1980 - you win!

[@100PercentOS2]

They don't scam me out of my artwork. They just steal it from me.

[@davidm.kesslerfineart1717]

100PercentOS2 you need to protect yourself better.