Whenever people tell me “I just don’t have time to have an be online, I am too busy making art!” I sigh and chuckle as I tell them about John T. Unger, an artist who makes heavy-duty sculptures with industrial welding equipment and sells online at his website and 1000 markets and about Ruth E. Baillie who sells her whimsical, bird-themed jewelry through her own website, and through sites like DaWanda and Etsy.

John and Ruth and other aritsts were recently featured in The New York Times as one of the artists who represent a new breed of creative entrepreneur, creating while leveraging the Internet to sell artwork to customers all over the world.

The web has forever changed the way that artisans sell their wares. If you understand this and learn how, it helps you to overcome the myriad of marketing and distribution hurdles every artist must face.

On websites like Etsy, DaWanda, 1000 Markets, ArtFire and Silkfair, people all over the world can see and buy handmade jewelry, clothing, artwork, ceramics and furniture. Many artisans don’t stop there. They create their own websites and blogs and utilize social media networking accounts too.

Here is what John has on his website Contact info:

How to contact John T. Unger

I do my best to be available and accessible most of the day, but some ways of contacting me are better than others. To make sure you get the attention you deserve please choose the method below that most closely fits both our needs:

Twitter is the fastest, friendliest way to reach me

Need to ask a quick question? Send me an @reply on Twitter. You’ll often have an answer within minutes. Twitter is where I am most active online these days.

I am telling you Social Media is the Bomb!!!

I won’t rehash volumes of information I have written on this topic that you can find here and here. here and here…but you need to be blogging…if yuo are still reluctant then:

Blog for Arts Sake

It has been proven that people buy art from artists they feel they know and understand! If you just chronicle your art making process, even in photos…I believe that you will sell more art!!

WHY? Because people feel they know you and they form a connection with a piece as they watch it take shape. It is that connections thing I talk about all the time. When someone can see a piece go from creative spark, to idea to finished piece…they are amazed, amused and aligned with you and the art!!! And that is what makes sales!!!

Credit: Fabrizio Costantini for The New York Times