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art, art business, art marketing, Artist, artwork, competition, enemies, faabest, frenemies, friends, gratitude, help, loving your enemies, making friends, marketing, marketing art, sharon cummings, the art of business, the business of art, work, work satisfaction
Frenemies is a funny term, but it is one that often best describes online relationships where two people are direct competitors selling a similar product to the same audience. I have been creating, marketing and selling my artwork online for over 10 years. I started on eBay which was a brutal place for a fine artist and from what I hear, it still is. That’s when it all started….where I learned to distinguish friends, enemies and frenemies. Unlike many artists, I am a business person first and an artist second. I have a direct way of communicating online. I am ALL business which ruffles some feathers greatly. The insecure, sensitive and overly emotional types can easily get offended by my style of typing. Regardless of how I have been viewed by others, I have always offered my help. I have spent many hours chatting, emailing and posting in groups so that emerging creatives can learn what I have had to acquire the hard way. I share my secrets to success. I congratulate others when their work is doing well. I relentlessly encourage those that are still struggling to sell their work. I do it because I like people and I enjoy seeing others triumph just as much as I enjoy my own rewards in this field. EVERY sale is a victory for artists because it means that people are buying art. And it they buy someone else’s work it also means they might buy mine. I believe a lot of artists would have more “friends” and feel better about themselves if they learned that it is just as much the art of business as it is the business of art. And if they would realize that the potential for art sales is astronomical….the pie is big enough for ALL of us and that when someone offers you some help….take it with gratitude no matter how it was delivered. I will continue to help others regardless of the enemies and frenemies I acquire along the way…..because I am grateful that I have had the opportunities and successes that allow me to do so.
Learn more about my work here:
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-sharon-cummings.html?tab=artworkgalleries
Abstract Art by Sharon Cummings 
I hope you continue to help others despite any negativity! I for one have learned tons from you. So from one sensitive artist to another I say thank you!
Glad to help you Laura! And I am thankful to the help you have offered me as well. 🙂
Teach away, I really enjoy your support and advice. I also really love your artwork.
Thank you Omaste! I have learned from you as well. The art community SHOULD be a learning community!
I agree with your sentiment. As artists we need to grow a little thicker skin. When you give your opinion, it is constructive and based on your experiences. I have learned a lot in the last few weeks from you. Thanks.
Thank you Jo-Anne…we can all learn from each other…art should be a learning community…not a dog eat dog!
Reblogged this on jgazomckim and commented:
I agree with Sharon’s sentiment. As artists we need to grow a little thicker skin. When you give your opinion, it is constructive and based on your experiences. I have learned a lot in the last few weeks from you. Thanks.
Thank you Jo-Anne!
“EVERY sale is a victory for artists because it means that people are buying art.” Agreed. Thank you for sharing your insights and experience.
Thank you for stopping by!
wow, and they say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks! “Frenemies” it is.. and I am the old dog. Very educational! And yes, you need thick skin but from my experience in every field I have ever been to one needed thick skin… I think that in art the difference is that it is visibly comparable whereas in say being a VP of a corporation (like I was at Visa) it is not visible but the thickness must be there!
Thick skin is a MUST in life in general. 🙂