[Impaler]

http://www.bringart.com/

This looks promising. The approach to selling art here seems pretty straightfoward and honest. The site doesn't charge to list your work, and it doesn't charge commission. Sales are handled by the artist. This could be a great way for some of the less experienced artists (myself included) to get their work out in the open, and to make some money off of it.

Naturally, I'm suspicious. Is this site on the level? Is this just kind-hearted patronage or under-handed scheming? The biggest problem I could see with this site is rampant underpricing, especially since the user is given the choice to sort art by price range. I'm sure the "Under $1000" option gets a lot less clicks than the "Under $50" option. I'm also concerned that with no contracts, the owners might have free reign to suddenly change their business strategy and claim all art on the site for their own.

What do you guys think?
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QED, sort of.

[sedgemonkey]

I see why you are so skeptical...

How are they making money to support the site if they do not charge anything for listing or purchasing? They don't even have any advertising on the site. Very strange.
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HEY YOU! We're looking for a few good pixel artists

[bringart]

Hey everyone...i'm the guy who is charge of the site. I'd like to address the concerns that you are having.

We are honestly not a scam. Right now we are funded by a couple of donors. We are in the process of looking for sponsors to make sure that artists can continue to post for free. You can read about the first sponsorship program at www.BringArt.com/alist.php We are also in the process of setting up live "commission free" art shows where artists can sell their work without having to take a huge hit to do so. The first of these is loosely scheduled for mid-March in San Francisco. There will be others to follow in Boston and Dallas. The funding for our business is going to come from local businesses and galleries who support indie art...not the artists, who deserve to make their own money.

Secondly, there is no way in hell that we are ever going to try to claim ownership of any artist's work. Not only would that be the most awful insult we could dish out, it is illegal and unethical. Seriously everyone...not something to worry about.

I understand why something like this is hard to believe, but BringArt.com is real. I've been personally sorting through hundreds of emails in the the late night hours after i'm done with my "day job" to make this a success. The art community has been nothing short of spectacular thus far and i am proud to be associated with such an awesome group.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email me at [email protected] and i'll get back to you as soon as i can. Any help you could offer would be appreciated...anything from telling a friend to putting a link on your site to donating a few bucks. I'm just dying to compete with big business but it can't be done by one man alone.

Ciao,
Joel
BringArt.com

[sedgemonkey]

bringart...

Thanks for the explanation and pardon my hesitation. Believe it or not I don't think almost any artist would mind the web site taking a cut of the transaction. After all, your site that is generating the sale. Oops, maybe I should shut up.
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HEY YOU! We're looking for a few good pixel artists