The big exciting thing this week is that I began another Sculpture Giveaway. This is my third sculpture giveaway and I thought I should take some time to clear things up. There are two questions on everyone’s mind when I run one of these contests. Well maybe more, but two major questions are:
1)Why are you giving your sculpture away?
2)I want it! How can I get it?
Today I would like to answer these questions and give a few other insights along the way.
Why are you giving your sculpture away?
Well… there are lots of reasons. One of them is because I want to spread my artwork as far as I can. I am a believer that my artwork is only finished once it finds an owner who can appropriate it. I understand that my work does not fit everyone price point. Not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars on a bronze. Or even $500 on a bonded sand piece. I have many fans that would like to buy my artwork but just can’t afford it right now. This gives those fans a chance to own some of my artwork. Not only that but it makes me feel good knowing that my artwork is going to a good home! The two people who have won my sculptures so far have been very appreciative.
“Sure Daniel… that all sounds good an noble but why are you really giving your sculptures away? What’s in it for you” Okay, you got me. there are some benefits for me other then the good feelings I get doing it. When I give away a sculpture I gain many new fans. New fans means new buyers. This is a great way for me to be noticed and have my work shared around the internet. Many of you reading this blog might have found out about me through one of my sculpture giveaways. This is a way to advertize myself and my artwork. My hope is that my fans gained from my contests will someday become collectors of my work.
I want it! How can I get it!
This question comes in many different forms and is motivated by many different things. Some people want to know how they can increase their chance of winning while others want me to just pick them because we are “buddies” (I actually just had someone ask me this today.) If you are wanting to increase your chance of winning I can give you some suggestions. First you need to enter. You can do that by clicking HERE. The contest is set up in such a way to encourage sharing. You get one entry when you fill out the entry form but you get two entries every time a friend enters from your share link. Both of the previous winners were people who had shared the contest and received multiple entries. Yes there still is a chance you could be picked with just one entry but it is not as likely.
The best way to share is to use the share buttons on the page just after you enter the contest. The buttons are green and can be found at the bottom of the page. You can share this contest as much as you like. You could share it on your wall every day. This would not only help you have a higher chance of winning but it will also inform your friends about a cool contest, and it will help me out at the same time.
If you are wanting me to pick you over everyone else simply because you think I should, I can’t help you. See, not only does the app that I use to run the contest pick the winner at random for me. I wouldn’t do it even if I could. That would defeat the whole concept of the contest and would make it unfair for everyone involved. I want you and the rest of my fans to trust me.
So there you go! That is why I do it and how you can get it. One more question you might be wondering.
If you can afford to give away your sculptures for free why do you sell them for so much more?
Great question! The answer is simple. The sculptures I give away are not the same quality as the work I sell. The work I sell is made of high quality bronze (which is a very costly and labor intensive process) or Bonded Sand. Both are durable and high quality materials. The sculptures I giveaway are made of plaster. Plaster is great for reproducing work and is an inexpensive material, but it is not as strong and durable as the materials I sell my other work for. Some people would have me sell them plaster casts of all of my work. Something you need to understand is that although plaster less expensive it is still just as labor intensive for me. When I give away a sculpture I am working for free. I don’t regularly make plaster casts because I have a reputation to keep. When people talk about me I want them to say “He’s that artist that makes those amazing bronze figure sculptures” not, “He’s the one who makes those cheap plaster figure sculptures.”
So What?
So is it working? Are you enjoying the sculpture giveaways? I love to do them but it only works if people share and hopefully purchase. The fact of the matter is I can’t make a living giving away my artwork no matter how much I would like to. If you haven’t already, I invite you to consider starting an art collection of your own. And of course I invite you to include my work in that collection. You can see my sculptures available to purchase HERE.
By becoming one of my collectors you can help ensure that I continue to do my sculpture giveaways.
Remember! Subscribers to my email list get 25% off their first purchase from my site. You can sign up for my email list HERE.
I also offer payment plans for those of you interested. Just ask.
Very shortly I plan on offering many new relief sculptures for sale in bonded sand. Stay tuned.
Tell me what you think.
Have you entered the contest yet? Have you shared it? Do you have any suggestions to make the contest better?