Well, the first-one-free has not worked, even with the signs on location, the place available, the L$500 weekly placement for advertisement, the event announcements, and the Xstreet and Onrez placement of all items. I can do more of this kind, which is advertise on billboards around SL. But, I have come to believe that there are two major problems. ONe of which is that there is a very small niche for paintings in SL. Paintings are for hanging on a wall, which not many people have. And secondly, for paintings, skin, and clothing, Pikake and I are out of style. Our taste is not that of most.
So, we are putting everything on sale--paintings, skins, clothes--90% off. That is a great deal, and will see if shoppers think so also.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
WARNING: A NO BUY BUSINESSMAN AND BUSINESS
When a business man refuses to send you what you bought, what can you do? There is no SL Better Business agency to warn, no SL court to which to take the business, no general way of getting your money back. The only thing we can do is expose the business by word of mouth and through groups to which you belong. This I will now do for Digital Kaos. I bought an AO from him at Sexy Jesse's Animation and Pose Shop(see his profile and picks). I paid for it and did not receive it. I sent three IM and a notecard to him asking for the item, or my money back, with proof from my SL transaction list that I had bought it. I was ignored, received nothing, and so this warning.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Onward to XstreetSL
All items for sale in my House of Skin and Gallery are also now on XstreetSL (search by MarkMonet Thor). The virtue of this outlet is that one does not have to rent a store, can add a useful description to the items, and they are well organized to find what you want.
As to the House of Skin and Gallery, I went through three ways of generating visitors and sales. First, I announced through events that the first buy is free—just buy, and I would reimburse them. That got a lot of visitors, but no IM’s for a free item. So, I surveyed almost all the visitors (I have Super Greeter there, which records and sends me the names of all visitors) asking why the didn’t ask for a free item. Major reason was that it required too much trust that I would repay them.
So, changed this through the events list to IM me and I would send the item free. Got about as many visitors, and only 2-3 requests. Again I surveyed the visitors as to why so few, and got answers like it was too difficult, or nothing interesting. I guess the problem really was that visitors were spoiled by getting freebies laying around for the taking, and what I was doing was new.
Then, I stopped using events to get my message out, and left it to first-one- free signs. Left the advertising to the find places tab, and the classified advertising of all my items for 500L. I am getting about 2-3 visitors a day, and occasional requests for a free item. Now, will see how well we do through XstreetSL, with no first one free. The next step maybe to sharply reduce all prices—a big sale.
One step at a time.
As to the House of Skin and Gallery, I went through three ways of generating visitors and sales. First, I announced through events that the first buy is free—just buy, and I would reimburse them. That got a lot of visitors, but no IM’s for a free item. So, I surveyed almost all the visitors (I have Super Greeter there, which records and sends me the names of all visitors) asking why the didn’t ask for a free item. Major reason was that it required too much trust that I would repay them.
So, changed this through the events list to IM me and I would send the item free. Got about as many visitors, and only 2-3 requests. Again I surveyed the visitors as to why so few, and got answers like it was too difficult, or nothing interesting. I guess the problem really was that visitors were spoiled by getting freebies laying around for the taking, and what I was doing was new.
Then, I stopped using events to get my message out, and left it to first-one- free signs. Left the advertising to the find places tab, and the classified advertising of all my items for 500L. I am getting about 2-3 visitors a day, and occasional requests for a free item. Now, will see how well we do through XstreetSL, with no first one free. The next step maybe to sharply reduce all prices—a big sale.
One step at a time.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
A Men's Waterfall Outfit and Painting
A lot has been going on with my House of Skin and Gallery (link in sidebar). Will get to the details when I finish including all skins, clothes, and paintings/photos on X-Street SL
Have just put up for sale at $L200 in the House of Skin. It also is for sale in X-street SL also here
The outfit's is shown to the right , the picture of the waterfall painting to the left. It is also sold in both places at $L250.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
On matching color in Photoshop for SL
As you know, if you do skins and clothing for SL using Photoshop, there are three parts to match. One is the face down to the neck, the bottom of the neck to the stomach, and the stomach to the toes. This is especially difficult for skins, since skin color for all thee parts must match, and one must be careful that what ever lightness or darkness introduced (as by the dodge and burn tools) take account of these divisions. Regarding color, when I first started doing skins, I had a hard time matching colors.
I would use the eyedropper tool to get the color of one, and then the paint bucket tool to apply that color to the others. But, the colors were too often off a little, which only showed up when I uploaded to parts to SL (at a cost of L10 each upload). It took awhile for the simple solution to appear to me. All I needed to do was to drag and drop the color layer in one part into the two other two parts, and make sure that I selected it over the color that was there. So simple.
I would use the eyedropper tool to get the color of one, and then the paint bucket tool to apply that color to the others. But, the colors were too often off a little, which only showed up when I uploaded to parts to SL (at a cost of L10 each upload). It took awhile for the simple solution to appear to me. All I needed to do was to drag and drop the color layer in one part into the two other two parts, and make sure that I selected it over the color that was there. So simple.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Pikake And New Skin Misty
I want to introduce Pikake Wylie. the "P" in M&P Designs, my SL partner, and my RW wife. I made a poster with her picture below. She makes the female skins while I do the male. She is also our landscaper, and layout artist. I do the paintings, posters, building, and clothes. Her latest is Misty, shown below, now for sale in our House of Skin.
We have tried to improve our skins two ways. One is to make them darker, or provide a darker alternative. The other, at Pikake's urging, is to show them with good hair that we bought for the poster, but not included in the sale. We had been using freebie hair that we did include. Pikake argued that the freebie hair cheapened the look of the skins.
We have tried to improve our skins two ways. One is to make them darker, or provide a darker alternative. The other, at Pikake's urging, is to show them with good hair that we bought for the poster, but not included in the sale. We had been using freebie hair that we did include. Pikake argued that the freebie hair cheapened the look of the skins.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
On The SL Democide Museum
This museum is the most important aspect of my life in SL (link in sidebar). It is the only such museum in the world, not to mention SL. It chronicles through photographs, charts, and plots 20th century world democide (genocide and mass murder) and the solution to it, which is democratic freedom. The more democratic freedom a people have, the less likely they will be murdered by their government. Democracies do not kill their own people, whereas non-democracies have murdered well over 200 million people--many times more that died in combat in all the foreign and domestic wars during the same period.
This story and solution must be told, and the non-profit museum is my way of doing it. The problem has been how to get those in SL to visit and be informed by the museum. When I first set it up, I divided the informative material and major democide into alcoves and a second floor, with seminar table and chairs in the middle of the first floor. I tried then scheduling regular discussion meetings, but few people came, although well advertised. So, then I tried to hold a seminar, and again few attended. This is SL after all and a place of fun and enjoyment, which the museum sort of puts a damper on. But the museum is there, and word gets around about it, and I get about 4-5 visitors a day.
In building the museum I went well over my maximum prims, since there seemed enough empty offices in the non-profit sim to allow this. But they filled and I had to cut back on the prims I used. So the table, chairs, display board, and unnecessary decorations are gone. The museum is now as stark as the subject.
Anyway, I am always available for talks on democide, or to answer any questions people may have.
This story and solution must be told, and the non-profit museum is my way of doing it. The problem has been how to get those in SL to visit and be informed by the museum. When I first set it up, I divided the informative material and major democide into alcoves and a second floor, with seminar table and chairs in the middle of the first floor. I tried then scheduling regular discussion meetings, but few people came, although well advertised. So, then I tried to hold a seminar, and again few attended. This is SL after all and a place of fun and enjoyment, which the museum sort of puts a damper on. But the museum is there, and word gets around about it, and I get about 4-5 visitors a day.
In building the museum I went well over my maximum prims, since there seemed enough empty offices in the non-profit sim to allow this. But they filled and I had to cut back on the prims I used. So the table, chairs, display board, and unnecessary decorations are gone. The museum is now as stark as the subject.
Anyway, I am always available for talks on democide, or to answer any questions people may have.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Photoshop Troubles
In my art work and making clothes and skins, I generally use Adobe Photoshop CS2 and 3. I used to make good use of painter, but found its layers very frustrating.
As to Photoshop. Adobe's treatment of customers is awful. Early this year I had to reload my system (Mac 4.11 at the time) because of the damage caused by viruse, and then had to have the computer repaired. And therefore I had to reload CS3, but then I could not activate it. I was informed by the program that I had reactivated too many photoshops already. (Adobe allows three activations,--I had two). There was no way to email Adobe for help and must have spent a day trying to find a way. Could not call them since I am partly deaf and my cellphone is not too clear. But, either give up CS3 or call, which I finally did. I managed to convince the technician on the other end to talk slowly and clearly. Then Adobe activated the program once I explained the problem.
Now, I have bought CS4. Of course, it won't install (I have a Mac with system 10.5.5 now). I have spent already a day trying all Adobe's recommendations found on its website for solving this problem. Nothing works. And I cannot contact them by email as with CS3. Customer service is only by phone or letter. Because of this, after many years of dealing with companies selling programs, I find Adobe is by far the worst.
And I did try the phone. I was put on hold with raucous music in the background, and I also tried to call very early and very late, which was recommended by the operator, but I was given the wrong times. So now I can only keep trying the phone in the middle of the day,since I already paid for Photoshop before finding out about this problem, and CS4 is a very good upgrade.
As to Photoshop. Adobe's treatment of customers is awful. Early this year I had to reload my system (Mac 4.11 at the time) because of the damage caused by viruse, and then had to have the computer repaired. And therefore I had to reload CS3, but then I could not activate it. I was informed by the program that I had reactivated too many photoshops already. (Adobe allows three activations,--I had two). There was no way to email Adobe for help and must have spent a day trying to find a way. Could not call them since I am partly deaf and my cellphone is not too clear. But, either give up CS3 or call, which I finally did. I managed to convince the technician on the other end to talk slowly and clearly. Then Adobe activated the program once I explained the problem.
Now, I have bought CS4. Of course, it won't install (I have a Mac with system 10.5.5 now). I have spent already a day trying all Adobe's recommendations found on its website for solving this problem. Nothing works. And I cannot contact them by email as with CS3. Customer service is only by phone or letter. Because of this, after many years of dealing with companies selling programs, I find Adobe is by far the worst.
And I did try the phone. I was put on hold with raucous music in the background, and I also tried to call very early and very late, which was recommended by the operator, but I was given the wrong times. So now I can only keep trying the phone in the middle of the day,since I already paid for Photoshop before finding out about this problem, and CS4 is a very good upgrade.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Still Bumbling
As noted below, I had surveyed visitors to the House of Skin and Garden Gallery as to why they did not buy anything, when I promised to reimburse them. Basically, it was the promised reimbursement that deterred them--they did not trust it. So yesterday I changed this to ask that they IM me what they wanted and I would send it to them.
So, then had 23 visitors, and now no one requested anything, even though free. Again, surveyed the visitors as to why. (I use the Super Greeter gadget that emails me every night a list of the day's visitors). Not many responded, but among those that did, the answers were varied--they could find better elsewhere, there was nothing they wanted, skins were not not in the color tone they wanted, no skins for older people, and so on. Over the two days, one answer got us. That was that things were "messy," or it was hard to see or find things. We had tried to make the place comfortable and enjoyable. But we also could see the point.
Yesterday then, we totally reorganized the garden to hang all the paintings in their own alcove so they could be seen easily. And in the House we divided Skins, flexis, and clothes from each other. All this, we hope, will encourage some to pick up what they like free.
Aside from laying out things better, two suggestions about skins that we may act on-- provide different skin tones--such as pale, tanned, and tanner, and even very dark. Also, we could make skins for older people, a niche we could fill. Such skins are generally not available.
Pikake and I want to thank all those visitors who received an IM from me asking why they did not get something that was free, and answered honestly. I enjoyed meeting some that came again to the site to better answer my query. All were frank and nice people to meet, and I am happy to say, became new friends.
So, then had 23 visitors, and now no one requested anything, even though free. Again, surveyed the visitors as to why. (I use the Super Greeter gadget that emails me every night a list of the day's visitors). Not many responded, but among those that did, the answers were varied--they could find better elsewhere, there was nothing they wanted, skins were not not in the color tone they wanted, no skins for older people, and so on. Over the two days, one answer got us. That was that things were "messy," or it was hard to see or find things. We had tried to make the place comfortable and enjoyable. But we also could see the point.
Yesterday then, we totally reorganized the garden to hang all the paintings in their own alcove so they could be seen easily. And in the House we divided Skins, flexis, and clothes from each other. All this, we hope, will encourage some to pick up what they like free.
Aside from laying out things better, two suggestions about skins that we may act on-- provide different skin tones--such as pale, tanned, and tanner, and even very dark. Also, we could make skins for older people, a niche we could fill. Such skins are generally not available.
Pikake and I want to thank all those visitors who received an IM from me asking why they did not get something that was free, and answered honestly. I enjoyed meeting some that came again to the site to better answer my query. All were frank and nice people to meet, and I am happy to say, became new friends.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Bumbling Through
With our previous stores, we tried to attract customers by scattering freebies about. They did attract customers alright, but they seldom bought anything. People came because they wanted freebies, and were not serious shoppers. Now that the our new store is on our land, we can use the SL events list to advertise. So yesterday we advertised a get acquainted one-time only sale--buy anything and be reimbursed for the first buy.
About 25 came, but no one took advantage of the sale. I could not believe it. Everything free, even L1,000 skins, and although limited to one buy, still ....So, with apologias, I IM'ed each of them to ask for help to understand why they did not take advantage for this sale. About ten responded that, in short, they thought this was a scam, could not trust my promise to reimburse them, the clothes/flexi/skins were for newbies, did not have the money for the first buy, and did not see something they really wanted. Fair enough.
So, we changed the event. Still a get acquainted event, but rather then promise to reimburse them, we asked that they email me about what they would like to get for this one time only opportunity, and we would send it to them. Thus, no trust involved. Six responded and wanted skins, two wanted paintings. All sent.
But, no second sales. Nonetheless, people did visit the store and garden gallery, and I did get some good comments on what they saw. Building up good will, and a word of mouth reputation is slow, and we don't expect much real business for awhile.
About 25 came, but no one took advantage of the sale. I could not believe it. Everything free, even L1,000 skins, and although limited to one buy, still ....So, with apologias, I IM'ed each of them to ask for help to understand why they did not take advantage for this sale. About ten responded that, in short, they thought this was a scam, could not trust my promise to reimburse them, the clothes/flexi/skins were for newbies, did not have the money for the first buy, and did not see something they really wanted. Fair enough.
So, we changed the event. Still a get acquainted event, but rather then promise to reimburse them, we asked that they email me about what they would like to get for this one time only opportunity, and we would send it to them. Thus, no trust involved. Six responded and wanted skins, two wanted paintings. All sent.
But, no second sales. Nonetheless, people did visit the store and garden gallery, and I did get some good comments on what they saw. Building up good will, and a word of mouth reputation is slow, and we don't expect much real business for awhile.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
ENCOURAGING VISITORS AND SALES
Now that the House of Skin and Garden GAllery is set up and panting for visitors, the question is how to encourage this. We could put freebies around, but this has not been successful at the stores we rented. We could have a large, grand opening party, but that would be one time only and is not our style. We decided instead to use the events list regularly, which is now available to us. we could not use it before since we did not own our own land.
Advertising freebies does attract visitors, and we will do it in this way. We now make (and signs are up saying this) the first and only the first buy of a skin, clothes, or painting free once only--even if nothing else is bought--and even sold for $1000. Doing this is easy. SL keeps a daily record of all transactions, and records the name of a buyer, what bought, and when. With that record we can reimburse any buyers first buy. We now promise to do this in 24 hours.
The first such "event" was today at noon. We will soon see how well it works
Advertising freebies does attract visitors, and we will do it in this way. We now make (and signs are up saying this) the first and only the first buy of a skin, clothes, or painting free once only--even if nothing else is bought--and even sold for $1000. Doing this is easy. SL keeps a daily record of all transactions, and records the name of a buyer, what bought, and when. With that record we can reimburse any buyers first buy. We now promise to do this in 24 hours.
The first such "event" was today at noon. We will soon see how well it works
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Updating This Blog
This blog used to concern only my The Gallery and the SL Democide Museum. But since the last blog entry in early June, much has changed on the gallery side. The Museum remains the same, while the gallery has evolved into a shop selling skins and clothes and a garden gallery--the M&P House of Skin & Garden Gallery. I will sketch the history behind this, or our education in SL business.
The Gallery used to rent the first and second floor of the anchor store at Fortuna Plaza for about linden 2,400 a week. It was very nice, brought in about 20-25 customers a day, with money to spend. But few did in the gallery, and sales did not pay our rent. At first we made the second floor our home and this changed when I became interested in the art of fashion designing--skins, flexi, and clothes. We at first sold my efforts in a small kiosk in the gallery, and with the encouragement of some sales, turned our second floor home into a skin and clothing store and made a skybox to live in. Still, sales did not cover the rent.
We tried to encourage more visitors by advertising, but we did not have a niche product and had to compete with those paying thousands of Linden to advertise their similar wares. Moreover, since we were renting we could not advertise events to invite customers. We put up or rented some advertising signs, and also, scattered freebies around. But, this did not make a major difference.
Then the mall was sold, and a beautiful hiking park nearby was eliminated. Our visitor count dropped to 3-5 a day. Time to move.
We believed that the most important criteria for a new store was location, location, and location. So we separated the gallery and clothing/skin stores and rented for each where the sim visitor count was near 100,000, and our gallery/store would be near the action. So we rented at Vienna (Wein) freebie mall, at > $$$ FREE LINDENS HERE! $$$, Live, and at a popular Japanese place. We ended up with six stores, which collectively had about 500 visitors a day. Wow, we thought at first. But again, few bought enough to pay the combined rent.
Our mistake was in assuming that a lot of visitors would mean a lot of sales. No way. For the most popular locations at which we rented stores, the customers were not out to buy, but to get freebies and Lindens. They only came into our stores to window shop, and even advertising that we cut all prices by 85%, and including freebies in each sale, made little difference,
Although I liked the idea of people viewing our gallery, and even the skins and clothes as an example of fine art. we could not long subsidize it.
So, we closed all the stores, and bought enough land to make a new home and our own store. The land level is our home, while the store is a skybox of about 4800 sq. m., about 700 m. high. It is a house of skin and clothes and a landscaped garden gallery. My wife, Pikake, did a beautiful job landscaping the garden and helping set up the house.
We have tried to avoid some of the annoyances of other stores. There are no campers, no salespeople, all items are sold as copy and modify, and guaranteed. Wwe respond immediately to messages. We pipe in classical music, and at our 700 m. height we have a great view of sunsets and dawn. There is no lag, and all clothes and skins are rezzable. And, dance balls are in the garden. Enjoy.
To SLUR to the Museum, House of Skin, or Garden Gallery, click the picture in the sidebar
The Gallery used to rent the first and second floor of the anchor store at Fortuna Plaza for about linden 2,400 a week. It was very nice, brought in about 20-25 customers a day, with money to spend. But few did in the gallery, and sales did not pay our rent. At first we made the second floor our home and this changed when I became interested in the art of fashion designing--skins, flexi, and clothes. We at first sold my efforts in a small kiosk in the gallery, and with the encouragement of some sales, turned our second floor home into a skin and clothing store and made a skybox to live in. Still, sales did not cover the rent.
We tried to encourage more visitors by advertising, but we did not have a niche product and had to compete with those paying thousands of Linden to advertise their similar wares. Moreover, since we were renting we could not advertise events to invite customers. We put up or rented some advertising signs, and also, scattered freebies around. But, this did not make a major difference.
Then the mall was sold, and a beautiful hiking park nearby was eliminated. Our visitor count dropped to 3-5 a day. Time to move.
We believed that the most important criteria for a new store was location, location, and location. So we separated the gallery and clothing/skin stores and rented for each where the sim visitor count was near 100,000, and our gallery/store would be near the action. So we rented at Vienna (Wein) freebie mall, at > $$$ FREE LINDENS HERE! $$$, Live, and at a popular Japanese place. We ended up with six stores, which collectively had about 500 visitors a day. Wow, we thought at first. But again, few bought enough to pay the combined rent.
Our mistake was in assuming that a lot of visitors would mean a lot of sales. No way. For the most popular locations at which we rented stores, the customers were not out to buy, but to get freebies and Lindens. They only came into our stores to window shop, and even advertising that we cut all prices by 85%, and including freebies in each sale, made little difference,
Although I liked the idea of people viewing our gallery, and even the skins and clothes as an example of fine art. we could not long subsidize it.
So, we closed all the stores, and bought enough land to make a new home and our own store. The land level is our home, while the store is a skybox of about 4800 sq. m., about 700 m. high. It is a house of skin and clothes and a landscaped garden gallery. My wife, Pikake, did a beautiful job landscaping the garden and helping set up the house.
We have tried to avoid some of the annoyances of other stores. There are no campers, no salespeople, all items are sold as copy and modify, and guaranteed. Wwe respond immediately to messages. We pipe in classical music, and at our 700 m. height we have a great view of sunsets and dawn. There is no lag, and all clothes and skins are rezzable. And, dance balls are in the garden. Enjoy.
To SLUR to the Museum, House of Skin, or Garden Gallery, click the picture in the sidebar
This blog used to concern only my The Gallery and the SL Democide Museum. But since the last blog entry in early June, much has changed on the gallery side. The Museum remains the same, while the gallery has evolved into a shop selling skins and clothes and a garden gallery--the M&P House of Skin & Garden Gallery. I will sketch the history behind this, or our education in SL business.
The Gallery used to rent the first and second floor of the anchor store at Fortuna Plaza for about linden 2,400 a week. It was very nice, brought in about 20-25 customers a day, with money to spend. But few did in the gallery, and sales did not pay our rent. At first we made the second floor our home and this changed when I became interested in the art of fashion designing--skins, flexi, and clothes. We at first sold my efforts in a small kiosk in the gallery, and with the encouragement of some sales, turned our second floor home into a skin and clothing store and made a skybox to live in. Still, sales did not cover the rent.
We tried to encourage more visitors by advertising, but we did not have a niche product and had to compete with those paying thousands of Linden to advertise their similar wares. Moreover, since we were renting we could not advertise events to invite customers. We put up or rented some advertising signs, and also, scattered freebies around. But, this did not make a major difference.
Then the mall was sold, and a beautiful hiking park nearby was eliminated. Our visitor count dropped to 3-5 a day. Time to move.
We believed that the most important criteria for a new store was location, location, and location. So we separated the gallery and clothing/skin stores and rented for each where the sim visitor count was near 100,000, and our gallery/store would be near the action. So we rented at Vienna (Wein) freebie mall, at > $$$ FREE LINDENS HERE! $$$, Live, and at a popular Japanese place. We ended up with six stores, which collectively had about 500 visitors a day. Wow, we thought at first. But again, few bought enough to pay the combined rent.
Our mistake was in assuming that a lot of visitors would mean a lot of sales. No way. For the most popular locations at which we rented stores, the customers were not out to buy, but to get freebies and Lindens. They only came into our stores to window shop, and even advertising that we cut all prices by 85%, and including freebies in each sale, made little difference,
Although I liked the idea of people viewing our gallery, and even the skins and clothes as an example of fine art. we could not long subsidize it.
So, we closed all the stores, and bought enough land to make a new home and our own store. The land level is our home, while the store is a skybox of about 4800 sq. m., about 700 m. high. It is a house of skin and clothes and a landscaped garden gallery. My wife, Pikake, did a beautiful job landscaping the garden and helping set up the house.
We have tried to avoid some of the annoyances of other stores. There are no campers, no salespeople, all items are sold as copy and modify, and guaranteed. We pipe in classical music, and at our 700 m. height we have a great view of sunsets and dawn. There is no lag, and all clothes and skins are rezzable
The pictures below show the house and garden.
It is at $$$ FREE LINDENS HERE! $$$, Live, and at a popular Japanese place. We ended up with six stores, which collectively had about 500 visitors a day. Wow, we thought at first. But again, few bought enough to pay the combined rent.
Our mistake was in assuming that a lot of visitors would mean a lot of sales. No way. For the most popular locations at which we rented stores, the customers were not out to buy, but to get freebies and Lindens. They only came into our stores to window shop, and even advertising that we cut all prices by 85%, and including freebies in each sale, made little difference,
Although I liked the idea of people viewing our gallery, and even the skins and clothes as an example of fine art. we could not long subsidize it.
So, we closed all the stores, and bought enough land to make a new home and our own store. The land level is our home, while the store is a skybox of about 4800 sq. m., about 700 m. high. It is a house of skin and clothes and a landscaped garden gallery. My wife, Pikake, did a beautiful job landscaping the garden and helping set up the house.
We have tried to avoid some of the annoyances of other stores. There are no campers, no salespeople, all items are sold as copy and modify, and guaranteed. We pipe in classical music, and at our 700 m. height we have a great view of sunsets and dawn. There is no lag, and all clothes and skins are rezzable
The pictures below show the house and garden.
It is at
HTTP://SLURL.COM/SECONDLIFE/LITTLE NECK BEACH/22/16/715">HTTP://SLURL.COM/SECONDLIFE/LITTLE NECK BEACH/22/16/715
It is now open to enjoy and shop.
The Gallery used to rent the first and second floor of the anchor store at Fortuna Plaza for about linden 2,400 a week. It was very nice, brought in about 20-25 customers a day, with money to spend. But few did in the gallery, and sales did not pay our rent. At first we made the second floor our home and this changed when I became interested in the art of fashion designing--skins, flexi, and clothes. We at first sold my efforts in a small kiosk in the gallery, and with the encouragement of some sales, turned our second floor home into a skin and clothing store and made a skybox to live in. Still, sales did not cover the rent.
We tried to encourage more visitors by advertising, but we did not have a niche product and had to compete with those paying thousands of Linden to advertise their similar wares. Moreover, since we were renting we could not advertise events to invite customers. We put up or rented some advertising signs, and also, scattered freebies around. But, this did not make a major difference.
Then the mall was sold, and a beautiful hiking park nearby was eliminated. Our visitor count dropped to 3-5 a day. Time to move.
We believed that the most important criteria for a new store was location, location, and location. So we separated the gallery and clothing/skin stores and rented for each where the sim visitor count was near 100,000, and our gallery/store would be near the action. So we rented at Vienna (Wein) freebie mall, at > $$$ FREE LINDENS HERE! $$$, Live, and at a popular Japanese place. We ended up with six stores, which collectively had about 500 visitors a day. Wow, we thought at first. But again, few bought enough to pay the combined rent.
Our mistake was in assuming that a lot of visitors would mean a lot of sales. No way. For the most popular locations at which we rented stores, the customers were not out to buy, but to get freebies and Lindens. They only came into our stores to window shop, and even advertising that we cut all prices by 85%, and including freebies in each sale, made little difference,
Although I liked the idea of people viewing our gallery, and even the skins and clothes as an example of fine art. we could not long subsidize it.
So, we closed all the stores, and bought enough land to make a new home and our own store. The land level is our home, while the store is a skybox of about 4800 sq. m., about 700 m. high. It is a house of skin and clothes and a landscaped garden gallery. My wife, Pikake, did a beautiful job landscaping the garden and helping set up the house.
We have tried to avoid some of the annoyances of other stores. There are no campers, no salespeople, all items are sold as copy and modify, and guaranteed. We pipe in classical music, and at our 700 m. height we have a great view of sunsets and dawn. There is no lag, and all clothes and skins are rezzable
The pictures below show the house and garden.
It is at $$$ FREE LINDENS HERE! $$$, Live, and at a popular Japanese place. We ended up with six stores, which collectively had about 500 visitors a day. Wow, we thought at first. But again, few bought enough to pay the combined rent.
Our mistake was in assuming that a lot of visitors would mean a lot of sales. No way. For the most popular locations at which we rented stores, the customers were not out to buy, but to get freebies and Lindens. They only came into our stores to window shop, and even advertising that we cut all prices by 85%, and including freebies in each sale, made little difference,
Although I liked the idea of people viewing our gallery, and even the skins and clothes as an example of fine art. we could not long subsidize it.
So, we closed all the stores, and bought enough land to make a new home and our own store. The land level is our home, while the store is a skybox of about 4800 sq. m., about 700 m. high. It is a house of skin and clothes and a landscaped garden gallery. My wife, Pikake, did a beautiful job landscaping the garden and helping set up the house.
We have tried to avoid some of the annoyances of other stores. There are no campers, no salespeople, all items are sold as copy and modify, and guaranteed. We pipe in classical music, and at our 700 m. height we have a great view of sunsets and dawn. There is no lag, and all clothes and skins are rezzable
The pictures below show the house and garden.
It is at
HTTP://SLURL.COM/SECONDLIFE/LITTLE NECK BEACH/22/16/715">HTTP://SLURL.COM/SECONDLIFE/LITTLE NECK BEACH/22/16/715
It is now open to enjoy and shop.
Friday, June 6, 2008
The New SL Democide Museum
I was not comfortable with the democide gallery I set up near my The Gallery in Reil. It really should have been a museum. Also, there was so little room to show the solution to democide, and give the documented scientific results which prove it to be so. That is all changed now.
I was able to construct a nonprofit SL Democide Museum in the SL Nonprofit Commons. I have two floors, and all the space I need.
A picture of the entrance to the museum is below.
It is at:
SL Democide Museum
I was able to construct a nonprofit SL Democide Museum in the SL Nonprofit Commons. I have two floors, and all the space I need.
A picture of the entrance to the museum is below.
It is at:
Thursday, May 1, 2008
New, The Gallery
I have now consolidated my two art galleries in a large anchor space here: x at Fortuna Plaza. Finally, my SL art is in one place. A photo of The Gallery is below.
Also, I am discussing with the Nonprofit Commons transferring the democide The Gallery III to a space with them. The Commons is a grouping of nonprofits concerned with various aspects of human welfare, and the democide gallery certainly fits into that.
Also, I am discussing with the Nonprofit Commons transferring the democide The Gallery III to a space with them. The Commons is a grouping of nonprofits concerned with various aspects of human welfare, and the democide gallery certainly fits into that.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
New The Gallery III
I have added The Gallery III to the two others. It is here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Aogashima/107/195/21/. It will show mainly artistic photographs or paintages, while The Gallery I displays digital paintings, and the Gallery II contrasts the beauty shown in these galleries to the worst of the world’s evil.
Below is one of the paintages shown in the new gallery.
It is titled, “What You Looking At?” And I am selling it for L$200.
Below is one of the paintages shown in the new gallery.
It is titled, “What You Looking At?” And I am selling it for L$200.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
More On The Terrorist Attack
I have been away from this blog for a couple of weeks. The virus that was part of the terrorist attack on multiplied and caused my computer to eventual freeze. It had to be repaired, which did not work, and now is being repaired again.
Terrorism is the best term for it, since the one who attacked my wife in SL and then probably me belongs to an anarchocommunist “Antifascist” group that has declared war on any fascist and their activity in SL, which must include my anti-democide The Gallery II. See the last blog below.
I reported this to SL, but what has been done about it I don’t know. I received no word back.
The griefer-terrorist problem in SL can be serious, as in our case, but at most all SL seem to do is kick the perpetrator out of SL. However, he can freely assume the identity of another avatar, or two, or three, and come back in. He only loses his inventory, and maybe land(?).
Anyway, enough of this. Will talk about my art and galleries from now on.
Terrorism is the best term for it, since the one who attacked my wife in SL and then probably me belongs to an anarchocommunist “Antifascist” group that has declared war on any fascist and their activity in SL, which must include my anti-democide The Gallery II. See the last blog below.
I reported this to SL, but what has been done about it I don’t know. I received no word back.
The griefer-terrorist problem in SL can be serious, as in our case, but at most all SL seem to do is kick the perpetrator out of SL. However, he can freely assume the identity of another avatar, or two, or three, and come back in. He only loses his inventory, and maybe land(?).
Anyway, enough of this. Will talk about my art and galleries from now on.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Photographs Cause Physical/Electronic Assaults
Trying to inform through photographs and paintings about the extent of genocide and mass murder (democide) in the world is not without costs. The works excite the hatred of communists, fascists, Islamics, and others whose history of heinous murder en masse is thus made clear.
In SL, there is a group that is dedicated to attacking anyone with whom they disagree. It calls itself an antifascist group, and its charter is this:
Then, later in the same day, I was also attacked in our new gallery at Aogashima. I was flung into space as my wife was, but I was stripped, had a box on my head, a bow in my hand, and a gun on my hip. Tp’ing home didn’t help, and so had to go off line. I thus lost the information as to who had done this, but can only assume it was the same person. Also reported this to SL.
Worst of all, the attacker attached a virus to me infected my computer. It was a self-replicating one and eventually took over the computer so that I could not even reinstall the system, or use a repair disk. I have to take it in to Apple for repair. This was also reported to SL.
I warned the artistic community about this, of course.
This is the worst consequence of my democide gallery, although an interview with me about my art was squelched when the manager of the website that was to post it disagree about my genocide gallery.
I am not deterred however.
In SL, there is a group that is dedicated to attacking anyone with whom they disagree. It calls itself an antifascist group, and its charter is this:
AFA is committed to physical and ideological opposition to fascism, police, sexism, homophobia, racism, and capitalism. We say no platform for fascists—no meetings, no marches, no paper sales, no leafleting... and no SL occupation — and we mean it, as the fascists know only too well. Our aim is to cause the maximum disruption to fascist activities.What follows is how they “fight fascism everywhere!” On Sunday, March 16, Diegolas Broek, a member of this group, assaulted my wife PikakeGinger Wylie, from behind in our The Gallery. He caused her to be flung into space, arms and legs askew, then watched her struggle. She, of course, tp'ed home. The bump information under the SL help menu named him as the culprit. She reported the assault to SL.
Fight fascism everywhere!
Then, later in the same day, I was also attacked in our new gallery at Aogashima. I was flung into space as my wife was, but I was stripped, had a box on my head, a bow in my hand, and a gun on my hip. Tp’ing home didn’t help, and so had to go off line. I thus lost the information as to who had done this, but can only assume it was the same person. Also reported this to SL.
Worst of all, the attacker attached a virus to me infected my computer. It was a self-replicating one and eventually took over the computer so that I could not even reinstall the system, or use a repair disk. I have to take it in to Apple for repair. This was also reported to SL.
I warned the artistic community about this, of course.
This is the worst consequence of my democide gallery, although an interview with me about my art was squelched when the manager of the website that was to post it disagree about my genocide gallery.
I am not deterred however.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Change in Pricing System
I am slowly getting my head around the art world in SL. One of the things I had difficulty with is the art pricing system. Initially, I toured the galleries to survey the cost of paintings, which seemed to average about L$200-300, with the highest at 1,000 and the lowest 150. So I priced my art according to this range, which on average was about L$250, or $1.00.
But on thinking about this, at $1.00 I am not about to become rich, and am in effect giving the art away. And I have still encountered resistance to prices above L$500, or about $2.00.
On thinking about this, I had to ask myself why I was selling my art. Was it to make money? No, not possible in SL. Was it to display the art in my gallery? Partly. Was it to have others hang it in their office or home, and share the beauty? Mainly.
Then how best to do this? I could give the paintings away, but then I would receive nothing to help cover the cost of two galleries, the photo/paintings in The Gallery II on democide already all free. So for the main The Gallery, I decided to price all the paintings (all originals) at L$100 each. I hope this will increase the volume, get the paintings in more hands, and help with the rent.
Will let you know how this works out.
But on thinking about this, at $1.00 I am not about to become rich, and am in effect giving the art away. And I have still encountered resistance to prices above L$500, or about $2.00.
On thinking about this, I had to ask myself why I was selling my art. Was it to make money? No, not possible in SL. Was it to display the art in my gallery? Partly. Was it to have others hang it in their office or home, and share the beauty? Mainly.
Then how best to do this? I could give the paintings away, but then I would receive nothing to help cover the cost of two galleries, the photo/paintings in The Gallery II on democide already all free. So for the main The Gallery, I decided to price all the paintings (all originals) at L$100 each. I hope this will increase the volume, get the paintings in more hands, and help with the rent.
Will let you know how this works out.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
More On Traditional Vs. Digitalized Art
This comment by Blue is very good and I want to make a blog of it and respond to it here so that more SL artists will read it. He says:
As you say, our digital art programs are tools, as has been all the tools we use in nondigital art. In nondigital art, we do not say we used our thumb to get proportions correct, or a ruler, or a shadow box, or…you name it. We simply say that this is a pastel, or more likely just name the painting. Why then say that the pastel done in Painter, which is virtually indistinguishable from a nondigital pastel, is a Painter product?
We may do so in our description of painting for exhibition, and I do this. But this only reflects the transition period we are in for our art. Eventually, even that will die as digital art becomes the norm, which it will.
I want to repeat one point I made that is not appreciated enough. We do not ask the photographer showing his art to admit to using photoshop to enhance his photo. That is accepted and expected. Then why wish this be done for other forms of art, such as an oil painting?
I too am an artist who has long worked in more traditional mediums and today the computer is my tool of choice. But that is what it is, a tool. I also believe that the end result of an artist's endeavor is the important part but the tools we choose are part of our process and that is also important. I believe that labeling a digital artwork as a traditional medium does injustice to both terms. It seems to me that someone calling a digital creation an oil painting is somehow ashamed of their chosen medium. I would no more call my digital images oil paintings than I would call a Second Life sculpture cast bronze.
We need to be more brave and identify ourselves as creating in a given medium and not be afraid to call it what it is. The sooner we do this the sooner art made on or from the computer will gain more serious acceptance in the art world. The state of digital art today is like the state of photography 100 years ago. Too many people do not recognize it as a legitimate art medium. Stand up for your digital work, call it what it is!
As you say, our digital art programs are tools, as has been all the tools we use in nondigital art. In nondigital art, we do not say we used our thumb to get proportions correct, or a ruler, or a shadow box, or…you name it. We simply say that this is a pastel, or more likely just name the painting. Why then say that the pastel done in Painter, which is virtually indistinguishable from a nondigital pastel, is a Painter product?
We may do so in our description of painting for exhibition, and I do this. But this only reflects the transition period we are in for our art. Eventually, even that will die as digital art becomes the norm, which it will.
I want to repeat one point I made that is not appreciated enough. We do not ask the photographer showing his art to admit to using photoshop to enhance his photo. That is accepted and expected. Then why wish this be done for other forms of art, such as an oil painting?
Thursday, March 6, 2008
On the accusation of "False Art, Fake Painting"
In the SL community of artists, a controversy has erupted over an accusation by one that a painting another claimed to be an oil was in fact a Photoshop product. My response to this is, "So what?" and I wrote a blog below on it. On her blog, Caty Matova posted a clarification of this dispute and gave me permission to cross post it below. If Zephyru or Jayalli wish to respond or comment, I would be happy to post it also.
=============
Dear readers, the CM Gallery, clarifies some situations that happens in the artistic community in Second Life, not that we wanted to give importance to certain issues because we feel that they have not so much relevance, however, the dedicated readers of this blog deserve a clarification on our part. Feeling that this is a post that beyond the purpose of the blog, the CM Gallery, does not stop to explain what happened. During the exibition of Violetta Biziou, when we first meet Zephyru Zapedzki, he don’t went to the gallery to see the work of the artist but to self-advertise in open chat without previously greet someone, much less the artist or the owner of the gallery. From here, we can formulate an idea of the Zephyru character.
Meanwhile the CM Gallery was contacted by a person, which promoted the artist (Zephyru), which proposed the exposure it in the gallery, so through an act of good faith, we accepted. However, the gallery was closed for change of location, when the new gallery was ready we contact Zephyru and another artist Jayalli Hawthorne, to express their work (during the period that the gallery was closed we still advertise the artist through the blog). In a first reaction, Zephyru, proved to be very helpful and nice. As soon as it was assigned the space for its work, its conduct changed dramatically (for those who do not know the gallery, it is divided into three levels, Zephyru was in the first, where people entering the gallery, is the first image of the gallery). Despite this, Zephyru showed displeasure about their space, however the Jayalli had its exhibition mounted.
The following day, Zephyru addressed in a “arrogant” way to both owners of the gallery, saying that the paintings of oil Jayalli were false and mere photographs of the internet processed by software, using a similar effect of oil to convert the photo in a painting. Zephyru, argues with mere speculation and say that leave the gallery and their works because he’s next to a “Fake artist” (their words). After a meeting between the owners of the gallery and previously confront Jayalli, and she said that paintings were real we decided that without sufficient evidence we couldn’t take a position for any of the artists, however, we respost Zephyru’s position without any opposition, respecting its pointing.Unfortunately, after the Zephyru know this decision, his not limited to withdraw their works but he starting to seek evidence to support their argument. After several attempts presentation of evidence (which not passed from mere speculation), including disturbing jayalli with another avatar trying to take him information by force, which could not, even then did not hesitate to send the conversation to owners of the gallery (to us, a profound lack of character and an extreme cowardice). Even after Jayalli having submitted photos witch prove the veracity of his paintings in oil, Zephyru decide ultimate the owners of the gallery to take a position for or against it “if you are not me, then they are against me!”
Thus begins of the quest “against the fake artists,” which is characterized by abusive notices in groups of Art accompanied by notecards to defame both, the artist jayalli and the own gallery. This attempt to give a bad name to the gallery and the artist Jayalli, can only have one interpretation, in our opinion, an frustrated attempt to self promotion and by a childness act. With the “open war” to the gallery by Zephyru, even after Jayalli feelling extremely offended and humiliated, and runing the risk of undermining the exclusivity of their paintings in the RL, send us more photos of their work that were no doubt that it is authentic works and not attempts to forge art. The CM Gallery, knowing what Jayalli‘s happening and may suffer will not publish any of these images, however, as we had said, our readers deserve to know the truth, and we focus that at no time was used other suport of comunication in Second Life by CM Gallery contrarily to Zephyru, to defend or attack this one.
We want to leave now the impartiality side for a moment, and analyze the situation, we have self-conscience that we never acted incorrectly, with bouth parts, just (although we are portugueses as Zephyru is); we just decided only be impartial, what to Zephyru is an affront and shows a lack of intellectual ability (though Caty Matova is licensed in Art History and ScorpionSoul Paine is Designer), even after being shown for the owners of the gallery and to be said that the works are authentic to Zephyru’s, it continues its demand. We all know that 90% of SL artists expose false art (question: scanning a paiting is already tamper an artistic work?). We know that art is an expression and creativity, we know that the monetary value assigned to art in the SL is infinitely lower to the RL, why Zephyru chose to Jayalli to label as “Fake Artist”? And a gallery run by people linked to the area? By the way, why do you pick someone, instead yourself?
In way of conclusion, the blog and the gallery, CM Gallery, has since its beginning the purpose of gathering the Artists in the SL (whatever the term of the Art) and add a community artists, we regret greatly that in our quest of this objective, we chose this artist who goes against this principles, ignoring all the facts and dont caring about ruining the artist career in SL to win reputation. So we give our apologies…
Caty & Scorp
=============
Unprofessional behave of Zephyru Zapedzki
Dear readers, the CM Gallery, clarifies some situations that happens in the artistic community in Second Life, not that we wanted to give importance to certain issues because we feel that they have not so much relevance, however, the dedicated readers of this blog deserve a clarification on our part. Feeling that this is a post that beyond the purpose of the blog, the CM Gallery, does not stop to explain what happened. During the exibition of Violetta Biziou, when we first meet Zephyru Zapedzki, he don’t went to the gallery to see the work of the artist but to self-advertise in open chat without previously greet someone, much less the artist or the owner of the gallery. From here, we can formulate an idea of the Zephyru character.
Meanwhile the CM Gallery was contacted by a person, which promoted the artist (Zephyru), which proposed the exposure it in the gallery, so through an act of good faith, we accepted. However, the gallery was closed for change of location, when the new gallery was ready we contact Zephyru and another artist Jayalli Hawthorne, to express their work (during the period that the gallery was closed we still advertise the artist through the blog). In a first reaction, Zephyru, proved to be very helpful and nice. As soon as it was assigned the space for its work, its conduct changed dramatically (for those who do not know the gallery, it is divided into three levels, Zephyru was in the first, where people entering the gallery, is the first image of the gallery). Despite this, Zephyru showed displeasure about their space, however the Jayalli had its exhibition mounted.
The following day, Zephyru addressed in a “arrogant” way to both owners of the gallery, saying that the paintings of oil Jayalli were false and mere photographs of the internet processed by software, using a similar effect of oil to convert the photo in a painting. Zephyru, argues with mere speculation and say that leave the gallery and their works because he’s next to a “Fake artist” (their words). After a meeting between the owners of the gallery and previously confront Jayalli, and she said that paintings were real we decided that without sufficient evidence we couldn’t take a position for any of the artists, however, we respost Zephyru’s position without any opposition, respecting its pointing.Unfortunately, after the Zephyru know this decision, his not limited to withdraw their works but he starting to seek evidence to support their argument. After several attempts presentation of evidence (which not passed from mere speculation), including disturbing jayalli with another avatar trying to take him information by force, which could not, even then did not hesitate to send the conversation to owners of the gallery (to us, a profound lack of character and an extreme cowardice). Even after Jayalli having submitted photos witch prove the veracity of his paintings in oil, Zephyru decide ultimate the owners of the gallery to take a position for or against it “if you are not me, then they are against me!”
Thus begins of the quest “against the fake artists,” which is characterized by abusive notices in groups of Art accompanied by notecards to defame both, the artist jayalli and the own gallery. This attempt to give a bad name to the gallery and the artist Jayalli, can only have one interpretation, in our opinion, an frustrated attempt to self promotion and by a childness act. With the “open war” to the gallery by Zephyru, even after Jayalli feelling extremely offended and humiliated, and runing the risk of undermining the exclusivity of their paintings in the RL, send us more photos of their work that were no doubt that it is authentic works and not attempts to forge art. The CM Gallery, knowing what Jayalli‘s happening and may suffer will not publish any of these images, however, as we had said, our readers deserve to know the truth, and we focus that at no time was used other suport of comunication in Second Life by CM Gallery contrarily to Zephyru, to defend or attack this one.
We want to leave now the impartiality side for a moment, and analyze the situation, we have self-conscience that we never acted incorrectly, with bouth parts, just (although we are portugueses as Zephyru is); we just decided only be impartial, what to Zephyru is an affront and shows a lack of intellectual ability (though Caty Matova is licensed in Art History and ScorpionSoul Paine is Designer), even after being shown for the owners of the gallery and to be said that the works are authentic to Zephyru’s, it continues its demand. We all know that 90% of SL artists expose false art (question: scanning a paiting is already tamper an artistic work?). We know that art is an expression and creativity, we know that the monetary value assigned to art in the SL is infinitely lower to the RL, why Zephyru chose to Jayalli to label as “Fake Artist”? And a gallery run by people linked to the area? By the way, why do you pick someone, instead yourself?
In way of conclusion, the blog and the gallery, CM Gallery, has since its beginning the purpose of gathering the Artists in the SL (whatever the term of the Art) and add a community artists, we regret greatly that in our quest of this objective, we chose this artist who goes against this principles, ignoring all the facts and dont caring about ruining the artist career in SL to win reputation. So we give our apologies…
Caty & Scorp
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
In Defense of “False Art, Fake Paintings"
There has been a dispute in the SL artist community over the use of digital programs like Photoshop, Painter, and other digital applications to produce “paintings” and calling them, for example, oil paintings.
Before defending this, I will establish my credentials, since some have claimed that those doing this digital art do not have artistic backgrounds in RW, like going to art school. I went to the Cooper School of Art and also took painting courses in College. I was doing oils, watercolors, pastels, and colored pencils before the desktop computer, and before most artists in Sl were born. This is not to say I am right, but since I also do digital art, I am informed on both sides of the issue.
First, for perspective on this issue, consider photography. There is no question it is art. And even when Photoshop is used to alter a photograph to enhance it, the photography is still art. And the photographer-artist can hang and sell the digital result without mentioning that it was altered in Photoshop. That is simply never done.
Now, why is this expected of a digitally produced or altered oil painting, watercolor, pastel, etc.? Such paintings can be done off a photograph, or as a creative painting in Photoshop and Painter. To say this is false is to define art by the approach, which forces me to ask why what is done on the easel, table, floor, or by tossing a bucket of paint on a canvas, is art, while what is digital is not. Art should be defined by the skill involved, and the effect on the senses and the mind. To dismiss a painting produced digitally as not art is to define out of existence a vital area of human creativity and beauty, and the same way traditional artists considered early photography and modern art unart.
Ah, but is it not misleading to claim a digital painting is an oil painting? No, in Painter, for example, one uses oil brushes, thick oil like strokes, and a canvas. It is in many ways a better way of painting in oils to me then actual oils (the smell, cleanup, and wait for the oils to dry is gone). One has then only used a technology to improve the art.
And in the history of art, the master artists also did this. They used light boxes and proportionate lines and calculations to well reproduce on canvas what it was they were painting. Now, we have photography and the computer. And this is a tremendous advance for the artists, and with the digital applications, makes new kinds of art and the representation of beauty in all its forms possible. Need I mention fractal art? Three Cheers for digital art in all it is variety, even if the results annoy traditionalists by calling the result a pastel, oil, or watercolor.
Before defending this, I will establish my credentials, since some have claimed that those doing this digital art do not have artistic backgrounds in RW, like going to art school. I went to the Cooper School of Art and also took painting courses in College. I was doing oils, watercolors, pastels, and colored pencils before the desktop computer, and before most artists in Sl were born. This is not to say I am right, but since I also do digital art, I am informed on both sides of the issue.
First, for perspective on this issue, consider photography. There is no question it is art. And even when Photoshop is used to alter a photograph to enhance it, the photography is still art. And the photographer-artist can hang and sell the digital result without mentioning that it was altered in Photoshop. That is simply never done.
Now, why is this expected of a digitally produced or altered oil painting, watercolor, pastel, etc.? Such paintings can be done off a photograph, or as a creative painting in Photoshop and Painter. To say this is false is to define art by the approach, which forces me to ask why what is done on the easel, table, floor, or by tossing a bucket of paint on a canvas, is art, while what is digital is not. Art should be defined by the skill involved, and the effect on the senses and the mind. To dismiss a painting produced digitally as not art is to define out of existence a vital area of human creativity and beauty, and the same way traditional artists considered early photography and modern art unart.
Ah, but is it not misleading to claim a digital painting is an oil painting? No, in Painter, for example, one uses oil brushes, thick oil like strokes, and a canvas. It is in many ways a better way of painting in oils to me then actual oils (the smell, cleanup, and wait for the oils to dry is gone). One has then only used a technology to improve the art.
And in the history of art, the master artists also did this. They used light boxes and proportionate lines and calculations to well reproduce on canvas what it was they were painting. Now, we have photography and the computer. And this is a tremendous advance for the artists, and with the digital applications, makes new kinds of art and the representation of beauty in all its forms possible. Need I mention fractal art? Three Cheers for digital art in all it is variety, even if the results annoy traditionalists by calling the result a pastel, oil, or watercolor.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
First Discussion Today
Today, Sunday, March 2, at noon, there will be the first discussion of art, genoicide, and mass murder in Gallery II. The photos/paintings there will provide an appropirate context. Address is Reil 51, 47, 27, or IM MarkMonet Thor for a landmark.
Friday, February 29, 2008
The Gallery II--The Hideous Evil Among Us
Gallery II--the hideous evil among Us among us is ready for viewing at Reil 51, 47, 27. The photographs here display the Holocaust, and the Khmer Rouge, Armenian, Chinese, and American democides. I will change one photo each week, and all are free.
It is shown below.
Each Sunday, I will moderate a discussion event at noon, here. It will focus on the democide displayed, the latest photo, or painting shown, and what artists can do about it.
Below is one of the photos now hanging in the gallery.
The plaque included with the photo says this:
It is shown below.
Each Sunday, I will moderate a discussion event at noon, here. It will focus on the democide displayed, the latest photo, or painting shown, and what artists can do about it.
Below is one of the photos now hanging in the gallery.
The plaque included with the photo says this:
From April 1970 to January 1979 the communist Khmer Rouge guerrillas, and then as absolute dictators of Cambodia when they won their guerrilla war in 1974, murdered about 2,000,000 Cambodians and 35,000 Vietnamese. One of the security facilities (prisons) the Khmer Rouge created was Tuol Sleng, an extermination center in which they tortured and murdered some 20,000 people. Only fourteen prisoners may have survived. The Khmer Rouge photographed each new inmate, and these photographs have now become available in an attempt to identify the victims. Here is one of these photographs, that of a young girl whose name and "crime" are unknown, but who almost certainly soon ended up dead.Why am I doing this? I love beauty, as you can see from The Gallery. But, I also hate this democide that is so much of our world, but its extent is virtually unknown. I want to recognize and honor these millions of victims, bring them to the attention of all, and show in contrast how precious is the world of beauty. Beauty and the beast are among us, but artists display only half of this.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Gallery II--Evil Is Among Us
The Gallery has added an extension, which doubles its space. It now comprises two nearby stores in the Fortuna Plaza, at Reil 44, 68, 27.
I plan on turning the extension into a unique display of the world's worst evil--pictures and photographs of democide, as it is called, which is murder by government, exemplified by the two paintings of democide in my posts above. All these pictures will be free.
At the center of this gallery will be a conference table for weekly discussions of art (a publicized event), particularly focusing on the horrors pictured about the gallery, its how and why, what artists can do about it, and the power of art to communicate it.
Both galleries together will then by the yin and yang of art in SL. One showing that art is forever. The other that there is evil among us. The first Gallery is called The Gallery--beauty if forever, and the second will be aptly named Gallery II--evil is among us.
Remodeling on the second store will begin as soon as the former tenant clears their displays away.
I plan on turning the extension into a unique display of the world's worst evil--pictures and photographs of democide, as it is called, which is murder by government, exemplified by the two paintings of democide in my posts above. All these pictures will be free.
At the center of this gallery will be a conference table for weekly discussions of art (a publicized event), particularly focusing on the horrors pictured about the gallery, its how and why, what artists can do about it, and the power of art to communicate it.
Both galleries together will then by the yin and yang of art in SL. One showing that art is forever. The other that there is evil among us. The first Gallery is called The Gallery--beauty if forever, and the second will be aptly named Gallery II--evil is among us.
Remodeling on the second store will begin as soon as the former tenant clears their displays away.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Wating To Die
This week, The Gallery will center around the painting below of an old woman about to die. As she shivers in the cold, she is about to be shot by a Nazi execution squad because she is a Jew.
When I first saw this as a photo I was so moved that I had to paint it to better display of this horror. I did this by centering it only on the poor woman, removing soldiers nearby and extraneous detail that distracted from her, and building up the contrast between her and the white snow.
I am selling all these democide paintings/photos for L$0.
To show the beauty and the best in our world, I placed below the woman one of my other paintings in The Gallery.
The dog was our West Highland White Terrier, who died from a liver disease at the age of 4. I painted this picture of him as we remember him--always a questioning beauty.
When I first saw this as a photo I was so moved that I had to paint it to better display of this horror. I did this by centering it only on the poor woman, removing soldiers nearby and extraneous detail that distracted from her, and building up the contrast between her and the white snow.
I am selling all these democide paintings/photos for L$0.
To show the beauty and the best in our world, I placed below the woman one of my other paintings in The Gallery.
The dog was our West Highland White Terrier, who died from a liver disease at the age of 4. I painted this picture of him as we remember him--always a questioning beauty.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Why And The What OF The Gallery
I have opened The Gallery in Second Life (SL) for two reasons. For one, I am an artist and a lover of beauty in all its forms, whether in nature, the human body, or the well turned phrase. And I want to display my sense for this beauty in art, and hope that others can see it as I do. But, second, and perhaps more important, as also a student of history, I am appalled by the ugliness of our world, by the mass murder and genocide that is so much of our history.
Few know about this, except for the 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 Jews murdered by the Nazis during the Second World War. But in addition, during the last century, governments have murdered over 200,000,000 people in democide (genocide, atrocities, massacres, assassinations, concentration and labor camps, ethnic cleansing, and so on. Some governments, such as Stalin's Soviet Union, Mao's communist China, and Hitler's Germany (in addition to the Jews), have murdered in the tens of millions.
On the one side of our lives we have a beautiful world. And on the other side, in hideous contrast, we have pain and suffering the numbers murdered can barely touch.
The Gallery is meant to provide this incredible contrast by showing photographs and my paintings of this ugliness along with a statue of the tears it deserves, all in the center of the gallery's portrayal of beauty.
Beauty and the beast. Yes. And thus open people's minds to the faces of the world in which we live.
Below is a photo of the gallery, showing at the center the statue of tears and my democide paintage of a Chinese woman and child being murdered by a Japanese soldier in World War II. For ugly contrast, I also show my painting of a beautiful white rose.
If you are in SL, come and visit at Reil 44, 68, 27, or in the real world by slur at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/reil/44/68/27. And IM me--MarkMonet Thor in SL - or email markmonet at gmail.com with your questions or comments. If I do not answer an IM, it maybe my IM are capped. Then send me a notecard.
I will use this blog to respond to questions or comments of general interest, and also as a website to posting links and pictures, as well as links and references.
Have a beautiful day.
Few know about this, except for the 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 Jews murdered by the Nazis during the Second World War. But in addition, during the last century, governments have murdered over 200,000,000 people in democide (genocide, atrocities, massacres, assassinations, concentration and labor camps, ethnic cleansing, and so on. Some governments, such as Stalin's Soviet Union, Mao's communist China, and Hitler's Germany (in addition to the Jews), have murdered in the tens of millions.
On the one side of our lives we have a beautiful world. And on the other side, in hideous contrast, we have pain and suffering the numbers murdered can barely touch.
The Gallery is meant to provide this incredible contrast by showing photographs and my paintings of this ugliness along with a statue of the tears it deserves, all in the center of the gallery's portrayal of beauty.
Beauty and the beast. Yes. And thus open people's minds to the faces of the world in which we live.
Below is a photo of the gallery, showing at the center the statue of tears and my democide paintage of a Chinese woman and child being murdered by a Japanese soldier in World War II. For ugly contrast, I also show my painting of a beautiful white rose.
If you are in SL, come and visit at Reil 44, 68, 27, or in the real world by slur at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/reil/44/68/27. And IM me--MarkMonet Thor in SL - or email markmonet at gmail.com with your questions or comments. If I do not answer an IM, it maybe my IM are capped. Then send me a notecard.
I will use this blog to respond to questions or comments of general interest, and also as a website to posting links and pictures, as well as links and references.
Have a beautiful day.
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