Netting artwork

I very much enjoyed Suzanne Muchnic’s “Art on the Move” [April 24]. One problem not covered in her article was how those of us who are placing artwork online for people to view at home (or wherever) can actually make the money needed to support ourselves. She covered it to a point with the material about grants and so forth, but these are pretty limited in scope.

There really is no working model for making money at this, though I have found that putting my own artwork online allows editors to find it and, on occasion, purchase magazine or book cover rights for it.

So sharing does, on occasion, at least pay a few of the bills.

The real winner with online display of artwork is anyone who’s interested in viewing artwork for free from home. No driving to the art museum, trying to find a parking place, or paying to see the newest art.

Of course, there also is no “quality filter” with online art, so folks are sort of getting a pig in a poke when they search the Net for art. But perhaps this is how the art world has always been.

Duncan Long

Manhattan, Kan.

Duncan Long exhibits his own art at duncanlong.com/art.html.