Review of Popular Arts and Crafts Online Galleries

In this day and age artists and crafters have a range of options in selling their handcrafted creations. One option that is known to both the physical and virtual arts and crafts world is a gallery. The term "gallery" brings to mind a museum or showcase. While many galleries at physical locations sell original arts and crafts on consignment where the artists and crafters receive a percentage of the sale of their items, many galleries in the virtual world charge an annual fee for artists and crafters to list their websites on the gallerys' online directories. The targets of online galleries range from professional artists and crafters who have existing websites to those without websites who are interested in creating one with the gallery's tools. It is important to note that the requirement of having or creating an independent website distinguishes most online arts and crafts galleries from other arts and crafts online marketplaces such as Etsy that allows creators to list and sell items in Etsy shops and thus eliminating the need for one's own website. As a fiber crafter who has begun featuring items on online marketplaces, I hope to someday create an independent website to feature on an online gallery. Therefore, I have reviewed some popular online arts and crafts galleries below.

Crafts Fair Online

Established in 1995 by Steve Robinson, Crafts Fair Online is the oldest and largest craft directory online with a high search engine ranking. This online gallery welcomes artists and crafters with independent websites and those who desire to create a website using the gallery's tools. Handmade art is accepted within mediums that include needlecrafting, jewelry, beading, ceramics, painting, wood, glass, dolls, etc. Artists and crafters pay a one time fee of $25 for their websites to be listed within a single category of the gallery directory.

Juried Online Arts Festival (JOLAF)

Having evolved in 1996, JOLAF is one of the first and most notable online galleries around granting it a top search engine ranking. Founded by Steve Reynolds and Ann Contois, this online gallery allows artists and crafters to list their existing websites or create custom designed websites with the gallery's tools. The mediums include fiber and fabric, sculpture, drawing, painting, photography, jewelry, folk art, wood, glass, etc. Customers buy directly from the artists, and the artists pay only a $30/yr fee.

Electronic Cottage

Electronic Cottage is an online gallery, established in 1999 by Steve Reynolds and Ann Contois, that targets professional artists and crafters with existing websites. Especially valuable, artists and crafters are allowed to list their websites with this gallery free of charge. With over 2000 artists and craftspeople, Electronic Cottage provides a direct connection between buyers and sellers. It attracts thousands of new visitors weekly as it appears in the top 10-20 search results for most arts and crafts queries. This gallery features original fine art and unique handmade crafts within the mediums of fiber and fabric, painting, drawing, photography, glass, wood, pottery, etc.

Yessy

Existing since 2002, Yessy attracts artists and craftspeople worldwide. This online gallery's mediums include textile, painting, drawings, photography, glass, jewelry, etc. Its escrow selling system provides protection for buyers and sellers and allows payment by PayPal or by checks. Yessy offers a 14-day free trial to sell arts and crafts and afterward charges $59/yr. in addition to a payment processing fee to sell unlimited arts and crafts.

Artsefest

Artsefest is a showcase of handmade art that allows artists and crafters to sell an unlimited amount of products. This directory allows artists and crafters to list their existing websites or to build a website with easy-to-use tools. The categories include fiber art, ceramics, baskets, beading, floral arrangements, drawing, furniture, etc. Directory pricing varies for sellers with existing websites, those without websites who want to build one, and those who don't want a website but only want to upload products to sell through Artsefest. Sellers may select from monthly, quarterly, and yearly payment plans.

These online galleries provide great exposure to both professional and aspiring professional artists and crafters. They all encourage creative individuals to own an independent website and facilitate online networking with their high search engine ranking directories.

Sources

"Artsefest - Handmade Crafts: Buy and Sell Handmade Arts & Crafts - Online Craft Show." Artsefest.

Reynolds, S. & Contois, S. "EC Art & Craft Gallery - Original Art, Fine Handmade Craft."EC Gallery.

Reynolds, S. & Contois, S. "Original Art + Handmade Craft - Online Artists Galleries."Juried Online Arts Festival.

Robinson, S. "The Crafts Fair Online - Directory of Arts & Crafts."S.P. Robinson.

"Yessy Art Gallery - Buy Art & Sell Art."Yessy, Inc.