Submission Guidelines for FS Online Sales

The submission form asks for the following information.

  • Last Name-Title

  • Category

    • Drawing and Watercolor Paintings

    • Mixed Media

    • More Art

    • Paintings

    • Photography

    • Prints and Multiples

    • Sculptures

    • Textile Arts

  • Medium (include support such as canvas, paper, panel)

  • Year

  • Size or Duration: Height x Width x Depth in inches (of UNFRAMED work)

  • Weight

    • Less than 50 lbs (23 kilos)

    • Between 50-100 lbs (23-45 kilos)

    • More than 100 lbs (45 kilos)

  • Is this work framed?

  • Size of FRAMED artwork (if applicable): Height x Width x Depth in inches

  • Style

  • Description: See Image Details and Description below.

  • List Price

  • Available for 20% Sale Opportunity?

  • Up to 10 images (see IMAGE PREPARATION below)

  • Video

IMAGE PREPARATION

  • Minimum size: Shortest side must be at least 1000 pixels.

  • Optimum size: 1500 x 1500

  • Maximum: less than 3 MB

  • Larger files offer more detail when viewers zoom in.

We need a minimum of 6 images per item:

  • Main image, artwork only, frame cropped out

  • Close-ups that show the artwork's medium

  • The full image in frame (if framed)

  • Identification of artist, such as signatures, especially if on back or side

  • Wall view showing the side or corner

  • Optional: Installation or ‘in room’ views, 1stDibs now generates “in room” views but additional images are welcome.

  • 8 images is optimal and will increase the chances of your work being included in curated collections (collections created by the 1stDibs merchandising team)

FILE NAMES
Please include Lastname in all image titles.
Naming conventions are very strict: no spaces, no underscores (use hyphens), no special characters including ()#&$ etc. The only period is the one before the suffix (.jpg)

  • Main Images: Lastname-Title.jpg

  • Supporting Images: Lastname-Title-1.jpg, Lastname-Title-2.jpg etc.

  • If your title includes a series number:
    Main image: Lastname-Title-3.jpg, then Lastname-Title-3-1.jpg, Lastname-Title-3-2.jpg etc

  • If your title has more than one word Lastname-This-is-my-title-3.jpg

VIDEO

How do I shoot a high quality video of my artwork?

  • Keep the camera steady to make your video look professional.

  • Avoid harsh, direct light behind or in front of the subject. Lighting should look natural and highlight the best qualities of the piece.

  • While vertical videos are acceptable, horizontal videos maximize the screen view for buyers.

  • If you're shooting on a stand, make sure the background is plain and shows various angles of the piece.

  • Ensure your video is between 0:05 - 0:45 seconds.

  • Maximum video size: 200 MB

  • No audio.

For new work or work already published to 1stdibs, please submit video to Rebecca Skinner via Dropbox or Google Drive using the email fountainstonline@gmail.com.

IMAGE DETAILS AND DESCRIPTION

Write your image descriptions in a separate document before beginning the upload process. You can cut and paste relevant details and won’t risk losing your work if your online connection is broken. Check spelling and grammar and enlist a proofreader or editor if you have trouble seeing your own mistakes. We will ask you to resubmit if these guidelines are not followed.

Best practices for artwork descriptions: (100-200 words) Examples at the end of this page.

  • Include the most important physical details in the first two sentences. Search engines often only search the first two lines, so put as many relevant descriptors up front, where they will be included. This description will appear directly below your images.

  • Repeat details that are submitted in the form as part of the description to achieve most successful searches. For example: style, medium, size.

  • Pretend that you’re describing the artwork over the phone to someone who isn’t an artist. What words would you use?

  • Be specific. Talk about the color, subject, shapes, textures, feelings. Use descriptive adjectives. Color is very important. Please use basic color terms (Red, Blue, White, etc…). For example: “Purple” vs. “Periwinkle”.

  • Give details. How big is the piece? Is it framed, and if so, how? Include artwork size and framed size in the description. Is it signed? Where? If it is part of a limited edition specify the quantity with "an edition of 10”, etc.

Picky but important details that improve search engine results

  • Measurements should be decimal- 1.5 (not 1 1/2)

  • Use spaces between measurements- 20 x 20 x 1.5 (not 20x20x1.5)

  • Don’t use abbreviations- 20 x 20 x 1.5 inches (not 1.5 in. or 1.5“)

  • Use and (not &)

  • Don’t capitalize prepositions and articles in your titles- “Leaning into the Wave” (not Leaning Into The Wave)

  • Within your description use quote marks to indicate titles and series names

  • Don’t use boldface or italic for emphasis as these are not supported and your formatting will disappear.

Artist Bio

Artist bios are submitted separately and will be included with your item description.

SAMPLE DESCRIPTIONS:

The boldface portion of descriptions below are the parts that will show in Google Search. This is the area to cram as many "Key Words" as possible. Start with your name and title, and add physical details, type of object (painting, drawing or sculpture), size, medium, support, colors, subject matter– try to fit all of this info in that first 325 characters (including spaces). Save the softer, more personal information about inspiration, process, for those who want to continue reading to learn more.

Rebecca Skinner’s “Waning” is a 20 x 30 inch metal print and is part of her “Transient” series. The peeling paint, hard texture and bright yellow color exudes energy. The contemporary frameless print has a satin finish is infused directly into metal making it waterproof and easy to clean. It hangs easily with a float mount and the artist’s signature is located on the back. With breathtaking depth, true vibrant color and amazing detail “Waning” makes an excellent addition to your home or office. Edition of 10.

Abandoned buildings serve as the focus of Boston-based Rebecca Skinner’s most recent series of photographs. She seeks to immerse the viewer in the scene, intertwining them and the location in a single narrative of nostalgia and respect for the suspended moment. She portrays these facilities not only as preserved instances of a forgotten time, but as the summation of the place’s history and beauty. (Not bio here but specific information about a series)

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“In Fight” by Catherine Gibbs is a high drama Expressionist train painting depicting a dark blue night scene highlighted with yellows and reds. In this 24 x 24 inch oil on canvas painting, a train engine barrels toward the viewer head-on. Motion is captured with expressive brush strokes in this signature work of the artist. This dynamic oil on canvas painting is framed in a 24.5 x 24.5 x 2 inch maple floater frame that allows glimpses of the red-painted sides, adding to the energy of the painting.

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Denise Driscoll's "Inner Garden 23" is a 20 x 16 x 1.5 inch acrylic painting on birch panel composed of multiple layers of precariously stacked ovals rendered in transparent ultramarine blue, pale yellow and black that form shifting shapes with delicate textures. The interplay of balanced shapes and the spaces between is both calming and energizing. The painting is signed on the back with white-painted sides.

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C. Clinton's ”Summer Shadows #3” offers a contemporary twist on the landscape in this 30 x 22 inch acrylic on paper in dappled greens, white and black. The light of afternoon sun filtering through a canopy of green, and the dance of shadows on the ground drove the “Summer Shadows” pieces into being. This series begins in the full bloom of late summer, and continues to evolve with the changing light and color of shifting seasons.. "Summer Shadows #3" is unframed, signed on the back and lower right edge.

CHANGES IN AVAILABILITY

  1. TRAVEL DATES: If you are traveling, let us know your travel dates ahead of time so we can share realistic expectations with a potential collector.

  2. SOLD ELSEWHERE or ON EXHIBIT: If for any reason an artwork that is on 1stdibs becomes unavailable because it is on exhibit or sold, send an email to Rebecca Skinner immediately so that the item is appropriately marked ON HOLD or SOLD.

WHEN A WORK SELLS

  1. We will notify you when an item is under consideration.

  2. Because of the wide range of sizes and ship to locations, we’ll work with each sale as it arises. For smaller items that can ship Parcel, the artist will pack and drop off at a UPS location like Staples. The cost of shipping will be added to the final price. For larger items, we’ll work on a case-by-case basis and will also add the cost of crating and shipping to the final price.

PRICING

Our experience has taught us that buyers like to negotiate. 10% is an appropriate discount to offer trade members such as interior designers for fine art, but buyers also like to negotiate, so in reality our average sale was at a 20-25% discount on 1stdibs. It is important to have all of your work priced consistently online and across all other sales outlets, including your website.

Note on the SATURDAY SALE option:

It is highly suggested to offer your work for Saturday Sales. Work is not typically placed on sale until it has been on 1stdibs for at least three months. Saturday Sales put your work in the "sale" section on 1stdibs as well as get extra marketing the first time a piece is put on sale. This increases your views and brings attention to your work.

Please make sure to price your work accordingly. If your work is priced at $1200 and is put on sale (-20%) the price will be $960. You will receive $672 after the 30% gallery commission fee is paid out. Again, consider this when pricing your work.

*1stDibs has added the option of a NET price discount for trade buyers. Any work that you have opted in to Saturday Sales, will automatically be offered with a NET price discount of 15% off works over $1000 for Trade buyers. 10% off for works under $1000.

FEATURED LISTINGS

1stDibs Featured Listings are no longer available on the 1stDibs Site. 1stDibs now offers "Sponsored Listings". Sponsored listings are distinctly displayed to visitors throughout 1stDibs search and category pages as “Sponsored.” These prominent placements are personalized to the buyer's preferences, ensuring they highlight the right piece to the right buyer to increase the likelihood of a sale. The “Sponsored Listing” advertising option will be paid for by the gallery on occasion to drive sales. When browsing 1stDibs, please do not click on “Sponsored Listings” as the gallery pays per click and has a daily (per click) advertising budget.

1stDibs AUCTIONS 

1stDibs auctions are no longer available on the 1stDibs Site.