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The Editor's Desk |
| August 30th, 2000
Hello everyone! I usually begin my editorial columns with a quick grab into the WetCanvas! mailbag, but alas, we have too much to talk about this go 'round! Many of you have noticed my absence from the forums and email circles over the past few weeks. I have been inundated with emails and before we go any further here, I'd like to thank you all for your concern. However, I'm fine. I'd like to officially put all the conspiracy theories, surgery rumors, and alien abduction hearsay to rest once and for all! Why the unexplained absence? Well, two rather exciting things have happened over the past few weeks - it's time to come clean! The first, and most important -- I got married! I am one of the lucky ones who actually ended up marrying their best friend - pretty good deal. We had a small, but elegant private ceremony here in Atlanta, and then we spent some well-deserved time off in New Orleans. We have an "extended honeymoon" planned for Europe in the spring. Hmm, I wonder if I can sneak my french easel on the plane? Hmm. I'll get back to you on that.
This second event, which affects WetCanvas!-Heads far greater than my nuptials, is what I'd like to spend most of this column chatting with you about.... Over the past 2 years, we've pioneered e-commerce technology for visual artists. We've created the largest repository of free art education, not to mention the largest artist-centric community, on the Internet. What's next? |
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| As Emeril would say, it's "time to kick it up a notch"!
Apologies to the good Mr. Lagasse, but there is no higher truth. In keeping with our tradition of pioneering advances in this space, we have come to grips with the fact that a number of changes need to take place for us to continue to grow and to be in a position to offer additional value-added services to our customers and loyal visitors. When I founded WetCanvas! in 1998, I based it on the simple principle that every single user is an individual and has feelings and needs. Thus, I really wanted to create a site that would help artists make the most of their Internet experience. While I'm a 15 year veteran of the technology industry, I'm still but a veritable newborn to the world of painting - thus, I've always thought of myself as just another user (albeit the one in charge). :-) I never take a "typical corporate line" since, in all reality, that's just not my style. I shoot from the hip, always aim center-of-mass, and not surpringly, almost always hit my target. Armed with that mentality, I've watched WetCanvas! as it has grown from a small educational site to the home of thousands of visual artists around the world (not to mention over $30 million in art being marketed through our operation at art-agent.com). I've seen the user base grow from just a handful of crazed lunatics into hundreds upon hundreds of thousands. Artists from all generations, all walks of life, and almost every country in the world have graced our site to explore, learn, and share. WetCanvas! has grown into one of the largest communities on the Internet. All along, I've kept in mind that none of this would have been possible without your incredible support.
The official blurb: These are exciting times for WetCanvas! and our customers! The merger of WetCanvas! and Art-Ex will create a new, stronger entity that will take our abilities in content and community and combine them with Art-Ex's leading technology platform. The result will redefine the new media and asset management aspects of the global arts community. What is Art-Ex? Art-Ex offers an inventory management system for both buyers and sellers of tangible assets. The system allows for easy posting and managing of product sales in multiple online auctions and fixed price venues. Features include: inventory listing, display marketing, transaction processing, price controls, catalogue building tools, distribution networks, exclusive price indexes for limited edition artworks, integrated title registry, appraisals, funds escrow and insurance. Services will expand to include additional tangible assets and commodities. The Art-Ex global partner list includes (among others); Sotheby's, Eppraisals.com, PrintFinders, guild.com, ArtGalleryLive.com, itheo.com, The Museum Company, MisterArt.com, shop4art.com, collectibles.com, Artstar, art.com, the Franklin Mint, and of course, ArtistNation.com, Art-Agent.com, and wetcanvas.com. :-) Who is Art-Ex? Run by experienced and success-driven industry professionals, Art-Ex facilitates management of tangible assets across multiple e-marketplaces. Art-Ex provides maximum reach and maximum richness of content delivery for buyers and sellers in global fixed priced and auction environments. Its goal is to be the customer led market of choice and industry innovator. By delivering application capabilities, the Company helps its customers achieve desired goals through increased market exposure and participation. The result of the Company's successful execution is greater liquidity of assets and increased efficiencies in management and distribution. The Straight News: Now, everyone is going to ask me what this means, so I'll explain this in very simple, and no uncertain terms. And there's no corporate line here - this is from my heart. As I've said time and time again, I didn't initially start WetCanvas! with the idea of creating a major corporation. I just wanted to have fun with a website and to help people help themselves so that they could get the most out of art. It's something in my nature, really. :-) And that's why, now, we're merging with Art-Ex. This merger allows WetCanvas! to fully reach it's goal: Empowering visual artists to take advantage of technology. First of all, we will continue doing what we do best - offering you the award-winning services you've come to rely on, such as personalization, communities, and e-commerce capabilities. And of course, we will continue improving and refining our products as we have always done, in order to enhance their functionality. But the biggest benefit for you is what's to come. You can expect to see several new products and services in the months ahead that can help make your life easier, and your career as an artist more profitable. The Art-Ex technology platform gives us the opportunity to truly push your artwork into very profitable channels, from publishers, to auction houses, to private collectors, to corporate designers. In other words, this new relationship will enable us to build an even better set of relationships for you, the artist. A bit about the Art-Ex Team: Having established a solid working relationship with Richard Graveley, the founder and CEO of Art-Ex, I am confident that the team we are building will propel this venture to unimaginable heights. Besides being a seasoned e-commerce executive (founder and former-CEO of Digital Commerce Corporation, a soon-to-be publically traded company), Richard was the former President of Graveley Galleries, Inc., where, in 1984, he managed more than $300 million of assets in fine art and collectibles for corporate band individual clients. Mitch Meisner, a noted industry spokesperson, President of Meisner Acrylic Casting, LLC., and Director of The Meisner Gallery in New York brings a veritable gold mine of industry experience to his role as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Art-Ex is currently wrapping up it's first round of multi-million dollar venture funding, lead by a prominent New York-based venture capital firm. For more information on the Art-Ex management team, please visit www.art-ex.com. So what becomes of Scott? :-) Some of you will likely have initial concerns revolving around the "creative direction" of WetCanvas! and it's community once the merger takes hold. I can't say I blame you - I would. Except Of course, this time, I can't really say that, because it's me on the other end. :-) The short answer is "don't worry - I'm still here". The long answer: as Art-Ex's new Chief Technology Officer, I'll be able to play a much larger role in bringing robust technology solutions to our online community. Those of you that know me personally probably realize the time commitment required to keep this ship afloat - frankly, I can't wait to have some dedicated help! We've been fortunate to experience exponential growth here over the past 2 years. The unfortunate side effect of this is that I've had to spend an increasing amount of time dealing with administrivia. :-( Now, with the shared vision of Art-Ex, I can, once again, become an active part in helping visual artists leverage technology for their betterment. :-) Some final thoughts... This is an economic revolution. Period. And you, each and every one of you, is WHY this is happening. You're driving the economy. You're making a difference. We're making a difference. Art-Ex and WetCanvas! are now a solid unit that has been created to empower you to a degree that has never been seen in the online world. With a stronger technology base just around the corner, a true tool will be created to give you a powerful voice in the art e-marketplace. We're simply here to help, but one thing makes it possible in the end. You. You'll see more info in an upcoming press release - I was going to wait and publish the information all at once, but I thought I'd give you guys a sneak peek in this column. :-) Of course, I'll publish more information here as we move closer to making additional announcements. Stay tuned! Until next time, keep your carpet covered with a .79 cent drop cloth, and happy brushstrokes!
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