Sketch Fest Poll

[ellenmillion]

Disclaimer: This is a poll for information purposes only - What actually happens depends on ease of implementation and lots of other sticky factors. I just would really like to know what you guys most want. :)

Comments

[redokapi]

I like random for showing art on the front page, although what is randomized could vary. Might be neat to have a random "Available for purchase", a random "finished" and a few random from the last fest

[wyld_dandelyon]

"What is randomized" could also be weighted -- we could have the finished and still-for-sale pieces weighted to show up more often than the others, for instance. Or the different spots could be randomized. For instance, Ellen could randomize the top to be a finished piece, to enhance the appeal of the landing page. Randomize the second to be a "for sale" piece, to help people find art to buy, and then randomize the rest from all sketches.

[ellenmillion]

Hmm! I like the idea of having a few different randomized slots - that's a great idea.

I'm hesitant to go more than 24 hours for those folks who really try to make it count - I don't want to burn them out too badly!

And yes, I'd like to keep artists from being out of pocket on donating art - you'd choose your kickback, so you could price accordingly... set your fee at your cost plus whatever you'd like and choose your donation percentage to whatever to output the sale price. I'm eyeballing some script that would help automatically calculate that as you go.

[redokapi]

What about doing rolling starts? So, it'd run noon-noon at whatever your timezone was? You could also allowing people to choose a different timezone if that worked better, as long as they used a consecutive 24 hour period. It'd probably have to be based on the honor system, but it kinda is already.

Many of the other "creative jam" type things I do use the rolling starts. I'm not exactly sure how they keep themes from going live before the designated start time, but they have ways (probably based on IP lookups, or something). That probably wouldn't be an issue here tho...if someone starts early, they just have to end early.

I agree with you on not wanting the "overachievers" to burn themselves out. It took me quite awhile to learn to pace myself for these things. :)

[ext_272279]

My last comment for now is that a link to jump down to the prompt area from the top would be awesome.

I wish folks would post more than one prompt, because I actively check to see if everyone got a prompt done, but there are times when the one prompt posted doesn't really work with me. I tell my folks they have to post at least two, they were making lists of prompts for this last time. :)

[ellenmillion]

I will definitely do the prompt form jump (or put it at the top) for the next fest.

I agree! I sometimes go looking for someone with no claims/sketches yet, but their one prompt may not really click with me.

[mooresart]

I think the partial donation is a great idea! My last piece I finished up, I have up on my site for sale, and 15% of the sale will be donated to sketchfest. I would definitely sell it here, if the option was provided. And as it's listed for more that $20, I would expect to be paying insurance for it, as well as delivery confirmation, especially as much work as I poured into it, I would want to know the artwork arrived safely. I normally insure artwork that is worth over $50.

It would also be nice to be able to show finished versions of sketchfests prompts from last summer, and be able to offer them up for sale and/or be able to donate certain percentage of the sale to sketchfest. For instance, I completed one from August or September and was unable to show finished version, so I just provided a link.

Or even offer prints from the finished sketches, and be able to donate certain percentage of the sale to sketchfest would be a neat option too.

[ellenmillion]

That is such a gorgeous piece! Seeing the description and your note about donating 15% is actually what helped get this idea rolling.

Everything from June forward you should be able to post finished work for, but I would also like to get the May and earlier work up at the site, too. (For the June + work, log in and you should be able to click 'claim this piece' to make is something you can edit and post finished work to!)

[mooresart]

Thanks Ellen! I hope it works out, where we can have that feature - would be awesome. And thanks for all your time and effort you put into the sketchfest :)
I also love the idea of the zazzle sketchfest store. I would be happy to donate as well.

You know it might have been a sketch before June then. I will have to double check.

Sorry if this posts twice. Having some page loading problems.

[wyld_dandelyon]

Oh--I have a new comment--when I'm looking at just one sketch, it's hard to tell if it's a "bold" border or a "normal" border.

What about bold black borders if they're for sale, and narrow grey borders if they're not? (I was first thinking about color, but for color sketches, the wrong color could detract, though a wood-frame look might work.)

(dang typos)

[ellenmillion]

Changing the color would be easy enough - I shall look into that!

[nixjim13]

I'd be happy to donate sketchfest art to a zazzle account. A large majority of pieces I do are digital so there is no 'piece' to send unless I do prints which is a pain at the moment.

[ellenmillion]

I keep toying with the idea of offering prints, too. I may do a limited time fundraiser one month, to see how that works out and see if it's something I want to do on a long-term basis.