Here's an example of one....

Notice there is no clue about my website address...so how did they track me?

Hello,
I want to place an order in your store,and i will like to know if you ship to Taiwan and my method of payment will be Via Credit Card. So please let me know if you can assist me with the order , And please do not forget to include your web page in your replying back to my mail. I will await your prompt response as soon as you receive this mail, I will be very glad if you treat this email with good concern.

Warmest Regards
Mr Alex McCarthy

Distinguishing scammers from real patrons

Lately I've had a number of enquiries from people overseas interested in purchasing some paintings...in the end they turned out not to be real. Luckily no one took any money from me. I quoted my work exclusive of the shipping costs. When they said they had a shipper they used I started investigating if the shipper was real...when I found nothing to corroborate the shipper's identity. I made it clear that all costs for shipping would be paid by the buyer directly. Once I said that, they were no longer interested.

Looking outside the norm to find the right tools

A few years ago, a friend, whose wife is also an artist, shared with me that she was using these metal trays as her palettes, so that she could cover them, in between with saran wrap to keep the paints moist. She works in acrylic, while I work in oils. While my palettes don't dry out as quickly since I work in Oil, they still do dry out. I've been looking for something to use to hold the linseed oil I work with, turp etc in containers that I'm working with that can be closed up so the liquids don't vaporate as quickly...as well as finding something to hold my palettes so they also can be covered. Today I found them, in bed bath and beyond. A couple of cookie sheets, and spice containers with tops and magnetized bottoms are perfect.

The Artist's Experience Purpose

I started this blog as a way to communicate the experience of an artist. What happens, what it's like, what it takes to promote your work, spotting the scammers.