Fine Art America

January 2, 2023March 31, 2023

A Marketing Challenge for the Year 2023

This is a follow-up marketing challenge to what was started in January 2022.

This is NOT a New Year’s Resolution – they don’t usually work. This is a re-commitment of something I did in January last year to jump-start my art photography business. It worked very well last year – and positive results/metrics were shared here on this website.

This year I am modifying the goals just a bit to make a longer-term commitment well within reach. I am continuing to wean myself from social media and put more emphasis on positive results from the major search engines. I want to (need to) increase the organic search results that bring people to see my photography and my galleries on the various POD (Print On Demand) art production companies that host my gallery stores – listed in the site menu.

Blue Flams heating the Tea Pot — Let me get the fire lit and get underway.

The goal is to create one new article per day for the entire first quarter of 2023.

The caveat is that I will give myself weekends off. (Hey, I am supposed to be retired.) I also will not adhere to a strict schedule. That means, overall, I will publish an average of 5 articles per week on one or more of my websites, 20/21 per month for January, February and March. (Yes, I will count this article among the list below…)

Obviously, this particular article will be a Work In Progress

OK, so March did not make the cut. We were on an extended vacation and I “finally” realized that doing a daily article was distracting. I will pick this activity up once we return home and things get back to normal (whatever that may be).

Results

Metrics and more… TBD

November 24, 2022November 28, 2022

Moonshadow Has a Place in Many Hearts

She also has a place in our home where we see her every day.

Moonshadow was one of the wild horses of Assateague Island in Maryland. Sadly, she was mortally injured by a hit-and-run motorist and was found dead on July 6, 2021. Her young foal, Moonbeam, was also hit but survived her injuries. This original painting has been framed and hangs in our home near the piano in a sunroom off of our living room. Everyone who has visited has complimented the painting. They are also saddened to hear the story behind behind her accident and subsequent death.

original painting of Moonshadow Forever Free framed and hanging in our home — Original painting of Moonshadow Forever Free by Abbie Shores – framed and hanging in our home.

A well known British artist, Isabella Francesca Abigail Shores, out of compassion, fell in love with the story of Moonshadow and her untimely demise. “Abbie” asked my permission to create a painting of Moonshadow based the photo I shot the last time I saw Moonshadow “alive and free” on Assateague Island. I applied in the affirmative because I knew it would be a wonderful tribute to this beautiful Assateague Pony (as these animals are affectionately called).

Moonshadow Forever Free painting by Abbie Shores — “Moonshadow Forever Free” painting by Abbie Shores

We now have the original painting by Abigail Shores in our home. However, you can purchase a high quality Giclee print and/or home decor items in Abbie’s online gallery at Fine Art America.

Abbie’s painting was modeled after my original photograph of Moonshadow and Moonbeam, a beautiful mother and child, that was shot only a few days before the tragic event. This is the last photograph I have of her and her foal.

Rest in Peace Moonshadow photograph by Bill Swartwout — “Rest in Peace Moonshadow” photograph by Bill Swartwout. The small horse in the background is Moonbeam, Moonshadow’s recently born foal.

The Assateague Ponies, as they are affectionately called, are actually feral wild horses who roam Assateague Island north of the Maryland/Virginia state line. Park officials and signage continuously remind visitors to slow down and always drive with caution along the Assateague Island National Seashore’s roadways. Visitors are advised to always be on the lookout for the wild horses and other wildlife that live on the island. Any accident inside the park, especially if an animal is involved, should be reported to park rangers at the main office or Visitor Center. Unfortunately, neither that caution nor protocol was adhered to in this tragic story.

Use the links below to purchase either a print of the original painting or of the original photograph and/or to see home decor items available with either image.

Click here for: A print of of Moonshadow by Abbie Shores.

Click here for: A photograph of Moonshadow and Moonbeam by Bill Swartwout.

Note please, that there is no “Misty of Chincoteague” here. The horses of Assateague Island are separated into two herds – “Misty” was representative of the Virginia herd. “Moonbeam” was in the Maryland herd.

March 4, 2022March 6, 2022