Anyone else received offensive website feedback?

[clairemackaness]

Just thought I'd ask. I got this e-mail out of the blue yesterday. I haven't come down to his level and replied though

"Hi

If your father Brian's speeches are as interesting as your paintings, surely the wedding party would be fast asleep after the end of the first sentence of the best man's speech!

Your Clarice Cliff "inspired" "works" made my jaw drop with their mediocrity. Who told you, you could paint?

Jim C."

Horrible isn't it?

Obvioulsy a bitter person

[Alpha]

Clare

yes unfortunately there are some very bitter and twisted people in the world who cannot 'get over it'.

I'm sure you will simply give it all the attention it deserves (NONE)

[fastfences]

Hi Clare,
Echo above. One can say anything when they hide behind a facade of anonymity! We know that art is in the 'eye of the beholder'. Seems poor 'Jim' has no eyes!

cheers and all the best.
PS. You'd downed a few 'sherry's' at the wedding, hadn't you? :lol: :lol:

[Ozzy]

Hi Clare,
Unfortunately this does happen when sad and lonely souls who lack a life of their own turn to hiding behind fake email address and website contact website forms to send in rubbish. Ignore it, it happens to all of us.

[Jayne]

Hi,

Take no notice of this prat! Has he not been to the Tate Gallery, art is a personal choice and taste. If all our tastes were the same, we'd all drive the same car, all have the same house and everyone would fancy Mel Gibson :lol:

I would say it is this man who has no taste!

I hate rude people!

Jayne

[Enigma121]

Having a look over your site, it clear you are a talented artist. Warp on Warp is particularly appealing.

I'm not an art critic, but have been to a few galleries. The work you produce wouldn't look out of place.

Rise above it, your stuff has my vote.

[clairemackaness]

AAAAhhhh thanks guys. It really bugged me and I almost hit send on a really rude reply. But I bit my tounge/fingers!

What gets me is that he must have been to at least 3 or 4 pages on my site and if he hadn't liked what he'd seen on the first one, what made him sniff about?

Warp on Warp is a particular favourite of mine too. Sadly I lost touch with it's owner (he also bought the elements) but he designed it digitally and I created a painting from it. I wish I still had the digitial image though as it would have been great to put on the site.

[TWD-Tony]

Don't ever reply to idiots - both in emails and forums... It's a nasty road to go down and I have seen very very nasty things happen to people over internet arguements :(

The best thing to do is just hit the delete button and then think how long it took the guy to write the email in comparison to you deleting it... and smile :wink:

[Enigma121]

Claire, the best art in the world causes a reaction / an emotional response.

You have caused this sort of reaction in an idiot, but none the less it demonstrates that the stuff you do is truly great.

It doesn't excuse the personal nature of the message however. I've always thought you should treat people with the respect you'd like them to give you. Unfortunately not everyone feels this way.

[clairemackaness]

Here Here to all of you.

[Ravenfire]

Claire I would definitely ignore it. Likely to be from someone in a similar field, and they just want to undermine you. I would take what they say with a pinch of salt your paintings are great.

Toni

[clairemackaness]

Thinking about it, it may be the idiot artist who was snooping around at my exhibition last week. He had the blatent cheek to come up to me and ask how I did stuff and then asked me if I sold lots and then had the cheek to tell me he was an artist too.

Copy cat!

[Fusionhost Group]

Having a look over your site, it clear you are a talented artist. Warp on Warp is particularly appealing.

I'm not an art critic, but have been to a few galleries. The work you produce wouldn't look out of place.

Rise above it, your stuff has my vote.

I totally agree I was just about to post about the warp on warp image, its very nice.

http://www.clairemackaness.co.uk/images/waronwarp.jpg

Well done :)

[babybiz]

Claire your stuff is lovely. But if you ever doubt yourself over a prat like that just think if it's so bad why are you selling it? People buy what they like, if you're able to deliver that to them good for you and sod anyone who says otherwise.

Tashxx

[SillyJokes]

Claire, you've done well to actually get some feedback on your site. Most people who don't like what they see simply go somewhere else. At least you provoked the guy enough to write to you.

And look, you've managed to turn his snidey remarks into something positive as this is certainly the first time I have ever been to your site. I bet this thread has given you lots of potential customers. Brilliant.

I think the email was pretty unprofessional though. Far too personal. If you can't paint be a critic!

My best feedback was from someone in the US who didn't like what I had to say about our George W Bush Mask ('the most dangerous man on the planet'). I did reply only to say that with his refusal to sign the Kyoto Agreement and his enormous army he is indeed the most dangerous man on the planet. End of.

Good luck with your website and work and if it sells...that's great.

[William Wilson]

Clair I hope it was none of the members of this forum as I have heard of anything like this unless it was a free for all chat room.

I also find it strange why someone would launch such a personal attack but as sillyjokes pointed out, this thread will have produced a lot of publicity so in effect it has back fired on the culprit, and has been to your advantage.

I say publish the culprits email address (I’m sure some will IT guru will track them down through headers and the like) they need a lesson in forum manners, if they are a member of this forum they should be banned.

[SillyJokes]

I really don't think you should publish the email address.

I mean, it was a snidey email but as insulting messages go it was pretty tame.

He just sounds like a tiny little man who really likes you but knows he can never have you and therefore thinks he can at least get a reaction by going after your family and your work.

Let the baby have his bottle and move on.

Besides, even you have to admit the Clarice Cliff stuff isn't your best ;)

[fastfences]

Hi,

. . . and everyone would fancy Mel Gibson :lol:

Jayne

Emmm, perhaps NOT everyone. :lol: :lol:

[Jayne]

Hi,

. . . and everyone would fancy Mel Gibson :lol:

Jayne

Emmm, perhaps NOT everyone. :lol: :lol:


My husband fancies Halley Berry, will she do :lol:

Jayne

[clairemackaness]

I wont be publishing the e-mail adress as it leavees me wide open to attack. Running a business from home also means I would be compromising my personal security.


Your right though, I have had a lot of hits to my site, infact since joining yesterday lunchtime I have had record numbers. Trouble is.......None of you are buying! LOL

[CaroCaro]

What a looser I say. I had a couple of nasty emails, why people bother, who knows? Jelousy, envy, sickness etc. Just ignore, hard to do, but do it.

[Ozzy]

infact since joining yesterday lunchtime I have had record numbers. Trouble is.......None of you are buying! LOL

Give it time ;) I've just moved into a new office and need some stuff to brighten up the walls. Not all of it is to my taste, but some is, just trying to decide what...and I'm a "slow shopper".

[clairemackaness]

Your welcome to shop as slowly as you like!

The benefit of my work is I paint to order so if you have an idea then I offer a free no obligation design and quotation service.

[William Wilson]

That's why I always feel you need to see art in the flesh; it's a touchy feely relationship if you know what I mean. :lol:

[Tiggy]

Claire do not take it to heart. I have just been onto your site and, speaking as a big Clarice Cliff fan, your work is fab. Not just the Clarice inspired pieces but all of it.
Good luck with your business and don't give the time of day to losers like this.
Tiggy :)

[Tiggy]

Hi Claire

I think that it always puts people off if there are no prices shown. Even if not all pieces are priced most people want an idea of how much you are charging. I can't count the number of times I have avoided browsing closer in a stall or a shop because I have no idea whether or not the cost will be £6 or £600. I think this is an especially pertinent point when talking about artwork.

I honestly belive that having your prices clearly displayed will encourage more enquiries and more sales.

Tiggy :)

[clairemackaness]

Tiggy, thats sooo true, I definatly need an outsiders eyes. Theres no prices as these pieces have been sold a long time ago and are just examples, but I could do a price section according perhaps including the most popular sizes and get people to e-mail with any other requirements.

Leave it to me.

Oh....and if your a Clarice fan, I'll make you jealous now.....I've just got back from the Clarice Cliff auction today at Christies. It was fab and I networked like a madwomen!

[clairemackaness]

Full price list now on the Clarice page and home page turned to 1st person. Also Showcase now reads Buy Online.

I love this place, it's so full of good ideas!

[Tiggy]

Wow Claire you did that quick!!

And yes you have made me sick!! - I didn't even know about the auction. I would have revelled in it!!! I am going to have to join a collectors club or something so I don't miss out on these things.
Aaaaarrrrggggghhh!!!
Tiggy :)

[Asteeleleith]

hi claire

one vital lesson i have learned is to make negative publicity work for you.
It is gut wrenching when you first get it, but as someone said earlier it is likely a bad loser. Probably a rival less sucessful artist. Upon looking at yuor site some time ago i get the feeling you are becoming a success and in business that is the name of the game.

You are obviously a talented businesswoman as well artist (not you can send my invoice in the post lol)

As for whether your art is nice, well the simple answer to that is that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. art is a personal thing is it not?
And if it sells, then who cares.
Have you thought (and you may already have done this) speaking to interior design companies for domestic and small companies, perhaps some of them might find a market for your work

And in publishing the contents of the offending article in here, i think you have gained more publicity for your company than you would have otherwise. Even for those who might not have trade for you, you are still noted and remebered for the future i am sure.

I am the man who got ripped off by cavendish black for example, but i have to say more good seems to be coming of the loss than anything else. Becuase a wise businesman in here 9and he knows who he is) has aadvised me on how to do so.

Regards

Al

[Cornish Steve]

I agree with others: Don't get angry or upset, and don't respond to the message. Since you were able to vent your frustrations here, you have nothing to gain from responding.

How did this guy find out your father's name? Is it mentioned at your website? If so, you may want to think twice about including personal information at your site.

[clairemackaness]

My dads name is listed as I am keeping the site personal (as suggested in earlier forums) I want to retain my local image and dont want to become a corporation churning stuff out.

Thanks to all of you for your positive comments. In response to some of them:

Interior design - In the process of talks with a few companies, also bedroom/lounge furniture suppliers etc

Clarice Cliff Collectors Club - At the moment I wouldn't bother joining, it's just changed hands and the new owners are not doing a good job. They hope to get themselves a bit more organised after Christmas so wait till then. Send me your e-mail address and I can keep you up to date with stuff (Auction was fab, a Blue firs tea set sold for £9k and now I am doing a painting of it to sell on ebay)

Speed of updates - I'm a sad geek and like to do stuff with my website all the time so there is always something new to see for repeat buyers

Hope that covered everything LOL