Self-Represented, The Raw Artist Wraps Up First $25,000 Month on eBay

    /24-7PressRelease.com/ - RENSSELAER, Ind., March 31, 2005 - Michel Leah Keck is nothing if not
unconventional. Known as The Raw Artist (http://www.therawartist.com), Keck is self-taught,
working in a variety of media. Her art is sought after by collectors from around
the world. Works by The Raw Artist fetch from hundreds to a couple of
thousand via her eBay art auctions. But, unlike many artists who enjoy similar
success through gallery representation alone, Keck has a strong focus
on self-representation - and her auction house of choice is eBay,
where she has just completed her first qualifying month as an eBay
Platinum PowerSeller, thanks to sales at that site of over $25,000 in
the last month.

Impressive for one who has been described as an outsider artist. But
then, Keck is used to doing things a little differently. She has
eschewed the traditional starve-until-you-get-big-gallery-representation route,
instead concentrating on Web sales since 2003. In less than two years, Keck
has become one of the most popular self-represented artists on eBay,
with recent average monthly sales of $20,000. It is not uncommon for
The Raw Artist's works to be snapped up through the site's "Buy It
Now" feature before ever going to auction. In fact, three spiritual
paintings from her Prayer Series sold through the "Buy It Now"
feature within 48 hours of being listed in her store.

For Keck, "The Raw Artist" holds two meanings: First, in reference to
her raw food lifestyle, which Keck credits with saving her life after
years of debilitating chronic pain. But The Raw Artist also refers to
the very nature of Keck's work. Her earthy abstracts, peculiar collages,
recycled junk art, spiritual paintings and intricate circle drawings
are edgy, at once organic and raw.

Asked about her style, Keck's reply is characteristically frank. "I
don't like to be labeled or asked to categorize my work," she
explains. "It is ever-changing. My work has been classified as
outsider art, folk art, abstract art, expressionistic and even pop
art. It is what it is and changes from day to day. If I'm forced to
put myself in to an 'ism,' then my ism of choice is raw-ism."
Perhaps the label that best describes Keck is artrepreneur: Equal
parts artist and entrepreneur, driven to constantly push the
boundaries of art and business. But whatever you call her, The Raw
Artist is undeniably original.

CONTACT:
Michel Leah Keck
The Raw Artist
219-866-7552
[email protected]
http://www.therawartist.com

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