A new Web site has turned the world into a marketplace of sorts for a group of Ojai artists.

OjaiStyle is an online gallery that showcases more than 3,500 products from 14 artists. It offers a place for people to get their "Ojai fix," said Katrina Schmidt, an Ojai resident who launched the site with friend Anne Smith of Santa Cruz.

The site features fine art, jewelry and glass pottery. Items range from traditional acrylic on canvas to a funky stoneware teapot shaped like a dragon.

Described as "Bohemian Chic," the pieces offer a taste of Ojai that many people are drawn to, but some of the work might not necessarily be for the masses, Schmidt said.

Not artists themselves, Schmidt and Smith share a strong passion for the craft. They're in the process of signing up two more artists and are looking at introducing other goods, including spa products, olive oil and other food items — all goods exclusive to Ojai. About 30 more artisans are on a waiting list.

"We're creating a real avenue for local artists to get merchandise out on the Internet without becoming marketeers," Smith said.

For decades, Ojai has been known as a hotbed of art culture in Southern California. Schmidt and Smith want to etch a more pronounced mark globally with the site.

"Ojai has always been touted as an artist community, yet there's no one place where you can view multiple artists and purchase them," Schmidt said.

Launched in March, OjaiStyle connects artists and their works to their audience with biographies and short video clips, giving collectors a look at their lives and what inspires them. The site is a useful tool for artists who do not have their own Web sites or may not know how to market their work.

While not a replacement for traditional means of getting artwork to market, the online gallery will increase an artist's visibility and make it more convenient to purchase pieces from Ojai, Schmidt said.

"There's always going to be a place for galleries and things like that, but in terms of access and ease of use and time savings, this is a natural fit for the future," Smith said. "A lot of people don't have the means or ability to go to Ojai."

Shahastra Levy, an Ojai artist whose work is spotlighted on the site, says she doesn't think that the Internet will supersede galleries because there's still demand for the tactile and personal experience.

"I know for me, personally, I love to walk into a gallery and see work, like, right there," she said. Then again, she also thinks that it's "wonderful" that people can see artwork on an online gallery all over the world. It's just one more avenue where artists can have their work seen, Levy said.

High-quality work

OjaiStyle is not a "discount" site, said Schmidt, adding that only the highest quality work is selected, down to a necklace clasp. If the metal isn't sterling silver, the jewelry won't be shown.

"If someone would be satisfied with a poster, this is not their place," Schmidt said. "Nothing is mass-produced. Everything is appealing for those who are looking for something nobody else has."

Prices range from $25 for a set of eight cards with images taken by an Ojai photographer to $3,200 for an oil painting.

Schmidt and Smith typically take 50 percent commission, but they also do all the shipping, packaging and marketing for artists. It gives artists the chance to focus on their art, while "we do everything else," Schmidt said.

"It's a deal," said Ojai artist Bernadette DiPietro, who admitted that she doesn't want to spend time building and managing a Web site because it would take away from her work.

The site is beautiful and easy to navigate, DiPietro said.

"This day and age, you can't just depend on people coming to your studio," she said. "You can't just depend on gallery (sales). Galleries aren't always doing so great."

Startup costs for OjaiStyle were less than $25,000, which included enlisting the help of three photographers, a graphic designer, Web designer and videographer. Smith said she's been pleased with the response to the artists and products. Schmidt and Smith are hoping to break even by the end of the year.

Most visits from state

The site has drawn thousands of visitors per month from all over the world, although mostly from California, Smith said.

"It's been a real labor of love," she said. "We could not be more pleased or more excited. I feel like we've given birth to what would be my fourth child. A year ago, it was just a dream, and here it is; it's live and it's real, and it's better than we could have imagined."

On the Net:

http://www.ojai-style.com