Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Perspective
So that last post was a bit maudlin. It could be worse. I could be working 80 hours a week for pennies in some sweatshop somewhere.
How Do You Guys Do It?
Well, I'm at the day job today, and I want to know the secret.
The large majority of folks that do their art full time, or full time with a part time job, had a full time job at one point, before their art started to become self-supporting. But wow, that's rough! How do you possibly work one job that's 40 hours a week (46 if you count the commute and the half hour unpaid lunch breaks) while creating, preparing for craft fairs, actually going to craft fairs, marketing artwork, shipping artwork, and maintaing a website? And it's not like I'm doing a whole lot of other stuff - I spend about an hour or an hour and a half with my husband before bed each night (usually while working on a project) and hardly ever clean house or go out with people. I feel burnout coming on...
I'll do it because I have to do it...because this job is driving me insane and I'd rather jump off a building than continue to go to it for the next 44 years. I'd almost rather jump off a building than stay here another year. I've just got to make the art work. Before they fire me or I lose it.
The large majority of folks that do their art full time, or full time with a part time job, had a full time job at one point, before their art started to become self-supporting. But wow, that's rough! How do you possibly work one job that's 40 hours a week (46 if you count the commute and the half hour unpaid lunch breaks) while creating, preparing for craft fairs, actually going to craft fairs, marketing artwork, shipping artwork, and maintaing a website? And it's not like I'm doing a whole lot of other stuff - I spend about an hour or an hour and a half with my husband before bed each night (usually while working on a project) and hardly ever clean house or go out with people. I feel burnout coming on...
I'll do it because I have to do it...because this job is driving me insane and I'd rather jump off a building than continue to go to it for the next 44 years. I'd almost rather jump off a building than stay here another year. I've just got to make the art work. Before they fire me or I lose it.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Custom Stained Glass Letters and Numbers!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Getting Things Ready...
Next weekend is my first craft fair! I've spent most of the weekend getting ready. I'm excited! My display is working out very nicely, and I've created a unique sign out of stained glass and mosaic letters. I'm hanging each letter from my tent! I'll have pictures next week after the show.
I thought a 10x10 space would be more than enough room, but after setting up the tent, wow, that doesn't seem like much room at all! I've heard several people say that you shouldn't put everything out to start with, but when all of my items are OOAK, it worries me a bit - if I don't put them on the table, they can't sell, right? What if the right person doesn't see the item because of that? I guess we'll just have to see...
I have finally finished the website though. I'm excited about it too! Check it out when you get a chance - http://www.glassandgrout.com - and let me know what you think!
I thought a 10x10 space would be more than enough room, but after setting up the tent, wow, that doesn't seem like much room at all! I've heard several people say that you shouldn't put everything out to start with, but when all of my items are OOAK, it worries me a bit - if I don't put them on the table, they can't sell, right? What if the right person doesn't see the item because of that? I guess we'll just have to see...
I have finally finished the website though. I'm excited about it too! Check it out when you get a chance - http://www.glassandgrout.com - and let me know what you think!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wow I Need To Make A Lot...
About all this...In order to net $2000 a month, I figure I'll need $3250 gross a month - $750 for taxes (whoo hoo) and $500 for supplies. Where is this money going to come from?!?
A Fresh Start
OK, I haven't posted in months because I'm very bad at keeping up with these things!
But that is going to change...starting...now!
I had a long talk with my husband last night. I am going to be a real artist if my life depends on it! And by real artist, I mean full time, sionara crappy day job, I'm going to market my ass off and make $2000 net profit a month so I can do what I enjoy all day long and stop stressing out about getting fired from doing a something I don't really like doing anyways. And I am going to do this within the next five years.
The next question is how? A few ideas I need to flesh out more:
But that is going to change...starting...now!
I had a long talk with my husband last night. I am going to be a real artist if my life depends on it! And by real artist, I mean full time, sionara crappy day job, I'm going to market my ass off and make $2000 net profit a month so I can do what I enjoy all day long and stop stressing out about getting fired from doing a something I don't really like doing anyways. And I am going to do this within the next five years.
The next question is how? A few ideas I need to flesh out more:
- craft shows - first one is in Crossville, TN June 2nd and 3rd! Come see me!
- galleries
- consignment/wholesale deals for smaller items and jewelry
- branding - all the really successful Etsy sellers have cohesive shops - and I'm kind of all over the place sometimes.
- taking commissions - I have only done a few of these, and really need to start advertising myself as being able to take them
I am also working on my own website, http://www.glassandgrout.com. I need to add individual pictures for each item I sell (with 95 listings on Etsy and a few other things, that will take a while!). Soon I hope I'll be able to add retail stuff too - almost all of the professional artists I know help support their art with retail supply sales.
On the branding thing, I've already got one idea. I've been playing with lead filigree, and I've been trying to market a series of filigree that's cheap and easy (and fun!) to make, and has a feng shui/color therapy thing going on. Check them out:
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Well, that's a good start I guess. And now I better get back to the real job or I really will get fired!
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