Wahhhh!! (A Brief Rant)

So,I'll be posting a (kinda) brief rant before I post my goals for the new year.  Here goes.

Recently, in the etsy forums there was a forum thread that really got my attention: Etsy vs. Ebay.  The OP was a fine artist, Ebay veteran and having a b**** of a time selling there.  Most Etsy sellers already know what I'm talking about: endless tweeting, blogging, promoting etc. just to get views.  Usually when this sort of thread starts up people start bashing Ebay.  Not this time.  Now, a lot of people are actually considering going to that big auction site in the sky. Etsy requires a lot of WORK.  Not to say that we don't expect to work hard to make sales, but more time than what seems worth it.  After reading the first pages of the thread last week I decided to list some items on Ebay.   54 pages into the thread, and my first auction on ebay ended.

I sold my first item ever on ebay, and for the price I listed it for on Etsy.  Strange, no?

Here's what I like about it: no promotion.  I didn't have to harrass people on twitter, or get on facebook to do it.  Ebay has the buyers, plain and simple.

I have worked incredibly hard in my shop, and I have nothing to show for it.  Oh, I'm sorry, except the bills that I get from them for listing!  Listing fees keep mounting, but my shop is still so lonely.

For a while, I thought that it was my art.  So, just to test the waters I tried selling some of my art at a charity event on Saturday.  I was already expected to sell some of my jewelry.  The art was just a way for me to judge how people felt about the art.

I sold a photo, and an original drawing.  Both of these items had been listed in my shop, but no one was looking or hearting them.

 

So, I think that Etsy just may not be the venue for me.  I've had a shop on 1000 Markets since July, and I think that I need to work with that store more. 

I've made more money in the past three days without  Etsy than what I did last year from both of my Etsy stores.

That's one of my many goals for this year, including getting into some gallery shows.  There is a group exhibition coming up at the end of this month that I'm dying to get into!  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

And, I apologize for the rant.  I was just so frustrated.  I thought that I was creating all of this really terrible art that no one wanted to buy...I'm just glad that it's not me!

I'll be posting my goals later.  I have a lot to think about now.

Artist on the rise

Since my daughter was really young I've been encouraging her to make art.  I noticed really early on that she liked to draw; she was constantly watching me make art, and drawing in my sketchbooks.  Over the past year and a half I've bought her tons of her own art supplies, and watched her skills flourish.  I like the art that she makes.  It's interesting in ways that an adult mind can't always understand.  It's fresh, energetic, and not weighted down with the worldly bull- that we adult artists create.

I've also created an interest in her for photography.  She really likes the idea of photography.  Even film!  So, for a whole day I let her use a 35mm point and shoot camera.  She really enjoyed the experience, and still carries the camera around to take pictures.

She thinks taking pictures of mommy is really funny.

If there's one thing that my daughter has taught me it's that you have to find a different way of seeing the world.  In order to excel in art and photography you have to find the right angle.

I recently bought some Shiva Oil Sticks, and she had a ton of fun with those.  She likes playing with my pastels/oil pastels.  So, we both made a picture using the oil sticks.  She did most of the work.  I just drew in the sky and the clouds/monster.  Mayoree really enjoyed it. 

Now this picture is up on her wall.  It makes her happy, and proud to see her art up on the wall.  The same way I feel when I look at my art!  I've promised myself that I will make an aritsts out of this one.

Roll Out

Describing the new work is a little difficult...I admittedly create my art based soley on my emotions.  My new art is a reflection of that.  I've just been feeling like recycled poo.  Not to say that I think my art looks the same, but I wanted to create things that reflected these emotions.  Very moody, and contemplative.

I really felt compelled to create something with a sense of immediacy.  This is how I feel now: hurry up, go, go GO!  I think the art expresses that.  These are all up in my etsy shop, and priced to move.

In the coming days there will be a huge roll out of art that is VERY affordable price, and ready to go.  I'm on a creating spree, and I want this stuff to find good homes.

Zippo Drawing

Illustration of my zippo lighter and a cigarette. Drawn in my moleskine using watercolor washes, Pigma brush pen, and Millenium zig pens (blue and black).

Voices

This is my interpretation of the theme "Voices" from Illustration Friday. I'm not sure if I'm happy with it, but whatever. The theme did inspire me.

Frustrations

First, let me start with a list of things that I'm grateful for.

1)My part-time job. (This is how I'm funding my business). Also, it helps me remember why I would rather work for myself, but I won't go into that ;)

2)A family that supports my dream of being a professional artist.

3)My best friend for giving me the idea to start my own business.

4)Etsy and my Etsy friends for constantly encouraging me to continue (even when times are rough).

That's all I can think of right now.

I've been really discouraged by this new painting that I'm working on. It looked so good earlier, but now I have to start all over again. I won't complain too much because painting helped me relieve my frustration. I also realized how much better I am at painting! I was looking over my old paintings recently, and I asked myself "Why did I stop?" So, I decided to start again. Conclusion: Art is GOOD! It's therapeutic for me. This is one of my old paintings. I'm still pretty proud of it.



Last night I found a really cool artist on Etsy. You should check out his stuff. I have my eyes set on his ACEO's.

I also like his "Place Title Here" series.

Also, there is a shop on Etsy called Sagittarius Gallery. She paints with her palette knife, and her paintings are incredible. The colors are bright and pure. Visit her shop! Be sure to look at her profile to view her resume.


She's an inspiration to me.

About a month ago there was a discussion on etsy about how many people are actually making a living. The former CEO of Etsy, Rob Kalin, says that

"There are 200,000 sellers making their livings from Etsy,"

in this article.. Who are these people? Where can I meet them!? Of course his figure caused a lot of controversy on etsy. Go here to read the heated discussion.

Last, but not least, there is the matter of how much money I've made from my business. I've made 2 sales for a total of 24 dollars. I've been in business for about 3 months. SOOOO, that means I'm only making about .26 cents/day. That's pathetic! Why do I even bother?