Happy Friday Creative Peeps!
Showing my art in public, is a newer thing for me. I get comments from some of you that this is difficult for you too! The darn thing is people have to see it before they know they want to buy it. Boy do I want to sell it! So, in a nut shell I took small steps - all though I didn't realize it in the beginning.
There wasn't any planning or written steps to take. It just happened. I wasn't thinking that I want to license my art. I didn't show my art either.
I have always liked drawing etc. So Six or so years ago when my youngest (girl) was in middle school they changed the hot lunch menu. Oh was this a horror to her! So in an effort to cheer her up each day, I started drawing on her lunch sacks trying to make her unwanted cold lunch a bit cheerier. I used good old Sharpie marker and color pencil. I knew her lunch companions would see the handy work, but that was about it. Do you know she kept everyone one of the drawings! (a few went through the wash in her pocket and didn't survive.). I did this for a little over a year until she got a bit older and didn't want me to do it any longer. During this time I got request from her friends AND several teachers to draw on a lunch sack for them. It was fun AND I realized strangers like my art! Huzzah!
CafePress
During this same time, I was drawing in a sketch book more — I had a sabbatical from art when the kids were young other than drawing dinosaurs and butterflies for them. Not much time with a graphic design business and young family. — Since I was bolstered by strangers liking my art, I opened a CafePress store to see if anything would sell. I got SO excited when something did sell. I figured that was high praise in a sea of other online stores. It wasn't long after I opened the CafePress store that I started learning about art licensing and working on a portfolio to shop around. By golly! I like my art on products! My Useful Stuff blog page has the resources I used.
If it hadn't been for the lunch sacks and my daughters middle school teacher's requests, who knows if I would have gotten the confidence to license my art. It was what turned the light bulb on for me.
Dipping my toe into social media
I started with twitter - just 140 characters and no image back then. Pretty safe :-) My profile had a link to my websites. Thank you nice Twitter peeps who actually went to my websites and shared positive comments. It all helps build the old confidence :-) Fast forward: Now I do quite a bit with social media. I blog for goodness sake! English/spelling have been a struggle from the git go for me. Writing clearly may always be a challenge. Connecting with all of you out weighs those issues for me.
Booga Boogas
So rather than bore you with all the little steps,—you get the idea here. I thought you might like to know that I still get the "Booga Booga" crazy voices in my head. Steps can just be scary! The bigger the step, the louder the "Booga Boogas" are. The first time I walked Surtex my head was spinning with loads of insecure thoughts. This will be my third Surtex. I don't think my "Booga Boogas" will go away, but they are getting better behaved with practice.
One last thought for you
If you are scared to show your art for licensing? Think about being spotlighted on my blog. I ask the same few easy questions of everyone AND I am the one singing your praises. It is one of the many reasons I do artist spotlights :-) It can be a great boost of confidence for you.
What aspect of being an artists makes your "Booga Boogas" chime in? Thanks for connecting with me.
Thanks for telling us your wonderful story, Annie! It brought up memories for me, of drawing outlines of horses and unicorns and butterflies over and OVER again, for my daughter and her friends to color. Back then I had my own set of "booga booga"s - and you are sooo right - showing our work does get WAY easier the more we do it! xoxo
ReplyDeleteSarah! Great to "see" you :-)
DeleteI am pretty sure a lot of us have a similar story. Good to look back once in awhile and pat ourselves on the back - Thanks you for stopping by!
So glad to hear it gets easier ~ today I was actually going to set up a FB business page to step out a bit more with my art. I find it difficult not having sold or licensed ANYTHING (minus a couple etsy items over several years) to step out on a social media site. There is a need to have a few deals of some sort to actually feel legit selecting "Artist" in the FB menu - so I started the page and deleted it. For me, it's hardest with friends and family - so now they "know" about my big dreams but about a dream that hasn't materialized and frankly, who knows if it will kind of thing.. I worry too much about what others think. Big Sigh...thanks for sharing your experience! it certainly feels good to read -
ReplyDeleteMiss Tara! You are an artist :-)
DeleteIt has only been with in the last couple years I included artist in how I introduce myself, use to be: "I am a graphic designer", now it is "I am a graphic designer AND licensed artist". That felt so weird for awhile.
When you launch that FB page and we can round up some likes before you show your family - Post it in some of the Art Licensing groups to get likes/support - tell your family it is a hobby if that sounds better to you.
I was worried people wouldn't show up for me and look - here you are! <3 Thank you for sharing your experience - go get 'em!
Hah! It never gets easier showing your art. LOL. After 20 years of full-time painting in both the licensing and fine art worlds, I still get a little jittery displaying my art in public (including facebook!!). After all, it's a little piece of yourself that you're sending out into the world.
ReplyDeleteHey Bob!
DeleteThank you so much for sharing that. That helps me feel a lot better and 'normal'. EVERYONE should check out your work! http://bobpennycook.com/ The tree painting on the top right of your page is still one of my favorites :-)
Thanks for being your wonderful, candid self, Annie! You do a lot to make it feel less scary.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great reminder for myself! One little step at a time is just fine :-) Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteGreat story Annie. I was just thinking about the very same thing in essence. How often people hide their talents for fear of judgement or not being accepted by the populace. Taking small steps is a great way to get going. Reminds me of a 12 step program, lol.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your great comment Jasmine :-)
DeleteALOHA Annie - Thank you for sharing your experiences. I imagine even that has to be difficult sometimes, but you are so forthright and open about it. This is my first SURTEX coming up and even though I have been a touring artist for decades, I still get the jitters sometimes, but I am also so excited to share my art & have fun! I'm starting to get a real sense of the wonderful and supportive group of talented artists there are in the licensing world and you certainly are one of them. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHi John! GREAT to connect with you! There is usually an artist meet up Monday Morning at Surtex (basement food area) - I will have a pink back pack with my "Annie" logo/signature - be sure to say hello to me. When it gets closer to May, I will post here on my blog what time I think I will be there. — for me talking about jitters, makes the calm down and sometimes go away :-) Thank you for sharing your experience with all of us.
DeleteALOHA again Annie - I forgot to put my URL in to let you know who is commenting! LOL..Let's hope this is not an indication of things to come!
ReplyDeleteTHANKS
Annie, You are such an inspiration! Since my background is largely in fine arts, it's the graphic arts part of it that gives me the "booga boogas." So far, I have waded into the water with a fb business page, and a POD website on FAA. I have even created a "licensing" website -- just completed this week! If it weren't for you, and others like you who share what they know, I would feel completely alone in this. I'm learning Photoshop as I go, so that I'll be ready to produce if/when I can meet up with a manufacturer. It must be an amazing feeling to know that your art is being enjoyed by others in their daily lives.
ReplyDeleteHi! You have a LOT accomplished (*applause*:-) Even though I have been a graphic designer for 20+ years, I am sure a manufacturer will want something I don't know how to do - seriously who knows everything!?! The manufacturer will have someone on staff who will know. Someone in one of the great art licensing communities will know.
DeleteI doubt Thomas Kinkade knew Photoshop (well I don't know him, so maybe he did). But you get the idea.
THANK you for such kind words! You made my week :-) Keep in touch, I would love to see your new website.
Thank you Ann for sharing your story. I always picked up some ideas or tips and encouragement from your blog to move forward towards my dream !
ReplyDeleteHi May! Thank you so much. Your words mean a lot to me :-)
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