Made my First Sale

I have been busy the last few weeks with a new Art and Design course I am studying, so I have little time to continue marketing my art online and offline, and my blog posts will be much less frequent than usual. I did my routine checks today to find a nice little (HUGE) surprise to see I had sold a print, my very first sale! I am so happy :)

http://fineartamerica.com/saleannouncement.html?id=0089dd4456d5983e91b8fb8c431a3066#comment1781880

'The Outcome of War is in Our Hands', is the print that sold:



Just want to say a big thank you to the buyer from Beaverton, OR - United States.

Hopefully this is the first of many! :)

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Don't Quit your Day Job

Right now, the economic climate for the majority of artist looks particularly bleak. With the financial instabilities of most artistic careers - with low earnings,  if any at all - we need a day job to get by for living costs and funding for our job as an artist. A day job means spending the majority of our hours working as opposed to making art, which can sometimes negatively effect the final product of the art. It can take a long time to juggle both the day job, which brings the money in, and your passion as an artist, which is still waiting for it's lucky break. It just takes some time getting used to it.

At the minute I am trying to find a job, to give me funds for studying a degree in art; to obtain a certificate in teaching; to become an art teacher; to build a harmonious combination of a day job as an art teacher and an artist in my free time. Yea, I'm thinking way ahead into the future but I feel this is what I have to do, to live a healthy life as an artist with a day job that I will enjoy.

I felt this was the only was way I can see myself getting by in the future, some of you have a job unrelated to art, purely for the money, which you may or may not like. I think it is interesting to see what sorts of jobs other artists have in order to get by.

So my questions for you are:

- What are your thoughts on the struggles an artist can face throughout their career?

...and

- What is your current day job?

I asked this question on Fine Art America, here are some of the job replies:

Benn Van: I'm a senior architectural draughtsmen, and won't quit my job.I enjoy it too much.
Peter Piatt: This is my day and night Job. I set my own hours, bookings, prices, and set my coffee pot for 6:00 am. But this life is not for everyone. (especially for those who have a real life and family).
Jeff Kolker: accountant..CPA. Not easy..I am my job, as I have my own accounting firm....
Marlene Burns: this is also my day job, never worked in anything but the art field, for 40 years now. struggles exist in however you find yourself as an artist. the key is how you face them.
Liora Hess: Day job is quality assurance in the medical field. Even if I were selling enough work, I would have to keep the day job because of the insurance.

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Featured Artist: Christine Zipps

BIOGRAPHY

There is simply no way that I can not make art. For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to vibrant color, unique yet symmetrical form and bold texture – especially where those elements are found in nature. Perceptive to the calling of all senses, I look to capture that beauty whether it’s a square inch of a forest floor or a billowing expanse of cloud; a glint in a cat’s eye or bold architectural element blending with one that is alive.
Photography is my medium; the camera is my tool of choice. I see my role as an expressionist – one who brings back the experience to share with others. My images are bold, vibrant, alive, and vulnerable -- honest. I hope that your experience with them will bring joy, excitement, peace or at the very least, a feeling that your time spent with them was worthwhile.
My art brings me great joy. It is a major part of who and what I am. In sharing my art, I share myself. I am deeply honored and humbled by your allowing me the ultimate privilege of doing so today.

WEBSITES / GALLERIES

http://studio-luna-gallery.fineartamerica.com/

http://www.facebook.com/StudioLunaGallery

http://www.facebook.com/MedVegFusion

'Presenting... Studio Luna Gallery' (solo exhibition)
September 2012
at the Tenn Street Art Gallery
Denver, CO

FEATURED ARTWORK

Title

Shukuru

Description
Received "3rd place" from award judge,  John Fielder in "Visions of Light" show (2/11); "Honorable Mention":  in Lone Tree's Annual Show (4/11); and "Honorable Mention" in Littleton Art Depot & Gallery's 'All Colorado Show' (8/11)

Medium

Photograph

Title

Birds of Paradise

Description
Earned "Best of Show" in prestigious, national, "Romancing the ARTS" exhibition in Castle Rock, CO in February 2011..... It was also just accepted by jury into the Ninth Annual Lone Tree Photographic Art Show - another highly respected, national show

Medium

Photograph

Title

Historical Grandeur

Medium

Photograph

Title

Red I

Description
A personal fav - part of a series. Earned EDITORS PICK from betterphoto.com and was just juried into REDHANDED III Show at Tenn Street Coffee & Books - June 2010 - Denver, CO.

Medium

Photograph

Title

Birch Abstract - Tangerine - Paintograph

Medium

Photograph - Digital

Please share Christine's work and feel free to leave any comments and critiques.

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Are you the Local Artist?

When I began my pursuit of a career in art, I used the internet as a tool to share my art with the rest of the world. It was only after a few weeks into my journey as an artist that I thought:

Does my local community even know that I am an artist?

Perhaps this is where I should have started sharing my art, making small ripples around my local town, spreading to bigger ripples and travel miles to neighbouring towns and cities.

The only way some people in my local town had heard of me was from word of mouth. But words do not convey my art. So I made flyers with eye-catching imagery; an outline of my artistic style and intentions; links to my websites, galleries and blog; my address and contact information. I designed the flyers myself but printed them with Vistaprint for a reasonable price. 

Front of Flyer

I usually see many flyers in shops and supermarkets, but I want people to take the time to read my flyer and create an interest in my art. So I thought of all the businesses that have the customer wait for their services, places where you read a paper or magazine like dentists, take aways, restaurants, hair dressers, barbers, laundrettes etc. 

Back of Flyer

After doing this, people in my local area are constantly commenting and congratulating me on my art. I intend to send out another batch of flyers closer to the Christmas season when people need ideas for gifts to loved ones. 

The internet is possibly the greatest tool for selling your art but you should also spread your art around your local area too, it might be take more effort than online marketing, but it is definitely worth it.

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Featured Artist: Melanie Pruitt

BIOGRAPHY

Melanie Pruitt has been painting with watercolor since 2005. She has sold her paintings and ACEO's in a variety of venues including online at eBay and Etsy. She has also won 2 awards in the Southwest Washington Watercolor Society shows in 2009 and 2010. She has also won various "Artist Choice" awards from art groups on EBay.

                

She has studied watercolor technique under Ron Ranson, exploring unique landscape impressionistic techniques and enjoys painting landscapes using her hake brush. 

Melanie has also developed a series of paintings in a style she's titled "Enchanted" as well as continuing to enjoy exploring a variety of styles in the creation of ACEO's.

Her paintings have been purchased by collectors around the world, and she was commissioned by "Cedar House Soaps" for a unique painting of their sales cottage, which was used on their soap labels.

WEBSITES / GALLERIES

http://www.etsy.com/shop/thecreatorspalette

http://melaniepruitt.artistwebsites.com/

http://thecreatorspalette.com/

http://www.ebsqart.com/Artist/Melanie-Pruitt/19597/

FEATURED ARTWORK

Title

Garden Enchantment

Description

"Garden Enchantment" is a unique, one of a kind painting. It incorporates many of the special effects of Melanie's "Enchanted" series of paintings - this featuring beautiful granulating paints blended into an impressionistic background - all to create Melanie's unique style and interpretation of nature. This painting feels alive with soft summer breezes and the buzz of the hummingbird. It measures 16″ wide x 12″ high and is painted with artist quality paints on Arches cold press paper.

Medium

Watercolour on Paper

Title

Serenity

Description

"Serenity", painted on rough press with artist quality paints, is an original 11"x15" watercolor painting of a quiet landscape, a serene barn and a path that surrounded by Fall and Autumn colors! This is a place in my imagination... a place to escape, commune with nature, breathe in the fresh air and find peace and serenity. But maybe it will speak something different to you!

Medium

Watercolour on Paper

Title

Enchanted Rose

Description

"Enchanted Roses" is an original watercolor by Melanie Pruitt. It features Melanie's signature enchanted look with three old garden pink roses. It measures 11"x15" and is painted with artist quality paints on rough press 100% cotton paper.

Medium

Watercolour on Paper

Title

Bali Hali

Description

I believe i belong to the island of Kauai! My heart longs for it when I'm away. On my last visit, I took a lot of pictures as painting reference pictures so that I could soar back to the island while painting. This is painted from one of those reference pictures. It is of the famous Bali Hai - well known from the musical "South Pacific". I've used some impressionistic techniques, and some wonderful granualting watercolor paints for texture.

Medium

Watercolour on Paper

Title

Enchanted Butterfly

Description

"Enchanted Butterfly" painting has some wonderful texture and movement with beautiful granulating paints, many splashes of color. It has my trademark "Enchanted" lighting that brings a lovely mystical movement to it. Painted on 300lb Hot Press Fabriano watercolor paper with artist quality transparent watercolors. It is painted on an 11"x14" sheet. The edges were taped and have a straight edge with aprox. 1/4" white edging.

Medium

Watercolour on Paper

Please share Melanie's work and feel free to leave any comments and critiques.

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