I painted this canvas last week for a customer. (Above is a little photo montage I put together of elements of the canvas) She wanted a canvas with a giraffe on it for her baby boy's room. As we discussed the design we decided on a mommy & baby giraffe. I LOVED the way it turned out [and I don't seem to mind telling you]. My finished products almost always stray a bit from my initial design. For this canvas I was going to have both giraffes with a side profile, facing each other. But when I painted the body of the baby, it looked better as a "behind" view (& as a bonus it saved room for all the text that needed to go on there - his full name & birth date). I thought it was so sweet.
I am still working on defining cREaTe a bit more & finding my niche on Etsy. Additionally, I am working on more ways to network, advertise & get the "new version" of cREaTe off the ground. If you have any ideas or leads for me, let me know! I'm exploring unknown territory. :) With my old site I just sat on a dusty road with random passer-byers. Some were from out of town (internet orders), some were familiar faces (friends & family), but I appreciated every "drop in". :)
But I know if I want to be taken seriously, I need to take my business seriously... so I'm putting the BUSINESS back into my ART BUSINESS. This is a tough job when my 1st job is to be a MOM... there just aren't enough hours in the day (which is why I get about 6 hours of sleep a night). I also am a terrible sales person, which is why my dusty-back-road-of-a-website tactic worked for me before. But I have been inspired by many, many women whose blogs & Etsy pages I frequent and have learned that you CAN have it all, but you need to WORK at it - to make it all work.
I am quite certain you will have to read "I am still finding my niche on Etsy" for an entire year. :) So just get used to it. I've had an epiphany the last month or so & that is ... that WORK actually requires WORK. I had no idea... In the mean time, I will take any thoughts, ideas, sites that feature handmade items, that you have to pass along to me. Thanks in advance! :)
I'll start...
Oh & I have another one, which is an idea given to me from Dana at Plum Tree Studio.
Okay ... 1 more.
So... in order to tie this entire post together ... (I just looked at my title & it's a little random - has since been changed to one that makes more sense) I'm like the little baby giraffe. I am looking upward, eager to grow & look with admiration to those who already are there & are willing to help others reach their full potential. :)
I am still working on defining cREaTe a bit more & finding my niche on Etsy. Additionally, I am working on more ways to network, advertise & get the "new version" of cREaTe off the ground. If you have any ideas or leads for me, let me know! I'm exploring unknown territory. :) With my old site I just sat on a dusty road with random passer-byers. Some were from out of town (internet orders), some were familiar faces (friends & family), but I appreciated every "drop in". :)
But I know if I want to be taken seriously, I need to take my business seriously... so I'm putting the BUSINESS back into my ART BUSINESS. This is a tough job when my 1st job is to be a MOM... there just aren't enough hours in the day (which is why I get about 6 hours of sleep a night). I also am a terrible sales person, which is why my dusty-back-road-of-a-website tactic worked for me before. But I have been inspired by many, many women whose blogs & Etsy pages I frequent and have learned that you CAN have it all, but you need to WORK at it - to make it all work.
I am quite certain you will have to read "I am still finding my niche on Etsy" for an entire year. :) So just get used to it. I've had an epiphany the last month or so & that is ... that WORK actually requires WORK. I had no idea... In the mean time, I will take any thoughts, ideas, sites that feature handmade items, that you have to pass along to me. Thanks in advance! :)
I'll start...
- I need to add photos to a Flikr page. I don't have anywhere where I can show my entire portfolio, now that I no longer have my site! It's on my list of things-to-do.
Oh & I have another one, which is an idea given to me from Dana at Plum Tree Studio.
- Offer some miniature canvases of just simply an object, animal, etc. No personalization ... just being able to appreciate the painting for what it is & makes it much more versatile. And as a bonus - if it's smaller, it's less expensive & takes up less room... which means people can buy more than one. This is very high up on my list of things-to-do!!! I plan on getting my hands one some of these miniature canvases as soon as tomorrow.
Okay ... 1 more.
- I need to change the banner header on my blog & on Etsy. As MUCH as I love [LOVE] the flower & polka dots... it is artwork I cREaTed on the computer, which doesn't exactly represent cREaTe. It needs to be some of my paintings... (*UPDATE: Now done. Thoughts???*)
So... in order to tie this entire post together ... (I just looked at my title & it's a little random - has since been changed to one that makes more sense) I'm like the little baby giraffe. I am looking upward, eager to grow & look with admiration to those who already are there & are willing to help others reach their full potential. :)
2 comments:
growing upward is always better than growing sideways... words of wisdom from your sister. I didn't realize work takes work... maybe that's my problem.
rachel, i love the new banner...it is such a good representation of your work!! i couldn't agree with you more on your post...trying to make a craft into your own small business is a lot of work...but you should LOVE your work first. i will always share any leads or information when it comes my way...oh and the giraffe is soooo cute..i love the soft colors you used on the artwork. so sweet.
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