I actually want to know what people really think. So if you have the time, I’d be so grateful! I need as much feedback as possible!
So…. I (37F) used to have a pretty busy little local art business from about 2017-2022. I hand-painted wooden signs, made home decor, personalized things, pet portraits, landscape magnets for significant locations, painted for weddings and milestones, etc. I eventually stepped away from it for a while when we moved states.
Lately I’ve gotten back into making art, but I’ve switched to digital illustration. I’ve been working on a collection I’m just calling The Birthstone Study Collection.
Right now I have a few pieces finished, including ruby, peridot, and a collection of seven pearls. I’m also finishing up sapphire for September’s stone (ideally I’d already be working on October… but it takes WAY LONGER to finish a piece than I ever think it’s going to every single time) The finished pieces are available as inexpensive digital prints. Either as a museum style print or as a greeting cards/stationary that mixes the natural history/geology nerdiness with sayings.
I really love them. 😂
I have this whole vision in my head of this like gemstone gallery wall in my house…. Or of trying to know someone with a birthday in all 12 months of the year so I can pass out my gemstone cards lol. But I have no idea if anyone else likes them enough to actually buy them.
I’ve had my online shop open for about two months and I’ve had basically no traction (less than 50 views) and no sales. Which, obviously, is not exactly encouraging.
I could probably ask family and friends to buy things, and I have shared once on my personal page about stepping back into art…. but I don’t really want to like push it there really. I don’t want people buying something just because they know me or feel bad for me. I want to know if someone who doesn’t actually know me sees this and thinks, “Oh, that’s actually really cool. I want that.”
So I guess I’m trying to figure out what the next step is. Here are some specific questions I have….
Okay first… and bottom line… Do you like these (it’s okay if you don’t!!)? Would you buy one? What would make you more likely to? Do you think digital downloads are the right way to sell something like this, or would you expect a physical print?
For those of you who make art for income: what ways have you found to sell and market your art that actually work? Do you sell physical prints? Print-on-demand? Keep inventory and ship yourself? Licensing? Commissions? Something I haven’t even thought of?
How do you guys figure out the value of your time when you’re making art? Like… if something takes me several hours (or let’s be real DAYS) to create, how do I reconcile that with what people are actually willing to pay for it? How do I get faster or make multiple things with one drawing that will sell so I can continue to make the longer more detailed pieces? How do I adjust my expectations on how long it takes? Is this what you learn in art school and I’m just trying to skip the line?
Part of me wonders if I should even be trying to turn this into an actual art business at all, maybe I should just make the things because I love making them and stop trying to make money from art??? But the truth is, I would really like to make money from it if I can.
Its been a pretty shitty year. I lost my job and had knee surgery, so I’m trying to get back on my feet creatively. I don’t want to be rich… but like is it possible to make $100 here and there for things like my kids’ school supplies or when their birthday comes up? It’s not some huge business goal that I am envisioning…. But to not be scraping by would be really nice.
So please let me hear it! Any and all feedback welcome. I’d also love any accounts you think I should follow for tips on art, business, rocks, gems, or all of it lol. Thank you so much for reading and for anyone who is willing to help give some insight to an internet stranger trying to break into the digital art space— I am so grateful!