Shop Launch, Upcoming Markets & Art Thoughts
It has been a good few months since I last wrote a blog post only because I’ve been busy preparing for my art print shop launch! I’m delighted to say that the shop is finally live and I can relax a little. Or not, because, now what?
Ever since launching the shop (which has now been a little over 2 weeks), I’ve been feeling a little lost? I confess I have no idea what I’m doing but I’m doing “something” to keep the momentum going. They say if you wait until you’re ready, you’re never going to start. No one ever truly feels ready, right?
I’m not the best at marketing but I’m now trying to find a foothold on it, specifically using Pinterest. It’s a learning curve but I’m getting a little traction there. To be honest though, I’ve always felt more drawn to marketing my work in person. Although I’m quite introverted, I prefer to meet people in real life rather than behind a screen with very little, even genuine, interaction. So…I’ve decided to partake in some markets!
I applied to a few places with no luck until I received an email back with the go-ahead to participate in FOUR upcoming markets in July and August! I’ll report back on how I prepared for the market, what the outcomes were, and how I found the overall experience. I’m a little nervous and trying not to think of all the negative “what ifs” but I think it's a good step to where I should move next!
(Above) The official signage for the markets! (Below) Prepping art prints and the signage
With the upcoming markets, I’ve been thinking about the kind of art and products I want to create. I’ve always been drawn to art with a message and somehow naturally gravitate towards a drawing of a character and an uplifting message or a “come on get real” sort of pep talk. I think it’s a way of getting my voice out there; wanting to tell people that we should prioritise mental health and ways of being that is human and flawed, without forgetting the growth, compassion and empowerment bit.
The latest piece at the time of writing this blog. Absolutely loving the warm reds, and still very much in love with floral wreaths!
Speaking of empowerment, I’m sure many of you already know about AI and its disturbing impact on the art community, especially with Instagram’s latest utilisation of it. Many, including myself, have decided to move onto a new art showcasing platform called CARA. I wanted to keep an open mind, but to be very honest, I am not keen on social media anymore. I try to keep up with posting reels every so often (and with little traction), and it’s soul-draining. Maybe I just need a break, and get my creative juices back up to good levels.
For now, I’m going to focus on Pinterest and you might want to know why I love it as a user because I wrote about it here before! Check it out if you’d like to know why! Here is also the link to my Pinterest profile if you want to take a look-see hahah.
That’s pretty much it for today’s blog. I will report back very soon! For now, I shall be busy preparing for the markets and brainstorming on future, exciting projects.
