Pampering Myself and I’d Rather Be in the Studio!
Posted by: Cynthia in Art Marketing, Life in General
I spent most of yesterday in the studio and was pretty productive which felt great. So now you might be wondering where I’m going with this post given the title? Slowly, I’ve started adding inventory to my wholesalecrafts.com artist page, and was pleasantly surprised yesterday to receive an inquiry about my work from an upscale gift shop. My page on wholesalecrafts.com went live on March 13th - and I’m curious how long it might take to get a sale. The owner wanted to know if some of my pieces came in larger sizes - so my quest right now is to make a larger sized pasta type bowl, similar to the one above without excessive warping. It feels good to have a challenge & mission.
Speaking of wholesalecrafts.com, it is not free. It cost $395.00 for a year for artists to join, and is free for screened buyers. I figure a year’s time will be a good indicator whether it is a good avenue for my work. I do a few art fairs every year, and they are exhausting (and not exactly cheap either) - so if wholesalecrafts.com can bring buyers to me, it will mean less art fairs, though I do enjoy connecting with people in person who eventually take my work home.
When I finally came inside the house from the studio, it was almost 5:30 and I decided to take a bath - not something I do very often. It’s self indulgent and I don’t normally feel like I can afford to spend an hour soaking in the tub. Since it was Saturday night, I gave myself permission to pamper myself a bit and headed upstairs with an icy cold margarita and my copy of I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The artist’s no excuse guide to self promotion by Alyson B. Stanfield. I received it over a month ago, and it’s been sitting unread on my night stand since I can’t seem to keep my eyes open once my head hits the pillow. I started reading chapter 13, “Share, Don’t Sell” on building a mailing list. I took one of Alyson’s classes almost a year ago today, and I still don’t have an organized email mailing list - though I certainly have collected addresses. The good thing about Alyson’s book, is that you don’t need to read the book in order. You can jump around and find the information that you need - and there’s a ton of great information packed inside those pages.
Venus of Willendorf, circa 24,000 - 22,000 BCE
Meanwhile, I glanced down at my body while I was in the bath, and realized that I haven’t been taking care of myself lately. Naked, my body resembles the Venus of Willendorf. Okay, it’s really not that bad and water does serve as a magnifying glass. But, it reminded me that as artists, we really need to take care of ourselves. Art takes a lot of energy - both mental and physical, especially ceramics. I’ve gained a little weight over the winter. I think it’s had something to do with the fact that I couldn’t exercise like I would have liked since I suffered through a 5 week long chest cold that resulted in bouts of coughing if I did anything more strenuous than walking up a flight of stairs.
My running season is right around the corner - Denver Fit starts up on April 12th this year and I think I’m going to sign up for the full marathon this year, instead of just the half. Glutton for punishment? Most definitely. My husband once joked that he was going to buy me some Focus Factor since sometimes I seem to be all over the place. I think in tangents. In reality, running causes me to focus. I just realized that’s what I’m missing right now and why everythingl seems a bit off for me right now (and why I’ve put on a little weight). Remember my last post? Deepak Chopra also mentioned that exercise has the same effect as drugs when it comes to feeling happier.
So, what’s my point? Take care of yourself - your body, mind and career. If you don’t who will?
~Cynthia
Tags: alyson stanfield, denver fit, focus factor, i'd rather be in the studio, venus of willendorf, wholesalecrafts.com
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I’ll be curious how Wholesalecrafts.com works out for you. Sounds like a similar set up to TODL.com, but at a fraction of their cost. And TODL is more focused on furtniture, fixtures, and other interior design stuff, so the art gets kind of lost.
Hey, sounds like wholesalecrafts.com will work out for you. Congratulation’s, oh, and belated happy birthday. I’ve enjoyed this post … as usual full of great things to read about.
Good luck with wholesalecrafts. It’s good to explore new avenues…
I think you need to put a http://www. in the wholesalecrafts.com link.
Congratulations on a response already. I like how you compare the cost of it to doing artfairs. I hadnt thought about that and it is certainly something to think about.
Unfortunately, I dont need the magnification of water to look like Venus of Willendorf. Sigh. Been seriously thinking about cutting back on art to maybe two things to concentrate on so I can make “working out and getting in shape” my full time job.
I’m curious too, Dan - I was also considering The Artful Home or The Guild’s Sourcebook - but those aren’t exactly cheap either. Well, I think the Artful Home doesn’t cost anything except a % per sale.
Hi Nancy - thank you and I sure hope so. But, I have realistic expectations.
Thanks LB!
You’re right, Janet - and I had a typo, so I just corrected the link. I’ve spent anywhere from $75.00 to $275.00 last year to reserve a spot for an art booth - so if I consider the $395.00 to be the cost of a booth - only I get it the whole year and not just a weekend, it doesn’t seem so bad. I love your gocco prints, they could translate into so many things - and I do think it’s super important to take care of your body.
Cynthia, I hope Wholesalecrafts.com works out well for you. Keep up posted.
I’ve been enjoying Alyson’s book, and I love that you can read it in a random fashion. It’s a great review on the parts where I’ve taken classes from her, and much new info for new thoughts and actions.
I got a good laugh at the Venus.
Best to you!
Hey Venus! Given that you do functional, wholesalecrafts may be a good fit for you. Make sure your first orders are profoma. Don`t trust the buyer reviews in all cases. Also keep track of when the buyer guides come out and do some online feature adds for $15 around those times. When the guide comes out the buyers hit the website hot and heavy for a few weeks. Enough of my nattering. See ya.
you are the best blogger.. I especially like the venus photo and feel very similar…YUCh…but tomorrow …yep tomorrow…i get back on rack…been sayin’ that every other day now…I also will check the book out…and keep workin’ on the dang taxes!!!!
Hi Jean - I just started reading another little chapter last night. It is a terrific refresher as you mentioned.
Thanks for the tips, John - I’ve slowly been navigating around the site and was wondering when a good time would be to purchase an online feature. Good advice to on proforma - I had to refer to my notes as to what that was…
Today was my day to get out and run too, Judi - but wouldn’t you know it we woke up to snow and are under a winter storm warning. Those 60 degree days were such a tease.
It is so hard for me to want to work on marketing at all, much less have an organized system. I know much about what I am supposed to do, just find it very difficult to motivate myself to do it. I’ve given myself the first few months of this year off from that sort of thing, but now it’s starting to sneak into my thinking again. Hopefully, this will be the year I get organized about it. Maybe for incentive I’ll add Alyson’s book to my collection.
Congratulations on the nibble from the gift shop! That’s exciting.
And happy belated birthday!
I know what you mean, Angela - I try to ignore certain things, but then I’ve created such a backlog of things I have to do and it becomes unmanageable. Thank you and no belatedness needed - my birthday is today.
Yea! for Cynthia! Good work on the wholesale artist thing-y. And happy birthday, girl. In two months it is my birthday, does that make us ‘cusp’ people?
I’m reading “Retrain Your Brain, Reshape Your Body,” from the library right now and our study group decided to work from it at our meeting today, so I’m excited about that. I’ve always said overeating is a head thing. Maybe I’m right!
Hope it was a happy birthday!
As to marketing…erggh! not my forte. I’m flat out coming up with a price for anything.
And I should get out of here and work on some plates while the “ferrets” are asleep!
Congrat’s on getting a nibble over at wholesale….I hope that works out for you…to the Moon!
We should start a celebrity artist fit club….we are all stars dontcha know? LOL
If you get the time this year do you think we could talk about some good sized everyday bowls for us and maybe a cake plate again? I mean right now I’m broke again….so no hurries, but I wanted to talk with you about it now, early on, because that cake plate is still something I want from your hands. Maybe with the new kiln you could do one now? I don’t mean right now but this year? I’m saving my pennies for you, you are worth it, and the wait. Love to you!
Cynthia: How wonderful to be compared to the Venus of W! She is an icon of all art history. Not sure about those breasts, though.
Thank you for the mention. Mostly, I enjoy thinking about someone reading IRBITS with a margarita. Too perfect!
I think I might need that book, Mary!
Birthday was good, but I felt a little hung over from big meal and chocolate cake, Dinahmow.
I was just thinking about you Heather - I have the cracked cake platter sitting on my counter mocking me.
It’s a great combo, Alyson! Really good stuff in your book.
hi Cynthia,
I read your comment on my blog about wholesale. I hate wholesale but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good solution for you. My friend Sara Paloma loves wholesale and that’s all she does, and she does quite well with it. So don’t despair! Wholesalecrafts.com will bring you buyers, no doubt, and you may find that it’s a great fit for you. Whitney