Tag: #onlineshop

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More Than Taking A Pottery Class

Wanted to address this subject of the popularity of Ceramic classes which seems to have had a burst of popularity and return to making things with your hands, As an instructor of a wheel throwing class I see a great amount of people that take the classes to learn and improve their skill set, others that use it more of a social outlet and way to learn something new and then there is a small group of individuals that want to use it as a source of income, a side hustle, this is dedicated to you…….

From the outside looking in it may seem easy to some that living off what you create in the studio “seems” easy enough but the life of a Maker/Potter isn’t as easy as some might think.

Yes everyone can sign up for a class, learn to hand build or wheel throw. and learn how to glaze or learn couple of decorative techniques and then BOOM! You think you are a potter?

I come across this quite frequently in my line of work as in instructor, and the illusion is sometime quite amusing.

Skill set is one thing, but the making of a style or esthetic takes years of trials and error, to learn primarily what you like, make products that follow that style, promote products through venues, popups or thru galleries to get your name out there are all elements of setting up a way to create a side-hustle that you actually can make some income. I have done this for years and believe me. Online shops are full of good intentions, but in reality are full of mediocre products that mostly look the same with no character that sets them aside from the rest……

Where do you see your artistic creativity going? Who do you want to compete with? Which venues are you going to choose to promote your creativity? These are some of the important questions you have to ponder before you set out to sell your work online or in person thru popups or galleries.

Not a criticism per se, but too many times I see this happen to some people I teach that the craftsmanship and technique of wheel throwing is only an element of the whole process to have work that respects your design esthetic that followers want to acquire…. Think about this as the road to this is always different for each creative maker.

Am leaving it here for you all to think about it, where do you find yourself in road from creativity to commerce? Let me know

Peace out until next time.

thehornypotter

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Studio Time and Something Old &New For the Holidays

Back to the studio with a lot on my plate at the moment, outside regional shows, jurying for a holiday show, teaching a workshop and of course the beginning of holiday show production and commissions. Busy time in the new solo studio as I get accustomed to the entire space, looking into new directions of work for the holidays and never a dull moment, always have my hands in clay or painting new work to replace those that have been sold.

As these Holidays come closer, many of us are preparing work for the upcoming sales online and in person and we need to think about creating an opportunity for clients and followers to see something new from all of us especially in these times. An adaptation, new formats and price points and of course more affordable original art that can be gifted.

The most important aspect of trying new directions is to see the reaction to new work, in a range of price points from affordable to more expensive items for the true art enthusiasts. But as prices of goods, supplies, shipping are on the rise, we need to keep our costs and price points varied. It is always a test to see what is the customer is willing to spend for themselves or for friends and family. Be aware that in order to grow your audience, look at the possibilities to create work that can fit all or some of the pockets of your followers.

I have noticed the requests of my ongoing commissions asking for smaller sized work as holiday gifts, Some times we go on auto-pilot when the holidays come around and make and produce the same stuff as the year before. Seen that,Been there,Nothing New…. Is some of the reactions I have observed from a lot of people that are doing shows that are not financially rewarding as years past.

Being an artist means that you always need to be on the search for the cutting edge work that sometimes people do NOT expect from you. Subject matter or technique need to be explored and sometimes flipped on it’s side. New formats or color ways are just a part of the beginning of adding a “risk factor” to your current work in order to see the reaction from followers, clients or friends…… And can this new road become financially successful? This is what we need to find out…

Take a chance and create something in a new direction, see the reactions and gain insight if it can be a new part of your current body of work…. Or just a commercial success to bring a bit more stability and variation to your current process of creativity…… The roads might be successful and sometimes not, but we as creatives need to know and let our audience see that we attempt to do new things in new directions that sometimes might take time to gain in popularity or creative income. It is an investment in ourselves that we do not box ourselves into a corner, doing things that everyone expects…..Surprise yourself and others with a new direction…… Let me know what the response is to a new line of work….

thehornypotter

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Product Variations for the Holiday Season

As Summer is drawing to a close, and most of us are thinking about preparation for the Holiday seasons, Many of you creatives have to keep in mind that updating your work for the Holidays is important to show growth in new directions, and to test out new lines of work to see the new possibilities of financial gain in new directions of work.

I have often seen when returning to holiday shows of friends and researching new venues, that some creatives always have the same objects for sale as they did in previous seasons.Same merch, with maybe a slight variation in color but same old same old product with nothing new on the horizon. In order to increase sales and grow your audience of new admirers of your work, you need to give a bit of new product variation to your setup whether online or at a Holiday show….This is vitally important to give yourself the opportunity to have new work for existing clients and to test out the waters on newer lines of work, see the public’s reaction in order to draw some conclusions to your artistic strife after the holidays are over, and for future shows.

Begin with what has been financially successful in the past and modify existing size or format, offering high quality reproduction alternatives for gifting during the holidays and try out some new directions to test out your current audience of admirers. Diversify price points with newer work, and allow yourself a bit of room to decide the what should be the right prices for newer work and older work that has remained in your inventory.

Too many artists produce one size, one style, one or two color variations of past work and never think about WHY the do not sell as much as before, Think about different categories of art consumers, how to attract younger patrons that are on a budget while providing newer work in format and style to returning patrons. After the Labor Day holidays, many are starting to shop and you need to know that your social media entries need to be up to date so that your audiences can plan to see what you are working on, and pre-purchase work that is still a #WIP(work-in progress). The Online reality will hit many of you as the holidays near, that is now part of the game. Without an online presence, it will be difficult to reach a vaster audience.

Plan and choose wisely, provide several price points for your admirers and also allow yourself room to”Grow” artistically and also to grow a bigger audience to your creative endeavors…..

All for now, thehornypotter

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The Art of Pivoting in Times of Covid

As most of you can see, it has been some time since my last entry and I want to let you all know that I have been around and creating but ALL has changed with my business and creative process during these trying times of Covid-19 for all of us in the artist community. While off the grid and making and concentrating on the new ways to Pivot my work towards online platforms, I wanted to give some feedback to many of you in the same situations to learn to put yourself, and your work online in these uncertain times.

This might seem like another job but is extremely necessary for all of us to use our creative energy to make, design and produce work that is geared more towards the onset of working from home, studying and working online and the other virtual realities that BEFORE we didn’t seem vital to artist engagement and participating in show, fairs or other competition to put our work on display.

Now we find it necessary to update, websites, create online stores, participate in virtual shows and indirectly keep followers informed on what you are crafting, asking for support from the public to #buylocal and #supportlocalartists through social media and other online outlets where the online world can see what you have been up to. There are many people and organizations out there that have created ways to support the artist community in these times of Covid and many opportunities from to take advantage of where funds are available to artists and makers, that we should all explore and take into consideration.

“Pivoting ” your work and the ways you work is a game that not all artist feel comfortable with. But, as we are all in this battle against the pandemic and in for the long haul, this game now becomes essential. We all need to hone in our skills of participating online, selling online or engage online through social media and other platforms. The learning curve might be steep for some, but there are many DIY videos on YouTube or other platforms that help you understand the way to better your skill set.

Thankfully, most of my Social Media posting and interacting with followers has helped keep me afloat with commissions,(on a consistent level) from followers that want to support me and the arts community in general, and they do so through social media.

I have had to create an online shop, Linked to my social media account as sort of a look out point for my work for sale and a starting place that people can check out what i have to sell, pricepoints, shipping costs or booking appointments to come to my studio, if they want, or just to start a conversation of possible custom work….. While cocooning from home people are now investing in their home studios and work spaces, many are fortunate to be able to WFH(work from home) and our looking to make the cocoon a nicer place to work and dwell.

How do you change your work to adapt to the Pandemic? Inspire through social media how your art work can work into these environments, learn to profile your target customer and the their needs in order to generate work that can generate sales…. These are few thoughts that I want to leave you all with to ponder until I write again…Sorry again for the silence but 2020 was an atypical year for all of us. Be safe, Be kind and will be back to blogging on a little more regular basis now that it is a new year….

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Creativity &the New Normal

picture for online store

Since my last entry and still today , many artists and creative professionals have had to adapt to the closures of business due to this pandemic. It is essential at this time, that we continue to create and find other methods to move our work online which is slowly becoming the new norm. Our Creative Community is one of the many places that due to lock downs & social distancing, We have to use this time to alter our game plans of ways to create in our spaces,if possible, and find new platforms on which to participate to let your followers, public and patrons can Be aware that “Yes” we are still hear, and the online presence is more important than before.

I work in one of the few artist community where, due to the Pandemic, Our studios, (usually open to the public) are still closed even though were are still able to work from our spaces and finding new ways to sell our work is imperative to pay rent and the bills just like everyone else. Some artists have closed up studios and look for a new place to work, others have been concentrating on opening online shops and revising their websites and most importantly, many have continued to apply to VIRTUAL shows to get a bit more traffic and interest in their work and exposure.

We have to realize that things will never be like it was before, and a return to a “New Normal” is going to take a longer time than most realize. Galleries,Museums and Art spaces all have to create a new way on how to do openings in a Safe and Social Distancing manner.

We have not experience this before, The Creative community needs to observe the other sectors that are also being effected by this crisis,Restaurants,Hotel&Travel Industries are all looking a new ways to serve the community while keeping everyone safe. We need to watch what is happening in those sectors and use the good ideas,that will effect all to our advantage.

Remember, we are all in this together. We need to help our fellow artists in their endeavors, regardless of their own personal choices. Share our thoughts when asked, and most importantly, Do not be scared to try new things in order to continue to making your art. It is so important to not get discouraged from all the isolation we have experienced in the past weeks. Share with your artists community and support them in any way that you can. Be nice, but also be open to change. It might not feel comfortable but it is necessary.

I would love to have some feedback or links to creative ways that are out there or that you have tried or experienced. Till the next time , Be calm, take a deep breath and continue to create.

thehornypotter