Etsy Goal for 2012

Well, I had set a goal for myself in 2012 that I wanted to make 100 sales. I thought that was kind of lofty thinking at the time, but I actually surpassed it by Christmas time. Online shopping over Thanksgiving was very good for my shop. I'm also convinced that the more art I have available, the more activity (views, treasuries, sales, etc.) happens in the Etsy shop. I've got to set a new goal for this year, but not sure what this is right now. I'd like it not to be a monetary goal, but more of a "self growth as an artist" kind of goal.

I think my new printing press being delivered soon will determine my new goal for this year. More on that soon!

Our Wedding got published!

Check out our wedding story!

http://www.thelaurelofasheville.com/wnc-real-wedding.html

A Completely New Direction

Wow, it's been months since I've written a blog post. Lots of things have been happening...

We're pregnant, and expecting our baby boy any day now!

Life has been really fast and crazy the past few months. I quit my 9-5 marketing design job in September and began working with Heather in her ceramics studio, Element Ceramics. She needed big-time help at the studio after losing her assistant. We had been talking about bringing me on board for a long time, and the opportunity presented itself. We crunched some numbers, planned a lot and made the leap. Now with the baby coming, it will also be great that we can have him at the studio with us during the day. If I kept my old job, it would have been extremely tough on us with our schedules.

We started off with a big studio move from the Wedge building to Depot Street in the River Arts District. Heather was displaced from her old studio, and had to make a move. The new studio is great, and the work flow is much better than the old one.

It's been quite an adjustment for both of us. I've worked in corporate marketing design offices for more than 15 years, so not having a set schedule has been challenging and wonderful at the same time. Also very difficult for Heather, as she has the added pressure for being the main support for our family.

I bring some varied skills to the studio, and help out with some of the basic clay work like rolling slabs, wedging, etc. Shipping and customer relations are a big part of my job, and my marketing/graphics experience will help grow the business as well. I still continue to pursue my printmaking and graphic design in the off-hours when I can.

Life has changed a lot lately. Our baby boy will change it up again soon.
Very excited for what 2013 will bring I will bring to 2013!

Here are some recent studio photos by our favorite photographer, Jameykay Young.

Moleskine Cahier Little Notebook Prints

Here's my first Moleskine little notebook print. I've been wanting to do these for quite a while, and finally ordered some from Amazon to try out some prints. I love the cardboard'ish cover and stitching on these; a nice handmade quality about them, and the company has quite a long history in Europe which is cool.

Ordered a set of three, and only one of them came out perfectly. I pressed too hard with my hand on the linocut stamp and the ink squished too much. I'll order some more and get these up on the shop soon. Also thinking of other little prints I can do...bikes, to-do-list, thought bubbles, etc.

Photographing Prints for Etsy

I decided to try something new with my Etsy shop photos lately. In researching some of my favorite sellers' shops, and seeing what gets selected for front page features, I tried to go with a brighter and cleaner look for my prints. I took some photos of a blank picture frame on a white, crumbly brick wall in my wife's studio. Now, when I make a new block print, I simply take a straight-on photograph of it, and then I can place it on the blank picture frame using Photoshop. The best part is that I can change the color of the print with a click of the mouse, and that offers the customer more color choices without having to pull the actual print until ordered.

This new process saves me a lot of time and headache with trying to get the lighting consistent in the dingy, spider-laden basement studio. I will still take some basic photos (closeups, angles, etc.) of the actual print to accompany this front page shot, so when you click through the listing, you can see alternative views of the print and know what you're buying.

Likes: Bright, clean and consistent...front page worthy

Dis: The black frames are messing with my eyes. Going to get some wooden frames at Ikea this weekend and try those.

What do you think of these new ways to display my prints?

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 The old look; very dark and masculine. Not working for me.

New Print, "Time on Task"

Time on Task; a mantra that my wife learned in art school from one of her least favorite professors. It stuck with her as she started her ceramics business, reminding her to stay focused, facilitate good time management and get things done.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103960172/linocut-block-print-time-on-task-mantra

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Inspired by a favorite movie of my youth, "Something Wicked This Way Comes", is a new sinister looking tee shirt design. It's made up of creepy things like ravens on branches, crow (aka raven) feathers, talons, antlers and moth wings. Available soon in my Etsy shop!