Art Business: Bread and Butter Art - part 2 of 2

[TheKobbin]

I love hearing you go on and on about drawing cats while at the same time learning something about being a freelance artist. You're great. :D

[tetanimations]

@TheKobbin - Thanks. I haven't done this kind of video in a while but I'm hoping to kick start this Channel again from July 2011. Glad you found the information useful.

[tetanimations]

@tetanimations - sorry about that, forgot I was signed into youtube with my TETAnimations account rather than my etourist2 account.

[MrJdguanguan]

How long have you been doing art as a business? Did you go to college for art? I am going to Cosumnes River College in Sacramento California.

[etourist2]

@MrJdguanguan - I've been working freelance since 1995 providing art services such as web design, graphic design and illustration. I started to sell my own art from 1996. I did go to college in Perth (Western Australia) and have a Diploma of Arts (graphic design). Most of my art I've sold directly to buyers online.

[MrJdguanguan]

Thanks a lot etourist2 for this wonderful and helpful suggestions. I am a artist in Sacramento trying to find my market. I enjoy photography and fine arts. Thanks again

[etourist2]

@MrJdguanguan - No problem. I'm glad you found this helpful :-)

[WonderWomanFan4life]

great info bro

[mikartmilo]

I found this very useful thank you.

[etourist2]

@mikartmilo Great to hear :-)

[TiffanySouthall]

how do you suggest getting prints made?

[etourist2]

The easiest way is to use print on demand sites like Imagekind, Redbubble or Cafepress. All of these sites enable you to sell prints of your art online with no cash outlay from you. If you want to sell prints offline (from a gallery or market) then you can order prints from one of the above sites at the base price then apply your own markup - just as you would if you were selling prints online.

[menderfire9]

My bread & butter art was hand painted t'shirts;fanciful fish, parrots, hibiscus & sailboats were my best sellers. I painted & sold approx 20 a day 3 days a week: wholesale at $15. per tee to tourist shops. I never burned out. It is a dynamic & fun goldmine-way to practice strokes, techniques & colors.If you get the right images for some hot tourist area, the shops there will love you.For every $500. I made, the shop made $500. too. Nice. My minimum orders for any store was $500. cod.Go 4 it!

[etourist2]

That sounds like an incredibly high turnover for your work. I don't think I'd be able to keep going at that pace for long. I'm impressed you were able to maintain it.

[WonderWomanFan4life]

@menderfire9

handpainted tshirts? how do you wash them? what did you have on the tshirts?

[menderfire9]

@WonderWomanFan4life I used ordinary acrylic paints, just about any brand will end up very washable in hot or cold water with any kind of soap or detergent and bleach. My first comment mentions the things I painted on tees. I painted the things that were popular with t'shirt buyers in my area. I learned to do very simple, stunning paintings very quickly and cleanly. Study your local market; study simple pictures and simple techniques that pop. Then practice on old t'shirts and get going! :-)

[WonderWomanFan4life]

@menderfire9

sweet. thanks.

[leitermann]

How did you come up with the number 44? Are you trying to beat some past record or meet some past standard, or did you work the number out with some kind of system?

[etourist2]

It's based upon how often I can comfortably complete a painting whilst still having plenty of time left for other work. On average 1 per week equals 4 per month over 11 months. It's also important to have a routine. I don't paint 44 images in one go. I paint one a week (approx) over eleven months. (Don't want to burn out).