In the last couple months, about 30,000 items featuring my art have been sold to people all over the world. Prints, canvases, signs, cd covers, magazine covers, home decor items. All things with my licensed artwork. Thirty thousand is not really that much in the world of licensing and it is not really very much in the way of financial success. Visual artists make about as much licensing art as indie musicians do putting their music on Spotify. Licensing is good if you like it. It's that simple. I love it. I love working with manufacturers and designers, trend forecasting, and I love creative problem solving. Luckily (in non-injury times), I have a husband with a job and health insurance and while my income certainly helps pay the bills, it is not a gold mine.
Still, it's my thing and it is good. The thing about my thing that I have been missing lately is knowing who buys my art. What is their story? I miss the connection that comes from creating something with my hands that will be the special thing in someone's home. I know the joy that art can bring to a home. I have waited and waited for my favorite artists to have sales and when they put new art up I hold my breath and hope it is not $100 plus shipping in months when that is over my budget. I totally get it. I love collecting art as much as everyone! One of the reasons I do
Pay What You Can art days is purely selfish. I like knowing someone is being made happy by my art. I have gotten a lot of emails from people saying they can't afford what my art is worth.
What it is worth. On those special days,
my art is worth the joy it can bring. I do not judge anyone by what they can afford. I am so happy to create art for people that fits in their budget when I can. Some months I can do it more often than others. This holiday season I have created cheerful art for one sister to give her sister battling cancer.
Oh how happy I was to be able to give my own sister joyful things when she was battling cancer a few years ago! I have made art for a husband to give his wife. I have made art for families. I have made art for people who wanted to give themselves a gift. Sometimes the art had a $5 purchase price and sometimes it had a $300 price. The dollar price had no bearing on my joy and I hope not on the recipient's joy. Sure, sometimes the selling price does have bearing on what I order at Starbucks, but not the joy I feel about creating the art or who is buying it. I love the experience of connecting over art. I do not get that connection with the 30,000 people who buy my art in the mass market.
Thank you to everyone who has been connecting with me and sharing your art joy with me the last few months. I will continue to offer Pay What You Can when I am able to, even as football season comes to a close soon.
PS: Winter Kimono Cottage is available as is House In The Hills.
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Shop: Prints and Greeting cards | Original Art | Pillows
