I’ve been M.I.A. for quite a while now, due to the overload of events I had penciled into my planner for the past couple months. Although I was definitely stressed over all of them, they were all things I’d do again in a heart beat. The past couple months have been so exciting and full of beginnings for me, and I love it.
It all started, as you all probably know by now due to my countless posts about selling prints, with the final decision that I’d be making a trip to Ireland for art camp. With this decision, also came the realization that it wouldn’t come free of work, which I was, and am, all up for. I planned to start producing prints of most of my artwork, and selling them to help with the expenses. Sounds simple enough, right? Haha.. I thought so too.
To begin my “print selling journey” I first had to make a website that would display all of them and allow you to pay online if preferred. That itself took much longer than I had expected. Once I had my site up though, I started on the actual prints. The trial and error experienced with that whole process was UNBELIEVABLE. Having to measure and crop them as well as get the color to show correctly was a big time consumer that put me slightly behind. It’s safe to say that all the printing, cutting, and packaging, has been well worth the while though.
To help sell more prints, my art teacher (which I owe basically everything to, she’s absolutely amazing.), helped me set up an art show at the Cornerstore in downtown Glasco. This took place on the 17th of May, and it was such a wonderful experience for me. The amount of support I got, from people showing up in the first place (I was a little worried it’d end up just be my mom, art teacher, and me), the amount of prints I ended up selling, the comments I received, how many people seemed genuinely interested in what I was doing and want to see me succeed, I had the time of my life.
I remember having the exact thought, “I can’t wait to do this for the rest of my life” when I had finished setting up. I stood at the doorway and took it all in for a good 5 minutes. I truly could not stop smiling the whole evening. Watching people walk around and look at all my pieces I had set up brought me so much joy, I don’t even know how to explain it or put it into words. I was amazed with the night. I know it may have not seemed like much to people who had stopped by, but it meant the world to me that they showed up.
I also have gotten the opportunity to display some of my art at some of the branches of the bank I work for. This also sounds like something little, but is a big step to me. I have gotten messages from people I don’t even know and am stunned by how many people have now seen my art through all of this. So I go back to the beginning where I said, it was a lot of work, but it has been so, so much worth it.
I believe that all this experience I’m getting with exposing myself to the “art business” through shows, displays, and online, is going to help me a lot more than I know/realize. That’s why I’m so grateful for the participation I’ve gotten from everyone. I see this as preparing me for what I’ll hopefully get to use as my career.
The response I’ve received from everyone is astonishing. I honestly don’t know how to thank everyone enough. I just want you all to know that every penny I’ve obtained will not be going to waste. I plan to make the absolute most of this trip I’ve been blessed with the opportunity of going on. I also plan on making a lot of videos while overseas to share all that I’ll be doing. Thank you again, everyone, for everything that you’ve all done. I can not wait to take you all along my journey with me.
Below is a link of a video I put together with clips from the show I had in Glasco.
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| Bailey and I on the 17th |
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