Art by Lee White
My convention table flopped- what now? Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry address how to brand your art, find your audience, and keep going through discouragement, while testing out the new Adobe Firefly Beta
ASK A QUESTION
JOIN US ON PATREON
Note: We’ve done our best to provide relevant links to products mentioned in this podcast. Qualifying purchases support SVSLearn and the 3 Point Perspective podcast. Thank you for your patronage!
SHOW LINKS
SVSLearn Foundations Curriculum
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Your mindset determines your success more than anything else. If you decide that you can create the art you’re dreaming of, you’ll do the work it takes to draw those abilities to the surface. No matter how long it takes, you’ll be able to keep moving through discouragement to success.
Every convention, art fair, and project is market research. Record what’s working and what isn’t and use that information to make your next endeavor even better.
Give the people what they want! When you create a long-running series of works, you improve your branding and give your audience something to collect over time.
QUESTIONS
Brian asks, “What do you do when you feel like you’re not making any forward progress?”
If you’re practicing consistently, you’re likely making progress even if you can’t see it. Make sure your practice sessions have specific aims, and ask for feedback frequently so you can make improvements with every piece. Our forum at SVSLearn is a great place to get constructive evaluations.
If you’ve hit a wall with a particular skill, it can be helpful to set it aside for a while and work on something else. When you return, you’ll have a fresh perspective and renewed drive to keep going.
In the case of projects that don’t take off the way you hope, be willing to take what you’ve learned from the process and pivot to something new if needed. You’re growing and learning about your market with every experience, and your best chances at success come when you keep moving and trying new things based on the best information you have, rather than clinging to ideas that aren’t going anywhere.
Melissa asks, “I’m not my target audience. How do I make art products when I’m not a consumer of such products?”
As long as you love what you’re making, it doesn’t need to be a product you’d purchase. (Will doesn’t have little kids anymore, so he’s not in the market for children’s books, yet he’s passionate about creating them.)
On the flip side, you can saturate yourself in the culture of the products you’re selling, and you may find you’re more of a consumer than you thought. (Jake wasn’t a pin fanatic when he decided to sell pins, but in doing market research he developed a sizeable collection and today he understands the culture around the obsession.)
Mimi asks, “I just got back from doing my first comic con and after barely making the money back on my table, I’m a little discouraged and wondering if cons are worth it. Any advice on how to attract people at cons to original art, and is there a way to profitably market to kids at cons (my art appeals to younger ages)?”
First of all, if you break even at your first con, that’s a huge win! Many people lose money in the beginning, so you have reason to celebrate.
Your first cons are market research; you get to see what people buy and what they don’t. A few keys to success include:
Branding your booth. Make sure your style is consistent and the pieces feel cohesive.
Create a cult following. Develop a series that you can expand over time, something people will want to collect whenever the latest image comes out.
Copy the winners. What are the most successful artists doing? How can you apply those things to your work?
You’re not just an artist; you’re a business person. Evaluate what’s selling and what isn’t and learn to give the people what they want from what you have to offer.
Also consider if cons are the best setting for your work. You might do better in art fairs, retail sales, as a children’s book illustrator, in licensing, or in another market. Just because your work doesn’t skyrocket in conventions doesn’t mean it’s bad; you may simply need to go elsewhere to find your audience.
O’Rourke asks, “Which SVSLearn classes would you recommend for an intermediate artist?”
Head over to our Foundations curriculum and check out the classes in levels two through four. You can also overview the entire curriculum and pick classes that address your specific weaknesses.
If you’re a mid-level artist with a body of work, a portfolio review from one of our expert teachers at SVSLearn is just what you need to find your next steps forward! You’ll learn what’s working, what’s not, and what specific actions you can take today to reach your next level.
LINKS
Jake Parker: mrjakeparker.com. Instagram: @jakeparker, Youtube: JakeParker44
Will Terry: willterry.com. Instagram: @willterryart, Youtube: WillTerryArt
Lee White: leewhiteillustration.com. Instagram: @leewhiteillo
Daniel Tu: danieltu.co.
Lily Camille Howell: lilycamille.com
If you like this episode, please share it, subscribe, and let us know your thoughts or if you learned something new!
If you want to be a part of the discussion and have your voice heard, join us at forum.svslearn.com.