One of the most difficult things for an artist is making money.  It is true for almost anyone, but for an artist even more.  The term “starving artist” is often applied to artists.  It does not have to be the case.  I’ve had people tell me “you will never be able to live,” “you won’t make it,” and so on.  All of these statements are again not true, unless you want them to be true.  I’m not aware of any laws that say an individual has to work at a corporate job or work a set number of hours a day.  I’ve done both, and believe me I never had an abundance of money, and I certainly wasn’t happy.  Life has enough headaches without spending at least eight hours a day at a job that crushes your soul and most often your dreams and aspirations.

The internet has brought many opportunities to artists, which have never existed in the past, and many of them have very little cost associated with them.  It doesn’t matter whether you are an musician, writer, or artist, there are so many methods for getting your work out there and letting the world know about it.  Traditional means of distribution are changing and the middle man is being replaced by social media and web based tools.  My blog’s focus will be from the standpoint of being an artist, but the tools and techniques could apply to almost anything.  My goal is to make money at being an artist and sharing those tips and experiences.

The internet has provided artists with tools like blogs, Etsy, E-Junkie, Zazzle, Ebay, CafePress, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, yes even Facebook is a tool.  Some of these tools are for selling your products and some of these tools are for promoting your art.  In future posts, I will go into some of these tools in more detail.  My favorites tools for selling items are Etsy, Zazzle, and E-Junkie.  In terms of promoting you artwork, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are all important tools.  Again, I will get into more detail on each of these items in later posts.  The great thing about these tools, is that almost all of these tools are either free, or have minimal costs to get started.  There are small listing fees and auction fees on eBay or Etsy.  So the bigger question, is what are you waiting for?

One last thought and a resource that I would like to add in closing, is the need to create digital products and to reward the people that help you.  Everyday traditional analog items like books and magazines are becoming digital.   It is something to consider, but not  a deal breaker at this point, to create digital products.  I highly recommend Everett Bogue’s blog as a resource for creating a digital product and minimalist approach to both business and life.  The important concept is to reward the people that help you.  I’m not talking about a simple thank you, which are great by the way, but rather monetarily.  Digital products offer the possibility of affiliate sales, and giving part of your profit to those who are helping you sell it.  By rewarding people for helping you, they will be more inclined to do so, and you will be able to reach far more people than you could by yourself alone.  More posts will delve into this topic in the future, but if you would like to get started now, I highly recommend Everett’s eBook “Minimalist Business.”

The goal here is artistic, personal, and financial freedom.  Remember the only starving artists are those that choose to be, because there are no rules that say they have to starve.  I’m on this journey too. I intend to share my ups and downs, successes and failures along the way to living creatively.  Good luck to all of us.

PS.  Don’t forget to enter for the chance to win a free Dinosaur Grocery Tote, ends Friday, September 3, 2010.  Good Luck.

PSS.  I also have an original watercolor version of “Breakfast Pals”(below).  You can either buy it in my Etsy Shop or directly from me using PayPal(link below).

Breakfast Pals Original Watercolor – $30USD

The painting is available in my Etsy shop.

If you haven’t already, be sure to enter my Dinosaur Grocery Tote giveaway.

]]> http://www.andymcnally.com/2010/08/20/sharpie-markers-on-canvas/feed/ 0 http://www.andymcnally.com/2010/03/08/why-is-a-raven-like-a-writing-desk/ http://www.andymcnally.com/2010/03/08/why-is-a-raven-like-a-writing-desk/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:39:24 +0000 Andy http://www.andymcnally.com/?p=451

Here is the result of my sketches.  The illustration was inspired by the questioned asked by the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.  It was said that Lewis Carroll, never intended for the question to have a solution.  However, according to Wikipedia he later offered this solution:

“In a new preface to the 1896 edition of Alice, he proposes several answers: “Because it can produce a few notes, though… they are very flat; and it is nevar put with the wrong end in front!” (Note the spelling of “never” as “nevar”—turning it into “raven” when inverted. This spelling, however, was “corrected” in later editions to “never” and Carroll’s pun was lost.)”

If you like this design, it is now in my Zazzle shop.  Thanks for looking and have a wonderful week.

Here is my latest illustration.  It originally started out, when I saw a box with an “x” on it.  I’m not much of a video game player, but it did make me think of an Xbox and how disappointed a gamer would be if they received a box with an “x” on it rather than an Xbox.  The original drawing(below) was meant to be sad, but I ultimately choose to create a happy ending.  Instead of a case of mistaken boxes, the young man is making the free association of his beloved gaming console.

Meet Hello Robot.  I believe his real name is A5T1E, but everyone calls him Artemas, or sometimes Arte.  He is one of my newest illustrations.  Artemas can’t help but bring smiles to everyone he meets, with his brightly colored paint job and friendly attitude.  He is a wonderful friend and exceptionally kind, caring, helpful, happy, and loving.  I want to be more like him.

I’m in the process of making a few short stories with him in it, and making some designs with him saying hello in many different languages.  He is a robot after all, and can learn new things with both speed and ease.  Above is the original sketch for Artemas.  He was originally just going to be advertising my art work on my sites(thus his hand up, holding a sign), but after visualizing who he was and his personality, I realized that he was destined for more, like so many of us.

Starting the new year off, with memories from years long ago.  The image above came in my mind very vividly, while drawing with my daughter.  While working in Illustrator to create the vector version of the drawing, I recalled a cat from when I was a boy.  I was probably about six or seven at the time, and some neighbors had some kittens.  I proudly purchased one for five cents, one shiny nickel, which was a small fortune to a small boy at the time.  Proudly, I marched home with the kitten, and proclaimed that I had paid for the cat and could not return it.  My parents where good sports, and let me keep the cat.  UT, the cat, remained a faithful family pet for many years.  He was the best five cent purchase I ever made.

Originally, I did not have the text characters in the drawing, but rather a simple fish skeleton.  Being the creative type, it occurred to me to wonder what message a cat might want to relay to their family.  I figured it would most likely be a meal request.  Texting for animals will be the next big thing in 2010, or Twitter for pets, perhaps I could be wrong, but it’s highly unlikely.

“chasing the clouds away”

The picture above is called, “Chasing the Clouds Away.”  It was influenced by my recollections of the Sesame Street theme song as a child.  Oddly, Sesame Street recently celebrated their 4oth anniversary.  My youngest daughter reminded me that I’m a year older than Sesame Street.  I love her all the same.

“bird with raygun”

The Bird with a Raygun continues my fascination with the retro ideas of the future and birds.  I draw on the whiteboard in my classroom on the days that I teach computer classes, and the drawing below started the illustration.

bird and raygun whiteboard drawing

“steam cars”

“Steam Cars” could possibly be the car of tomorrow.  Ok, it is a steampunk future, but it could happen.

the digital vector version

product postage stamp design on zazzle.com - TBA Award on Oct. 26, 2009

The evolution of an idea from sketch to final digital version.  I think that Sir Elton John may want the glasses that the robot borrowed back at some point. =)

It has been a while, since I’ve posted art, that was not related to Illustration Friday.  I’ve been busy lately trying to find freelance work, and more recently a full-time job.  I really enjoy my freedom of working on projects that I feel strongly about, however in the current economy I’ve been struggling for the last 2 years.  One thing that I’m proud of, is that I do not give up.  Many people have accused me of being stubborn.  I’m in the process of transitioning into an children’s illustrator/artist, from a career of Technology teaching and consulting.  I’m also in the early stages of writing an illustrated children’s book.  These are new areas for me, full of more uncharted waters and uncertainty.

The illustration above is something I drew about a month ago.  On one hand, it is not meant to be me saying, “I’m a star,” like some egotistical idiot.  However, we all should be like this star and take credit for who we are and what we can do.  I created the illustration to generate positive energy for myself and others.  I’m proud of my artistic abilities, and I love to draw, create, imagine, and dream.  What things make you proud about yourself?  What things make you happy?  Think of the things that make you happy and proud to be you.  Now, write those things down on a piece of paper.  Draw smiley faces, pictures, or cut out pictures and tape them to it, to make you smile and feel good.  Put your list in your wallet, purse, pocket, or where ever, as long as you can take it out and look at it when you need a positive energy boost.  Remember, you are a star.  Be positive.  Be happy.  Be radiant.

The theme this week for Illustration Friday is “cracked.”  Eggs and things breaking came to mind first, but then I thought about the sad story of Hungry Bot.  Hungry bot is normally one of the nicest robots around.  He had been on a low-car diet for several days, and finally cracked due to the temptation of so many tasty cars and trucks.  In his defense, the local freeway did look like an all you can eat car buffet.

I’m having a huge sale right now on my original watercolor paintings in my Etsy Shop.  Also, my Zazzle shop is full of wonderful summer t-shirt designs.  I’m trying my best to develop my art and design work into a full time job, so if anyone needs some wonderful illustrations, art, or design work please let me know.  I would like to thank everyone for visiting, and for your support and encouragement.  Have a wonderful week.