Okay.
I have been doing lots of thinking the last two weeks or so about my Etsy shop, and my art work.
I've come to several conclusions in the past week or so.
My first conclusion is that I love making art and I love selling art. Nothing makes me happier. Really. Knowing that people love my work so much, that they would part with their money just to own it, makes me so happy. I never in my life ever thought I would be where I'm at today with my work.
That being said, I want to continue my Etsy shop, and I want to continue making work, but I think I am seriously going to start limiting my reproduction prints. I like them, and I think they are a great way to bulk up your shop with items, but I'm afraid they are taking away from the original works of art that I have in the shop.
I want to carry prints in my shop, because I feel like they are a great way for people to afford art, but I think I am going to limit my prints to limited editions. So after this batch of prints is all sold, I most likely won't be carrying them in my shop. I might carry a small handful, and of course if there is a special request for one I will most certainly make one, but for the most part, I won't sell them like I do now.
My second conclusion is that I am not 100% happy with the work that I've been making. It looks nice, and I feel l like I do good work, but sometimes it doesn't feel like me. Sometimes I feel like I am making things that other people like, and that thought really doesn't sit well with me at all. I feel like that idea has really been showing through in my work as well....so I'm am going to try to get as far away from that idea as I can.
So there it is. Those are the thoughts that have been floating through my head the last couple for weeks.
anyway, it is a beautiful day here in Portland and I'm itching to sit on my front stoop with a David Sedaris book and a beer :)
Hope everyone is well.