My Week

perfect day for a wedding in Shedd, Oregon (population 963)

restored 1930's onion barn that has been converted into a dance hall for the evening

the girls perform an impromptu ballet

hummingbirds feeding at sunrise

it's been a hard summer for tomato plants in Portland- not enough sun

these are the only ripe ones at the moment

printed new sticker designs and didn't like them at all! 

tried different settings to fix color saturation and kept getting the same poor results

maybe they'll print better as cards? 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

on a more positive note, i got invited to be part of an online art exhibition in December

so, i've been busy working on some new pieces

above right is one of the new works i might submit

i'll be sure to post info on the event once i have more news

Birthday Giveaway!

In celebration of Habit of Art turning one, I’m giving away a package of goodies to one lucky reader.  The giveaway package includes one print of your choice from my Etsy shop (up to $20 value), a new assortment of fabric tape, and a pocketbook gallery of original art and sketches!

For a chance to win the art prize shown above, all you have to do is leave a comment below.  I’m curious to know what you’d like to see more of in year two of Habit of Art, so any feedback on favorite posts would be greatly appreciated.

On Thursday, Sept. 30th at 12p PST, I will draw a name and then announce the winner of the giveaway on this post.

Update:  Congratulations, Esti-  you are the winner of the art giveaway!

Thanks to all who participated and wrote such thoughtful comments.  My Etsy shop turns one in November, so expect another giveaway ; )

Habit of Art turns one

A year ago today, I wrote my first post for Habit of Art.  My purpose in starting a new blog was to talk about art.  289 posts later, I feel like I have only scratched the surface.

What I've learned along the way . . .
the world is smaller than you think
blogging every day is harder than flossing every day
technology will inevitably fail you at the most inopportune moment- multiple times
there are a lot of talented people out there
who don't get enough credit
some of the most encouraging words can come from strangers
i love what i do

Thanks for reading.
(Check back tomorrow for the birthday giveaway!)

Artists I like: Tom Moglu

You may have noticed that I have a fascination with triangles.  I use them a lot in my work.  So naturally, when I came across the art of UK artist Tom Moglu, I was in triangle heaven.  I love how Moglu juxtaposes the sharpness of a triangle with soft, earthy tones.  And the way that he repeats the triangles and analogous colors is reminiscent of woven works. 
The piece below, Roasting Like Chestnuts, is one of my favorites.  Aside from the fact that I do love roasted chestnuts, I'm intrigued with works that show line movement.  In this particular piece, it's as if the moving lines are breaking through a fence of triangles. 

To see more of Moglu's fabulous art, click here.  And while we're on the topic of triangles, check out my new jacket I found at a local resale shop.

I was serious when I said I'm into triangles.

Blast from the past

Today, I spotted a bumper sticker that I had designed over 20 years ago for my high school!  Just to make sure my claim was correct, I went home and rifled through my memory box.  And there it was- my one copy of the bumper sticker.

In my memory box, I also found a sketchbook from one of my high school art classes.  On one page, my teacher wrote, "Are you trying to draw from actual objects?"  The comment made me smile because that was something I repeatedly stated to students when I taught high school art.  I guess the practice of observational drawing can never be overstated in the art classroom. 

My Week

playing around with a lensbaby // i might have to get one of these

now that the girls are back in school, 

my husband and i have recommenced our weekly lunch dates to the food carts 

one of our favorites- vietnamese sandwiches, 2 for $6

it's the busy season for family photos

three photo shoots scheduled this weekend and several more in the next few weeks

started a large panel painting // still mapping out the foreground in my head

A timeless summer captured on film

The 1978 Olympus Trip 35 was a gift from a friend.  She bought it for $5 at a thrift store.  I just got my first roll developed, and I couldn't be happier.  The photos make me want to relive those summer days all over again.

10 tips for opening an Etsy shop

Enhabiten

If you've been thinking about selling some of your handmade goods, the online marketplace "Etsy" is a great place to start.  You can set up a shop within minutes and the start-up costs are minimal- just 20 cents per listing!  Recently, my friend opened an Etsy shop and asked for some advice.  Here's what I told her:

1.  Choose a store name that makes sense, is memorable, and easy to search.  Once you pick a shop name (which is also your username), you can't change it.  And before you set your name in stone, make sure to look it up in Etsy's search engine.  You might come across another shop that essentially has the same name.

2.  Excellent product shots are key.  Product shots should be well-composed, clear, and bright.  For tips on how to take better product pictures, see my post here.

Pigeon Toe Ceramics and Minx Shop

3.  Keep your shop full.  At the least, you should have 16 products to start with.  This allows people to see your passion on display. Moreover, people love options.

4.  Etsy's Search organizes products by most recent listings, so upload new products at least once a week.  Some Etsy sellers upload products every day!
 
5.  Use descriptive tags so that sellers can find your products.  Etsy allows a total of 14 tags per item; include as many keywords as possible when listing your product.

5gardenias and Essimar

6.  Establish clear and concise shop policies to gain the confidence of the customer.

7.  Account for all expenses and fees when determining an item's price.  In addition to materials and time, marketing and payment fees should also be calculated into the price of a product.  Etsy takes 3.5% of the total sale of an item, and Paypal takes a small percentage plus a fixed fee. 

8.  Encourage customers to shop again by personalizing orders.  Add a handwritten note and throw in a small treat for good measure.

Nea and Lisa's Retro Style

9.  Share the Etsy love by "hearting" your favorite finds.  Hearts are one way that Etsy sellers are connected.  The first time I got a heart from a secret admirer, I thought for a moment I was being stalked (when really they are fans that don't make their Favorites public).  To keep track of new hearts in your shop, go to craftcult.com. 

10.  Try to get your product on the front page.  It's free marketing! For this to happen, you'll need to be in a treasury that someone else created.  If you're following tips 1 - 9, then you'll be in a treasury in no time.  Another way to reach out to Etsy sellers is creating your own treasury.  Be sure to "convo" each Etsy seller to let them know about your treasury!

Although it can be a thrill to run your own online shop, know that it takes time to network and build a customer base.  In the first few months, you may only get a handful of sales.  Don't lose heart.  Be diligent and continue to fine tune your shop and your products.