Getting Discouraged...

[Former_Member]

I was starting to bum about this so I figured I'd go on here and see if anyone has any positive comments for me!!

My shop is all fine art paintings... I love all of my pieces and think they are quite lovely... however... the dream (like everyone else's dream) is to be to the "quit your day job point"... but I guess I dont understand how someone selling paintings and that sort of art can get to that point? I just wonder, how many paintings can a customer buy?

Thoughts anyone?

[MurrayBolesta]

don't count just on Etsy to do it. Having an "internet" income which is significant, only coming from Etsy, is exceedingly rare.

I've proven over and over throughout all my web shops that the fine art market (as compared with "decorative") is there, just keep plugging :)

[Former_Member]

Hello Katie!
Well honestly I feel like very few shops actually make it to the point of "quit your day job" unless they have other forms of income, for example art shows, or wholesaling to galleries and such. Don't give up! There are so many ways out there to follow your passion! I wish you the best of luck!

[Former_Member]

I am new to Etsy and I am dealing in jewelry, not paintings but I have dealt with artists in my jobs for a long time (working in galleries, museums and consignment boutiques). Please don't give up. I think craft fairs and consignment boutiques are a really good way to help your dream come to fruition. As far as getting your work into consignment shops I would look at shops that take a percentage once something sells rather than paying to put your work in the shop. That is my personal preference. Also, if you don't want to pay anyone to sell your work you can talk to local coffee shops and eateries to see if you can display your work (for free) and usually you can post a price and contact info. Once you have all of those things going on, you can build a fan base and you will have a good network .Good luck! Don't give up.

[Former_Member]

Oh, I forgot.... this may be of interest to you. You won't get rich doing it, but it seems like a fun project and you can gain a fan base. I keep meaning to do it and just haven't gotten around to it. http://www.artomat.org/home.html

[Former_Member]

I would recommend refreshing your titles, descriptions and tags. Even if your listings are always good, it's never hurts to add more descriptive language. This can help the algorithms that etsy, google, pinterest, etc. use to index content for searchers...

[Former_Member]

How many galleries are you in?

[JewelMeShop]

Hi Katie
Your work is excellent! You could also promote outside etsy and try to sell to different sites. Of course, I can understand how difficult and time consuming is this for a person that has a full time job.
I do have the same dream like you and hope we will manage one day!

[studionubbo]

Hi Katie,

Don't give up! Your paintings are beautiful - I just love the colour!

I agree with what other people are saying about trying to find selling streams other than Etsy. Talk to local galleries and shops and see what you can do that way.

Etsy wise, I'd recommend to try and get to 50 listings. When I reached this point my views rocketed and again at 75 and again at 100. Just keep working away at it and you'll get there. Be active on Etsy both in the teams and hearting other items/shops you like and trying to grow your circle. Be patient and work hard at it and you will get there. Pinterest and Wanelo have also been great for me.

Keep positive! :)

[MurrayBolesta]

Fine Art America is, in some ways, like an Etsy for art only. One of its main features is the on-line real-time matting and framing for art prints. The way in which it's like Etsy is sort of negative, though - the huge competition and downward pressure on prices. Lots of traffic.

Etsy does have huge momentum as a company and therefore has a future for lots of sellers if you get to first base. In many cases, the folks who got here early have a great advantage. When you have 25,000+ followers on Etsy, which some do, you have a bit of a monopoly.

Two keys: a finger on the pulse of Etsy buyer tastes, and very aggressive marketing.

[Former_Member]

I second what many have said above: Do NOT give up!

I think (and from all I've read) that you have to use ALL of the various online resources to get to your dream job (which is NOT your day job yet). Now, put your hands together, with your fingers interlaced: thumb one hand, thumb of the other, index of one hand, index of the other, middle-finger one hand... you get the idea? Prayer is good, but that's not what I'm trying to say... It's that on-line weaving that I'm talking about...

In addition to Etsy, have a website (blogs are easy and many are free, e.g., Blogger), and a facebook page (free), a Twitter account (free), and a Pinterest (free too). Set them up so that when you post to one, post to them all (Etsy, makes this easy). It's important that it's NOT just be self-or-product-promoting, it has to be content, content, content...

Dear, you have a lot to write about... your knowledge about your craft, your suppliers, and other resources, what inspires you, what are the roadblocks your facing and what do you do to get around them? There are a lot of great books out there, I'm sure you've read some... so a couple of book reviews are in order too. Most of the recent books on this topic I've read, have said the same thing... it's not about what you do or can do... it's about Them... give Them everything you've got to give ;-)

It's critical that you be consistently "out there" for your followers.. not a couple of days, nor a couple of weeks necessarily... you may need to keep it up for a couple of months... then... see...

and May God bless you!
Sincerely,
Luci