Shop name or real artist name?

[Former_Member]

Hello! I am hoping to put together an Etsy shop, but keep going around about a name: should I use my real name or PaintAllThat as my shop name? (Of course, I'd have to make a new account with my real name, if I decided to go that route.)

Advantages of PaintAllThat:
I like it: it is fun and whimsical. Has "paint" in the name so may be easy to remember.

Disadvantages:
PaintAllThat may be too whimsical, and may make it harder for people who know me IRL to search for me here.

I am hoping to sell plein air paintings in oils and pastels, as well as linocuts, serigraphs, and possibly hand printed t-shirts, note cards and other items. I consider myself a "serious" artist, but not deathly serious. ; )

What are your experiences, as artists, with the name issue? Is it important to be known as Firstname Lastname, Artist? Or is a catchy, memorable shop name the way to go?

[brienna]

PaintAllThat, excellent questions and I think it comes down to what you want your customers to remember. I am personally a fan of using your name as this is something that they can search for elsewhere and find your work. It is what they would be using to find you at a real gallery ;o) so it is useful outside of Etsy. However, having "paint" in your name is also an advantage as it immediately identifies what you sell. I think excellent arguments could be made for both, but you can see which way I went personally ;o).

hugs,
brienna

[Former_Member]

Thank you, Brienna.

I am sorry that I don't have my shop up yet. I guess you could say that I am in the research and organizational mode, at the moment. Lots to learn.

[brienna]

You are very smart PaintAllThat ;o), doing the research and organizing a game-plan is sometimes the most important stage (and we often neglect to prepare properly). I think many artists are enamored with the painting and forget the business side of marketing themselves; to be truly successful we have to balance both! You are doing extremely well, judging by your thoughtful questions ;o). Share your shop when you're ready, we'll be excited to see it!

hugs,
brienna

[Former_Member]

I use my real name to make myself easier to find, but I'm not sure if it works.

[Former_Member]

Hi
I don"t use my name at all .I use only my initials. I don't exactly know why that was decided. I have a partner and he does the tech and I paint.. I have been on etsy 5 months and sales are not wonderful but I have had them. My real name is Betty Jo and have been know as BJ most of my life. it seemed natural.
But you have a good point about exposure.
BJ

[brienna]

annaleahy, I think it's great that you use your name and as you create more links (i.e., blogs, sites, etc.) people should be able to search you by name (currently I believe there is a famous writer with the same name that pops up in google).

HappyStrokes, I adore your name (very obviously a painter) and I think your image is also helpful. Something we didn't discuss is that the avatar is just as important (if not more so) than the name as this is what people see and identify with you immediately.

I think we all have different ways of gaining exposure and there isn't one right way.

hugs,
brienna

[Former_Member]

Personally I think it depends on the real name , how memorable or easy to remember. My name is Leah Saulnier, But I started using painting maniac 4-5 years ago on myspace and it stuck. People actually remember both my names for some reason fairly easily. I think of painting maniac as my brand. It's like when you think of microsoft you think of bill gates it's connected. It also sticks in ones mind to go to paintingmaniac.com rather than my name, all stores or sites I use it and now have an LLC with it.

[Former_Member]

Good question!
I agree that it depends on where you see yourself going.
If you are going to be a "business' - than a business name makes sense. I started with ShirleyArt because I was opening two shops at the same time with two different focuses and I thought it would be a good way to link them.

In retrospect, I wish I had just used my name for this shop. Galleries use my name. People generally google me by my name. My name stays the same across the different websites that I use (for some websites, like those linked with galleries, it isn't really appropriate to use anything but your own name). I do my taxes as an individual, not a business.

I guess you have to think about where you plan to go from here.....it probably works differently for all of us!