How Easy is it??

 Hi

I was recently asked a few questions from someone on Reddit who wanted to know if getting into the creative industry is an easy thing to do and other questions so i thought i would post the questions and my answers here for anyone interested or wondering the same things. Sorry if its a boring read but feel free to comment and get in the discussion.

User - Rock_it

Hi, Can you describe your process? As in do you sell online? Do you ship out of your country? If so how do you rely on a company not to screw up the "piece"? How are taxes involved in all of this? I currently have a low paying job and I'm thinking about this a lot. Also, do you recommend to "do your own thing" or take commissions jobs? You've said you need to have a strong presence online what about "physical" expositions do they matter (price of renting space/ advertising vs money earn by selling at those places)?

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User - DavidMunroeArt83

Thats a lot of questions. I suggest you begin by doing some research online for answers to best fit the kind of art you are looking to produce but ill try to give you my take on what youve asked for a painters point of view.

I do sell online by way of my website but getting a sale direct from your website generally can be quite rare, Its usually just a place to make the transaction as people will come there from what you have done on social media like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Behance, Flickr, Youtube, Deviantart, Vimeo and a lot of other platforms. The reason i listed so many is because to get yourself out there and to make yourself and your "brand" recognized you need to at least make a good effort to control your profile on all of them.

You are the only one that will stop you from being noticed, As in, if you dont do the work on social media, people wont just que up at your website with money.

Because of the work ive done in throwing out the net so wide on a lot of sites online i am able to sell to countries all over but thats not to say that its a daily thing at all, its very much an uphill battle but one that if you are persistant and determined i believe you can win. but you need to know that it doesnt happen overnight.

I think its best for you to look into the taxes and fee's involved yourself, as every piece is different is size and weight and your location may have different rules and financial weight attached to sending items.

I take commission paintings and do my own style of paintings too but after your work has been out there for a while usually the people that commission you will know your style and that will be the reason for them commissioning you, so you wont generally have to change your style to suit thier needs. They are coming to you because they like what you do etc.

Physical presence definently helps to get your work out there to make sales and get things moving, Plus as its your work and your art, you are the best person to shout about it and tell people what it is and why you are so passionate about it. I find it easier to be online but im getting more comfortable with being out there and trying to physically promote my work.
Sometimes these events and craft fair/market events can come with fee's to hire table spaces or stalls too so you need to remember that and choose which events will be right for your style of work. If you paint animals for example, there would be no point trying to sell your work at an event aimed at abstract designs or vice versa, so pick whats good for you and try to plan things accordingly

I hope some of what ive said helps you out and i apologize for my probable awful spelling and grammar.