The Profitable Convention Artist

I began selling at artist alleys in January 2015. Since then, I have sold at 20+ conventions and 2800+ prints in 2 years in 5 different states in the US, including California, Washington, Texas, Massachusetts, and Oregon.

I enjoyed my time in the artist alley very much, but have decided to retire temporarily from it in October 2017 to focus on art, writing, teaching, and self-care.

I created Artist Alley for Beginners in response to the need for organized information and guidance in preparing for artist alleys.

***

As an aspiring artist looking to be "one of those artists behind the artist alley table," I jumped into the artist alley scene with hopes and dreams of "making it big" and earning a living from my artwork.

I worked hard to prepare and create products to sell in January 2015, feeling incredibly proud and excited to sell in public for the first time.

In all my hard work and excitement, I began to feel overworked, stressed and exhausted.

I started losing sleep, eating less, and ignoring exercise.

Eventually, I found myself questioning my intentions:

"Why did I start conventions again?"

"Why am I not making as much money?"

"Why am I drawing things I don't really care for?"

Artist alley became another job.

The kind of job I didn't want in the first place, but had inadvertently created for myself.

I wasn't happy anymore.

Even though I enjoyed my time at conventions, I found myself lost and confused.

With my time away, eyes wide open, and heart and soul renewed, I see what is truly important for artists now:

Being true and authentic to who we are.

In our craft and all other areas in our lives.

That is the underlying message in this course.