It’s been a while since I’ve done a large, floral watercolor piece. While I might feel inspired, I have little time to squeeze projects like this in without any guarantee I would sell it anytime soon. So I thought I might share to see if anyone wants to put their eye on it and possibly pre-purchase the finished original!
I would charge $500 for the finished watercolor, and framing and/or matting would be additional. I always scan my artwork and offer it as prints and cards, but of course all of that doesn’t guarantee me any sales in the short term.
Below is a peek into how far I’ve gone into this new piece…but unless I have a definite sale-commitment (or several who “may” be interested), I will need to be slow to finish it off, as time permits between other paid work or needed promotional work.
These days I spend a lot of time continuing the development of two new websites which utilize WordPress and are requiring extensive re-design from my original “lettersource” site, but this is necessary for me to upgrade my technology/platform/program to made things “mobile friendly” to smartphones, and facilitate SEO and so much more. I still have many products and information to transfer to the new site(s)–one site is focused on all of my art and the other site primarily on party entertainment/caricature drawing/studio painting-parties–especially more information on custom calligraphy, family trees and such. It is extremely time-consuming, and I get overwhelmed at what it requires.
I’ve had so much upheaval in my life/business in the past five years, and it feels like “tick-tock-tick-tock” in potentially ongoing losses of business, in an already difficult economy. I used to get frequent requests for hand/computer calligraphy design production of custom poems, weddings vows and such. I’ve not received any of these inquires in so very long. (Although I have been encountering increased AI-generated “almost human sounding” inquiries on my art/calligraphy via email…this is all highly discouraging to me.)
At 60 years old, the learning curve is high, and results are not guaranteed–being affected by major changes in the past 10 years to how websites are shown in search engines. Since new laws around net neutrality were enacted around 2016, for example, my “Cord of Three Strands” design no longer comes up high in any search. I cannot afford to do paid advertising.
Previously for many years (some of my newsletter clients/readers go way back with me in my business, around this popular wedding product/gift), when the internet was truly “neutral” and the success of searches depended on the quality of content, text, keywords and traditional SEO, this product had a high searchability success online, usually coming up number one nationally for anyone who put the terms “cord of three strands” into Google.
All this to say, I am staying the course in my values/pursuits, both faith-based, philosophically (regarding the arts and best business practices) and artistically. Any and all orders and commissions truly appreciated, so that my business from the past 35 years will continue to sustain me, hopefully, into my old age!
This seems like a good place to give a quick-link to that piece again, for those who may have a wedding coming up and wish to order. “A Cord of Three Strands” Personalized Wedding/Anniversary Gift.
Below, following my photos of this Sunflowers With Butterfly in beginning stages (watercolor), 22 x 30 inches, I will show some of my own framed favorite watercolor florals from years ago. Both originals on the Daffodils and Sunflowers were sold around 2007 or so, but I continue to get orders for prints or cards occasionally.
Sunflowers (from 2007) on Etsy
Daffodils (from 2007) on Etsy
Awhile back, I had extra large prints made of these two, for my dining room. I think the Daffodils is my favorite of all my watercolor florals.
There was a time in life when I often did florals; I miss that and the challenges they present! Hoping that if I sell this new piece, it will give me reason to do more. Much as I wish to do my own inspired art, not quickly selling originals for their worth/time spent, is a significant factor that discourages that time spent.
Below you can see those two framed prints in my dining room, too!
Thanks for reading and please feel to share this newsletter on social media, LinkedIn, or through email to friends who may have interest. Every bit of help in my promoting and reading more people is appreciated!
Have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed, prosperous New Year!
Eileen
