I need help. Getting serious with my art.

[Lullx]

I haven't been here in several months, but have been attempting to steadily work on and improve my art.
I still consider myself a hobbyist, but lately I've been gathering some attention for my work, and have been thinking of maybe getting more serious in the world of art.

I still don't want to devote myself 100% to art, only because my passion for helping children as a psychologist is far greater. Is it possible to still be a [reasonably successful] artist on the side of my psychology studies?

I really enjoy drawing and have done a few "fake currency" commissions on various websites, but I want to try RL commissions for a little spending money. I'm aware that assuming I can make a living off of commissions part time is just ridiculous. I'm a dreamer, but not that silly!
...Still considering myself a hobbyist at this point and by no means a professional artist.

I'm a freshman in college now, and am planning to take a couple art classes as electives next semester since I'll have room. I know they certainly won't hurt, and I think I'd enjoy them.
...And a little extra monies in my pocket will definitely go a long way as a college kid.

This is getting a little long-winded, and I apologize. I'll try to post my questions/concerns in bullet form next.

-Networking.
I know that networking is really important in most industries. What are some suggestions for getting my name and work out there? I want some attention for both help/advice and of course customers.
What are some sites I should consider?

-Commissions.
If I gather a customer or two for my work, I'm still a little shy/confused about how exactly a real currency commission would work, as far as prices go.
I've been approached online about design offers that I'm looking into taking up. They're from friends and family members who are willing to pay, I just have to figure out how much to charge.
I was told that it should be loosely based on an hourly wage, but some reassurance is really appreciated (:
I can post some samples/ideas of my work if that'd help you? I know that quality and content is also a factor in price. I just don't want this to turn into a posting gallery haha

-Merchanise.
I kind of got talked into posting some of my designs up on Zazzle for people to buy. This kind of ties in with commissions up there, as some of the designs I've been asked to do, the people want them to be up on shirts and whatnot so they can wear them.
I've also been asked by a musician to create some album art for his digital albums.
Is there a better site to host my designs up for purchase on shirts/buttons/ect?
How should I handle the merchandise design requests? If they're selling items with my designs on them or not, how should each situation be handled?


I know that's a lot of stuff and I'm sorry. I've had a long week and I feel like I'm rambling. x_x
I'm just really excited and completely lost. At the same time gonk
Feel free to pick and choose what to respond to here. Any help at all is really appreciated!

[God-the-almighty]

I was getting serious myself before my accident. I was going to have some of my stuff in a show. The accident derailed that. This fall when I go to Minneapolis I want to get the reference pics to put together a series of paintings. I can do it now that I have a wheelchair. I'm not selling art but I have 2 commissions for art quilts in the works. That's not too bad considering I'm not based on any site yet.n nI got both commissions from just talking to friends I met on this site. In the past I made a bit of money selling hand painted Christmas ornaments. I had them in a salon of a friend of a friend. Networking can work that way too. Most fine artists I know have jobs independent of their art. I think you'll be fine.

[Lullx]

God-the-almighty

I'm strictly digital, save for sketches and the few life studies I have time to do.
I think I may be leaning more towards graphic design instead of say, fine art? I... I'm honestly not sure. I'm still too ignorant when it comes to these things.
That's the main reason I set up a Zazzle store. I just wanted to wear my own designs on shirts myself, but a few friends talked me into putting things up for sale for them to buy.

Hand painted ornaments are gorgeous. I bet they looked lovely hanging up ^_^
And all of my commission propositions have been from friends on Facebook and my mom's coworkers haha
I'm thinking of maybe making a "commercial" Facebook page as my artist name.

[God-the-almighty]

Lullx

God-the-almighty

I'm strictly digital, save for sketches and the few life studies I have time to do.
I think I may be leaning more towards graphic design instead of say, fine art? I... I'm honestly not sure. I'm still too ignorant when it comes to these things.
That's the main reason I set up a Zazzle store. I just wanted to wear my own designs on shirts myself, but a few friends talked me into putting things up for sale for them to buy.

Hand painted ornaments are gorgeous. I bet they looked lovely hanging up ^_^
And all of my commission propositions have been from friends on Facebook and my mom's coworkers haha
I'm thinking of maybe making a "commercial" Facebook page as my artist name.

That's a good idea. I have paypal set up but I've never done transactions through it yet. That will be the safest way to do business. I think facebook is tons better than something like DA. I did used to paint and sell T-shirts and shoes and stuff. I didn't sell jackets except one even though people would stop me on the street when they saw one I did for myself. One guy even offered his leather jacket for me to paint but I was afraid I'd ruin it. How has the shirt design thing worked for you?

[Lullx]

God-the-almighty

I have a PayPal set up from that one commission I had for a Kingfisher logo and haven't really used it since other than to pay for stuff with said commission monies xD

I'll probably look into setting things up on Facebook and whatnot next week. I have a 10 page paper I should be writing right now instead of chatting online, so I'll be disappearing soon.
I guess I just wanted to post this here while I thought about it, and was hoping to come back in between reading and typing up the paper to read and respond to any replies.

I've made about $15 so far off of royalties from my Zazzle store, which is really exciting for me, especially considering the designs were personal pieces that I created when I was bored or trying to de-stress. I've only had the shop up for a few days, too! mrgreen

I've always been kind of shy and humble about my work, but now that I see people actually really do like it, I feel a little more confident and can't help but get excited when something happens.

[God-the-almighty]

Lullx

God-the-almighty

I have a PayPal set up from that one commission I had for a Kingfisher logo and haven't really used it since other than to pay for stuff with said commission monies xD

I'll probably look into setting things up on Facebook and whatnot next week. I have a 10 page paper I should be writing right now instead of chatting online, so I'll be disappearing soon.
I guess I just wanted to post this here while I thought about it, and was hoping to come back in between reading and typing up the paper to read and respond to any replies.

I've made about $15 so far off of royalties from my Zazzle store, which is really exciting for me, especially considering the designs were personal pieces that I created when I was bored or trying to de-stress. I've only had the shop up for a few days, too! mrgreen

I've always been kind of shy and humble about my work, but now that I see people actually really do like it, I feel a little more confident and can't help but get excited when something happens.

Nice, that's not bad at all. How did you transfer the money with pay pal? Mine is set up for that because I commissioned someone but they backed out after a few months so I never got the chance to do it. Good luck on the paper, I have a final one due on Monday myself.

[Lullx]

God-the-almighty

It was last year [almost a year ago actually, I think], so I can't totally recall how it works...
It goes by email address though, I do believe.

But when I was using my funds from PayPal, there was an option on the site I was buying stuff from to pay with PayPal instead of a credit card.
I've never tried to send money via PayPal to another PayPal account, though.

And this paper is a Literature exam. Not too difficult, but it's -very- time consuming.

[God-the-almighty]

Lullx

God-the-almighty

It was last year [almost a year ago actually, I think], so I can't totally recall how it works...
It goes by email address though, I do believe.

But when I was using my funds from PayPal, there was an option on the site I was buying stuff from to pay with PayPal instead of a credit card.
I've never tried to send money via PayPal to another PayPal account, though.

And this paper is a Literature exam. Not too difficult, but it's -very- time consuming.

Yeah, I've had those, right now I'm in a human resources class. I'm thinking of focusing on that for my bachelors. My last paper was about keeping people from getting bored at work.

[Lullx]

Oh goodness I forgot how fast the forum moves sometimes.
Legal bump e_e

Still working on my exam, and would still love some help with getting serious about my art! 3nodding

[Dundeleedum]

Improve your skills first before thinking about selling and networking and whatnot s**t. Life drawing and studies and whatnot.

Or be unscrupulous and sell traced art over the EBay.

[Annie Felis]

Lullx

Oh goodness I forgot how fast the forum moves sometimes.
Legal bump e_e

Still working on my exam, and would still love some help with getting serious about my art! 3nodding

It's only been moving fast due to the slew of misplaced topics. It seems we've had a lot of attention whores posting art with "do you like it" or "post your art too!" topics.

In any case, Errol is doing this neat "we all start over" course with weekly exercises and quizzes over in the WIP forum. Go check the thread out, you may improve by forgetting you know anything.