Making M.O.N.E.Y. While I Sleep…

Tags

abstract art, abstract art for sale, abstract prints, art for sale, artists, buy art, buy modern art, buying prints, canvas prints, career, goals, hard work, making it as an artist, making money, modern art, modern art for sale, money, perseverance, print sales, prints, prints for sale, selling prints, sharon cummings, strength, success, successful artists

 

I am back this morning from a 3 day getaway with my daughter.  We had a blast in Orlando enjoying the Gaylord, noshing and shopping!  While I was away, I sold 15 prints between Etsy, Society 6 and Fine Art America.  I still have to smile big when I realize how amazing it is to “make money while I sleep” or in this case vacation.  For years I resisted selling prints of any kind.  I thought they would reduce the value of my originals.  But the opposite has been the case.  I’ve been able to raise the prices on my originals and commissions and enjoy a steady income from my prints.  I no longer have to paint 6 hours a day plus promote myself for another 6.

Of course it wasn’t easy to get to this point with my prints.  Many countless hours have been spent over the last 2 years using intensive social media promotion to get my prints “out there”.  I have blogged, Tweeted, Facebooked, Buffered, Houzzed, Waneloed, Pinned, Tumbled, Link’d, Stumbled and Googled my way to sales 7 days a week (except for small bits of time off here and there).  And for the past year, I have had a group of 12 other artists and photographers that I cross promoted with daily. On average, I’d say I spent 4 hours a day promoting myself and cross promoting others.  Whew!  That’s a lot!  Especially when all I really want to do is create.  However, it has finally paid off and I can now make sales even when I am on vacation and doing nothing to promote myself. Since May 1st, I have not done any cross promoting and very little self promotion.  About 30 minutes a day 5 days a week.  And I get weekends free again!

Hard work…….it can pay off!

If you have goals for your life, do not give up!  And for goodness’ sake, do not listen to those who tell you that it can’t be done. 🙂

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Point of Power

Tags

abstract art, art, Artist, artwork, contemporary art, creative writing, faabest, faith, hope, inspiration, inspirational quotes, modern art, money, motivation, motivational speaking, painting, paintings, point of power, positive thinking, sales, sharon cummings, support

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/point-of-power-sharon-cummings.html

The point of power is always in the present moment.  This tenant is something I try to live by.  As a self representing artist there really is no other way to live….for my sanity.  I cannot focus on sales in the past or sales in the future.  I can only look at where I am right now…can I afford my mortgage?  Yes  Can I afford to eat? Yes  Can I create new work with this mind and body?  Yes  It is much more satisfying to look at all of the “yes” answers than to ruminate on the “nos”.  Art is a passion and it cannot be reduced to a marketing and sales pitch.  A true artist has an irresistible urge to create.  Einstein knew this and so do I.  Each day is filled with endless possibilities to which my soul always says yes!  Sometimes I paint a beautiful painting, sometimes I design work on my computer and sometimes a day might revolve around a new and exotic recipe I will “tweak”.  The business of art can be heartbreaking.  It can take you to the highest of highs with that amazing sale or take you to the lowest of lows when you go weeks or for some even months without a sale.  I do not have time to be discouraged as I am too busy working on new things.  What will it be today?

Please enjoy my piece “Point Of Power”…..you can learn more here: