What do you want to see in Artist Alleys?

[Blique 211]

Hello~ There's a local convention coming up, and I want to get into the Artist Alley. Hopefully. Maybe. Anyway, I wanted to get feedback of what people would want to see and maybe buy.

 

I'll probably be focusing on ponies, but opinions on general otaku things are great too. Chibi is one of my strengths, so I'll be doing cute things as well.

 

I can do digital art, traditional art, perler art, scarves, and general crafts. Examples of stuff I'm planning so far can be found in my commission thread.

 

So far, my digital art plans include illustrated quote posters and something involving the latest interpretation of Luna. I'd love to do a bunch of witty posters along that line (I love thiiis), but my humor isn't as sharp as I wish it could be. orz And if anyone is gifted with wit that they're willing to share, that would be awesome.

 

So, what would you like to see?

[LittleMissBloo 101]

Honestly, every artist alley is different. I have worked a few different tables at a few different conventions and it's always a toss up on what sells and what doesn't. People love art, especially unique art. And honestly you don't have to be good, you just have to have something special that makes people go "I need that". One of my highest selling prints was a Pikachu with a mustache. Doing unique spins on a fandom or two are always popular. Especially combining two fandoms in an interesting way. It's whatever you feel like doing, though. If you don't enjoy what you're doing, it'll show through in your finished product. Don't make things for the money, make them for the people.

[Blique 211]

Well, no suggestions so far, so I went ahead and drew Fluttertroll (click for larger). Feedback is loved!

 

 

@@LittleMissBloo:

Thanks for the advice! The most I've done at conventions is an art auction, and all I learned from that was that a painting on a clay watermelon of Toph laughing maniacally will sell for a lot. I'm a pretty picky person, so I rarely draw anything I don't personally find interesting. I suppose it works out. ^^;

Edited January 14, 2014 by Blique

[Blique 211]

No one wants any ponies?

 

Made some Adventure Time meanwhile.

 

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

No one wants any ponies?

 

Made some Adventure Time meanwhile.

 

Demon Cat2.png Marceline Marshal Lee3.png

That freaking demon cat quote, not only is it well done for the most part, but that is one of the best quotes in adventure time.

[Blique 211]

That freaking demon cat quote, not only is it well done for the most part, but that is one of the best quotes in adventure time.

 

Thanks! Yeah, I like that guy. Got any other quote ideas? I love highlighting obscure-yet-great quotes, but I still need to catch up with Adventure Time episodes...

 

MLP quotes too if you know any...Rarity's "She's with me" (Castle Mane-ia) and Sweetie Belle's "I do not like them one bit" (Flight to the Finish) cracked me up, though it seems like a lot of people didn't pay them any mind. Too obscure, I suppose.

[Blique 211]

And honestly you don't have to be good, you just have to have something special that makes people go "I need that". One of my highest selling prints was a Pikachu with a mustache.

 

Currently experiencing this phenomenon...Demon cat is getting more than double the popularity of Marceline/Marshall Lee despite taking a fraction of the amount of time to draw.

 

Another poster! This one's Welcome to Night Vale. A bit more obscure for the fandom, but the quotes are hard to resist...

 

[Blique 211]

Two more Welcome to Night Vale quote posters! Using these to test out the reception of simple art stuff.

 

 

Now, time for either Frozen or Avatar fanart...

[Blique 211]

Or, something else.

 

 

Been listening to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy audiobook while drawing, and things got sidetracked...

 

Got another MLP one coming up at least.

 

Her quote is so long that I had to change the dimensions! Another chibi quote is upcoming.

[Sobori 46]

Ive gone to cons my whole life and even sold stuff and done pretty well. If they have an art show put something in there. It's fun and almost make you feel like your art is in a muesem. More in portantly a lot of people will go to tthe atshow before the dealers room so they get a sneak peak and decide who they want to buy from there. Next do a couple things but don't go hog wild in what you are selling unless that was the plan (most people who do little bits of everyting buy their stock from someplace like orental trading company and that works for them but as an artist do some prints and maybe a little thing or two. Little tings like buttons or hairbows are things people impulse buy. They see it first walk around and they buy it cause its cheap and cool and they know they have enough for it. Then you have the I'm bored/waiting on someting crowd this is like a third or so walk through. Some of hese peope its fun to talk to and they may buy a couple little things. After people who just want little things are the people who DO want the big things. They want the prints and plushies and they may be the reason they came in the first place.

 

So have lots of little cheap stuff that are neat and cute. Have prints for people to see and talk to people. They are more likely to want to buy from a friendly person who is willing to talk and describe stuff then the creepy guy who has his nose in a book because he really doesn't want to be there.

 

(quick apology my keyboard is crap so spelling hasn't been a strong suit lately)

Edited January 24, 2014 by Sobori

[Blique 211]

Thanks for the advice! It's helpful, and I'm curious if you also have any advice from the view of a customer? This goes to anyone reading this thread too.

 

I have a good amount of experience at cons, plus have done research into artist alleys, but my problem is that I can't really find any feedback from the people who are on the other side of the booth. I've never had interest in buying anything from artist alleys and am therefore not a good judge of what people are actually interested in.

 

So I'm interested in opinions from people who do buy from artist alleys; I wanna to hear what people want rather than theorize about what people want. For some reason though, I can't find anyone who would tell me what they want. I've reached almost 10 posters drawing only what I personally think others may be interested in because I can't get any opinions.

 

Hope I can get more insight before the deadline!

Edited January 25, 2014 by Blique

[Blique 211]

Another poster done. I have one last one planned, and that'll be all for my poster series. Still need subjects for sketch cards though.

 

 

Been working on perler too, might take photos sometime.

[Blique 211]

I ended up just going with all of the above posters. The con is in one week, and things are coming along well. I've got a nice supply of perler and scarves. I didn't do too much traditional art yet, so I'll probably spend this last week doing sketch cards. I've got a cute Luna one I'll scan soon. And speaking of Luna...

 

 

I'll be scanning in my sketch cards and smaller perler stuff soon. Things are all done in the poster area, but I'm still open to ideas if anyone wants to see something in perler or sketch form!