Artist interview with Jan Weiss

Do you have a website or your own blog?

http://www.artprints-online.com/

www.twitter.com/artprintsonline

http://www.artprints-online.blogspot.com/

What inspires you?

Art inspires me. I have been in the industry for 15 years and I can't imagine doing anything else. It's what makes sense to me. I was laid off my job at Art.com in February and chose to take this opportunity to develop my own business. I went live last week and have orders already! In addition to this site I am a licensed and published artist and my extra money earn from this goes to our vacations.

Do you feel you are effective at time management?

Yes I do. Because it's my own business and I know that no money will come in unless I earn it - it makes me very focused and driven. I got this entire business up and running in two months. Two weeks after my lay off I bought my domain name and the Yahoo store template and went to work.

Have you been able to earn a living doing your art at least part time?

Not yet. But between me, my husband and my sales rep I know I will earn a living at this - just too early to tell anything yet.

Loft Life Magazine

If you like to read about sustainability, good design and a modern lifestyle, this magazine is for you. Reclaimed materials are used in many of the featured designs. For the naysayers that think modern is cold and boring, think again! Modern means form follows function in terms of design practicality and aesthetic. Using natural materials like reclaimed wood will add warmth to a space. Modern doesn't mean life devoid of nature. At this very moment, most households across the country are not buying random junk to fill their homes anymore and they are being choosy about what they will buy. Designing with a purpose is now a part of our culture. You can't turn on any lifestyle show on networks like HGTV or DIY without this concept being beaten into you head. If you are looking to re-design and get inspiration this magazine is for you. Sometimes changing your lifestyle means changing your space in order to feel differently.

I had a conversation with someone from Loft Life Magazine yesterday while on Facebook. Loft Life is trying to gain readership and they certainly deserve it. About a month ago I started noticing this magazine at the local bookstore, but like everyone, I'm counting my pennies and passed it up. After viewing their magazine online and seeing what the magazine is about, I will be an avid subscriber. In a week I look forward to receiving a copy in the mail. I will pass up my other design magazines for this one.

Architectural Salvage

Architectural Salvage

Although this has been a trend for years it is now called upcycling.
If you want a piece of Cleveland, and I do mean that in the real sense of the word go to apieceofcleveland.com . They provide lumber taken from old sites to the public; why cut down trees if you don't have to?

Tractor Supply Company

Tractor Supply Company supplies everything you might need for your backyard and even some indoor things. I came across the store a long time ago and discoved that even though I'm more of a city dweller this store offered a lot of what I liked. The pricing on the goods in this store is much more competetive than Lowes and Home Depot. Even though you might think that you have to be a farmer to have any interest in this store, think again! You can buy anything from basic garden equipment to birdseed and things for your kitchen. The store publishes a free magazine that features recipes and stories from people around the USA living a rural life and many of them are successful business owners. The stock symbol for this store is TSCO. Even if you live in a city loft I can guarentee something will appeal to you.

tugboatprintshop

Tugboat print shop told me about the way they work and this is what they had to say:

Our work is our day job. Its much more work than a day job, and much
more stressful at times, but always more satisfying!

We have always known that we would have our prints for sale online
through our official website, www.tugboatprintshop.com. The idea for an
additional online shop came to us when we discovered Etsy. Etsy provided
us with a easy-to-use template and the means to reach a broader
clientele. We are always eager to find new ways to let people know who we are,
what we do, and what we make.

Traditional Printmaking techniques are processes that are drawing
focused-media (etching, woodcut, lithography, etc). We love
drawing--especially detailed drawings. With printmaking, we create the time-consuming,
intricate drawings that we want to be making and are also able to
print multiples. Editioning allows us to share our work with more people at
more affordable prices.
It's true that digital media can also reproduce things. But giclee, or
offset or inkjet prints, have no real artistic merit. It is just a
file or an image, it isn't really an object of art.

Running a business is something that is new to us, that we learn more
about everyday.

We work to keep ourselves scheduled for more and more shows, projects,
and opportunities each year. This keeps us attuned to what is going on
and propels us to make new work that is part of what is going on in the
arts. Also, our lifestyle basically centers around constantly making
newer and better work. Thankfully, we're the type of individuals that
tend to find inspiration/ideas in nearly everything! We are
continually bouncing ideas for new projects off of each other and often
experience a back-log of ideas (too many projects--so little time!)

Our best advice for people selling work online is to maintain your
vision for your work. Take good pictures, communicate with your customers,
ship fast, and deliver something you can be proud of!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I had the chance to meet Kerri Frech from Frech Studio. Her work is in a case in the back of Lake Erie Artists Gallery in Tower City Center in the center of downtown Cleveland. She does beautiful jewelry with a victorian flair. Her creativity doesn't stop there. I saw some beautiful snow flake ornaments that are made out of glass. Buy her ornaments because they make wonderful additions to your holiday display. During the dark days of December they catch light. Put in your order and support handmade products for your holiday instead of mass produced junk that is often shoved down our throats from September until January. See her snowflakes and other pieces of art by visiting her shop. Kerri Frech