How do you decide what to do with your art?

To make a product, or not make a product, that is always the question.

I love to create art. It is what started this whole shebang! I love color. I love flowers. I love nature. I love to watch artwork come alive on product, but that doesn't mean that every piece of artwork belongs on product or will be pitched for licensing. 

I have been creating artwork since 2016. I have made a TON of bad art. There isn't a lot of it that has made it on product. That's probably why I started with three designs on washi tape, lol.

In the beginning, I really wanted to see my artwork everywhere. But, my artwork doesn't belong everywhere. For example, not much of my artwork will probably land on dog gear. We really need to evaluate our art with a critical eye and if we can't do it, ask. Put a bunch of your favorite work, the style you want to keep creating, on social media in your Instagram stories and ask where people see it landing. If you don't have an audience or a newsletter, ask your friends. If you feel very brave, go in a shop you love, explain how you love their store and ask if they see your artwork on a product they would carry. There are also a handful of people offering portfolio reviews, they can give you an unbiased opinion on what next steps to create marketable work. (Feel free to respond to this email if you need suggestions portfolio reviews.)

Personally, there is some work I create and I like it, but I don't love it. I would say 10% of the artwork I create, I fall in love with. The rest is still a practice. Out of the 10% I usually choose my top three and create new products around that. I wish there was a formula for success. At the end of the day, I think we need to try to become less attached to our art. Some things will be good and some things will be bad.