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My Art Journey Running an Art Business

Artistic Impressions Feature

Late last month I received an email from one of the sales executives at Condé Nast’s World of Interiors inviting me to advertise my work in their Artistic Impressions feature for the May 2022 issue. The World of Interiors magazine is collected by over 155,000 reader worldwide, and it was a huge shock to be noticed by such a prestigious publication.

I submitted my piece ‘Brain Fog‘ (2022), as this is a huge opportunity for me to showcase my art raising awareness of my health conditions.

I’m proud of every brush stroke in that piece, and it’s so exciting to me to think of so many people being able to see it.

The front cover of the May 2022 issue of ‘The World of Interiors’ in which my art is featured.
The page in ‘The World of Interiors’ in which my art (‘Brain Fog’ 2022) is featured.

The May 2022 issue is being released today, March 31st 2022! If you pick it up and happen to see my art in there, feel free to show me on social media by tagging me @nicolalucyart (Instagram, Twitter, TikTok & Facebook)!

Having an art piece sell in a gallery for the first time, and then featuring in a magazine, is such a wonderful way to start the year!

Find out more:

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Peek Inside My Sketchbook

A Peek Inside My Sketchbook: Hands Study

I decided recently that I would do some further hand studies to improve my sense of their anatomy. I began with some very basic sketches in coloured pencil to get the general idea, and then I took on the challenge of recreating the hands from the iconic ‘Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo.

Whilst I in no way think I completely nailed the proportions, especially on the ‘Creation of Adam’ hands study, I am really proud of my progress. Drawing hands is something that I’ve always shied away from, and this has given me a confidence boost to keep trying!

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Ambitions

2022 Art Goals

Whilst I didn’t reach all of my 2021 art goals, I still made progress in various ways in my art. I’ve produced far more finished pieces than I ever have in previous years, and started actually taking more time to just practice and experiment. Of the last decade of my life, I created by far the most art in 2021 than any other year. I only hit 3 of my 5 planned targets, but the improvement in my productivity and my increased confidence in my abilities more than make up for that. Progress is progress, and there is too much going on in the world to waste time being sad over not making “enough” progress.

However, whilst I definitely won’t lose sleep if I don’t hit my targets this year, it is nice to have something to work towards.

Goal 1: Fill 2 sketchbook spreads per month

I find that when I lose motivation to draw in my sketchbook it can disappear for well over a month at a time. In 2022, I want to fill 2 spreads (4 pages) per month – making that roughly one page per week – to get into better habits. Knowing myself, I’m almost certain I won’t reach this by the end of the year, but I’m hoping that my attempts will bring my sketchbook more to life.

Goal 2: Do studies outside of my comfort zone

Like a lot of artists, I find that I get caught in a rut of only doing things in my comfort zone. Doing what I’m good at means that I produce art I’m more proud of, which makes it rewarding, which makes me want to keep only doing what I’m good at… Being in this cycle isn’t inherently a bad thing, if the things you’re good at creating are the only things you genuinely want to create. It’s how some artists find their style and niche. However, there are so many things I desperately want to be able to draw – people being one of them.

Goal 3: Create to learn, not to make something perfect.

There are times that I put off using certain mediums that I want to use, simply because I don’t feel good at it. This year I want to create more things with the intention of learning from it, rather than to make something perfect first time.

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Peek Inside My Sketchbook

A Peek Inside My Sketchbook: Animal Portraits

Animal Sketchbook Spread by Nicola Lucy (2021). Please do not redistribute or copy in any form.

Recently I purchased a sketchbook because I realised I don’t create enough art to just practice or draw for the sake of it – I’m always so focused on creating a final piece.

This spread in my sketchbook in particular brings me so much joy whenever I look at it. It’s based off of photos of friendly encounters with various animals I had in my phone. I get so genuinely happy when an animal greets me, and I wanted to spend time capturing that. (The stickers decorating the spread are of two of my finished pieces and can be bought on my Redbubble).

It’s been really nice creating for the sake of my own happiness or gaining practice, rather than focusing on selling a piece.

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My Art Journey

Digital Art and ME

Whether you agree with the sentiment or not, a lot of digital artists or fans of the medium will have heard things like “digital art isn’t real art” or “digital art doesn’t belong in a gallery”.

As a primarily digital artist, over time I’ve developed an arsenal of arguments against that way of thinking. However, one in particular that I don’t think gets mentioned enough is that for some disabled people, it can be the most accessible way of creating art.

I suffer from both myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and fibromyalgia (FMS) whilst working a physically demanding full-time job. Both of my conditions cause a lot of fatigue and pain, amongst other symptoms, and so whenever I’m not in work I’m often resting in bed.

Why traditional art isn’t ideal for me

I love the feeling of creating traditional art. I love the challenges of trying to master such unpredictable mediums. I love the appreciation and acceptance of imperfections in the artwork, which is often the result of having no undo button. I have a huge amount of respect for those who have mastered their traditional medium.

But when you’re exhausted, in pain, and really should be in bed – creating full-colour traditional artworks becomes more a challenge. If I want to create traditionally, I am presented with two options.

Option 1: I bring the supplies onto the bed with me. When working with just a pencil and sketchbook, this is a fairly reasonable option. However, the challenge comes in when colour is added into the mix. Adding colour results in needing many more supplies, which can create mess and get lost in the sheets. If the fatigue starts to become too much and I need to lie down properly, clearing the bed in that state can be a struggle for somebody like me.

Option 2: I work at a desk. This would allow me to keep my bed clean and clear, so it’s ready for whenever I need it. However, sitting at a desk can be more painful and tiring for me. I often find that my traditional pieces are rushed, because 5-10 minutes in I’m already aching and wanting to finish.

The benefits of drawing on a tablet

Nowadays I primarily draw on my iPad and it has worked wonders in terms of allowing me to draw more frequently, and to be able to do so for longer periods of time. When I’m sat in bed using it to draw, I can use as many colours as I want just from my Apple Pencil. My bed isn’t littered with art supplies. Even better, the fact that it attaches magnetically to the side prevents me from ever losing it in the sheets. And when I’m too tired to continue? I can simply switch it off and put it on my bedside table.

The bottom line

I appreciate that digital art is not for everyone. However, the key to a thriving art scene is allowing creating art to be accessible to as many people as possible. For some, traditional art is the best option to fit their preferences and life situation. For myself, digital art opens the door for me to create much more regularly than I ever could if that option was taken away from me.

Disclaimer: Every person is different in terms of their needs and their situation. As a result, a medium that is more accessible for one person may be less accessible for another.

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Running an Art Business

I made an Etsy store!

My Etsy Store: NicolaLucyArt

I finally decided to take the plunge and make my own Etsy store. This is a great opportunity for me to sell prints at the same price (or less) than my print-on-demand stores, but more of the profit actually comes to me!

With each of my Etsy orders:

  1. The A5 print is quality checked by me, the artist, before it is sent out to you.
  2. There is a sticker on the back, with:
    • My signature (hand-signed)
    • The number it is (e.g. print 1 of 10)
    • The piece’s official name
    • The year of completion
    • Which print run it is
  3. The thank you note is completely hand-written and personal to the customer.

Protecting the print

The print is packaged in a plastic sleeve for protection against water and a reinforced envelope to protect against bending.

Is it eco-friendly?

The prints are all on recycled, or part-recycled, paper and were delivered from the supplier to myself in a carbon neutral way.

The print is protected from water by a plastic sleeve, which is not recyclable. However, once my stock is used up (100 sleeves), I will look into more eco-friendly alternatives.

The envelopes, as far as I am aware, are not recycled but are recyclable. I strongly encourage you to do so!

I have definitely got room to improve in terms of how eco-friendly my small business is. I know this is important to a lot of people, so I would rather be transparent about where I am up to in terms of that. Hopefully as my business grows, I will have more available to me to invest into eco-friendly packaging. If I could have 0% plastic usage, that would be incredible.

What is the quality like?

To be absolutely clear, the prints in my Etsy shop are not giclée prints for now. I think the quality is beautiful though, and I think they would make a gorgeous addition to any room. I could not guarantee the level of lightfastness that you would expect from a giclée print – which if stored correctly supposedly last 100+ years. You can purchase giclée prints of my artworks, in a variety of sizes, from my Saatchi Art store.

Are they available internationally?

To start with, I’m sticking to UK delivery only for my Etsy store. This is until I have the chance to build up more funds to make that leap. At my current prices, I would barely break even if I shipped internationally due to the cost.

Is there anything else you need to know?

If you’re at all curious about my prints, please feel free to ask questions! I would love to answer them for you!

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Uncategorized

I’ve finally got a TikTok!

I’ve been very slow to catch up with everyone and make a TikTok account, but I finally have! It’s @nicolalucyart.

I am now cool like the youths. That’s how that works – right?

I’m hoping to use it to share more about my process, and maybe the odd silly bits and bobs relating to art.

NicolaLucyArt on TikTok
@NicolaLucyArt on TikTok!
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Artist Feature

Artist Feature: Art By Ostle

Amina’s Instagram page @artbyostle.

Amina, who goes by @artbyostle on Instagram, is a former housemate of mine who got back into painting after years of hiatus after I lent her my watercolours one day. Since then, she has consistently produced beautiful watercolour and gouache paintings.

Seemingly, her go-to subjects are gorgeous landscapes, with many featuring beautiful vibrant colours.

Her Pisces piece, which is part of the same theme challenge as my Tranquil Koi piece, should be uploaded today. If you visit her Instagram and happen to see it, please show it some love!

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My Art Journey

I Don’t Have an Art Style (Yet)

When looking through my art to upload it onto this website recently, something became overly apparent. I don’t have an art style. I don’t even have an inkling of an art style. So I reflected for a moment and tried to work out why.

Why I don’t have a set art style

I’m still learning my mediums

A huge part of why I don’t have a consistent art style is that I’m still learning about the mediums that I use. Each time I make a piece, I experiment with what I think will make it look good.

The variations in effort put in

Some of my pieces simply had more effort put into them than others. For example, my Willow (2019) piece took over 150 hours to draw. Every single tiny detail was carefully drawn in, from the individual strands of fur to the texture on the sweater. As a result, I achieved a very photorealistic look. By comparison, my Heart (2021) piece was something I wanted to create as a quick project so I felt more comfortable letting the brush strokes show rather than trying to make it look like a photo.

Huge variations in inspiration

I’m lucky in that there are a lot of artists that inspire me and get me excited to create art. The bad news is, they all have completely different art styles. There’s a huge variation between my inspirations in terms of whether they do realism or more stylisation, the medium they use, the technique for that medium, the colours, etc. There are so many art styles that I see that make me think “I wish I could do that”.

I also have a huge variety in subject matters that inspire me. This means that the subjects of my art are not consistent.

My approach to art

I approach an art piece like a problem-solving activity. I usually am trying to find the most efficient way to produce the most visually appealing image possible. I don’t usually even consider consistency in style, I merely focus on the specific piece I’m working on.

When will I have an art style?

I feel as if my art style will get even more varied before it begins to get more consistent. I still have a lot of experimenting and learning to do before I find a technique that I want to stick with.

Perhaps an aim for the future is to at least create a collection of pieces with the same style and related subject matter.

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Running an Art Business

Pricing Art and Why It Matters

It’s no secret that pursuing a career in art is not always the most stable of incomes. Whether you’re just selling art as a hobby, or pursuing it as a full-time profession, pricing correctly is very important.

How To Price Artwork

The general rule of thumb is to consider all of the following:

  1. Time taken: Make sure you are earning at least minimum wage for the amount of time that you spent on the artwork.
  2. Cost of materials: Make sure that the cost of any supplies used is included.
  3. Packaging and delivery: Have a rough idea of how much packaging and shipping will cost, and make sure that this is highlighted.
  4. Skill level: Some artists will mark up the cost of their artwork to reflect their level of skill, experience, or education so that they are making more than minimum wage.
  5. Original or print? A print is inherently less valuable than an original as you can reproduce it. If you’re doing a limited run of a print, one way of pricing it could be to divide the total cost of the labour and materials by the number of prints.
    • Note: this is why many digital artists struggle to sell non-commissioned pieces for decent amounts of money.

Why It Matters

You may have seen some artists price their works at incredibly low price points, including below minimum wage. Quite often this is to encourage customers to shop with them rather than the more expensive competition, or due to a lack of confidence in how much the piece is worth.

It’s important to remember to not give in to the temptation to reduce prices, even if you only do it as a hobby, because this leads to a downwards spiral. Your competitors, who may lose business to your low prices, may lower theirs to compete with you. You then may feel tempted to lower yours to compete again. Then they do the same. This continues until the art is essentially worthless.

Your art took your time, energy, and involved some form of materials. When selling your art, you deserve to be paid for all of that fairly. Please do not devalue your own work.