@chip-valecek your art is marketable! My son would totally love all those inktobers. And your horror paintings are really great fan art. How to market and reach your audience is the magic question. I’m pretty sure that’s why we are all here at svs. A big part of it. Hopefully something will click in time. I had about 247 failed attempts at selling art. Seriously, this may be the first real success I’ve had. It’s small, but it’s something to me! There have been a few random word of mouth jobs over the years. I think the big road block for me is not giving up, still finding joy in my work when there isn’t money to measure how well I’m doing.

@eli where do your people “live?” If Facebook isn’t the place they hangout then I wouldn’t worry about it. That’s were my people go to be social. And post gifs cause we think we are so funny. I bet local places love your work! I could totally see it in all the “local” restaurants and stores. In charlotte that area is called NoDa. It’s pretty cool.

@eli awe thanks! One thing I can’t do with watercolor- your texture!

@chip-valecek it’s okay. I totally paint for the thrill of the post. It was eye opening when I shut it off. But that Instagram following I’ve been working on... not even a comment on the finished product. Totally fine. My actual friends on Facebook, 14 orders! Go where your people live. I still love instagram. It’s pretty. But they don’t love me like my friends who actually know me.

I do want to try and get them in local stores. And now I have 31 samples.

And yes, we are all a little fried from inktober! Your collection was really strong!

-Messy lines. (Probably because I don’t have a steady hand)

• Paint must go out of the lines and also not reach the lines in other areas
  -keep to a limited color palette. Maybe use 5 colors in a painting.
  -use all colors everywhere just touches
  -let colors dance together. Basically use wet on wet and limit my hard lines. I use watercolors.
  -don’t kill all the white space.

I don’t know if my style is a style, but it’s how I paint.

Can’t wait to watch that class.

I feel like that sometimes. I don’t do left turns. Get off my back people. I will go when I’m ready! Looks great/ I like the concept. Can’t wait to see her in color!

I had this adorable idea to send a package of all my inktober cards to the SVS office and to Lee in Nashville. I still may do it. It involves stickers and rating different aspects of the final project. (Anyone feel free to comment and critique.) Who doesn't like stickers? So be on the lookout for it eventually.

I posted all my sets on Facebook and instagram and told my friends they are available for purchase. I figured my mom and sister-in-law would grab a set. Lots of people "like" my work, but purchasing is an entirely different story. Don't forget, these are also notecards. Not everyone uses them. To my surprise, I have 14 orders of various sets including all of inktober. Merry Christmas to me! Although, I'm printing these at home. I got a quote from a printer and it was super out of my range. I didn't really want to send them all to kinkos either. So here we go! @Jake-Parker @Will-Terry @Lee-White , your care package will come at some point after I fill these orders.

I took a break from social media during inktober for 10 days (day 7-17). It was very liberating. I didn't rush to finish my work, I let the day prompt inspire me for whichever day I wanted to do. I took my time on the pieces and completed the images for the final product not the thrill of the post. I don't think everyone needs to take a break during this challenge, but at some point for an extended time. It really helps to connect with real people vs the fake universe.

The break was a little saddening in one way. I missed the community of drawing all together on one prompt. It's like we were all connected I'm like, "where are the little people with the gray background @Chip-Valecek !" Along with so many others. I really enjoyed watching everyone's themes evolve.

I can't believe I have a project that worked out! I'm happy with my images and feel like they are a cohesive set. Some I like as a stand alone notecard set. Even semi professional... I will probably take some of these to some shops around town. However, it may be next Christmas. What if they want a big order. YIKES! And I may have missed the boat on Christmas. That's okay. I need slowvember to complete my christmas presents. Thanks for prodding us along @Jake-Parker , you started something good here!

@eli I bought Ink for my printer. Let’s see if that is cheaper. Ha! I certainly think so!

Hey @Will-Terry , I know one of the BYU players from the game you mentioned in your YouTube video. At church Sunday I went up to Bro Tui, Pete Tuipulotu, and asked if he played in the BYU Miami game. He lit up and said “yeah.” I then clarified that there is only one game that it could be referring to, right. (We are from the south i don’t keep up with BYU football, although my husband knew the game immediately). He confirmed. He said that the quarter back won the hiseman (I don’t know how to spell that) trophy because of that game.

Anyways, I shared the video with his wife. Pretty cool, right! The Tui’s are the best family ever. Sis Tui played basketball for the Y. Their family is the coolest family ever! Hank is red shirted this year for the Y. Ben is on his mission in Chile and has already signed for the Y. Sami, their only daughter, is in Provo at the MTC. She’s going to Tonga! Awesome right! She will play lacrosse for the Y. And Pete is still at home playing high school football. So, they have the height from there mom. They are super human athletes, but seriously the coolest family! Anyways, small world.

My quote for printing 26 images (A2 size cards) and 10 sets of them was $767. Ha, guess I’ll be printing my inktober cards at home! It was $800 for 20 sets. This is cut, packaged and vacuume sealed (I think). Although, now I’m getting a quote for 6 images and 10 sets of the cards. So, 60 cards total. I’ll see what that actually comes out to. No packaging.