So I have now drawn 5 valentines cards / piece for clients and this afternoon some messaging to arrange delivery of the last two. Also late last night this morning a new commission came in from another Swanage business who I know through the Purbeck Business and Community Group. I was able to give a quote based on previous work completed for The Pink Goat in Corfe Castle in 2020.
Yesterday afternoon I returned to the hat design previously approved and continue with that. Since my first ‘fancy dress’ hat pieces in Winsor and Newton ProMarkers I have changed and now do most of the colour on the hats using Uni Posca paint markers which give a bolder and brighter finish and fade less in direct sunlight on the hats.
I made progress with three panels today, the front of the hat and one side plus a design feature which runs around the top of the brim. The main theme is one that links to one of my pastimes as a teenager which has helped me with ideas and background that proved useful in the design phase.
The detail of some elements mean a base colour layer is used first then once dry, detail is added especially with black and / or white markers. Some of this is done with the pigment fineliners, the remainder in Posca markers. I have used the occasional ProMarkers for colours that I can not produce with the Posca markers that I have.
This week I will continue adding to the hat daily and building the design up alongside this I have some reading to do on publicity and marketing to put together a calendar to hopefully start from March that allows a more planned approach rather than my random posting as I feel like it, if it changes the character of my business I may return to what I do now. I am conscious of learning new skills but I don’t want to become too formal in my publicity posts.
I also aim to do some draft planning sketches for the three commissions remaining. My work is getting busier which I am enjoying and it means some income while the shop remains closed.