Summer as an artist in Swanage

The school holidays have started and Swanage will start to fill up with more visitors. Next weekend we see the start of Carnival week – not just a parade for Swanage.

For me the shop will continue to open on the same four days of the week and keeping to my regular hours of 10 until 5 opening. I like to be consistent and also enjoy my days off too which is why I don’t open additional days just because it is the summer.

Art for fun has already seen several families and children return to take part with me being referred to as Andy or Arty man or the drawing man – in the second summer of offering the activity it is lovely that people want to return and have another go. Also new families find me by accident or recommendation and so the band of participants grows. On Saturday last despite lots of rain three stations set up inside the shop allowed customers to visit and art for fun to continue.

I continue to look for new ideas and can be found drawing new A6 original postcard pieces or adding to my stock of wooden boxes. The two latest A4 pieces of Corfe Castle and boats are now available as prints and cards plus the original artworks.

I find myself thinking about the online presence I have and how to use it most effectively so that followers and people who have bought my art can see what is happening. At the moment it comes down to how I use my time and when at the shop I prefer to sit and people watch and chat to passers by rather than work away on online posts although I do keep Instagram updated. I am caught between the idea of trying to increase sales and grow the business and be relaxed about enjoying what I have already established. Your thoughts are appreciated on this.

Guest artist of the month continues to get interest, if not written comments about the work on display and this month (July) has seen a good number of card sales for Pip so far, now into her final week. I enjoy the fact that I can give some wall space over to support other artists as I appreciate how it is not easy starting out to get work exhibited to a wider audience.

This month another link has helped, having recommended Square – my card reader provider to another artist I am currently enjoying a £1000 of sales without card fees – it is only a little but an appreciated bonus for income.

So today on a non shop day I am sat at home nursing an infected toe but will be at the shop as scheduled this week just saying ouch occasionally. If in Swanage please drop by and say hi.

Thanks

Andy

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