Today’s kinda special cause I sold a matted print of my Sleepless in Manhattan … which makes the following total on that image:
2 x matted prints
3 x canvas prints
2 x mounted prints
4 x framed prints
2 x posters
9 x greeting cards
Out of those 22 sales I netted €110. Over 4 years. That’s €27.50 per year.
So I figure I’d need about 1000 more images that sell this well in my portfolio in order to even think about making a living off my art.
OK. Just finished thinking about it… and I’ve decided NOT to quit my daytime job. Which is kinda cool anyway.
It all just makes my heart go out to all those struggling artists who actually DO have the guts to go out there and eke out a living on their conviction to follow theirs, uncompromising in the believe that it is their place on this earth to do art. Exclusively.
As for myself, I do get the thrill of occasionally feeling a twinge of what a successful artist might feel when they’ve purchased their fist Harley V-Rod through sales after the monthly mortgage, insurance, food, gas, electricity, water, gasoline and ink cartridge bills are all paid up…
With my €3.35 from this latest sale, I’m gonna go out and buy myself a beer.
WAHOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!
✿⊱╮Kira Bodensted
Cheers Billy – most of us don’t get fame or fortune on RB – there must be another reason we are still here
Congratulations on your sale anyway. We know it – and you know it – you’re a great artist ☺
billyboy:
Whatever that other reason is Kira, it’s a big one…
I ain’t goin nowhere :-))
KChisnall
Congrats on the sale =D….even if you can’t give up the day job we all love looking at your work! xx
billyboy:
Thanx K! Maybe I’ll just give it up anyway and live in a shoe.
Know an old lady who did that and it seems she’s frazzled, but doin OK :-)
mikepaulhamus
that was good ! love your take on this, I also give those artists great appreciation for their struggles, It has to be a full time effort that is for sure ! Have a great day bb…
billyboy:
Cheers Paul, and btw, have you seen this site ?
Saw an old friend yesterday who told me about it… gonna have an in depth look later…
Have a great day yourself !!
Carol and Mike...
Congrats on the sale, Billy . . . an awesome image . . . great to have one that sells so well.
billyboy:
Thanks C&M…
Still not quittin the daytime job …:-]
Smudgers Art
Well done Billy, your a inspiration your work and words of motivation. I my self sold 3 prints and blew all my doe on a Mars bar, the inspiration must come from the fact that some ones enjoying your vision and have your art hanging some where in there home it makes that beer all more enjoyable .. cheers Eugene
billyboy:
A MARS BAR ?!! I hope it was a whopping big one at least !!
I think you just hit the nail on the head as to why most of us are all here…
Thanks for that Eugene, ya really made me smile :-))
Ulla Jensen
LOL !!! Thumbs up for your journal, BB….!! Gave me a good laugh….. – I’m saving for a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo stilettos – will take another 50 years at the rate that I’m going :-))))). Cheers mate, congratulations ! xx
billyboy:
OK, these are only $450…
Hope YOUR daytime job’s in a bank :-)
Cheers for the congrats, and lotsa luck !!
Yhun Suarez
Same here mate…congrats on the sale!!!
billyboy:
Hi Yhun, cheers for the congratz!
LindaR
Big Congrats Billy ~ and Cheers for while you lift your glass or bottle ~ however you chose to roll!! ;)
I am so jealous of those buyers ~ you know how I feel about your work and how I feel especially for this particular piece, because it blew me away and it blew me into seeing your work, for which, has led me to loving the art and the artist both. Couldn’t be happier for you and so much deserving for every euro!! xxx
billyboy:
Thanks Linda, ‘fraid I’m gonna have to sell another couple of framed prints to get the bottle so the glass is gonna have to do for now.
Sleepless is one of those pictures that just happened to click on RB. Ir’ve posted it on two other sites in the past and it hardly got any recognition at all.
Or maybe it’s just that the people on RB, like yourslef, are just that much more tuned in. I’ve known for quite a while now that I’m in the right place.
Thanks SO much for the support you’ve given my work over the years. You’re an absolute diamond!
xo
Arlene Zapata
You have a fantastic day job that you LOVE anyway! Congrats on your sale!
billyboy:
You’re so right Arlene. I’d be stoopid to quit that job anyways.
Thanks for the congrats… you’ve been here as long as me and I’m so glad you’re still around and stopping by :-))
Big hugz!!
Barbara Glover
Congrats. Keep up the good work.
billyboy:
Cheers Barbara!
Barbara Morrison
Beautiful shot! And I guess alot of smart people appreciate it! If this keeps up you can start planning for retirement…in a few years.
billyboy:
Think you mean a few centuries Barbara!
Anyways, thank God for the smart people, and cheers for the smiles :-))
Hege Nolan
enjoy that cold and frosty beer! Personally, I’m happy to stay as an amateur with a day job, it means I can pick and choose what I do, and I’m not feeling pressured to sell, SELL, SELL in order to eat.
but anyhow, congrats on that sale, your work is amazing.
cheers
Hege
billyboy:
Wise words Hege, and in fact I understand that the magic goes out of a hobby once you need to make a living off it. Ask most wedding photographers!
Cheers for the congrats and for such a nice compliment :-)
Shanina Conway
Congratulations BB, €27.50 per year..that’s a lot of instant noodles lol!
You couldn’t give up your day gig, it sounds like to much fun;)
billyboy:
Seems like there`s a trend going on here… beer, Mars bars and instant noodles… coiuld be the common denominator that sparks creativity in artists is junk food :-))
Cheers for the congrats (burp!)
Stephen Mitchell
Nice work. I won’t say how much I have made over the last 4 years. Not so much that I can retire, but a lot more than I ever expected! Selling a matte-print is always a grand way to happiness!
billyboy:
You are so right Stephen! Selling a matte-print IS a sure fire way to happiness. All you need to actually get there is to do it about 4150 more times!!
Cathie Tranent
I’ve just clocked over my fourth year here on Redbubble, and even tho’ I joined as a photographer, I’ve never sold a print. As for the tshirts …….. but definitely not enough to retire on.
We must do it for the love!!
billyboy:
Cathie, I’m convinced it’s for the love.
Aside from that, it’s just pure addiction :-))
linskudd
Hey – well done on your sales. It’s a great image BTW! :o)
billyboy:
Cheers for that Lindsay !
Even though we do it for love, the sales are kinda cool :-))
Casey Herman
Hmm … I’ve had a completely different experience: I’ve sold about 20 or so T-shirts and about 50 or more cards and half a dozen calendars!! This is such a great place for sales!!
Too bad that I also paid for each of these sales on my credit card, haha!! ;)