I have been in love with art all my life.  I have many years’ experience with taking various drawing and painting classes, as well as computer arts.  I took my first art class in Junior High.  My favorite art teacher was Mike Grbich in High School.  I took a number of illustration classes in college.  I took one post-graduation acrylic painting class at College of the Siskiyous in Weed, California. 

          I always purchase my greeting card art supplies from a local art supply store, The Velvet Elephant.  They are owned by two local artist friends of mine.  I want to see them stay in business.  I purchase multimedia card stock and Prismacolor pencils to make these cards. 

          I used to stand in front of the local stores with the most foot traffic, until I had sold a card or two, or been asked by the store owners to leave.  I started out small.  I sold Golden Prosperity pamphlets for $1 each.  But first, I read “Money Is My Friend” by Phil Laut.  The chapter on Sales alone is worth the price of the entire book!  I also highly recommend “Wealth Without A Job” by Phil Laut and Andy Fuehl.  

          There’s a 5-point Sales Map.  I sum it up as Get Their Attention, Qualify the Prospect, Present Benefits and Characteristics of what’s for sale, Close, and Re-Close.  Not everyone is interested in artwork.  My job is to find those people who are interested in purchasing my artwork, and who have the money to do so.  I sell my handmade artist’s greeting cards for $5 apiece plus California sales tax.  I do Commissions for $10 apiece plus California tax.  

          Qualifying the prospect is what you do to find out if he/she/they is likely to have an interest in purchasing your product or service for sale.  Ads are there both to grab attention and quality prospective buyers.  I usually ask questions such as “do you collect art”?  Sometimes my work “sells itself” if it’s especially eye-catching, and the prospect chooses NOT to ignore me!  To all ignorers, I say a quiet “God bless!” But people are getting to know me and my artwork!

          I keep it seasonal, and I keep it original.  I use different media, such as watercolor pen and graphite plus colored pencils, plus Pilot G-2 07 gel pens. 

          I put each card and envelope set inside of a plastic protective sleeve, which I purchase on Amazon.  I have a number of collectors, some of whom have gone out of business and/or moved out of Mount Shasta, California.  

          I frequently sell at Mount Shasta Farmer’s Markets and Berryvale organic grocery.  I also attend numerous gatherings of the community, and I walk into town most days per week, to run errands and shop or go to appointments.  So, everybody knows me and my work.  It’s original, like no other artist’s work!  I have a distinct style.  Delicate lines, many colors and textures, and light values.  Semi-realistic or taken from photos.  

         I have always wanted to be “famous” as an artist, writer, and musician.  Work is worship, says my lifelong guru, Babaji.  Work is love made visible, says Khalil Gibran.  People all need beauty in their worlds.  We see much mass-produced stuff, a lot of which is cheap and flimsy, or better quality and more expensive.  We see a few local artisans who thrive economically while selling in a strong local community, if we’re especially lucky (or hard-working as well as creative!