I don't mind honest critiques if I can learn from them.  What I can't stand is something I experienced when sharing photographs on a sharing site - "your work sucks" and that was all that was said.  Now, I can sort of handle this sort of comment if it were followed up with "if this were my image, I would... " and explain oneself.  And I think if someone is going to post an image for critique, one should go in with the expectation that it's going to be looked at for ways to improve.  It all comes down to how that is presented.  I paint horse models and I've shared images of those on a group headed up by a fellow artist there - she's great in pointing out areas of weakness but balances her critique with what might be good about the piece.  
 
As for chasing sales, I'm here trying to figure out the whole business...if I'm failing to grasp simple selling concepts or creating marketable cards through proper design, then I need those things pointed out to me.  My goal is looking for how best to make those marketable cards - what the public does after that is up to them... but at least I'll know I've done the best I can do to offer something that meets with the general expectations of card buyers.
 
Oh, and one more thing, with all the additional work/encouragement/help Corrie, Doreen, Tom, and other well-versed card makers have or are doing to help the rest of us grow, I wish there was some way I could compensate - I can't begin to tell you all how much I do appreciate the extra effort and I do feel guilty I can't do something to pay you all back...

"There's a limit of one card per artist per clinic. I will also limit the number of requested critiques to five per clinic - first come, first served, you snooze you lose. Once we reach that limit, you will have to wait until the following week."
 
Great idea, Corrie! Purely from an operational point of view, when does 'Friday' start? We're an international bunch here so, for example, Friday morning here in Australia is the middle of the night in Europe and Thursday afternoon in California. If it is purely based on first come, first served, then there may be some artists will consistently miss out because of their time zone.
 
Could this be taken into account?
 
Cheers,
 
 
Rosanne
 
 

For me in the Netherlands, time zone is +1 GMT. Australia is +8 or +10 GMT.  
 
If as an international artist, you miss a clinic deadline because it's the middle of the night where you are and the majority of other artists are wide awake and chirpy, then send me an email and we'll try to work something out. I'd rather not have to divide the time between this group of artists and that group of artists unless I get a huge response from the non-U.S. artists.
 
Corrie
gcucommunity@bigdates.com

Awesome Addition!

To be honest, I post on the GCU Community blog in the morning (my time, of course), sometimes before breakfast, sometimes not. I'm not on a rigid schedule, and I'd rather not be too regimented for my own sake. So I'll open the clinic at some point during my morning. We'll have to see what happens.
 
A link to another artist's store on your website OR perhaps a blog post about them would be very nice.
 
Corrie

Quote from Donna_137698 on Jun 8^th, 2011, 4:14am:

 
Hi, Donna!  
I see your puzzling mind encompassing mine. Why so many clicks and no sales?    Believe me, the majority of the problem is not in you artistry, but in your marketing ability.  
 
Besides publicizing your creations the other winner trend is - uniqueness makes you desirable. Find a niche (quite a task for a humanistic mindset…) and marketing yourself heavily. This is the connoisseurs’ advising - I am just rephrasing.  
 
Imagine, the same problem happens with sneakers or any product subjected to the same results. The fascination with brands like Nike or Adidas versus same products of less publicized brands goes beyond comprehension, but that is how we, wonderful humans, are wired.  The billions of dollars invested in publicizing the product with the most desirable sportsmen or iconic figure pays off big time in sales. Publicity reprograms our brains to desire what we have just seen advertized.
 
What marks fashion tendencies or makes anything “in,” is a clever manipulation of our “I- persona” always in craving need to fit in, to belong, to be part of.
 
Having said that, I think it is a lovable initiative to have the feed back of our peers to improve our craft and skill. More eyes and especially artistically trained eyes can bring valuable input and help us give the jump of quality that, I am sure, everybody would welcome. Thank you, Corrie, for implementing this peer exam/ feedback solution.
 
Artistry aside, and there are absolutely outstanding artists and creativity at GCU,  at the end, as Corrie says, it all comes to sales – the more you sale, the more you sale, the more you sale. The ineffable secret is to capture the right move to keep the wheel spinning.
Leonilde