Monday Featured Artisan - Jasmine Worth

Today's Featured artisan is Jasmine Worth
Jasmine's work can be purchased at JasmineWorth.etsy.com. More of her work and information about her work can also be found at JasmineWorth.com.

What do you make?
I am an oil painter.

What drew you to your craft and why did you start selling your items?
I have always been as artist, since as far back as I can remember I was drawing or painting. I started selling my artwork on etsy because I wanted to make original art available to everyone. I want anyone who enjoys my art to be able to afford a print or something with my art on it. I have shown in galleries for many years now, but I know that not all people are able to afford original art from a gallery. Selling on etsy allows me to make my work available to those people, as well.




What is your favorite part of creating your items?
My favorite part of painting is the last stage, where I get to put in all the details and highlights. I love seeing the painting come together into the finished product.

Is your craft a full time endeavor or a hobby?
I am a full time painter. I worked at a record store for many years, after the store closed in 2009, I decided to try my hand at being a full time artist. Hopefully the etsy store will help me to achieve this dream :)

When you arn't working on your craft what do you enjoy doing?
I am an avid reader. My house is crammed full of books, they are stacked nearly up to the ceiling in some places! I also enjoy hanging out with my cat Punkin, and watching cartoons.






Etsy Shop: JasmineWorth.etsy.com
More info/images: JasmineWorth.com
Art shown here:
1. 'Midnight Dreary' - Original Oil Painting
2. 'Detached' - Fine Art Print
3. 'Suspended' - Fine Art Print

The Quandaries of an Artist

I was reading through the forums of Etsy.com this morning and came across an issue that many artists run into... Why their art isn't selling.

The wonderful artist, Matthew, who started the thread was asking what he could do to make his artwork more salable. He was looking for answers to the question every artist asks "Why is my work not selling." However, through commenting on the thread myself and reading through other comments Matthew is honestly looking for ways to create artwork that will appeal to a wider group of people. From seeing his work and feeling the eternal struggle myself I wanted to share his work with all of you.


The question is not a matter of to 'sell out' as an artist or not. It is more a question of how to keep doing what an artist loves and feels compelled to create while still being able to eat. Although the idea of being an artist is often romanticized and many people will say 'You should create what you like' or 'Follow your heart' the cold reality is if what an artist creates is not appreciated and bought it will force the artist to change or quit in order to survive in the world. I will be very interested to see how the style of Matthew's art changes and grows with time and the suggestions he has received.







Matthew's Etsy shop is
MATTSART FINE ART







If you are interest in the forum thread it can be found here:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6054387