Flick! - Good, Cheap Database for Artists

Origami Velociraptor – what we moms do for our kids!

Recently I’ve been working on organizing my art studio. One essential part of the studio is the management on electronic files and images. I had looked at a bunch and was very disappointed. Then, I stumbled upon Flick!

As it is only $30, I figured it probably wouldn’t be that good. But, I saw the front page endorsement by the clever Tina Mammoser and decided I definitely had to try it.

I have since played around with it and love it! It is definitely able to do all that I need it to and more. Before this I have used spreadsheets, which are all alright – but with tracking customers, dealing with more images than before, etc – I just kept thinking that I needed a database. Having been a programmer, I was very tempted to build my own. But, I decided that if I could find something affordable I’d be further ahead to just buy one.

I’m thrilled with it. It’s definitely affordable. Organization is a very personal thing, so you would need to try out any system for yourself, but Flick! makes it easy with a free trial.

Origami Anklyosaurus – when the first step has a substep of 16 steps, you know you are in trouble!

STAMP-EDE and Good Business Practice

This post is about some rubber stamps I've inherited and how I'm going to use them.

I've recently inherited an art book library and a rubber stamp library. That sounds a little funny, rubber stamp library, but I kid you not. My uncle was a painter for many years, as he grew older he began collecting rubber stamps and making cards and stationery with them. Every card he sent had a stamp on the envelope and many of the cards were his own creation.



This week I received the cabinet above - 18 drawers full of stamps! In addition, I've received all of the card stock, heavy paper, and handmade paper that he had (reams and reams). And I'm thrilled! Thanks Mom and Dad for sending me all this!

What am I going to do with this? Employ it, of course. When I sell a painting I like to include a freebie or two. Have you ever purchased something and been given a little extra? It's a good feeling. I want my customers to have that good feeling. So, I'll give them a free bookmark or note card, something like that. Just a small way to say "thank you for supporting me."

Have you thought about how you are going to focus on your customer this year? It's a tough market, you are going to need some strategies to stake your claim...find some that work for you and for your customer and go for it!

Another good business practice is to have some consistency or branding in all the facets of your business - that's why I have now updated my sales blog to the new look.

More on the art book library later...