Braden Duncan: Selling art at conventions, how to grow on Patreon, and working with manufactures or suppliers. - a podcast by Claire Michelle

Braden Duncan of Clockwork Art was a wonderful guest and it was a treat to have her on. We talked about all things art business related and really dive into some of the ways you can make painting a full time career. In this episode we discovered that Braden lost 80% of her revenue due to Covid-19! Where did she lose it from and how did she recover? You'll have to listen to find out! 

In the episode Braden mentioned that she would share a bunch of resources here so we thought it best to just drop the email below. If you're looking for a supplier or just some advice for Patreon and Merch, check it out below. 

QUOTE

Some follow-up that I don't remember if I touched on in the interview:

Patreon:

*Create exclusive content for paying Patrons so that the platform offers them something more than standard social media & invites them to be part of the process (e.g. behind-the-scenes, tutorials, in depth inspiration posts, monthly merch, polls & other interactions, sales, 1st dibs on new pieces & merch)

*Post consistently so Patrons have something to look forward to (e.g. monthly features, weekly updates, sequential projects, new pieces in a series, sneak peeks of new projects)

*Start small & offer rewards you can realistically fulfill & are invested in; you can always add more rewards/tiers later. :)

*Overall an awesome platform for more direct interactions with followers & fans that sidestep complicated social media algorithms

Merch:

*Figure out your budget, order what you can reasonably afford & have the space to store

*Trial & error - some images translate better to different products, quality & consistently can vary widely between suppliers

*Understand your audience & sales platform (popularity of the design & the merch, in person vs online sales)

*Small orders are great for trying out a new supplier, comparing materials & quality, and quicker turnaround time (but cost tends to be more per item)

*Bulk orders are great for popular images when you have an established audience & a trusted supplier (more cost-effective per item, but can take longer)

*Presentation & professionalism (protecting your pieces for display/handling/transport/shipping)

There's so much more, lol! A Q&A session might be a better way to go for specifics, since every creative tends to have slightly different needs.

My suppliers:

Giclee prints - https://www.bellevuefineart.com

Cardstock prints - (Online Bulk) https://www.catprint.com, (Seattle Area) https://topnotchcopyandprint.com

Business Cards, Folded Notecards, Postcards, Convention Display Signage - https://www.vistaprint.com

Enamel Pins, Patches, Washi Tape - https://alchemymerch.com

Magnets - http://www.halfpricebuttons.com, https://www.purebuttons.com

Vinyl Stickers - (Best Quality) https://www.stickermule.com, (Best Options for Holo & Sparkles) https://stickerapp.com

Calendars - https://www.printingcenterusa.com

Display Supplies - (Celo Bags, Backing Boards, Pre-Cut Mats) https://www.clearbags.com

Convention Display Supplies - (Print & Card Racks) https://cleardisplays.com/wooden-counter-racks

Shipping Supplies - (Padded & Rigid Mailers) https://upaknship.com

Print on Demand Services - (Personal Favourites) https://www.teepublic.com, https://society6.com

Hope that helps!

Further episodes of Muse Unseen

Further podcasts by Claire Michelle

Website of Claire Michelle