Is 50% off really what you want?

I’ve recently received few emails asking me if I could apply a discount to some of my prints.
My answer was “no“, but I would like you to know why.

First, just let me say, I’ve created some coupons for my buyers in the past, but there was always a reason for that.

There always should be a reason for creating coupons.

Few weeks ago few new buyers had some problems with checking out on my shop page, because at that particular moment I was adjusting my shipping rates.
The day after I was done with changes I’ve noticed pending orders. Pretty quickly I figured the problem and as soon as possible I sent my potential buyers a kind apologizing email with coupon/discount.

Secondly, I send coupons to my previous buyers as a way to thank them for supporting my art business.

Another way I might apply a discount is to the shipping. I like to ship for free from time to time, because I understand how awesome it feels when we’re able to buy something beautiful and know we don’t have any additional charges.
Lastly, when there is a sure possibility for big order from a wholesale buy I definitely allow discounts.

I imagine that my birthday (Septemeber 16th!), some major holidays will be another happy day for doing some cool promotion and coupons.

The recent emails I got were frankly very blatant, I’d say. One short sentence asking for 50% discount ain’t do it honey.

Every print I make is of a museum quality, archival, gorgeous piece of art painted on fantastic fine art paper. They’re so worth the money and people who really want them become buyers.
I understand we all have budgets, but that’s why I’m saving for luxury items I adore and crave. And, quite honestly, I wouldn’t feel very fair to the clients/buyers who pay the normal fee.

Discounting art sends a message
it’s not really worth what you’re asking for it.

I truly believe that only overpriced work can be marked down. And put into the discount bin.

In any case, I like to donate my prints to the right causes and use the coupons as rewards.
That sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

If you have a different point of view or some awesome strategy please let me know in comments below. Art is a tricky, but fun business.

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here Is discounting artwork a good idea?."

Tilda Swinton by Marta Spendowska

I’ve ben always a fan of androgynous clothing. Flowered bubbly dresses are just not for me. Dear god, I’ve tried. Just this week I watched an episode of Fashion Star even though I’ve decided to keep my tv exposure to minimal. Besides Mentalist and Revenge I don’t have any addictions. After Michael left Office, nothing is worth watching. Eventually I watched the whole thing, because I spotted this fun looking girl with short hair and wanted to see how and what she designs.

It was Kara Laricks and I feel in love.

Tuxedos, suits, vests, oh my.

Kara Laricks Jackets via She Wired

Kara went from being a fourth grade school teacher to fashion, created a line of unisex androgynous accessories called Collar, Stand + Tie and now she’s competing with few other designers on Fashion Star show. The great part is that if her designs get bought by either Macy’s, H&M or Saks Fifth Avenue, we’re able to buy her stuff in one of the stores the very next day.
I wish that last week winning jacket would be just a tid bit less expensive. Saks

It’s so fascinating to see her fulfilling her purpose and living da dream.

How can’t you love a designer who describes her style as :

My style is a kind of a modern-day Annie Hall meets Japanese street style aesthetic. I love an avant-garde look. But at the same time, I know that not all of the masses are interested in something on the edge or avant-garde, so I guess that kind of pushes me, too. After Ellen

Kara Laricks Ties

What’s funny is that in the interview with After Ellen she says she would love to dress Tilda Swinton.
I’m working on series of women that I’ve always been drawn to. They all have some or strong androgynous side. I want to keep the rest of the portraits as secret, but I’d love to share with you my Tilda Swinton. Coincidence?
In real life the painting is a bit lighter.

Love to all!

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here Androgyny, Kara Laricks, Tilda Swinton."

LESSONS

“Never let anyone define what you are capable of by using parameters that don’t apply to you.”

“You don’t have to invent the wheel everyday.”

“Oddly enough, there was a gift in this tragedy. I learned very early in life that the absolute worst thing can happen to you, and you will get past it. And you will be happy again.”

“Everyone needs to feel special.”

About Chuck Close.
Great article from Anna.

:: btw, after searching for images and tagging “chuck close” I saw many rip off and imitations. Some people spend their time to copy others so restlessly.

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here Chuck Close : Note To Self."

Upon request I prepared few little collections, so you can see small prints before you decided going big.

Hope you’re loving it!

Marta Spendowska Petite Illustration

I’ve always been the happiest in libraries, cinemas and art shops. I’ve been thinking about it lately and how places we frequently visit might give us a hint of what you’re supposed to be doing in your life. Hearing me, Kristy? Pst! Thank you for emailing me this question.

It’s insane how excited I am for UPS coming my way and possibly showing up in few minutes with the new enamel Holbein palette. So I can get my paints in, in new virgin metal palette for 100 bucks, so I will be able to take it with me to Poland, so I can paint my small town.

After talking with my favorite Jamie some time ago I realized I could not live without art. I would be fine if I wouldn’t code any more website in my life, but if you’d take away painting, I’d be miserable. One of the scariest visions I have is that one day I’d go blind or loose an arm. Just the painting one. Crazy, I know.

So, I want to ask you today.

What is your  library, cinema or art shop?

Where do you  go in your free time?

What could  you  stop doing right now that seems essential in your life?

What is your  enamel palette?

U P D A T E :

Arrived. So gorgeous and glamorous, dare me say!

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here Purpose."

I’ve talked a bit about my obsession with drawing perfumes already. The topic fascinates me so much, I’ve decided to write again. For those of you who paint, draw, illustrate, it might be a helpful insight.

I don’t know when exactly I started painting perfumes. I have old sketchbooks in Poland and I flipped through them last time I was there and I found many perfume bottles or beauty products drawings. The one thing that stikes me in those drawings is how quickly and almost not carefully they were drawn. None of them is trying to present a 3D bottle, all of them are flat drawings, quick and nonchalant.

That got me thinking.

I’ve just watched this incredible livestream video from Awesome Horse Studios. Four fantastic artists, March Scheff, Cynthia Sheppard, Aaron Miller and Noah Bradley, trained traditionally, paint the same women digitally. Well, at least three of them do. I loved watching it. I admire their skills of rendering the shape and perspective. It’s a pure beauty and incredible knowledge. I loved what they’ve accomplished at the end and I think I learnt few valuable lessons. But, after watching it, I realized I don’t even want to try to go this direction.

All my pieces, small or larger, are much more flat and illustrative. I like to only suggest the shape and color. I think my most successful piece is the girl in black ink with badly rendered hand and no eye. I love this illustration so much.

But this post supposed to talk about perfume bottles, I can hear you’re saying.

Well, it’s all the same.

Some of my perfume bottles are better than others. You might disagree, but I feel it in my gut, in the moment I paint it and a day after. Some are just simply overworked (Le Narcisse). Again, the most joy I get is from only suggesting the piece, even if it means reducing it to the flattest splash of color.

Rainbow — I like it, but it's a bit overworked

Gimme black ink, pen, watercolors, few crayons and I’ll be the happiest ever.

Drawing perfumes allows me to merge my passion for somewhat representational work and abstract. I can work very fast and intuitively. With portraits, if I need to focus on the likeness of the person, I have to slow down and make some decissions beforeheand. With perfume, the tiny architectures, I can afford to enter a much more meditative state.

Even though I admire each and everyone who paints like the 4 masters I linked to above, I still get the biggest emotional charge from the simplest, most intuitive art or illustration. I think it’s great to learn from others and observe  how they work (I definitely advice you to watch their livestream next Saturday), but you have to find the voice within you that just feels right. 

So, let’s just end with this little story.

The most magical Natsuki Otani is awaiting my answers for her illustrator feature series on Illustration Rally.
I have my answers ready, but not the requested 5 pieces that would really showcase my work. Well, I’m almost there. I even emailed Natsuki about that and she said it all feels like me. I knew it doesn’t — for me at least. Thank you, Nat!
When I was featured on the Trendhunter, I felt really excited. I still am. It feels great to see others recognizing your work on such an important website and Sophia did such a great job writing about the work I do. But I knew that the pieces that were posted were just not my best ones or— at least — not the ones I’d like to share over there.

For the past 2 weeks I’ve been going through my portfolio, spreading out  some of my most recent drawings on the floor so I can see, what’s the problem. I made notes about what I like, what I don’t like and why. I’ve noticed patterns. I cried over some of the pieces. I could not eat for the rest of the day. I had some wine. Too much maybe. Yep, art is really demanding.
But it helped. Now, remember and please understand that I loved working on every piece, but at some point I lost track of what is me, what is not. I advice you to do the same. Look though your work and get rid of anything that doesn’t feel right. You know it, don’t even ask me, what does it mena “feels right”, you know it. 

Sit. Down. Listen.

Today I’m 80% satisfied with the choices I made. There are still few pieces I’m attached to and can’t let go off.

But soon.

I started this post with perfumes, because those are my most minimal drawings and my most beloved ones. They were my starting point for sifting through my work. I want to let you know that there is room for bad art, useless art and flat art. Admire those who paint like Noah Bradley and do your own thing.

It’s really all about the energy you get from it. And it should recharge you every time you paint.

Over to you! Tell me your story.

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here Perfume Obsession + Advice.."

Let’s talk about natural beauty recipes.

Since I remember I was fascinated by making my own perfumes, shampoos and tonics. One of the first things I bought in US was quite expensive blue glass bottle for my first US emulsion. Loved it. The cost for the same glass jar in Poland was enormous few years ago.

Sometime I’d like to share with you my daily routines and very simple, incredibly helpful tinctures.
Today one simple trick and recipe from Japan.

It’s snowing today in Wisconsin and I am cold. Freezing cold. I drank some tea, put my fuzzy boots on, but nothing seems to help. That’s when I know wasabi needs to get explored.
Best way for warming up is to take a hot shower of course. Long, wonderful hot shower. But even better idea is to massage your body with wasabi. Yes, wasabi! It will never fail to warm you up and, additionally, it has incredible detoxifying properties due to increasing circulation. And germs hate wasabi, so poof, they’re gone after few minutes.

WASABI MASSAGE RECIPE :

Fresh wasabi root or wasabi powder/paste + H2O.

PREPARATION :

If you’re using the fresh root — grate it with very fine grater.  If you’re going to use paste or powder, mix about 1 Tbs of wasabi with 250-350ml of very warm water. Use the diluted liquid for massaging your body starting with the feet.
You can use it occasionally or weekly. It’s known for improving circulation. It’s known for making you feel safe and dreamy. Exactly what I need right now.

Hope you love it!

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here Natural Beauty Recipes—Wasabi and Bath.."

What’s behind this little poster?
Well. I am not a fan of the popular believe that we’re all should believe in that we’re perfect, even though we have doubts. Doubt is good. It keeps us growing. If you doubt you’re perfect, and than you doubt you can even believe in the popular saying that you should think you’re perfect (crazy!), it’s a double stress. I say, accept your imperfections.

It’s all good.

It’s ok.

The closest thing to perfection is in the ability to be fully present. Without any distracting thoughts, measuring or grading ourselves, we’re free to really be in the moment. It’s in that moment that we’re truly alive. Yet, the perfectionist isn’t typically present as they’re either busy critiquing the past and replaying their every decision or worrying about the future. So you see the perfectionist is never really present. Isn’t that ironic?

via The Problem with Perfection | Psychology Today.

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here So what you’re not perfect.."

I think it’t time to reveal my Polish illustrator crushes.
The most important person has been Agata Nowicka aka Endo. The first website that introduced me to her drawings was her old comics blog, but I’m not sure if she still updates that one. Agata is really sweet and helpful, she now works with New Yorker and most of the Polish magazines. It’s such a pleasure to see her grow and create such an extensive portfolio. Loving her pixels. Yeah, have you noticed ? That digital artwork has a very distinguished look.

Another illustrator, cartoonist and graphic designer whom I admire so much is Ada Buchholc. She works with most of the prominent magazines in Poland and draws her super funny comics Dzienniki Kryzysowe. She definitelly has a love.hate relationship with herself, but deals with it in a cynical hilarious way. Strong line, mature, definite style and bold colors. Like her Facebook page.

Last but not least, Marta Ignerska.
Totally different way of drawing than mine, Ada’s or Agata’s, but captivating and charming. I see this type of childlike style a lot in US, although I would definitely recognize her piece from miles away. And, we share a name.

When I was in Poland I picked up her amazing book Wielkie Marzenia (Big Dreams).
I hope you enjoy meeting these fantastic people. Until!

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here Polish Illustrators — Crush."

Being an artist can be painful. There are days when you think you can’t paint, you’re pathetic and no one cares. There are days when your favorite pink is ugly. There are days when you think you should get back to waitressing, so you don’t have to take anything personally.
On those days, you need to do one and only one thing — make a cup of coffee/tea, sit down at your desk and start working. Little prayer can help.

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here Being an artist is painful.."

I haven’t made it to Alt Summit this year, but I promised myself to go in 2013. Some nice description for those of you, who don’t know what Alt Summit is about :

If you’re obsessed with lifestyle, food and fashion blogs, fantastic images, smart ideas and great design inside and outside — all wrapped up with a social media bow — Altitude Design Summit is the place to be. Because we feed those obsessions.  

We’ve created a place where design and lifestyle bloggers in all their forms— foodies, photographers, travelers, fashionistas, interior designers, product placers, adventurers — come together, share ideas and connect with marketers. There will be discussions on how to grow your site, how to fund your site, how to keep your site above the fray. You’ll find panels on blogging etiquette and blogging ethics. People will share good advice for creative entrepreneurs.

I admit that the main reason for attending Alt Summit in 2013 is going to be meet fun peeps. I agree with Gala Darling’s advice about splitting the conference into few sessions : for beginners, for intermediate, for advanced. There is a lot of people, who’ve been blogging for ages and many designers understand the concept of good website, so there is no need for them to attend all sessions.

Alt Summit was nice enough to share with us the most discussed presentation from Ben Silberman from Pinterest. I followed Alt Summit’s stream on Twitter and one name would come up constantly and that was Ben’s name. Watch the presentation from ALT Summit, it’s too good to be missed.

It would be awesome if you’d follow me on Pinterest. I collect lot’s of art, design and fitness inspirations. If you’re wondering how to use Pinterest efficiently, I’d encourage you to read the comprehensive guide prepared by my friend Jamie from Modern Tog.

And, before you go — take a look at the story of a woman who travels the world to meet all her Facebook friends.

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"Marta Spendowska is Green Bay illustrator and web/print designer. She loves working with other creatives and women entrepreneurs. You can read the original blog post here The week in recap and Pinterest feature.."