Excessive heat with only one ceiling fan shared between two booths? Check. Dirty table? Check. Having to sit in front of my booth, rather than behind, to avoid direct sunlight in the morning? Check. Low footfall? Check. Weird tourists who decided to take my stools, move them to sit in front of my booth and block my goods, then reposition my fan to blow at themselves while politely telling me it's okay, they’re not interested in buying anything? Check. But you know what? Those things weren’t what made this market the worst. After all, some of these things were beyond the control of both the or ..read more

Digital platforms mean artists have an unprecedented opportunity to showcase and sell their work to a global audience. But this comes with great competition. To stand out in the vast digital landscape, artists must not only create beautiful art but also master the art of online marketing. In this article, we will explore effective online marketing strategies for artists to help you build a strong online presence and connect with art lovers around the world. 1. Build a Stunning Website Your website is your online gallery and a vital cornerstone of your online marketing strategy. Invest the ti ..read more

Modern life is one that is full of distractions and suppression. Not only are there many shiny things that demand your attention, there are also many occasions where you might find yourself being carried along by the day to day without having the chance to take a moment and calm your inner world.  In this blog, we'll explore the therapeutic power of creative outlets and how they contribute to overall mental health. Sometimes a conversation with a friend or a journal entry is all we need. But there are times when what’s sitting in us is something we might not have words for. This is ..read more

If you’ve been to Tokyo you’ll know that underneath that part stoic, part chaotic urban landscape is a love for all things artistic. And where there is a love for art, there are shops to supply them with the tools they need. So here are some great places to shop for stationery and art supplies. 1. Seikaido  A short walk from Shinjuku train station, this is an almost one-stop for all the art supplies you need. Think of this place as Art Friend but 100x better. The first level sells office supplies and general stationery but you move up, each level gets more niched as it’s dedicated to di ..read more

It’s the end of the year, a good time to reflect and think of what is to come in 2024. Here are some of the 2023 milestones. First were the multiple setbacks on various Print on Demand platforms. Redbubble suspended me for no reason (and kept some of my money). Then Society6 introduced tier pricing which now requires me to pay to have a smaller number of designs for sale when it used to be free to be a seller. In addition to making the artist pay for a portion for the customer’s shipping when we only get paid 10% of the sales. Sales on Society6 have also dropped a little, likely due to their ..read more

The holiday season is upon us again and if you’re the kind who loves buying gifts for your loved ones, here’s a list of amazing local creatives who makes beautiful and unique products that will be perfect for gifting! Beauty and Skincare Ancient Remedies specializes in natural skincare & haircare, aromatherapy etc. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ancient Remedies (Singapore Based) (@ancientremedies_herbs) Stationery / Lifestyle Goods Sad Shrimps is a local brand by Natasha-Elle who draws the cutest Japanese nostalgic comic style art and other amazing lifestyle products like ..read more

A blog might seem like an ancient tool out of place in today’s era of 30 second sound bites. But while everyone else is trying to climb to the top of the trending searches, only to be dethroned just as quickly as they ascended, taking a different approach can pay off. So here are three quick reasons a business blog is a good idea: 1. Organic, free marketing for your business. A business blog isn’t so much a personal journal as it is a way for you to explain what your business does. It value-adds to potential customers by sharing snippets of your competencies and processes. Always keep yo ..read more

When marketing a new design, you might start to wonder if you need to create mockups as part of your pitch. I always recommend doing so. Here are some reasons: 1. It looks more professional A mockup shows your designs were well-conceived and made exactly for a certain product. By producing a mockup, it demonstrates that your design process was purposeful with a clear objective in mind. This also helps you stand out from the other designers who couldn’t be bothered with the effort taken to do a mockup.  2. Helps potential buyers visualise People don’t just want designs that look ..read more

Social media is awesome but it can also be addictive if you’re not careful about it. You can’t escape from social media. It is both a marketing tool for business and an integral source of everyday media consumption. Unfortunately, it also has the tendency to advertise the glamorous and mislead us into thinking that everyone else has it better than us. So like many things that can gain a hold on you, setting boundaries can prevent you from overconsumption and allowing negativity to seep in. Set a time limit on social media apps If you use an iPhone, you can set App Limits and Downtime. Go to ..read more

Social media is awesome but it can also be addictive if you’re not careful about it. You can’t escape from social media. It is both a marketing tool for business and an integral source of everyday media consumption. Unfortunately, it also has the tendency to advertise the glamorous and mislead us into thinking that everyone else has it better than us. So like many things that can gain a hold on you, setting boundaries can prevent you from overconsumption and allowing negativity to seep in. Set a time limit on social media apps If you use an iPhone, you can set App Limits and Downtime. Go to ..read more