How to use Deviant Art- By Luiza Malinowska

Deviant Art – Personal Gallery, Portfolio and... oh a blog too!

We all know that selling on Etsy requires a tremendous amount of self promoting. Yes, we all have our FaceBook pages, out Pinterest Boards and Tweeters (how to use that thing, anybody?).... should we get a blog too? And maybe a gallery … and so the list of useful social media sites goes on and on.

How would you feel about a social media page that can connect to your FB, Pinterest, Tweeter (again, how to use it?) that gives you unlimited space for your online gallery (drawings, sketches, photos, all in neat categories), gives you a blog space (called Journal) and A LOT of support from fellow members (we are calling ourselves 'Deviants'). Deviant Art will give you this and many, many more!
Joining is free. Find how to join and navigate here: welcome.deviantart.com/

In this article I would like to share some tips on promoting yourself on Deviant. It is quite a lot of work but as you will see the personal page format is much more friendly than FB and... yes, it will stay there exactly as you like it (nothing gets to old, nothing is going to disappear!)

Having your Etsy shop you will probably want to use the same name for your Deviant Account. You will get a neat personal homepage 'YourName.deviantart.com' You can share as much info as you like, think of your homepage as your Portfolio – your visitors may find your works divided into categories (folders), know your personal favorite works, find out about you in DeviantID and find out about your day (Journal, but if you like you may use this window for a commission info)
I encourage you to fill as much info as you can – it will make your account alive and let your visitors to know you to see you as a person, not just a salesman. You may like to place link to your shop here and there ;)

Now off to your gallery. Again, please see the welcome.deviantart.com/) on how to post images. It is pretty intuitive. Just remember to find a right category for your piece of art. If you paint silk scarfs or similar, you will probably wanna use Artisan Crafts / Textiles / Clothing
Fill your gallery with items, adding links to your shop into the comment section.

Newly added picture will attract some attention (in my experience up to 4 views) because it lands on Front page for a fraction of a second. Some ppl will give you hearts (as on Etsy) some ppl will comment on your picture. Then your picture will be visible on theirs homepages underneath the name Favorites (yes, there is a Favorites space on your homepage, so add hearts, spread the love!)
Ideally, your picture will be promoting itself... but we all know this is just a dream. Here's where the work really begins!

On Etsy there are Teams, on DeviantArt there are Groups (find the list here: groups.deviantart.com/ or, if you like, check out the Groups I'm in, there are a lot of Artisan Crafts Groups for us! You will find them at the bottom of my homepage: minkulul.deviantart.com/ ) When you select a Group, you will need to join in before posting pictures. There is Join button in every Group. Just hit it and refresh the page – often you will be accepted instantly.

Then you will find new button called 'Contribute Art' Hit it and add your picture TO THE RIGHT category!! This is vital! If you choose 'digital art' or 'fantasy' or 'bakery' for your silk scarf picture instead of 'Artisan Crafts' or variation of that name, your pic won't get into the Group folder.
The picture might be instantly accepted, but almost all Groups are moderated and you will need to wait a few days for the response (you will find it in your Feedback). Then your picture goes to every Group member feedback. Yay, so you see, if they choose to view it, you will get a lot of traffic to your pic and hopefully, to your shop!!

There are a ton of ways to be noticed on DeviantArt, but Groups seems to be working best! Please remember that on DeviantArt kindness goes a long way! If you give hearts and comment on others peoples works, you will get a feedback in return. DeviantArt seems to be an older, more artsy brother of FB and I am sure, that you will love it!

New Member Introduction: Caitlin

I'm pleased to introduce you to one of our team's newest members, Caitlin. 

"Well, I first got into silk painting and dyeing during my BVA degree in Textiles at the ANU in Canberra. I fell in love with the colours and textures that could be produced with this technique. I wouldn't say I am a traditional silk painter, I have more of a contemporary take on the technique. I had a lot of success with a collection of silk scarves I produced for my degree so decided to start a business from this producing similar products. My current scarves use silk dyeing and silk painting with manutex. I don't focus on specific designs when I am painting or dyeing. I like to see where the dyes take themselves. That's the best part not knowing the final outcome until the very end I think!"

Her SHOP

New Member Introduction: Mary

 

Welcome Mary to the silk artist team of Etsy. 

"A little bit about me: happily married to my best friend for 27 years, mother of three grown boys. I am a Canadian transplant, we have lived in the states for 16 years now. Youngest of ten children (all artistic even my mother) I've always looked for something that called to me, and then I found it a little over a year ago.

I was visiting with my oldest sister over dinner and she was describing a new thing she had learned at her art studio, the more she described it the more interested I became, it was silk painting of coarse. Well I live 8 hours from my family and I had to return home, but my interest was piqued. Then last summer while my husband I were visiting again, she set up a day where all the girls in my family could get together and have a silk painting day. Including my 87 year old mother! Well the silk sang to me and I was hooked! My sister wrote down step by step directions on what to do, where to purchase my products and which ones would be the best, yes she rocks!!

I guess the rest is history as I try to expand my business through word of mouth, craft and art fairs and of coarse Etsy. I am trying to always try new things be it a different material, size, product or style. I am loving the learning process of it all."

Mary's SHOP 

New Member Introduction: Samantha

We are pleased to introduce to you one of the Etsy Silk Artist team's newest members. A warm welcome to Samantha.

 

Here is what she says about herself: "I am a local artist in Alberta, Canada and my main medium is painting. I finished a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alberta and have been work as an artist ever since.

 I began silk painting on a whim about 4 years ago, and have enjoyed it ever since. 

Mostly my work is of the Rocky Mountain Landscapes or the Prairies that I call home, but the process of painting on silk I find completely calming. 

The colors and the fabric are so wonderful to work with. I also teach about 8 Silk Scarf painting workshops a year, and display my work at the Art Gallery of Alberta."

Don't forget to step by her SHOP on Etsy!