And here we are... I find myself writing this first post at what promises to be the beginning of an exciting adventure into the world of a newly emerged professional artist.
In the past, I have painted commission pieces for a number of clients on a very much 'ad hoc' basis. There has been no structure to the way I have sold my artwork, I have simply been contacted irregularly by people I know who have wanted something original and liked my style of work. Most of my art has, until now, been for people I love and cherish and has been given as gifts, or in the form of greeting cards for special occasions.
There came a point recently when my girlfriend, Sarah - who is also my greatest advocate and supporter - collected a few images of my work and shared it in a couple of social media posts without my knowing, canvassing our friends, family, and the wider social community on platforms like Facebook and TikTok. She simply said this;
"I am trying to convince my partner, Carl, to start selling his art - what do you guys think?"
And the response was resoundingly positive. People who had no need to support me were hugely complimentary, and very encouraging. Some were even saying things like, "It's about bloody time!", and "What's stopping you? Your work is amazing!".
It seems I didn't have an argument. I have the materials, and I can find the time to spend doing what I love for my own pleasure, and my main profession is graphic design and online presence work for paying clients, so I have the necessary skills to create my own online presence which would serve well as a platform on which I can promote my art.
And here we are. A first blog post (of which there may not be many) introducing me, an artist available for commissioned works. So, off we go... I hope you find something you like in my works as my portfolio grows, and if you can't see anything which speaks to you, then maybe you will consider commissioning me to create a piece of work, or maybe even a small collection for your home, professional space, or perhaps for someone you cherish.
Thank you for taking the time to read this piece. I am extremely grateful to have you here.
Big Love. X
Carl.