Starting a Store Part Deux
Choosing an Artist to Work With
When you're really interested in print on demand but don't have the artistic talent, there are plenty of options available to help you get to where you want to go. In this post we'll take a look at various places you can find artists, and sites where you can find photos and illustrations to use for your store.
4 Places to Find Artists
On Fivver you can browse through loads of artists and choose the one you think works best with what you have in mind. There are A LOT of people to choose from and there are options to suit every budget. for logo design, you can find design services for less than 10$ to well over 1000$. Fivver can also help you get to the right person with quick survey questions about what your needs are.
In terms of payment, prices are set by the freelancer for a certain amount of work (e.g. 2 small logos for 50$ within 48 hours).
Upwork is very similar to Fivver. You have a tonne of freelancers to choose from, and again, each have their own cost. What is different is that on Upwork the freelancer will have an hourly rate listed, and not a set price for a set service. You can discuss with the person you hire how much time you expect a project to take, and decide on a limit. Upwork has a plethora great videos on Youtube to help you get set up as a client.
- Keep it Local
Check with colleagues, friends, classmates and family to see if they know any graphic designers or illustrators they would recommend. Art of Where employs many creative folks, so when I asked around I found a few illustrators, photographers, models and of course, talented sewists. Even if you're working in what seems like an uncreative environment, it's likely someone you know will know someone who knows someone.
- Art Schools
If you're having trouble finding someone by word of mouth, or maybe you want someone that suits your budget but could also talk with you face to face about your ideas, check out local colleges that have graphic design and/or illustration programs. Most schools have job listings for students, so all you have to do is write up a description of what you're looking for and ask for it to be posted.
3 Places to Get Stock Images
While your chosen artist is working away at creating awesome designs for you, you might want to get working on your social media accounts, your web site and or blog. Posting about your developing business is a great way to keep people in the loop, and potentially find your first customers! To brighten up your posts. take advantage of stock images.
You can find photos of all kinds, such as this adorable cat pic:
Again, all kinds of photos are available, including MORE CATS:
- Adobe
Adobe has an astounding amount of amazing stock art work. It is definitely not free, but when you're looking for something specific and of great quality, Adobe is the way to go.
So, what am I doing?
I found a great artist on Upwork to do some cute designs for my nurse themed things! The next post will be all about getting the designs done, communication with the artist, how the process went and then using the Art of Where Design Lab to create products.
If you have any resources for free art or if you want to shout out to graphic designers or illustrators you love, post in the comments!