Exit Strategy/Evaluation

Over the course of this module I have pushed myself to set up and sell my own artworks and products, as well as research and identify a preferred path for post university life. While I do feel largly unsure of my artistic direction and how to balance my two preferred areas, illustration and concept art, I do feel secure in what resources to utalise once I have a portfolio of work I am proud of and want to create work in the vein of.

My research has been focused in on venues I may wish to exhibit within, artists I wish to learn from and follow in the footsteps of, and looking into what/where I want to sell and how to get into them post university. As well as potentual education opportunities I can apply to, in case I feel I need more support to further my career should it start to go into a different direction.

Exit Strategy

First Steps

Build Portfolio: I want to build my proficiency in digital programs (photoshop/gen adobe suite) and explore/bulk up my portfolio so I feel more secure in the art that I create. Coming to the end of this degree I feel secure in what I physically paint, with my collection studies and market focused content. But I still feel like my digital illustration, where I am trying to explore storytelling and worldbuilding, simply needs practice and study until I have a body of work I can send out to hiring departments. I’ll be using SkillShare classes to help me build my technical skill, but I simply need to create more work and improve with time and practice. I wish to become more concrete in what I create before contacting others and promoting myself further.

Cover Base Expenses: I will be getting a part time job to allow me to spend time on my art as well as covering travel, food, meds ect… I am extremely lucky to have a home studio within Bath, so rent is simply my share of bills and I’ll be basing myself there until most probably a career opportunity demands I move.

AOI Membership: A discounted membership even for only a single year will be useful to save and document any resources they have available. Even if I don’t plan on using any of them within the first year of leaving university, I’ll take note of people/roles/opportunities I’m interested in to contact later in my career.

Secondary

Buy Equipment: Using job funds, fund the purchase of an EPSON EcoTank 8550, with additional equipment such as a camera & microphone (for twitch streaming/content creation), foil print transfer equipment (a cheap laser printer and foil), label printer & packaging, and anything I deem required at the time being secondary to the printer. This will be used to set up an Etsy store and better my twitch viewer experience.

Social Media: Using the portfolio content I’ve built up in the first steps, begin to post and promote my own work and independent projects/selling. Posting works and short videos to Instagram/TikTok, sharing works in progress and interacting with the art community on Twitter, and streaming to a regular schedule on Twitch, at least two times a week.

Self Employment: Register as self employed online.

Local Markets: Begin applying to and selling at local markets, such as Corsham Creatives & Bath Contemporary Artists Fair. Compiling my work into an easily assessed snapshot of me and my illustration to apply with.

Online: Set up an online Etsy store to sell a range of products (prints, stickers, bookmarks, keychains, charms & trinkets) and a RedBubble/INPRNT for overseas customers to have a print on demand range to buy from. Also buy the domain itsybitsyamelia.com to hold my portfolio.

Tertiary

Client List: Research and create a client list using saved AOI information or by renewing my membership with them. Then submit my portfolio to art directors, hiring departments & intern programs. Whatever and whoever is relevant to my illustration/concept art career at that moment in time.

Bigger Events: Apply to sell at larger markets such as Zinezilla, Shake, Anime League, ANIMANGAPOP, London Film and Comic Con, MCM Comic Con London. Larger events that have a higher barrier of entry (travel/cost) but with hopefully a higher reward. Tables at these events generally go for £50-£100 for a couple of days. From the events I’ve attended artists create non-licenced fanart from various franchises, such as Five Nights At Freddies and Hazbin Hotel. Generally independent artists don’t get hit with copyright takedown requests for drawing these types of work unless they try pass it off as official, or are drawing anything from the video game developer mihoyo- they hire legal representatives to go up to artist tables and hand them lawsuits. scary stuff.

Independent Online Shop: Move my products over to a self ran online shop on my website to cut out Etsy listing and selling fees. Printing, packing and shipping orders in my studio.

Shooting For The Stratosphere

Big dreams that maybe I will get, or maybe I wont. But they’ll be motivating me for the time being.

Table at LightBox Expo: A humongous gathering of animation, illustration, games, TV and art. Holding panels and classes, sharing inspiration and information, from industry veterans to new faces, it is THE event. It’s held in California and has an artist alley with over 900 sellers, at roughly $400 per table.

Twitch Partnership: Partnership if only given to streamers once they have a consistent view base of over 75 people, stream 25 hours over 30 days in 12+ days, and not breaking TOS. As a reward you get a better cut of donations and subscriptions.

Exhibit at Gallery Nucleus: Being either a part of, or having a full independent show would be a dream.