Art Up To Your Eyeballs - by Karen McGovern

Well, how was your Thanksgiving?  Are you still wearing your elastic waist fleece pants?  Are you stuck to the couch?  Have you managed to get the gravy stains out of...well....everything?  I hope you all had a peaceful, joyful, delicious, self-indulgent Thanksgiving with family and friends.  I know I did! 

 

Now, on to the important stuff.  WHAT ARE YOU BUYING FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS?  Not....I hope you'll give yourself a breather before diving into the next holiday.  Yesterday was Black Friday, and I stayed home, just like I do every year.  I'm still working on the turducken, and will be well into the first quarter of 2014. AND, I had some family to care for...

An orphaned grey squirrel...

An orphaned bongo antelope newborn.

Ninita, a baby pygmy marmoset.

Among about a thousand other critters that need my attention. 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (day after tomorrow) are burned into our brains via the Gods of Advertising.  Yes, you can get some good deals a few things you might actually want, and end up with a TON OF GARBAGE YOU DON'T.  Here's my take....

 

If you follow this blog, you know that there are thousands of incredibly talented artists and independent vendors sweating it out to make a living, hoping like HELL they will be noticed in the coming days and weeks leading up to Christmas.  You've been asked and pleaded with to shop small and local.  What you actually do is up to you.  I'm not going to try to shame you into forgoing the mall--its pull is almost hypnotic.  SO MANY SPARKLY LIGHTS.  So, I'm just going to ask you to look to the right and left of this post for links to artists and vendors I hope you will at least consider clicking on and taking a look at.  One of them is me.
 

 I am not holding a sale right now.  I just had one to celebrate the launch of my own independent website with my very own online shop.  Not through Etsy, Artfire, BigCartel or anything else.  That's right folks--if you visit my website and make a purchase, you deal directly with ME.  I KNOW--CRAZY, RIGHT???  Well, it is.  And it's also a gamble.  No big storefront that is recognized by millions.  No advertizing other than what I can generate on my own.  No middleman (except for PayPal...can't get around that).  But, let's get back to the first sentence of this paragraph.  I'm not holding a sale right now.  WHAT???  I know, I seem to be Hell-bent on shooting myself in the foot, right?  Well, to be honest, I simply can't afford a sale now.  My desire as a jewelry designer and artist has always been to create AFFORDABLE work.  I donate most of my proceeds to support wildlife conservation.  My goal is to use my work to build a bridge between art and nature, cover my costs, and be able to give a significant portion in support of something I deeply believe in.  So, my work is already priced about as low as I can go and still be able to continue creating it.  Why am I telling you this?  Well, obviously, I hope you'll visit my site and consider making a purchase.  But also, I would like you to consider when you purchase from me or any of the artists you can find here, you have an opportunity you can't get anywhere else.  You actually get to know the artists you buy from.  So many have a really unique, wonderful story to tell.  When you purchase from an independent artist, like those listed here and all over this blog, you have the opportunity to create a personal connection, and I find that so interesting, rare and special!  Artists like us put it all on the table.  If you follow us or connect via our shops and Facebook pages you'll get a glimpse into a REAL LIVE HUMAN LIFE!  How cool is that?  If you go even further and read our blogs and personal posts, you'll get to see Staci build her dream studio, get to cheer as MaryAnn is able to  raise and direct funds from her work to purchase awesome cat condos for a rescue organization, get to read Mary Jane's stunning poems and insights into her jaw-dropping work, and get to hear me go on and on and on about wildlife conservation, among other things. That's just three of the MANY fantastic artists here!  You'll hear about our art shows, our amazing screw ups (sometimes with PICTURES) as well as our triumphs and joys.  WE LIVE THIS STUFF, PEOPLE!
 

 

So, what does this have to do with me not holding a sale?  Well, I guess I just wanted you to know that you have many, many more reasons to shop with me and the aritsts you see here beyond the enticement of a sale.  AND, by the way, that sale isn't easy for anyone to offer.  None of the artists here (in my opinion) should have to have a sale, yet they are, becuase this is their LIVLEYHOOD and they need your support, and because we seem to have become a nation that MUST HAVE A SALE AFTER THANKSGIVING ON EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE OR WE WILL DIE.  Or something like that....

 

I know it may not be in my best interests to forgo this weekend in terms of sales, etc.  But, it is in the best interest of my conscience.  So, I'll go with that.

So, show us independent artists some love this season....pretty please!!

Happy Holidays to all, I wish you Peace, Joy, and Prosperity!!