Hello and welcome to Art Work written by me, Natalie Ryan: Designer, Illustrator, Consultant.
Most people know me as the girl who owns an art business, who consults about matters of e-commerce and who’s always going on about what’s happening in the digital world right now. I’m passionate about customers, digital trends, data, interpreting data, keywords, google ads, selling online and I want to tell you all about it. That, in a nutshell, is the inspiration behind my being on substack.
I’m often asked why a creative is so hooked on the digital world and I’m happy to share I’ve worked in e-commerce since the 90’s. Initially for a struggling dot com, scratching around for funding, where I heard the words ‘the internet will never catch on’ many times over. I was so convinced ‘the internet’ was going to work that I gave my boss the deposit I’d saved for my first house towards funding the company. Years later, when I’d moved into the world of digital consultancy, the company floated and I got my money back. I was able to invest in my own e-commerce venture and that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 21 years. Alongside completing an MA, writing many papers on the subject of eCommerce and freelancing as a digital consultant.
A few years ago I came across an illustrator selling a product identical to my ‘Your Skyline’. ‘Your Skyline’, if you are new to my work, is where you commission me to draw all of your favourite places in a skyline. I draw landscapes, buildings and some finer details such as pets & pastime’s. The result is a bespoke piece of art bursting with memories. If you scroll all the way to the beginning of my instagram feed you’ll see a shaky film of one of my first skylines. It was so long ago that the 11 likes on that post was considered incredible engagement.
When I discovered said identical product I wrote to the illustrator and received, almost by return, the rudest message from their legal representative. I imagine they were a brother, partner, or friend because, frankly, paid counsel would never be so rude. It ended with the sentiment ‘it’s notoriously difficult to make a living in the arts, you simply can’t afford to pursue us’. The thing I remember most wasn’t that my product had been copied, it was the assumption I wasn’t making a living from my art. I was hearing the words ‘the internet will never catch on’ all over again.
There are two facts I need to share. Firstly, the internet most definitely took off (you know that!) and, secondly, it isn’t notoriously difficult to make a living in the arts. It irks me that people make assumptions about creative income and wealth, further, it frightens me that wonderfully talented folk aren’t putting their work out for sale, simply because people say it’s going to be difficult.
Recently I met an author to talk about my work, she asked me how I design. As I shared the details of my process she said she found it interesting how strategic my business is, how much data is linked to my product portfolio and development. We talked about the many strands of my business and how it’s succeeded over the last 21 years, through recessions, covid and Michael Jacksons death (there is a story to this). I realised it’s understanding the elements I started this article with: customers, digital trends, data, interpreting data, keywords, google ads, selling online, all the things I’m passionate about. You see, it never mattered that my best selling product had been copied because I was able to out strategise them, and put my product in front of the people who needed to buy it. How did I do that? Put simply: I’ve spent decades working in e-commerce and I understand how it works in the context of a creative.
I look at e-commerce in the same way I look at flat pack furniture, you’ve got to read the instructions in order to put it together. These days it feels as though the instructions are in another language, without any form of punctuation, and sometimes they change! I’m here to translate which will help your creative talents be found, which in turn will help your business grow.
About my subscription options:
Free Membership - My aim is to write as often as I can on key topics that will assist you. You can share with friends and anyone who may benefit. You can comment, ask questions and will be invited to submit a question to my ‘Ask me anything’ session where…you can ask me anything! You’ll also access the Podcast section, this is launching later in the year. Basically Free Membership will provide some knowledge about being successful as an artist who’d like to sell online.
Paid Membership - I’m offering paid subscriptions as a way of accessing all my knowledge for the price of a coffee each month. With so many of you buying me a cup of coffee I can pay my bills and write more content, you get my consulting knowledge at a great price. Thank you.
I need to make this worth your support, and I have committed to ensuring that subscribing is worth it. Here’s what you get in return for buying me a coffee each month:
- The articles and content in the free subscription (detailed above).
- Access to paid subscriber only content, essentially more in-depth articles. The kind of content you’d expect if you were employing me as a digital consultant in your business. Plus access all area’s and behind the scenes content.
- Access to printable worksheets.
- Access to the ‘Ask me anything’ private group, I’ll answer more detailed questions relating to what you’re trying to achieve and you’ll be invited to attend the quarterly zoom session.
- As well as latest news, early access and archival content.
- Discounted one-to-one mentoring.
- Discounted ‘digital footprint’ analysis.
Founding members get all of the above, plus a monthly one-to-one, 30 minute call.
Thank you for your support!
Natalie