Ow, my muscles! And Sketch Fest Stuff...

[ellenmillion]

Ran the snowblower today, and am paying for it in a big way this evening . Ow, my muscles! I can barely move my neck...

Sketch Fest was a blast, even if the Internet did go out a few hours in. (Hubris, laylalawlor, hubris!) It was fun jamming in meatspace for part of it, and even if I didn't get any of the serious, purposeful topics I wanted to tackle worked on, I'm not hating what I did get done. The new features all worked, and the pages loaded with swiftness (at least when I COULD access them). Donations and sketch sales were steady, and I've got a laundry list of improvements that are covered for our next Sketch Fest. :) Let me know if there's anything in particular YOU want to see. Better email notifications are top on my list, and second are better sales management tools (so things that are purchased immediately go off the site and can't accidentally be bought twice... or three times!).

I'm deciding on the topics for the next round of prizes, and as this wraps a full year of sketch fests, there may be some longer-term categories, from previous sketch fests, etc. A whole YEAR, can you believe it? I'm holding the next one on our birthday, March 25-26. We've come a loooooong way, baby. You guys have totally made this happen, too! Thank you so much for participating, and spreading the word, and donating your work!

A full wrap up later, when the event closes for all uploads. :)

Comments

Sketch Fest

[(Anonymous)]

I participated for the first time.... and I must say: it really IS addictive! ;) Really neat idea, and quite inspiring! I am looking forward to the next Sketch Fest.

Peg

Re: Sketch Fest

[draken-art.livejournal.com]

YEAH! Bring more people too Peg! :) *giggles* The more the merrier!

Re: Sketch Fest

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you could join us! :) See you next month!

[phoenixelement3.livejournal.com]

Woo, your one year anniversary?? Congratulations! I absolutely adore sketch fest, but the 4pm EST Fri - 4pm Sat schedule always hits me when I have little or no chance to draw. :( Hopefully someday I'll be able to really throw in and sketch those prompts!

As for site features...
I was thinking that I'd love to see a real-time counter that tells how many people are on the sketch fest pages... but I don't know how feasible that is. It just seems like it would be fun to know how many others are participating along with you.

Also, last night, a friend and I were talking about how there are quite a few re-used prompts. Although there's probably no way to limit those unless someone personally goes through and moderates the prompts.

[draken-art.livejournal.com]

I feel ya sometimes Pheonixelement3. However the original Sketchfest was much shorter when it first started and I think I produced like two or three pieces, but I had to stay up way late in order to do it. I'm over here in the PA/NJ area, and am glad that my kids understand how important this is to me. :) They typically leave me alone except when I have to make dinner. ;)

:)

Maybe a feature that can be eventually programed is an automated start/stop/upload stop time so that Ellen won't have to worry about it? Perhaps we might extend it some how for a few more hours? I don't know. :)

[phoenixelement3.livejournal.com]

Hmm, for me it would be easier if it started earlier instead of extending later. By 4pm Friday, I'm starting dinner for my husband and me and I have no chance to draw at all Friday evening. The other clincher is that I'm doing artwork all week long and so the weekend is supposed to be for my personal art projects instead of more art prompted by others, I guess. I've made so little headway on my own projects. ;_;

[jenny heidewald (from livejournal.com)]

For me 4 is perfect I get one hour to get all my other stuff done after work before settling in. I have a strange work schedule. Of course if it started earlier then I'd have a bunch of prompts to choose from. :)

[miss-catlady.livejournal.com]

I participated in Sketch Fest for the first time. It was really fun! I nearly didn't because I was being all self-conscious and down on my art that morning for some reason, but doing some of the prompts actually helped perk my spirits again. I'm gonna try to drag one of my friends into it next month.

One thing is I'd love to be able to contribute through the whole getting people to donate for the sketch thing, but I don't know how I could do that since I do digital art. My printer is not cut out for prints, but I'm sure other digital artists have found a workaround/good idea for it?

[draken-art.livejournal.com]

That's one of the beauties of Sketch Fest, that no matter how down one is on one's art, there is something, somewhere that triggers the muses into action. It also creates a cybre form of "artist circle" especially if one can hop onto the chat feature and talk about art and stuff. :)

That always ends up very inspiring.

I'm so glad you joined us all and gave it a try. Thank you.

As for digital art? Hrmmn.

Create a high-res printable version of it and email it to them so they can print it out at their whim maybe? This puts a lot of trust in the individual not to make multiple copies.

Or If yuo have a Kinko's nearby (or something similar) hit that up, print it out and then use a micro or a fine point permanent marker to write on the back of the print. Something you might do for an ACEO or something.... Maybe something like:

Sketch Fest (date)
Digital Sketch, First Print Run 1/1 (Which denotes it as a singular print).
(title)
(prompt)
(artist)
(Signature)

?? Thoughts?

[redokapi.livejournal.com]

I would probably just send a digital file (png probably), with a "license agreement" that says something along the lines of "personal use only, no commercial purposes". My digital sketches usually aren't terribly high-resolution anyways (ACEO is probably about the best you'd get at print-resolution), and if they want to print out multiple copies and paste them all over their room...meh, whatever. If they'd rather use it as a desktop background, or just keep in on their computer, that's cool too.

I'm also looking from a personal cost standpoint. It'd cost me to get it printed/cut, and cost me to mail it, whereas I can email for free. (And, to be honest, someone who really wanted to could always scan/photocopy the print and make more copies anyways.)

I will admit though, that coming up with a personal take on these things is part of why I haven't offered my own stuff out.

[draken-art.livejournal.com]

That's actually a very good point redokapi.

A thought I hadn't pondered is the whole "use for desktop background". It's one of the benefits of digital art, is the ease with which it can be manipulated into various forms and uses.

Now you have me thinking.... Digital pieces can be sold as sets as well, once made. Icons, banners, desktop images, etc.... A very flexible medium to be sure.

[redokapi.livejournal.com]

And thusly, we stare into the abyss that is digital IP rights. What exactly are you selling when you sell a digital file? :)

It's a bit easier with physical media, although I think this is more because it's been around longer so people are more used to thinking about it in certain ways. When someone buys a painting, they usually assume they have the right to hang said picture on their wall, or sell/give the painting away, but they don't have the right to make copies (unless that's specifically mentioned).

With digital media (art, music, movies, games, whatever), things are less culturally specified so everyone has different opinions about how it should work. Here there be deamons.

[jenny heidewald (from livejournal.com)]

Ellen has printed ACEO's from high quality files I have sent her, this was in the case of some double solds. I wasn't able to do anything for the backs because she sent them out, but it is a good option. I like the limited edition print idea.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Yay! It was great to have you!

I'm going to give some thought to a digital option... hmmm. I've been toying with the idea of making fundraiser ACEO prints available in a couple of places... including Sketch Fest, Torn World and the EMG-Zine monthly galleries. Hmm. Many questions to go with this, including limiting the editions, costs versus hassle (if people ordered frequently, no problem, but if I'm doing just one every month... maybe not worth setting up?)

Good thoughts to be thinking!! Watch this space for more on the topic...

[miss-catlady.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of great ideas here for sure. Personally what I wouldn't mind seeing at Sketch Fest is an option where people can donate/buy a picture more than once, so basically if one wanted to offer the bigger and higher quality version of their digital work they can and it's all streamlined. Prints are great but I hate finagling with them myself. >

[redokapi.livejournal.com]

I'm curious, when it comes to digital sketches, is there a need to limit "sales" to just one? There's really no "original", so nobody should feel cheated...unless it's the principle of the thing. Obviously this is probably best left up to the artist, and I'm not saying this is something that necessarily needs to be implemented for Sketchfest. Just something I've been thinking about, so I thought I'd throw it out there.

[draken-art.livejournal.com]

Limiting digital sketches: You've got a good point. I think it may be the principle of the thing... however it could be another feature for Ellen to add in?

A "digital prints available" option for donation-sales? This would leave the bold outline around the image and allow for multiple sales, maybe?

*shrugs*

Also, a limited print run seems to up the general value of a print, especially if someone takes the time and effort to make it special paper, or some how creates something "unique" out of the print.

[jenny heidewald (from livejournal.com)]

I was thinking and ACEO print run would be nice for mine...through Ellen, 'cause I trust her printing. :) $5 was the lowest to make that viable, right Ellen? I think I would have to raise the price on the originals, and then have the print option. Maybe limit it to three prints. I dunno.

I do know that I am not used to having more than one person want my stuff! I am kind of floundering around "What do I doooo?!?!?!"

When I first started I tried the whole digital copy thing, but I actually find it easier to do originals on paper and just send them out. Once I discovered how much I liked doing ACEO's that is. :)

I remember....

[draken-art.livejournal.com]

"Back in the day"... Just kidding.

I'd like to be able to upload some of my older pieces, from when Sketch Fest was hosted on your LJ. ;) Maybe have an "Archive" Gallery for those pieces that were pre-site? There are some there I'd love to offer for donation-sale.

A year, wow. It'll be a year in March, and there are both new people as well as the people who started it that still come by. Just goes to show how great an idea this was to begin with, and I'm happy to have been a part of it for so long.

Thank You Ellen.

Re: I remember....

[jenny heidewald (from livejournal.com)]

"....we had to post stuff on LJ, and we'd get lost on the pages because there were so many!!!" :D I agree, Thank you Ellen!

[jenny heidewald (from livejournal.com)]

"Let me know if there's anything in particular YOU want to see. Better email notifications are top on my list, and second are better sales management tools (so things that are purchased immediately go off the site and can't accidentally be bought twice... or three times!)."

The second was my main one. :) What is the viability of offering limited prints? Like one print. :)

Also: A way to keep the e-mail set to the one I want, so I don't have to keep changing it. And a way to add a signature to the description, I usually say the same stuff at the bottom of my description, "Micron pen on 2.5 x 3.5" bristol paper blahblahblah..." :)

---
Reused prompts: It is set up so you can't reuse the same prompt, but if one changes the wording, it lets it go through. It would be interesting to see the popular words in prompts. I am guessing, "fairy", "moon", "witch"... :D

There have been prompts that I wished that I could get to.

[draken-art.livejournal.com]

I like the signature option.

Thanks and improvements

[fantaseye.livejournal.com]

Hey Thanks again for another sketchfest!

I'd really LOOOOVE a bulk uploader in the future, because as I was saying to Jenny, it takes so long to upload stuff then find the prompt in the long list... maybe we could have a little app to match the pictures to the prompts we have chosen?

I would also like to be able to give part donations to the sketchfest when I finish a bigger piece, say 20-50%. Maybe we could even have a link towards the EMG store to sell prints?

Just some ideas to keep you busy! ;p

Re: Thanks and improvements

[draken-art.livejournal.com]

Normally I use the "Ctrl-F" in Windows to find a prompt.

However, Ellen made it so that if you are registered you can click on your name and it shows the prompts you've claimed. :)

Maybe have a link option for those who are logged in to "find my claims"?

Re: Thanks and improvements

[jenny heidewald (from livejournal.com)]

Oh yeah, the prompts you have claimed are at the bottom of your artist page. :) In my case I'd love a way to jump right to the bottom, or a different page for the prompt claims. I have a loooooot of sketches to scroll through to get down there. :)