Great post! Looking forward to many more……

You have touched on the very point that I (as well as every other creative or entrepreneurial person I know) contends with. So, I appreciate the chance to elaborate on what has worked for me.

After working as a freelancer, a creative director, etc for number of other companies back in the day…I grew weary of making everyone’s ideas come to fruition. It was time to follow my own dream.

I love to shop and in my earlier years, was anything but wealthy. So, from an intent perspective, I know that I wanted to reach those who were probably a lot like me. Attracted to art, illustrations, products, packaging, shoes, cosmetics, not because there is much out there that is singularly unique or because no one else in the world has it…but only because there are things that I feel a personal connection to. Innovation is key. Inaccessability to those who love what you do seems counter-intuitive.

I don’t aim to be coveted by the richest people in the world, although my art has been purchased by some pretty rich and famous people. My preference is to make an impact, communicate with others and spread a message that confidence and kindness CAN go hand in hand. And since that’s my ultimate goal, above all, my challenges were first about how to gain, and now about how to sustain mass appeal.

But, don’t get me wrong. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to keep in my own control some things that have a little more exclusivity. That’s why I worked super hard from the outset to tap into a variety of revenue producing channels.

That’s also why I work day and night. I barely sleep because my mind is in overdrive. I am compelled to create…not just art, but ideas. And that’s why I constantly juggle a myriad of projects that:

1. Hold my interest (like the new surfboard project)

2. Keep my street cred (like Bong Spirit Vodka or the Hotel Des Arts),

3. Are made here in the Sugarluxe Studio (never sourced) and sold to boutiques,

4. And I always heavily consider every opportunity to work with manufacturers whose product profiles are synergistic with Sugarluxe Art.

I agree though. It’s not right for everyone. Not every brand, art style, concept or patent is best served in the hands of major manufacturers.

Very few people know this about me because I do keep most of my business deals pretty private…but I turned down a HUGE opportunity in 2006 to work with the former CEO of Wal-Mart (his team was forecasting $20 million in revenue for Sugarluxe in 2007 with that deal). But I didn’t want it. It wasn’t right for me on many levels (and maybe one day I will share the true tale of how that whole situation almost sucked the life out of me).

But anyway…

I can’t promote that what is right for me is right for every other artist or business, but I can reveal this for those who are intrigued by my approach:

It’s all about DIVERSIFICATION!

Do private commissions (I do and I love that work).
Create one of kind products and sell to small shops.
And if your work resonates on a mass scale and you can negotiate a deal to get into big box (well then, to me, that’s like getting national PR coverage and getting paid for it, to boot).

So, that’s how I reconcile the difference between my inner-artist and my outer-shopaholic.

I hope this is somewhat enlightening!

BTW - You are welcome to come to my studio any time you’re in the area. It is so much fun, I love being here every day. It has the BEST creative energy of any place I’ve ever worked.

Thanks again for your very thought-provoking comments. I love it!

I, on the other hand, am newer at this gig, would completely do it for free (gasp!) and when she asked me how important money is to me, my answer was an easy “Not very”. (She nearly fell out of her chair!)

Ironically, the next day we ran into a woman we know who told us she just cut a deal with General Mills and sold her all natural raw-foods nutrition bars. While I can definitely see the reasons for doing something like this, there is still a (naive?) part of me that can’t see letting go of this “baby” one has shed blood, sweat and tears over.

I too love Target but adore the the thrill of having that unique find from a little boutique that no one else has.

Your work is so beautiful that if I were to ever acquire one, it would feel much more special to me that not everyone else I know had one too! Is this the struggle between being the artist and the consumer?

So much to learn, I know, but thank you for a SMART post that keeps me thinking.
Your talent is off the charts and I still covet your amazing studio!!

You are sweet and so talented. I totally look up to you.

http://www.sugarluxe.com/products/wallart/wa012/wa012_cw4836.htm

This is one awesome picture!

Love your stuff!
Callie

By the way, I saw one of your Giclees in Miley Cyrus’s home article in last month’s In Style!!! How cool is that! I like it when you see unexpected appearances of your art in places you weren’t notified about. While I was in Vegas for an art expo, I was watching one of my favorite shows on A&E and in the background was my art. I at first looked at it thinking, gee that’s some cool flowers. Who did that?” and then it clicked. Nothing like becoming a household name to keep you motivated. So much more exciting than making any amount of money in the world or achieving fame. Just knowing we can reach so many people, and in these many ways create a fulfilling lifestyle that allows us to have time for LIFE!