Creative Crafters- Little Flowers By Sligo

Tell me more about your craft?

What is it? When did you find out you were good at it?

I paint watercolour children’s illustrations and have recently branched out into pet portraiture.

I did a combined teaching an art degree and have always loved art but the vocational side of my course took priority and I went straight into full time teaching in 2002.

After having my own two children, I started drawing again and decided to have a bash at selling it. Initially, it was a way to find some mindfulness and escape from a stressful day job, but it quickly became all-encompassing!

I decided to start an online Etsy store as private sales from friends were increasing and I was beginning to collect a decent portfolio of work.

Image: Little Flowers By Sligo

Tell us more about the process, the step by step process of your craft- From the concept to the final product

When starting a piece of my own imagined work, I very quickly sketch out my ideas and put them in pen before forgetting them. I forget a lot very quickly now I’m juggling so many things 😂. The painting often happens much later when I have a ‘bank’ of paintings to do. I also like to consider what format the picture will take. Will it simply be a print or would it make a good card too?

When working on a commission, I always work from clients photos – as many as possible. I always paint my dogs in the same position so I sometimes need to do my own research on the specific breed. I sketch, paint, add detail and take prints in quite a short space of time as I like to focus completely on one at a time and get it finished.

There are many, many people doing what I do. So many talented artists out there, much more skilled and established than I am. The market seems to be there for all of us. If I can be a little bit successful doing it, then anyone can! Etsy is a vast worldwide marketplace so I’ve been trying to focus lately on being more local. I have work displayed for sale in a few local businesses now and for me, it feels nice to be supporting local while local support me.

I absolutely love what I’m doing and sometimes have to reign it in as I would happily spend all my time on it! It has given me a new lease of life and a dream to go after. However, a few lovely people have advised me to make sure I’m still enjoying and not getting to caught up in the stress of orders and deadlines – wise words.

I would definitely recommend a bit of market research before jumping in. It helps to have a good understanding of other sellers doing a similar thing. Don’t underestimate the costs of getting started and take all the advice you can get from those who know what they are talking about.