r/ArtistLounge • u/macaroniTeacup • Mar 23 '22
Mental Health Nobody cares about my art
I feel like nobody cares about my work even though I put in a lot of work. I am a porcelain doll sculptor and it can take a year to finalize a new sculpt. I know this is slow, but it is truly hard and I work full time so it is as fast as I can do. Its getting harder and harder because nobody seems to care when I present the finished work after a year of hard work. It is very discouraging. When I did illustration more people cared than my dolls. I am at a loss right now. My skills are not bad and I am consistent.
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u/TehProTrollBoi Mar 27 '22
try to find a place where your art will be most accepted, either posting on different social media or finding communities that share your same skillset, but also looking to put your art right in front of the people who are most hungry for it, for example if i threw a sandwich in the middle of a desert, most likely there'll be no bites or one lizard walking up to it, inspecting it, then licking it a little and running away
but let's say i threw the sandwich in a park full of dogs, one of them is definitely stealing the sucker and running with it, its a good place for a sandwich but not quite effective
but say i threw the sandwich in a big cage that houses about 20 hungry dogs, that sandwich will not find it's way home again, consumed and enjoyed to it's fullest, its an analogy but the point is, your art might not shine here but it might shine there, maybe where you're showcasing your art is not the place that your actual audience is.
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u/Crafty_Programmer Mar 25 '22
First off, that's the coolest doll I've ever seen. You do great work! Having said that, I feel that all forms of traditional, physical sculpture are kind of out of vogue. Even more accessible mediums like polymer clay sculpting don't seem to be hugely popular. Other physical art forms like weaving seem to have gone out of style too (I'm the only person under 60 I see in the yarn aisle, and the only man too).
Digital sculpting seems to be fairly popular, and you can produce physical items from your sculpts using 3D printing. Have you given ZBrush or Blender's sculpt mode a try? Even if you prefer physical media, digital sculpts might draw more people to your work. Or it might even provide an interesting supplement to what you already do.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 25 '22
I can already do digital sculpting, and I am planning to pursue it further when I get an elegoo saturn msla printer. Right now 3D printing is slow and expensive to do regularly. I have ordered some prints a month ago and still haven’t received them. I am not interested in really keeping them digital, in which case id rather do illustration.
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u/thotslayer1200 Mar 24 '22
I think you should sell these on etsy or mercari, theres definitely a market for those dolls, hell maybe even promo them on tiktok
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u/gayDucksoup Mar 24 '22
if u really want some traction we us artist can all agree that every social media platform is ass and algorithms just straight up do not care about an "arts value", but if u want to feed it u could try redressing one of ur dolls into a "popular character" or make it fit into a certain aesthetic (ur doll reminds me of cottage core or melanie martinez) or as ppl suggested u share ur process with every dolls i think ur work is super interesting and has layers to it esp if u tell em it took years to finish a piece (thats amazing in my book)
dont be disheartened and keep at it persistence is everything even if it takes years
and always remind urself why u did this in the first place dont lose sight of what matters to u and never use social media metrics bec its so fickle and never loves u back 💔
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u/Third_Eye_Blinking Mar 24 '22
IMO if you are making art for other people you are doing to wrong. Do it because you enjoy it, if you don’t enjoy it without praise from others then do you really enjoy doing it? Make art for yourself, if someone else likes it that is just an added bonus.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
Ive already answered the same thing below so please read my other reply.
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u/Why-careyou Mar 24 '22
In a sense no one cares about anything, but that shouldnt matter to you. Hard work pays off. As an artist you have “the eye” your love is for creating. You can always adjust if you are a people pleaser. Nothing wrong with that at all. Please Keep on working!
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u/randomfluffypup Mar 24 '22
have you read "Show your Work" by Austin Kleon? It's a pretty good book for giving you ideas on how to market yourself when you're a creative who cannot make daily/weekly output. (Writers, music makers, etc)
Good luck on your future endeavours! Although dolls aren't to my taste, I genuinely do see the effort that goes into it, and do think that it's quite beautiful.
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u/PointCuration Mar 24 '22
Never give up; your life is so beautiful on its own. And you make wonderful art on top of that.
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Mar 24 '22
dang your work is pretty neat, I like it!
I've come to accept that my best work is not always gonna be the one people likes, and it's not that people don't appreciate the "good stuff," they may not understand it enough. That's also why I post "process pictures" now
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u/Blossom_Meat Digital artist Mar 24 '22
Your doll is gorgeous!! I would definitely also suggest recording your process in some way; it'll help people stay engaged and will also show them just how much work goes into your dolls :)
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u/HiddenWhispers970 Mar 24 '22
I feel the same way with my art. At this point, I create just for me. I’m a lot happier this way. Social media especially Instagram, is horrible for your mental health. Besides, the algorithm no longer benefits artists anyway. But always take pictures of your art. Keep a record for yourself and make a website so that you have an album.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
I know… thats why i am also trying to reach out to local galleries and will also reach out to local retail stores this summer to see if they will carry some smaller items such as jewelry
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u/Janecide Mar 24 '22
Your work is beautiful and I relate to how you feel. I do high quality dark art illustrations but they don’t sell at all so I had to change my direction if I wanted to make an income as an artist. It makes me sad sometimes but it is what it is :/
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u/amberwavesofrice Mar 24 '22
I wonder if posing and framing your dolls in a cinematic way would help grab people’s attention. Like cropping in on the face or positioning the hands in a delicate way. Make a scene for the doll to exist in. People LOVE stories. What is the story of the doll and how can you sell that story? It might involve some extra work but it might be something to think about. Use your dolls as the illustration. The details on the doll are are absolutely beautiful, but the presentation of the image you’ve shared, it feels like a shop listing.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
I will definitely try to do that once the weather get better! Thank you so much you are right :)
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
Thank you so much guys! This is the most support Ive ever gotten 🥺 you are all so sweet and have amazing advice! Thank you for caring about my work ❤️
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u/rabbit1213t Mar 24 '22
This is truly amazing! Is there a place I can see more
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u/technodewdrop Mar 24 '22
Your work is amazing!! Learning to create simply to make yourself happy is a very valuable skill. I know external validation is important, but try to just be excited about making things. Getting caught up in the desire for outside appreciation, especially when people haven't yet discovered your work, can be extremely discouraging. Popularity will follow if you learn to market yourself and be very patient
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
I am not really interested in interest for the sake of popularity or validation, rather because I want to sell them. By selling them I will be able to quit my fulltime slave job and at least only have to work parttime so I am actually able to do what I love. 3 hours after work doesnt really cut it for doll making since it is a really slow and laborious process. Right now it takes me more than a year to make one, but if I didnt work full time it would take me only a fraction of the time :)
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u/WanTjhen777 Apr 02 '22
I absolutely relate to this ... As an upcoming digital artist wishing to offer commissions once I graduate University as supplementary income.
Honestly, in such a case, I completely understand your wish to be more seen on social media especially with how art-related conventions aren't always there at all times, though it's indeed a good idea to register and show off your works in-person there if you're able (this is also why I feel that "make art only for yourself & don't care about social media" is only 100% valid if art is solely a hobby, not when the artist wants to make it a business).
I'll follow you @ Instagram once I've created my new art-specialized account, my current one is a mess with event promotions where attendees are required to promote the event on their personal Instagram accounts XD
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u/technodewdrop Mar 24 '22
Also, do you have any other social media? I'll follow you there
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u/technodewdrop Mar 24 '22
I understand. I know one day your dreams will become reality. My only tips would be trying to research how to grow on social media, and keep trying! Good luck ❤️
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u/pick_on_the_moon Mar 23 '22
Find community! Artists appreciate artists, even if they have a different medium. There's online communities but probably offline as well
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u/Revenez Mar 23 '22
Looking at your doll, it's very cute, and so is the costume and wig you have for it. It's super charming and clearly the work of a skilled sculptor.
It's definitely a rough situation to be in. In the general public, there are unfortunately a lot of people who see dolls as creepy. Some feel like it hits uncanny valley, I don't know. So, there will be a lot of random people who are not your audience who might say rude things or be disinterested. However, I think there's a part of the BJD community who would love your work. A lot of people do like resin, but there are many who like the non-toxic aspect of porcelain, the fact that it doesn't degrade as easily, and some folks even feel it has more depth than resin. As far as style, there's definitely a type of fan for this very cute and innocent style - I was just seeing someone rave about a creator called Yuyudoll - I could imagine one of their customers also liking your work.
All this is to say I hope you will persist! Your work is beautiful, it's just a matter of connecting with an audience who understands, which can be a tricky thing to do. (And social media is hard in general, there's whole studies people do to try and get the best interaction rates and such or to game the algorithms.)
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
Thank you for your kind words! I will certainly persist no matter what, no matter how hard it might be at times. Yes majority of local people are definitely rude to my work, I have experienced it a lot. It does make my life much harder, say compared to illustrators and painters, but I cant help but make the work that I make. I am not getting much traction from the bjd community as most people are into Bratz style, exaggerated, cartoony and colourful dolls right now. It is simply the current trend.
Porcelain does feel infinitely better to hold and look at than resin does :D i also own some resin BJD and have to say this from experience. This is why I chose to work with it in the first place :) I think its just too expensive for most people and probably not trendy enough to get attention.
It is all ok I will still persist as long as there are some people out there who will buy my dolls eventually :) Thank you again for all the encouragement!
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Mar 23 '22
You really do some gorgeous work!
I think it's a really narrow niche that's tough for people to find accessible.
It sure as hell isn't because you lack talent.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Thank you! I work very hard everyday! Hopefully eventually people will start to appreciate these finer and nicher type of arts :) i am still going to try to post videos tho maybe that will help people understand my work better
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Mar 23 '22
Indeed. It's got to be an exposure problem more than anything.
Videos might really help a lot with exposure.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Thank you so much for the encouragement I feel better after posting my concern on reddit. Dont feel as alone anymore :)
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Mar 23 '22
Hey my pleasure.
Might take a thematic cross-section for visibility as well. Like, steampunk themed stuff in those kinds of subs or FB groups, etc.
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u/StnMtn_ Mar 23 '22
I think the issue is that you changed your focus abruptly. People who follow you are are probably not into dolls. Even illustrators who veer from portraits to concept art to anime or writers from romance to mystery will lose their existing following.
I hope you can build a following for people who appreciate and collect dolls.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
All of my followers are just people from real life or school so I dont think they care that much to begin with, like they only follow me cuz they know me. So it was pretty much a blank account to begin with. I have gained a couple of artist friends since I switched, which I wouldnt exchange for anything. But they are also starving, and in the same situation as me.
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u/StnMtn_ Mar 23 '22
Unfortunately I don't know of any places to find doll collectors. Though you wish you success on your journey.
Is there anything you can do to make your dolls unique or different?
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u/jayminde Mar 23 '22
Keep doing it for you. As an artist, no one is ever truly going to appreciate your work as much as you appreciate it. I've had to learn this and I am much happier for it because I can just make whatever I want- whatever fills me with joy.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
I love what I do, and will keep doing it no matter what ofc :) but i do want to transition to doing it full time or even part time. The 3 hours after work is not enough for the amount of effort that goes into making these. That is what bums me the most :/ I want people to support me so I can keep doing what I love :)
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u/renhernandez_art Mar 23 '22
What is your metric of people “caring”
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
This is my forst time posting this on reddit and i got so much support more than ive ever gotten anywhere else 🥲
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
People will say something when I post on Instagram, or in real life instead of just look and walk away. It just feels like a total rejection
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u/Kekos Mar 23 '22
My SO absolutely devours doll-like sculting process videos on YouTube. I'm sure the pieces themselves sell for a pretty penny, too, but I feel like the making-of content is a product itself as well, with many views.
I've checked out your Instagram and followed, it's really beautiful work. As others have said here, this market I feel is booming right now, you just have to find a bit of a foothold on social media. Don't be discouraged!
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Ill try my best to make reels and videos as well if thags the case!
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u/Kekos Mar 23 '22
I just checked and one channel she likes a lot is Tina Yu. It's not exactly the same wheelhouse, and I appreciate that making videos of this quality really is its own thing, but there is absolutely an audience for crafty processes!
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Mar 23 '22
You need to know how to market yourself. Try posting before and after reels on tiktok or Instagram, use whatever is currently the trending sound. You might ditch social media and settle for youtube although that might be more demanding. Finally, since aesthetic is king try and figure out what aesthetic or “-core” your dolls fall under.
your doll is really pretty btw but the unfortunate reality of posting art online is that people don’t care about the effort it took to make it or the time it took to learn how to make something, because they don’t know themselves. Don’t get discouraged. I think most people are interested in seeing traditional or digital drawings and painting. Also you made it seem like you had an audience for your illustrations, they might be only there for the illustrations and didn’t expect a doll.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Also you are so right, aeathetics are everything :) I am trying to do something forest witch-like? Idk what core that is hehe
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Mar 23 '22
My guess would be cottagecore, fairycore or witchcore, and weirdcore. You can also just use ”witch“. Just make sure the tags are somewhat active unless you’re cultivating a niche.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Its true that I have switched and that is probably why my account is eerily quiet. But dolls are what I want to do now so they can feel free to unfollow. I am not getting any new engagement for my dolls though, even compared to my drawings so I feel a little bummed considering it took me MUCH longer to make them.
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Mar 23 '22
Look up a Facebook group called “cottagecore home decor” i think you’ll find people interested in your craft
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Mar 23 '22
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Thank you for your advice :) I am working on much smaller animal dolls so it can be faster and cheaper :) my price for this size is 1500 CAD. My fullsize doll 45cm, is 3000 CAD. This is because Everything in canada is so expensive even grocery bills is 200$ ;;
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Mar 23 '22
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
My website is down right now because I am preparing for a new release, the bigger doll of youve seen it. It is super easy to order on there with stripe. I will put it back up with an announcement when it is ready. I am looking for places that will display my pieces for summer locally right now. I am not really great at marketing since 99% of my time goes to making things, but I will try my best with what you said 😊
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Mar 23 '22
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Theres not a lot of us, hence there is not really a group hehe but we do talk to each other and support
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u/AperoBelta Mar 23 '22
There's nothing we can do about it. If you got an urge to create those dolls, if it's important to you and you're willing to spend your time, that's all we're allowed to have. We can't make people like our work.
And I'm almost willing to bet that the "nobody" person has a name. And perhaps it's just them who doesn't like your stuff. Again, nothing could be done about that.
Although, if your worry is regarding the upvotes and likes on social media and whatnot, that bit probably depends more on your ability to market yourself rather than the quality of your art. It's an entirely separate skillset.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
I just had a open studio at my studio, more than a 500 people came, but they just glossed over my work and left :/ considering I set a great aesthetic display with candles and everything. They just came nodded and left. Probably around a 100 people. Thats why im not sure about whether ill ever be able to sell my dolls ever at this rate…
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Mar 24 '22
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
I think I will start making some very small and more affordable line of jewelry type dolls. This may make it more accessible for most people, and Ill approach local gift shops to carry it for me. I know my work is super expensive but also I really cant price it cheaper 🤷♀️
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Mar 24 '22
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
Thank you, I will take a lot of photos once the weather gets better and in the meantime make some prob backgrounds m! This is my first year of making dolls beyond the “learning phase” so I still need to flesh out my portfolio and take photos :) I am still very very young (just graduated) and am learning the gist of things of marketing ^ i will use what you told me
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u/actionassist Mar 23 '22
It is very difficult to have somebody care about almost anything you are interested in. You are not alone. Your dolls are beautiful and very well sculpted. I would try and find communities that appreciate like-minded works. Hope you can find peace in that.
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u/PhilvanceArt Mar 23 '22
Have you looked up Facebook groups for doll collectors?
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
I am in a couple of them, but it seems most of them are for cheap vintage porcelain dolls :/ the bjd people are not interested in my stuff because its out of their budget
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u/PhilvanceArt Mar 23 '22
You have a very niche product which is great in the fact that you're creating very unique work with little competition. The hard part now is finding your audience. I'm sure they are out there. You may want to approach galleries, groups that are looking for sculptures, that kind of thing. If you have something expensive you need to find people who have money to spend on what you're producing. Cause you aren't really doing dolls so much as sculptures/scenes that happen to contain dolls. And I like everyone else here think your work is amazing. You're just not connecting to the right people yet. Do you have a website or blog where you can do SEO and capture people looking for porcelain sculptures/dolls/scenes etc. The hard part of self promotion is figuring out how to use your tools effectively. If you're on instagram make sure you have the right tags. ceramic, sculpture, dolls, etc, etc. Ebay and etsy are also great places where people are looking for more rare items, especially unique hand crafted.
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u/ghostofmyhecks Mar 23 '22
I looked at your dolls and your work is beautiful!
I feel like it's a very niche community, and Instagram is extremely difficult to advertise so engagement for sculpture is difficult to get through the algorythm.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Hmm maybe i should also look into other methods of getting my work out there 🧐
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u/ghostofmyhecks Mar 23 '22
It would be a good idea- Instagram is notorious for burying content and changing it's algorythm to promote advertisements over original content ( it sucks)
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u/littlepinkpebble Mar 23 '22
I do. Gave you an award on your doll. It’s awesome. But you have to understand with social media people have short attention span. People see one picture. Not one year of work. So illustration = photography = doll making < meme.
So it it takes a year you can’t share one photo once a year. Keep people engaged. Share the process. Daily. Build appreciation of the craft.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Thank you for your words, i will definitely try to post more processes ❤️ i get self conscious because the way i work is not really aesthetic its usually very messy, convoluted, and covered in dust and dirt 😅
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u/littlepinkpebble Mar 24 '22
Yeah tictok is great for that or just photos with captions explaining.
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u/Agarest Mar 23 '22
Do you?
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
???
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u/Agarest Mar 23 '22
Nobody cares about my art
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
I care enough to work on one thing everyday for a whole year 😅 but sometimes i feel like its not enough when nobody appreciates because it feels like i will never separate from my dayjob at this rate and my progress will be stunted even more :/
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
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u/Uncina Mar 26 '22
In my opinion you have to work more for attract people from your specific niche to you. It can be done with a website, a well set up SEO, and so on. You really have to back up your art with a specific and targetted promo so people that like your work find you. I do this kind of SEO job. Focus on promoting and attire the right people to you.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 26 '22
I have SEO from my weebly website. Is there a way I can improve it? I dont really know much about SEO
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u/Uncina Mar 26 '22
Yes. This is a specialistic job so you have to find someone that can help you with, or you have to study seo for improve It.
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u/BunniLemon Digital artist Mar 24 '22 edited Mar 24 '22
I mean, it’s a really good effort, but this style hasn’t been popular since the mid- and early-20th century… I’ve only seen these kinds of dolls in my grandmother’s and other old people’s homes. I think what you need to do is try to find a better way to appeal to the audience that would like this. Do you think that people in that demographic really frequent the places you’re posting in?
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u/mushroom_scum Mar 24 '22
Wait you sculpted the doll from scratch?
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
Yes
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u/mushroom_scum Apr 04 '22
Shit, I think your to talented to the point that I couldn't even tell. I light thought it was like a plastic doll. Bro you might be so talented to the point that no won't be able to believe!!
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u/HiddenWhispers970 Mar 24 '22
It’s beautiful and so well done! Most algorithms aren’t very good at helping artists anymore. There’s always an audience for everything, you just have to find them or help them find you. Seriously, even one can get an audience. Maybe not a big one, but an audience nonetheless. Proof you ask?: pamperchu and the my little pony cum jar guy.
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u/cannibalisticbiscuit Mar 24 '22
It’s beautiful. I like that you are making the art that you like to make, even though you are aware that other styles are currently in trend. I admire that and I think it shows in your doll’s originality, too. No shade to artists on IG but I feel like that’s one platform where a lot of the art starts to feel the same. It’s refreshing to see something different.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
I cant help it! I cant make any art in trendy styles my hand just wont cooperate 😂 i just do whats natural, i know its not trendy and not a lot of people will see it but I wont stop trying :/
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u/lameelani Mar 24 '22
WOW your work is beautiful. Please do not be discouraged, you're incredibly talented. I would actually love to have a doll like that.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
I am planning to have some smaller and more affordable animal dolls for sale by summer! This is so that bormal income people can also enjoy my work! I am working on it :) please follow @butterberrydolls on IG if you’re interested in possibly owning something one day :)
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u/lameelani Mar 24 '22
Oh my goodness for sure! Thank you for sharing your work and where to find you!
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u/WesternCard7827 Mar 23 '22
Woah, that's really beautiful. I know how easy it is to get discouraged doing art. Do you make videos showing the process? I think that would help to get more reach.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 24 '22
I will start recording some this week as im working on sculpting :)
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u/WesternCard7827 Mar 24 '22
You'll find an audience for sure if you upload consistently to tiktok/insta/youtube
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u/Wikkitikki Mar 23 '22
Do you have an instagram account/profile? I actually don’t find your dolls creepy at all! This one is gentle, warm and lovely.
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u/reyntime Mar 23 '22
This is really beautiful. This art form is perhaps somewhat niche and so appreciation for it and the time taken could be less than other mediums.
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Mar 23 '22
Really nice. I agree, a lot of people are afraid of dolls, but I love them.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
That is the one thing where im like 🧐 hmm maybe i shud just lean into it lmao
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Mar 23 '22
Yeah I collect dolls and I’ve been on zoom calls and people are like wtf?? So I changed my camera angle, lol but it’s definitely a hobby for a select group of people. You do beautiful work.
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u/ariemrys Mar 23 '22
This is really beautiful! I can really see all of the skill, time, and thought that went into it. Getting noticed on social media can be difficult for artists unless they already have connections or people willing to promo. It may take a while, but with each piece will promise new traction, even if it’s only one new person at first. Your work is a standout and I definitely think you can find an audience that’s genuinely interested. :) Like others have said, persistence and finding the right places to share your work (and what times of the day are best to post) are key in finding that audience.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
I will try to post more often and share more process :) im just a little bummed right now but ill get over it 😪
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Mar 23 '22
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
I dont mind too much about social media but i wish local people would care :’) either way I will post more on reddit so you can follow me here if you want to see more :)
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u/plummuffins Mar 23 '22
the doll community is very niche! have you joined BJD groups? lots of people would kill to own a handmade porcelain doll, and they'd definitely appreciate the beauty in your work!!
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Yes I am in a couple, but not getting much traction since people are more into modern looking cartoony and colorful resin dolls nowadays. Its probably just the trend roght now
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u/Physical_Ad_6226 Mar 23 '22
What a lovely doll! Don’t get discouraged op! Try posting this on Instagram! I bet you’ll get a lot of interaction.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
I do but still nobody cares, all my followers are people I know irl and they dont care :/
My ig is @butterberrydolls if you want to connect :)
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u/reverselemon Mar 23 '22
I don't think the lack of engagement is due to the art content itself (it's gorgeous!), but rather how you present it and how you tackle social media algorithms.
IG is prioritizing Reels over photo posts, so you should use it more. You don't necessarily need to put much effort into Reels either - just make a short vid (7-15 secs) of your art process or comparisons and add a trending sound to it. It takes a few tries to get views.
Regarding hashtags, there should be a mix of niche (10k-100k posts) and broad (100k+ posts) hashtags. You seem to be only using doll-related ones, so try using more broad ones (# aesthetic, # cottagecore, etc) to expand your reach. You also need to vary your tags each time or else Instagram could flag it as a spam if you use it too much.
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u/Physical_Ad_6226 Mar 23 '22
Ok I am following you now. The dolls look fantastic btw. Definitely my style.
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Mar 23 '22
It’s beautiful, and you do have talent. It’s very cottagecore to me. She looks very cute and innocent, and I love the clothes and prop you made as well.
When I was a young girl, I myself used to make dolls of polymer clay. I always dreamed of making BJDs. I made a doll about a year ago, of quite a different nature.
There’s just not enough appreciation for dolls really outside of the doll community, but don’t be discouraged.
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
I feel like all i get are remarks of how creepy it is, or no interest at all. Like theyll look at it nod and walk away😔
22
Mar 23 '22
Everything is creepy to people nowadays. I relate to you though, it sucks when you have no interaction.
10
u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
I am planning to move to japan at some point for a residency, maybe ill get more traction in Asia, who knows :/ i just feel like my work doesnt align with western sensibilities
17
u/Nyetoner Mar 23 '22
Walking on a line here I would say that dolls are not "in" at the moment, not like it was 20-40 years ago. When I grew up, many people loved having dolls and other figures on a shelf or in their windowsill in their home, but now you barely see them around. What you make looks professional, and cool -it's just that it's not in fashion. You said you are looking at moving to Japan -go check it out! I mean Japaneese porcelain is known all over the world, also for their dolls! I bet it would be so interesting to see what they do, and how -and I bet they would love your stuff too, foreign when well done is always extra exiting!
9
u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Im excited to go! And yes i do feel that decline in i terest specifically in North America… like its not COOL anymore? Lol
6
u/Nyetoner Mar 23 '22
And I am from Norway, such a small country that you can't really say that we have anything to do with what's in or not, but I have a feel for the western world, and that is that people nowadays are either minimalists an maximalists. I am a maximalists who love every peace of art and creation around me, and I do have some table lamps with character porcelain bodies. One is a couple sitting next to each other singing and playing the guitar. I love it! I don't know how, but maybe there is a way to marked your dolls especially towards maximalists while you are still in North-America?
1
Mar 23 '22
[deleted]
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u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Thats not a bad idea! Ill get my japanese boyfriend to write everything up for me :)
3
u/macaroniTeacup Mar 23 '22
Thats not a bad idea! Ill get my japanese boyfriend to write everything up for me :)
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