Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hello and Welcome!

Since I first joined Gaia, I debated whether or not I should open an avi art shop. It's been in my mind especially these past few months... And I'm happy to say that I've put it all together!

Yes, I will be opening an avi art shop!!! BUT I don't have an opening date set and this won't be my "normal" avi art. It will be named ♥ Poquitos ♥ A Chibi Art Shop ♥ ...which is obviously the type of artwork I will do.

I've created this thread to ask your advice and suggestions on:
~ The artwork I am selling (cute or ugly)
~ The prices I'm selling them for (low, fair or overpriced)
~ The Poquito - Chibi Art Shop Layout (simple or too complex)
~ Anything else you can think of (improvements)

Please give me constructive critisizm! If you think it's a great idea for a shop or the worst idea ever, please post why! Thoughts or ideas are appreciated!

Below, I will be posting some sections from my actual art shop, which is in the private journal of one of my mules. Please let me know what you think! My notes/questions will be in Red .

I hope to open this art shop SOON, but some feedback will let me know if it's alright or if there are things I should change. Thank you, everyone, for your help!

Sincerely,
Shampoo-chan

[How to order]

♥ Customer places order (PM or in thread)
♥ I confirm order and customer starts trade (Title the trade by your request " Couple Poquito - 9k")
♥ I accept trade once
♥ I finish artwork, I contact customer and accept trade again
♥ Customer accepts (Trade is completed)
♥ I send link to picture (via Thread Post, PM or Email)
♥ If you would like to tip, you may send it with your payment or after your art is received

♥ If you have a problem with this method, do not buy from me. I've been on Gaia since 2003. I have no reason to scam you.

[Is this simple or too complicated? Ideas?]

[Use this form to order]

♥ Username(s):
♥ Avatar(s) to Draw (Upload picture on external site):
♥ Face(s) (Headshot only):
♥ Relationship (Couple Only):
♥ Transparent Image or Colored Background (Specify color):
♥ Background Icon (If Ordered):
♥ Other Information:
♥ Total Payment:

[Example]

♥ Username(s): Shampoo-chan & Haruka-Tenoh-san
♥ Avatar(s) to Draw:

♥ Face(s) (Headshot Only): Both - 1A
♥ Relationship (Couple Only): Married
♥ Transparent Image or Colored Background (Specify color): Transparent
♥ Background Icon (If Ordered): Big Red Heart
♥ Other Information: I flipped Shampoo's image, so they are facing the way I want them drawn. Pls draw Haruka without the Tama.
♥ Total Payment: (Couple) 8k + (3 pets) 600g + Big Red Heart (100g) = 8.7k + 300g tip = 9k

[Is this easy to order or too complex/complicated?]

*Snips ribbon* And it's open for comments!

Prices: Are reasonable for people who want good art and will only be expensive to those newbs who are like "GIVE MEH TEH FREEZ ARTSZ NOW!1!" or "I take art donations please??" However, for naysayers you could explain the process of what you do , from sketching to photoshop next to the prices if people are uppity about it, to show how much work u put into it.

Rules: good, don't forget the no spamming/cybering/obey the TOS rules, etc. general rules just because.

other notes: My only opinion: do away with the background option except for couples. For singles or headshots, etc, keep it simple: no backround. Say, if you're a couple, you can have a heart.
Also, the "picking the face" thing gives people too many options and too many ways for them to say "no I don't like it that way, try another expression". Just do the expressions yourself or u could give the options of "sad/happy/hungry/silly/etc" but don't give people too many options.
Don't forget to mention that in the avatar option, to put a pic of their avatar or they might put "see current avi".

ex. Order form:

Username(s): King of Dragonz
Avatar: [insert pic]
Type: full-body
Expression: crazy/killer-psycho
Heart backround (for couples): no
Other info: whole pic black and white except for wings and flame sword. Please color them like fire.
total payment: 5k + 500g tip = 5.5k

talk2hand

Way too Cheap!



Get a waitlist, especially if you keep your prices the same.
That way you won't be bombed by 500 applicant, and once you fill up the waitlist, you can change prices effective when the last person's is finished.

IE.

1. Kerina
2. Yuki
3. Rocky
4. Jack
5. Tomme T

So, jack up the price once you fill the waitlist. Finish Kerina, then the waitlist will be like this;

1. Yuki
2. Rocky
3. Jack
4. Tomme T
((Because of popular demand and long work hours I am raising my price for all people who sign up past this point. See news section, post blahdeblahdeblah))
5. Moki_is_sleeping_inthelibrary! at the Disco

: D OMG, LATE REPLY!

Thank you for your suggestions, Kerina! YARG! I didn't post it but I do have an "Order List", which I believe is the same as a "Waitlist". I didn't post it cause I was only thinking about getting critiqued on my ordering form, art styles, etc.

My Shop Banners (in order they are posted):
- Announcements ~ Not posted
- About the Artist ~ Not posted - Info on meh
- Rules ~ As posted here
- Payment ~ As posted here
- Prices + Samples ~ As posted here
- Ordering Form ~ As posted here
- Orders ~ Not posted - I have 3 slots for now (too few?)
- Pick Up ~ Not posted - 3 slots to be replaced whenever orders are completed
- Freebies ~ Not posted
- Donations ~ Not posted
- Links ~ Not posted - Post links to other shops or whatever

Extended slots ("bribe list") is a good idea! >:3

I'm not sure about getting too detailed with my artwork. I wasn't sure if I should just have standard facial expressions that people can pick from or keep it like it is now with the individual eyes and mouths.

Example: A = Happy, B = Sad, C = Worried, D = Angry... etc. I'd make general faces that people can choose from. I wasn't sure if I wanted to get too detail with the facial additions (sweatdrop, vein, etc), but I might!

Also, I'm not a total expert on backgrounds yet, so I was keeping that as simple as possible (standard big-a** heart or star). XD But thank you for the suggestion on that! As I get better, I'm sure I'll add more options in that area.

Questing templates I may do if my shop is successful. :]

What would you suggest as a price? I didn't want to make it TOO expensive that people wouldn't want to buy it... but it really is a lot of detailed work (despite its simplistic appearance).

:] ILU Kerina! Thanks for your help.