u/LiamEBM

Did my first art market! I was very nervous but I set things up reasonably in the end and other artists and shoppers were all very friendly.

Biggest lesson

I felt so scared to do this because I didnt feel ready or prepared or perfect enough, but you never get good without doing the thing. Ultimately things could have been set up better, but I still had a great time, made some sales, and learned a lot of things I wouldn't know until I actually did the thing!

Top tips

* It was most valuable meeting people face to face and talking about my art. Seeing what people reacted to more or pointed at with excitement, and what products people asked for. (Pro tip, people LOVE stickers)

* This totally absolutely flew by and it didn't feel like 5 hours at all!

* I only had to do a last minute panic shop of display supplies, but here is what I learned, from having 0 experience:

* Bring clips, blu tack, glue dots and other things to mount and secure things to your table. Not just against the wind if outdoors, but if people knock things over.

* Bring a meal and hydration! Something to do or someone to talk to when you get a few minutes spare is very handy.

* Use what you can! I didnt even have any fancy setup, I just brought my blanket from home, a shoe rack which I stood vertically, and some cheap folding display boxes.

I'm autistic and so knowing when to talk to people is key. This is what I learned:

I found people kept a distance sometimes to browse as a silent indicator of to not be spoken to. However, 95% of people always said hello back.

My rule for talking was:

"Hi!" If they say hello back then, ask "how are you doing?" (All polite and not too eager to talk, but friendly).

If they say "good/alright" then I leave them to browse until they notice something and lean in/touch and I give a 1 sentence explanation of my art, e.g. "I made all this with Microsoft Paint!" and leave it closed but factual.

If they respond with a more full sentence, I engage in conversation as normal, all the while exploring their interests or being sure to discuss my art in a way that naturally relates to the topic if I can.

Light jokes and sensible surface level quips can break the ice even if they're quite boring, but I think of them like Christmas jokes - not really that funny but it gets a smile.

My specific joke was about how the sun was only hitting one side of me, and that I was steadily getting a lorry driver tan, then I'd make a classic bloke voice and say "oo its hard graft", which was funny because that's not what I'm like, but I think had layers to it that 1) reminded them that I'm working by selling, and my art is a graft in a way but also 2) that I was coming from a place of grounded work attitudes and working class background (which is important to me). Maybe no one else read into the joke too much, but it worked on the day and got people smiling, and resulted in a few people having long conversations with me about all sorts!

It's inherently an awkward experience for both people, as a shopper at art markets you'll know the same nerves too.

I sensed some people didn't like 'obvious compliments' - one guy wore a funny t-shirt but it seemed like everyone there commented on it and he seemed quite deflated when I mentioned it, so that made me say like "but I bet everyone said that, and tbf it is really cool" to try and do a 'i complimented this but I meant it, I'm not just being nice to sell something as a cheap psychology hack' - again maybe something I was overthinking lol, but he did seem amused by that and stuck around to buy a modest selection.

My vibe is kinda my own and people will love it or hate it but people seemed taken aback/impressed i think mostly in a positive way. When people asked "you did this in MS Paint? How did you manage that!?" I said "well I'm just a really good artist" in quite a deadpan but friendly way. Maybe it's a British tone of humour, so if it sounds weird just imagine a Monty Python sketch way of talking. A serious sentence said seriously but in a way which is charming. I found this to be a bit disarming as it made me different from other interactions I suppose, but also suggested a confidence and assuredness in my art. I didn't want to be timid or shy in accepting compliments or behave in a way which I didn't have faith in my work - I'm selling it, I know its good.

Another thing that got a chuckle, (often awkward laugh) was saying, "have a rummage around, I've got lots of my crap here", sometimes as a follow up to the previous line, so it was juxtaposed and also invited exploration but also acknowledged that I had a lot of different stuff and I wasnt too precious.

Another instance which someone responded well to was when someone picked up an item to show a friend, was told to get it but they were unsure and looked to me somehow, I just said "hey get it if you like it but dont feel pressured to buy anything, I'm not trying to upsell you" and they were also a bit shocked but amused.

Overall my vibe and things I said and did could have been off putting but on the whole, people had a very good time. My partner was helping me run things too and always tells me if I'm being weird or rude to people but raised no concerns and had a good laugh with me too. So I think all good!

The main thing is to be bold but be yourself. You're an artist and you love what you do, let people feel that passion as they dont always buy work for work sake, but because of the person who made it too.

Whats next for future markets?

Following this art market, table displays do seem key and everyone seems to be using the cube storage modular grid panel systems for vertical display, and that was a key issue for my stuff was 1) too much, and 2) too hard to sort through quickly. Having things like stickers and badge designs clearly visible is very useful for people too anxious to rummage.

Anyway, I'm not sure if that's useful but it's useful for me!

Find my art here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn

I make medieval art inspired work in MS Paint

Here's some anti AI slop meme for you to use and share as you wish

You can see my other work here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn

Everyone liked my previous butt trumpet version but instagram has recently taken down these images due to sexual/explicit content, so here's a safe for work version based on the iconic Pepsi throne lad.

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You can see more of my art: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn

Hi I'm an MS Paint artist inspired by medieval history

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Here is my silly interpretation of LOTR as illuminated manuscript pages. I put thought into colour choices and little references, especially in a medieval context, so hopefully some nerds out there can appreciate the details

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I make more art here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn

Hi I'm a Sheffield artist and I wanna get involved in public art.

I mostly do illustrative work, so some wall murals, shop window features, or street furniture would be fantastic. Something sculptural like the recent Lions would have been wonderful (just too late!)

Specifically I want to celebrate Sheffield's history and bring medieval charm and playful colours to otherwise drab grey streets.
Especially working with the people on something unique, and not just another Hendos bottle or "ayup" slang everywhere.

I just have no idea where to start! Hopefully there's someone here with knowledge or networks that could help set up the conversation :)

Here is a link to my website which I hope represents myself well!
https://picturesidrawn.carrd.co/

hi I'm Picturesidrawn, an MS Paint artist inspired by medieval art

Here's my illuminated manuscript of the Matrix, showing Neo with Crossbows akimbo. Dressed in all green-black and in appropriate medieval hunters attire he stands firm. The sunglasses are in accurate medieval flipping eyeglass style which attached to the nose. Dual crossbows instead of guns, a cloack instead of trenchcoat. Flanked either side in dark flowers, and beneath him a marginalia of a white rabbit. The border features 1 and 0 as binary emblems, and within the edges are the red and blue gem (pill) shown top and bottom, with the left and right showing Runes descending. The runes are written in Elder Futhark and are to represent the Matrix code.

The Matrix, but released in 1399. "What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge arrows?"

You can see more of my medieval MS Paint art here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn/

Hi, I'm Picturesidrawn, an MS Paint artist largely inspired by medieval history.

Here's Sir CJ entering a new life in San Andreas, seemingly apprehensive.

You can't see it because I removed it, but there was LOTS of lines to define the vanishing point here so I could get the buildings accurate enough. I'm also a mega gothic armour fan.

More of my art here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn/

hi I'm Picturesidrawn and I'm an MS Paint artist. I'm mostly inspired by medieval art but also games and memes and things

Here's my rendition of a classic Thomas dragon fight from a modded Skyrim POV. MS Paint, laptop trackpad only.

The scenery is all made up, sorry if you wanted to line-up to a real-game location. I like to keep my work quite vibrant, which was a challenge in making this feel Skyrim enough, considering most of the time, the game is pretty unsaturated.

If you want to see more of my work, especially medieval illuminated manuscripts, then I'm here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn/

Hi, I'm an MS Paint artist and trying to make a professional looking website.

I'm using Carrd.co which while easy to use, is quite limited in its features

https://picturesidrawn.carrd.co/

I wanted to check that it appears professional feeling whilst also individual and personal.A story to tell and a good professional attitude.

Any constructive comments at all would be useful.

Thanks!

Hi, I'm Picturesidrawn, an MS Paint artist inspired by medieval history. All my work is digital.

I'm currently selling my work from minimum starting cost of £25GBP ($33USD).

In the past I've sold my work for between £20($26) and £200 ($268). But I think I should be charging more.

I also have prints of my work which I'm selling as A5 size for £10 ($13) though I actually think this is high and maybe £8 is better. The problem is I value my work greatly, and I print/package/source all my production costs from local businesses only rather than outsourcing to cheaper and often unethical businesses - so things cost a little more.

Thanks!

I'm beyond words

Hi I'm Picturesidrawn, an MS Paint artist inspired by medieval art and history. I recently made a piece about a famous 'I Think You Should Leave' scene.

What an absolute misunderstanding of everything holy about art.

Thank you for all the positive words, if you'd like to see more of my (not AI) art, I'm here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn

Hey, I make medieval inspired art in MS Paint.

Born and living in Sheffield, I want to celebrate it's history sincerely. However I'm struggling on final imagery and need help.

Specifically avoiding tropes: Hendos bottle, "be reyt", "ayup", 0114, "Wednesday/United forever", etc.

I have some solid references here but the central focus is missing something iconic and prideful.

Things included already:

• Coat of Arms & Heraldy (both)
• Yorkshire roses
• Cutlery &metalwork (anvil)
• 7 hills
• Sheffield's Latin text
• Big S with a background of Park Hill facade, border of rivers around 'heffield'.
• Continuation of the red/blue Sheffield colours in flower margin work.

I placed the big Heraldry lower in place of the anvil but the green conflicts with the Hills.

Something I really wanted to do was reflect the historic and modern vibrancy of the city without relying on brands or slang which I feel like just make more of a surface level mockery rather than represent the real lives on Sheffield folk.

more of my work: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn

Hi I'm an MS Paint artist and very inspired by medieval art and history.

I love this medium and how it translates to the vibes and sensibilities of medieval scribes and silly wonky things

Hopefully I labelled all the parts correctly!

More of my art here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn

Tewkesbury is one of Europe's biggest Medieval festivals and have a long reputation

However this year on their instagram they are using AI generated drop cap images to announce Vendors in an alphabetical order.

If they don't vet their own AI use, how are they going to ensure that their vendors also don't use AI?

Is it that hard for finding medieval artists in their community? Could they not find another way to announce their vendors?

What are people's thoughts?

I've shared 4 of these previously now and it's been great seeing how much everyone is loving them so I've been inspired to doodle up 2 more!

If you'd like to see more of my MS Paint medieval art, I have an instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn/

Thanks for all the nice feedback on my previous 2 ITYSL posts: "Just here for the Zipline" and "55 Burgers..."

If you'd like to see more of my MS Paint medieval art, I have an instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn/

I'm an artist that uses MS Paint to create work inspired by medieval history and art.

Here are 2 of my favourite scenes as medieval manuscripts.

You can see more of my art here: https://www.instagram.com/picturesidrawn/