COVID19 Doesn't Stop This Artist From Selling 2 Paintings 2 Commissions in 2 Weeks

(Transcription)

Artist, Jina Kim, Raleigh, North Carolina

Jina Kim (00:02):
So I didn’t have any money. I didn’t know anyone in this place because I’m in the new place. I really didn’t know what to do, but I had to pay bills. And I felt bad for myself a little bit. Why does it happening or what’s going on with my life? And then, but I, I kept watching all the videos and other people talking on this Spotlight, through Facebook in this program. And then, and then that really inspired me a lot.

What did you decide?

Jina Kim (00:36):
Am I going to just sitting here feeling bad for myself or do something? What can I do right now? So I didn’t have any money to afford any kind of canvases, big canvases. I did big paintings before, so I bought tiny little canvases and started making small paintings.

What did you realize?

Jina Kim (00:57):
And then I realized that my art doesn’t really represent my mission. So I kind of changed to how I paint or what I paint based on my mission. And then I changed my Instagram and what I share and what I talk about with people based on my mission.

Then what happened?

Jina Kim (01:18):
Like after I shared a few paintings and then a lot of these things for a week, and then my first painting was sold and the same person asked me to do a commission and I was like, Oh, this is happening.

How did you feel about those changes?

Jina Kim (01:36):
I felt really good. I felt really good. And I really enjoyed a painting because I know that, uh, my art itself has a mission too like when someone asks, Oh, why are you mixing baking this kind of art? I don’t just say, I don’t know.

How is it to talk about your art now?

Jina Kim (01:55):
Now I can confidently say, Oh, it has a mission behind it and this is why I’m doing this. And I communicate with people better and people feel like I’m making art for them, not so my art, didn’t, my art became not about myself, which gives me a lot of confidence.

How do you feel about rejection?

Jina Kim (02:13):
Yeah. Which is good because when people react badly, some people do still and that’s okay, but when people react badly, it’s not about me. It’s just, “Oh, I guess the person doesn’t need my mission or my art.”

Jina Kim (02:30):
I actually met a lot of people in the area. Like I never met them physically yet, but, I just started joining all these virtual meetings and, you know, virtual mix and mingle things. I emailed all those people that I met and then say, Hey, can I share my mission and just have a friendly talk with you? And everyone said yes and I shared all my missions and everyone was really supportive. And then, yeah.

Is it hard to sell your art?

Jina Kim (03:03):
It is a pretty simple, it’s just like you, if you center your mission.

Jina Kim (03:07):
If you center your mission greater than yourself or what you think, where your opinion, it actually is easy. It makes everything easier.

What’s it like to sell your art?

Jina Kim (03:20):
It’s kind of like dating you put yourself out there and let yourself get hurt, but, or you don’t do anything and just hide yourself and nothing happens.

What expensive mistakes to artists make?

Jina Kim (03:33):
Like, you pay a contest, you pay to submit contest or um, or art fairs or, or a market or your marketers or pay PR agent.

Did you make those mistakes?

Jina Kim (03:51):
I actually lost a lot of money by doing that. And then, and then I found this program and then I was like, Oh!

How much money did you spend to “pay to play?”

Jina Kim (04:00):
I think I spent just to– just that, not my business expense, but just that I spent probably like five grand every year.

How were you treated?

Jina Kim (04:16):
And those people treat you really badly because you’re just one of a lot of artists that they admit. And then they’re very rude.

Why should artists never discount their art?

Jina Kim (04:26):
It’s just people would think that you’re making cheap art and you put a lot, not only just making art itself, but you put a lot of emotional effort and you try to inspire people. And if you sell it for like a dime, then people will think that, Oh, I guess it’s just nothing. Like you value something in your art, then you price accordingly. you can’t discount it. And also it’s bad for the people who are trying to buy your art. Um, they want to spend money on something that’s really valuable. They want to keep it forever. But, um, if you sell it cheap, then, I mean, price doesn’t really represent how much it’s valuable.

What would you tell other artists about this program?

Jina Kim (05:12):
I mean, if they can, if they all figured it out and the data need any help and they’re selling all the art, then find whatever you can find, whatever. I mean definitely sometimes the program takes a long time, but it’s up to you. It depends on you. It’s not, nothing’s guaranteed. Just because you start this program, that doesn’t mean that you’re gonna make this much money or it’s all up to you. And my, my biggest win after having this program is just to know what to do in a long term.

What if artists feel skeptical from being burned?

Jina Kim (05:46):
If it’s just you feeling kind of suspicious or hesitant about it then, you know, just try. Like it’s, I mean, I don’t know what could hurt them. It’s really, really helpful. At least like, I feel like I’m not alone. I mean it’s, I work for my, we all work for ourselves. And so sometimes when bad things happen or some negative negativity builds up, then you don’t have anyone to talk to but yourself. But that actually hurts yourself. And your business and the relationship that you have with your clients, the people that are you’re inspiring. So this really helps. Just just for that, I mean, there are a lot of other things that helps you too, but it’s, yeah, it’s been helping me to have all these people in you too, to talk to.