My main focus with my studio and with my Etsy shop is to focus on original art. That's the thing. Second to that is what my daughter calls "art merch." 

There are people out there who would like to buy original paintings but can't afford them, or they don't have wall space for them. There are a variety of reasons for someone to admire a piece of original art and then pass on buying it. But give them an option for something smaller, maybe something with some whimsy or that would make a great gift for a friend or that fits the bill for an impulse purchase, and you've filled a need. Also, your work as an artist has expanded off of the canvas and into someone's hands.

I have always offered merch in my shop—journals, greeting cards, and scarves imprinted with my artwork. Now that I am part of a retail collective along the popular route of 30A in the Florida Panhandle (look up 30A if you aren't familiar with it—it's darling), I have begun offering something new—canvas zipper bags.

To start, I'm featuring women's faces. I created this series last year, and these women are like friends. To me, they represented a span of ages and a wide swath of the human experience. 

I have a few ten-inch all-purpose canvas bags with different types of art, but I'm now offering pencil-case size canvas bags featuring The Women. They'll be in both the online shop and the brick-and-mortar waiting for you to snatch them up, collect them, and fill them with all your treasures.

Here are just some of the ways you can use these "pencil cases"—pencils, of course • makeup • jewelry • coupons • receipts • small craft supplies • small toys for car trips • snacks for car trips .... 

What would you keep in them?

•••

#canvasbags #artgifts #artmerchandise