Traffic Girls of Pyongyang, North Korea

  

So I am thoroughly fascinated with the unknown and mysterious....Bermuda triangle, paranormal activities, Bigfoot, Area 51, urban abandonments, etc.....that includes North Korea. The recent events in North Korea renewed my curiosity about this "hermit nation." I really enjoy the blog An American in North Korea that sheds a bit of light on this mysterious place. One thing North Korea is known for is their "Traffic Girls." Instead of electric powered traffic lights, they use human powered traffic girls. Above are some sketches of these girls in action from photos taken of real live Pyongyang Traffic Girls. Maybe I will get around to colorizing them.

Nordic Cultural Institute

If anyone happens to visits the Nordic Cultural Institute in Seoul, Korea, my colorful European Buildings piece is making an appearance there! Also, if anyone happens to know how to read Korean, a translation of what they have written about my work would be greatly appreciated! :)

Some Helpful Tips

My shops made an appearance over at HandmadeSuccess.com:
http://handmadesuccess.com/2013/04/technology-your-shop/

and the accompanying article has some really helpful advice and tips for fellow small online businesses and e-tailers. This really resonated true with me:

"How often do you walk into a brick and mortar store, find a specific item you’ve been looking for, and buy it there and then? If you’re anything like me, this scenario happens a lot less often than it used to."

 

I think sometimes, as artists, we focus more on the creative aspect of what we do more so than the equally, if not more important, aspect of business. Sometimes I like to do art for art's sake - for my own selfish purposes, where I am the sole consumer. Realistically though, I need to think of the bigger picture. The majority of the time, I realize that I am no different than a place that offers a product that the consumer has to want. I have to figure out who my target market and audience is, and how to appeal to them. This is a never-ending process, and hopefully, I'll be able to successfully do it!

I know I did not receive enough of this kind of advice when I was in school and I encourage anyone seriously considering art as a full-time career to really ask yourself the tough questions and view yourself not only as this romanticized artist, but as a real business owner trying to make it.