What is your best artist tip for "working smarter"?

[HC_Charlie]

I never really liked the old adage "...work smarter, not harder" LOL! For some reason, it always rang a bit cheap to me and sounded cliché.

But I recently made a small change in my production process (shared below) that seems to really be helping with production time and improving quality, so I thought I'd share and also ask all of the other Makers in this community if they have a small but mighty tip you'd consider sharing, that you'd consider "working smarter"...

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Calling all Artists/Makers in the group....please share some tips or tricks you've developed in your production process that may help others to think about what small changes they could make to work smarter, and increase their productivity or even decrease their costs.

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My personal "working smarter" tip:

I work in stained glass and solder, and I have always used the standard soldering iron tip that was included with my basic iron (3/16" wide). It always worked well for me, but I did know that other artists who work on large scale projects will use very large irons and tips to increase working temp, etc. So last week I was needing to replace my solder iron tip and decided to upgrade to a slightly larger tip (1/4"), thinking it might help me to get a smoother bead of solder on my work.

(Note: not my project pic, just for reference.)

 

WELL...not only did I get a smoother bead of solder, but the time spent on each of my items was slightly reduced (more even heat distribution). Not a lot but over the course of a full day of soldering, it seemed like I was so much more productive. I don't think I'd go back to a smaller iron tip unless I change the size of my core products. I'd love to hear from other Square Sellers in this Community if they have more "Working Smarter" artist tips...

[maxpete]

Thanks for this question @HC_Charlie! I'm very excited to read some of the answers here. 

Tagging a few members to get it started 🥁

@lisap1970, @Adair_BandM, @sarahbertochi, and @indiaink 

[WatsonZayd · Accepted solution]

set aside specific blocks of time to brainstorm ideas, another block for sketching, and another for finalizing your pieces. This reduces the mental switching between different types of tasks and allows you to stay in a focused flow.

[HC_Charlie]

@WatsonZaydgreat tip! I think the concept of "multitasking" is highly overrated, and I love your idea to schedule and stay focused on one idea/task...I agree this allows a creative mind to spend time ruminating and fully develop their ideas and processes.

[eblakerart]

I work with kiln-formed glass (fusing) which i draw out the design, pick the glass i want, cut out the glass, take to grinder, clean and then fit together.  I then have to prep the kiln accordingly.  

I have struggled to see which is more time efficient:
1)cut, grind, clean, assemble to complete one piece to assure that i have at least a completed item, then repeat...

or  

2) cut multiple pieces for multiple items, grind multiple, clean multiple, assemble multiple...

 It takes a bit longer to do #2 option - but it's the most satisfying for me, as I have more completed projects at the end of the day.

Hope this helps someone 🙂

[HC_Charlie]

@eblakerartI think my own process is closer to your #2...I tend to put together groups of items and complete the steps so I have more than just one completed at the end of the task. It might be more mentally satisfying (especially if you're studio is geared for production) to have multiple finished pieces at one time. It may seem like you spend more time doing it that way, but I think it may be more efficient and as you say satisfying. Thanks for the reply here!

[Candlestore]

We make candles at our store, but as my hobby I do wood working and have always looked at things if I am making 1, what can I do that can help me make more than 1 at a time.  Candle making was easy, just multiply the ingredients and make larger batches.  Found out it is actualy harder making smaller batches and weighing everything out than it is using larger weights.  Being off by a mg when measuring 5kg is less noticable than when being off by 1 mg when making a batch that needs 5mg for example.  The other thing I noticed was after making 1 candle I may have to wait about 10 minutes, but if I pour enogh candles and that takes 10 minutes from start to finish I can start adding my wicks right away instead of watching the wax cool for 10 minutes.   So made batches anywhere from 15 to 60 candles at a time, and in all reality the time to make 15 candles might be 1 hr where making 60 does not take 4 hours of time like you would think.  

The other thing with the wood working is to maybe make templates or jigs to be repeatable in the future.  Why measure something when a Jig or Template can easily make the same Item continually.  If after I made a few items and found out they sell well at the store.  I will write up my cut list and then make a jig to cut the pieces I need to size, I also cut enough at this point to make multiple items.  That way I can just keep getting the same lumber get enough cut for this size to make 10 or 20 of the same item before moving to the next pice to make.  I keep all the parts aside and keep doing this till I have all parts cut.  Then I stain the parts or paint them.  Then assmbely parts kind of like an assembly line.  By doing it this way, I am not cutting a piece then changing everything to cut another piece, all pieces are cut and stained or painted before assembly.  Then the assembly is done a few hours or the next day.  Now all 20 assembeled items look the same.  Only issue I run into is when people look and think I would rather have mixed paints or stains on the finished item.  Wheich then had me come out with a little cheaper versions that are unfinshed.  My first item may take 4 or 5 days measuring cutting, making changes and adjustments, but once I have these and a final Idea, I can set these jigs up and make alot of them in the 4 or 5 days instead of just one.  

With both of these ways it saves time, and as we know in making things Time is Money.

[HC_Charlie]

@Candlestoregreat ideas Keith, love the idea of using templates/jigs. I do something similar in that one of the parts I solder is always in the same place on each ornament, so I have a jig setup where I can line up my parts so the solder joint always falls in the same place. This sames a ton of time and headaches and keeps everything more consistent.

[bonny]

I actually love the mantra "Work smarter, not harder."  Before the pandemic, I was working 14-16 hours a day and I knew it wasn't sustainable.  Something had to change.  Despite working as an artist my entire adult life, I was thinking maybe I needed to hang it up and find a 9-5 because this was not sustainable.  As it happens, the pandemic gave me the opportunity to slow down, really think about my processes, and what I was doing in a big picture kind of way.  I signed up for a class called "Leverage Your Art".  In the process of going through that class, I realized that was what I was missing.  I can only paint just so fast but if I put those images on a variety of products, I could leverage those pieces of art. All of the brick and mortar stores were shut down at the time but the open air markets were still open so I had a way to test this idea.  I wrote myself a business plan to include a small physical product line and began sourcing where to have some items made.  I quickly ruled out POD (print on demand) because there was next to no profit margin in that type of product.  Instead, I was able to source manufacturers with low minimums.  That's how I started working smarter, not harder.  Now I sell wholesale and retail featuring my artwork and designs.  Most of the time I work a regular 40 hour work week.  I've discovered along the way, being a solopreneur I could easily become a workaholic but I don't want to go back to working all the time like before.  

Bonny Wagoner - Artist/Illustrator
bonnywagoner.com

[HC_Charlie]

Hello @bonny what a great progression of your working! I love it! Creating marketable retail products starting with your original artwork is a wonderful approach. You work is very beautiful...keep making stuff! It sounds like you've found success in wholesale and taking your art to buyers in retail stores. Have you explored any wholesale marketplaces like Faire? I think that would be wonderful for your business (I'll email you some more info about). Take a look and let me know if you have any questions.

[bonny]

Thanks! I have explored Faire a little. I applied to be on the platform and was accepted.  Initially, I listed my national park related items.  Crickets.  In a roundabout way, I learned the national park sales reps prefer to shop in person at trade fairs, which is beyond my means to participate in for the time being. After I listed my local area related products on Faire, I had some contacts from area retailers expressing interest off-platform, noting they saw my products on Faire.  So it works, just not in the way I was expecting. 

When I peeked at your website, your products have a more universal theme than mine.  That could be the difference.  What has your experience on Faire been like?  

[HC_Charlie]

Faire has been great in building my wholesale business. It is slow to start and after a couple of years, sales are still off and on, depending on the season. But it's a great learning experience, and of any of the platforms, Faire seems to be the leader...and I've found the back-end technology stuff much easier to administer than some others, so it's very user friendly once you start working with it.

One of the negatives is the commissions, as well as the competition (there are thousands of brands there), so the best way to work is direct if you can build those connections. I have not done any inperson trade shows either since it's not easy for me to travel right now, but I have heard that some buyers prefer those kinds of events so they can see the items in person.

Good luck to you! I hope your business continues to grow...you've got a wonderful start so far 🙂

[bonny]

I have to thank you for the question about Faire.  It prompted me to go back and review my listings.  Had I not done that, I wouldn't have realized/noticed some problems.  I know I set my listings up to be listed by individual products but somehow it was changed to by the case so my minimum requirements would have been unreasonable.  I never sell by the case so I'm not sure how that all happened but had it not been for your question, I never would have gone back and looked at why I had zero traction on Faire.  Many thanks for the suggestion!  My listings have now been corrected.  

[HC_Charlie]

Happy to help @bonny ....just another tip. I've heard from Faire that when you add new items often, it may help you get more orders or visits to your page. I've personally found some increase in traffic after I add a 3-5 new items. I can't add new stuff frequently, but you may want to keep that in mind.

[bonny]

Many thanks!