Friday Feature: Kreativ Link

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a homebody. Apart from traveling to new countries, I'm happy spending my time in our messy little house here in Austria. The only room I like to clean and organize is my studio. Yes. It's becoming a real problem. Thankfully, I have a very understanding husband!

I'm self-employed and have been working from home since 1996. I'm so used to doing things my way, I don't think I could ever go back into a "real" job. And well, I'm also rather unsocial I have to say. I'm not the one you would find at parties or things like that. Most people I find rather ... boring. Yep. There. Now I said it! :D

The Internet is just my thing. I can communicate with people all over the world, have fun chats on Twitter and the like, but I can as easily step away and be my grumpy, solitary self.

2. What first made you want to become an artist?
I don't know. I never planned or dreamed about becoming an artist. It's just what happened in my life. Somehow.

3. Please describe your creative process.
That's another question I always have a hard time answering. There is no "process". I just do what feels right. All the wonderful forms that there are in nature fascinate me. And, I can't get enough of ancient and mysterious cultures. I often think about how it was living in old times. Or how it will be living in the future. When I'm in a deep forest I can't help but keep an eye out to see if I see a fairy. Not that I really believe they exist, but wouldn't it be nice if they did? I can spend hours just daydreaming ... and all the crazy things in my head somehow find a way into my work. But if that is a process, I don't know :)

4. Name your top five books, movies, musicians, and websites besides Etsy.
Ack sorry, can't do that either. I love to read Science Fiction and Fantasy for fun (surprise, right?) with the occasional tough stuff in between. I like old baroque music and smooth jazz and blues. The movies I love most are the ones that make you forget about the here and now. And websites, well, I don't think I know about any cool ones that aren't already well known.

5. What advice would you give to artists on Etsy?

If you are lucky and don't have to earn money with it - just enjoy and have fun!
If you have to rely on the income - prepare for long hours and lots of work. Success on Etsy doesn't come easy. There are thousands of artists who are offering amazing work. It's not enough to make something "nice". You can only survive if you make something that makes people feel "ahhh... I WANT/NEED that". And it needs to stand up to your customer’s expectations when they open your package at home. Your product is the first and most important thing. All other things - like taking good photos, giving great customer service and such - come after that.

6. How do you promote your work?
I do have a website http://www.kreativlink.at and a blog http:///www.kreativling.at
I post photos on my flickr account, on deviantART, and I twitter about it.