Blog

Ok...This is my new website!  It has taken me quite a while since having the idea, to actually creating this site to display my art. 

I started professionally creating art about 20 years ago after I finished college. Wow! What a long time ago!

At that time I lived in Ukraine where I was born, grew up and got my education. I started my art journey by creating hand-painted designer clothing. Back then the only way for artists to display and sell their art was in galleries. Another complication was that as a young artist starting my career, it was difficult to establish myself in the art market and community. Many of my first customers were my classmates and friends. To promote my work I took pictures of art I created, and in a few years I had a pretty big portfolio with printed photos, which I carried with me everywhere. Although I felt successful then, I realize now how limited I was, only reaching those in my own city.

                                                                             I my studio in Ukraine (2012 year)

                                                                                 Etno collections (2007-2010 years)

When the internet came to Ukraine everything completely changed. My first experience sharing my art with a bigger audience was with my Facebook. I was so surprised when I posted my art and received responses from people around the world. It was just so exiting.

I also enjoyed the ability to interact  with artists from all different countries and cultures. I loved the exposure to the new kinds of art in all different styles and mediums.

                                                                               Exhibitions ( 2010-2013 years)

One day someone from Germany asked me how much one of my paintings would cost.  This is how I discovered that not just people in Ukraine love my art and that I can sell artwork internationally.

As my experience has developed over the years, my art portfolio has also grown. I started to realize I needed an organized way to showcase my artwork and be able to share my creations with more people. 

It took me about one year to save the money, find the right web designer and prepare all the photos and descriptions of my art pieces. Then, one day, my website was live! Hoorah!

I was very happy and excited for this new beginning and new, amazing way to promote my art! 

So I started to learn how the website works……. 

I found it to be very challenging to learn how to manage and promote my new site myself.  It took me a lot of effort just to learn how to add a new photo!  Also, trying to learn about all the elements of Google analytics to make my website more visible, proved very confusing.

Over the next few years, that website functioned like my old printed portfolio, just online.  This was disappointing because the purpose of having a website was to help me sell my art, and I only made a few sales.  It turned out to just be a painful and expensive experience.

One day, I made the decision to delete my website.  It was a bittersweet decision; I was sad because I had put a lot of work into building that website, but I was also relieved from the frustrations of maintaining it.  I started focusing my attention toward my Facebook page, which became the only place where I shared and sold my art for a few years.  I really enjoyed selling my paintings and scarves this way because most of my sales through Facebook were to friends, or friends of friends in my network.

A couple years ago I found out about Etsy marketplace.  I immediately realized this would be a great place for me to market my art.  So, not without hesitation (remembering my experience with my previous website), I opened my online Etsy shop, https://www.etsy.com/shop/SvitlanaLysiakART 

It was a pretty big step in an unknown direction.  I was fascinated that Etsy shops can reach people all around the world!!!  Another great discovery was the ability to manage my shop without torturing myself, because everything is designed for people like me who can create  nice art or crafts, but not a professional web designer. I got my first sale within one month of opening my shop.

Yes!!! This worked!!! 

                                              First photo session for my new Etsy shop.

My artist colleagues will agree with me - art is not the easiest way to make a living.  But when you sell your art, it’s more than just a source of income.  Knowing that others appreciate your creativity and work gives you inspiration to continue creating art and the motivation to invest in your next piece. 

As much as artists love to concentrate on their paintings and spend hours creating, improving and changing, they hate the work that goes into marketing their art.  And I am no exception!

This is why it’s so important to have the right place to sell your art.  

2019 brought big changes to my life! I got married and moved to the USA in wonderful Helena Montana. Yes!! Really big change!! 

I became much closer to many of my friends and customers in the USA.

Have you ever been to Montana? You really need to visit this Big Sky country!! Everything around is inspiring; unique landscapes, western culture and people! Yes, people are a treasure of this place!! They are very open, welcoming, and ready to help and share! 

Mountain Sage Gallery became my second home in Helena. 13 artists, including me now, manage the gallery together. The gallery is located in historical downtown of this capital city and has an amazing selection of contemporary arts; oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, jewelry, bronze sculpture, ceramic artworks, stained glass, fused glass, scratchboard art, silk painting and more.. 

And here we are getting closer to the main part of my story :) Mountain Sage Gallery has their website built on Faso platform.