Etsy Artisan Interview - vidrio

Joseph Cuevas is hooked on glass. And his focus is creating objects for the home. After reading Joseph's artist statement, I feel I know him much better. I encourage others to visit his blog, and get acquainted with him too. But first, let me introduce you to the artist here:

• What's the name of your Etsy shop?

The name of my shop is vidrio. The word vidrio means glass in Spanish, so it felt appropriate.

• What types of products do you sell?

I sell handmade glass home decor and pendants. The home decor includes items like solid cast sculptures, fused plates, bowls, coasters and fused wall art.

• What is your favorite item in your shop today?
  

Currently my favorite item is cast glass sculpture I listed recently. It's my favorite item right now because I love the casting process more than any other glass process. Up until recently there wasn't much cast glass on etsy. My hope is that more cast glass will be popping up around etsy soon. I know I plan to list more.

• How did you find out about Etsy? Where you a buyer before a seller?

I found out about etsy in a myspace glass group. A lampworker had asked if anyone had heard about it and since I hadn't, I decided to check it out. It seemed like such a great place. I was hooked from that day. I think I opened my shop within a week of first finding etsy.

• Are you involved with any of the Etsy teams?

I am a member of the design style guide team. I have tried other teams in the past but never really had much luck with them. This team seems like a great fit for me. The entire team is focused on home decor items, which is the route my shop will be taking soon. I plan on focusing more on home decor and less on pendants. There seem to be a lot of pendant sellers on etsy already so I'm hoping I can find my niche in home decor. One really great part of the team is they started their own selling venue at http://www.designstyleguide.net/ [they also have their own blog]

• Are there additional venues where you sell your work?

As of right now, there are no other online venues I sell at. I do plan on listing on Artfire, 10,000 Markets and of course http://www.designstyleguide.net/

• Over the years, what materials and mediums have you worked with? What's your favorite?

Other than glass I have worked in ceramics, metal, wood, fiber, paper and pretty much anything I can get my hands on. Glass is by far my favorite but I do enjoy some metal work. I like to experiment with as much as possible because with experimenting I get inspired for more glass pieces.

• Everyone knows images are important when selling on the internet. What's your procedure for taking photos of your products? Do you have any tips on taking better photographs?
  

For me the hardest part is flat even lighting. Glass is so reflective that there were always hot spots in my earlier photos. I finally invested in a light box setup. Now I try to only use that. That and good digital camera that has a macro setting is key.

• Do you have an online photo storage site, where we can see more about you and your surroundings?

I do not. I need to set up a flikr account but haven't done so yet.

• We are all looking for good marketing advice. What's the best tip or trick you can share with us?

I think the best marketing tip I can give anyone is to be confident in your work. If you are confident, that will come across when you talk about your art. That confidence will inspire others to talk about your work. So that's it, be confident and talk to as many people as possible.

• Are selling your products a full-time job, or do you have an additional occupation, outside the home?

Selling my work is my full time job. I decided to go back to school a couple of years ago so I can get my degree in glass. Eventually I plan to have my MFA in glass so I can officially say I am a Master of glass haha.

• Where can people find out more about you - do you have a blog, website, instant messaging account?

People can find out more about me at the following places:
http://myspace.com/josephcuevas
http://josephcuevas.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/vidrioman
http://www.vidrioman.com

OK, the stoybeader's turn!

My favorite pieces in Joseph's Etsy shop are the glass striped plates. Even though I'm in love with blues, I really like his Yellow Stripes Plate