From a newsletter I received:
[...]
To make it short, “print on demand” means working with another company who will print the product for you and fulfill (ship) it directly without your intervention.
Back then I did a ton of research on the subject, and was pretty much convinced that it was the way to go for artists: "stop making packages and managing stocks, create more products and make more art instead".
“Sending boxes is not where you create the most value.” to quote the ( my own, Ed.) blog post directly.
So, what changed now that I print and send boxes all by myself?Honestly, it’s because I’ve realized what the “value” of an artist really is.
I believe that the unique thing indie creators can bring to people is the human connection; whether it is an illustration that deeply speaks to specific people, a deep conversation with people on the internet, or a box coming in the mail… To me, this is what has become the most important when I create.
A lot of independent creators are trying to sound too big and professional (saying “we” even though it’s one guy in his garage), and I realized that I was doing exactly the same mistake: By refusing to put a bit of myself in each order, I was basically turning away an opportunity to connect with someone directly.
Imagine, it's like if I was hiring someone to write this newsletter! It's not directly my art, but it's still so important.
So, to correct my past self, I think artists and creators create the most value by connecting with people. Making art and sending boxes are just some of the opportunities to do so!
~~~~~~ NIGHTEN
This reminds me of the time I "fell in love" with Vincent van Gogh.
It wasn't his art in the first place.
It was his personality, his life, it was him that pulled me in.
Then I looked at his art and realized that this kind of art could've only been made by this kind of artist.
His personality, his story, he himself, connected with me.
And that's why I still think he is the greatest artist of all time.