What happens when creativity fueled by fandom and commerces inspired to do something different intersect? You get a thing called Artist Ally, and this is where we find Michele Fried of Handcrafted Geekdom, who has been looking for geeky art and prints that are not so loud and bombastic. Unable to find any, she has set out to make her own and sell them to the nerdy and geeky communities with a booth at WonderCon 2024.
Nolan Nasser opened his post on Medium by saying, “Selling my artwork at comic and gaming conventions has had a huge impact on shaping my path to becoming an independent artist.” Many artists in the geek and game space often don’t make much money, and their income tends to be on the freelance side, which is not consistent enough to be sustainable. According to talent.com, the average freelance artist makes fifty-two thousand a year, but many freelance artists argue that it is if you are constantly working, which is not valid for many.
Artist Alley is where freelance artists and creators can come and sell their art. As Augie De Blieck Jr. of pipelinecomics.com said, “Artists’ Alley was a place for creators to go and pimp their works and meet with fans. They’d talk and sign and draw and show off their wares.” It has grown past that. It is no longer just artists selling signed copies of a character they drew or inked for a comic book. It has become a place for artists to come and sell their creative expressions. Michele admits that she’s not a typical artist you would have seen on artist alleys of the past because her art is abstract and deconstructed. Yet, it is art no less than the freelance comic book artist’s art.
So, of course, Michele is trying to make money in her creative endeavors, but it is not the only thing fulfilling her passion. She said, “When someone comes up and gets it and just loves it, I’m like, oh my god, thank you so much.” Whimsicalwerecat wrote in a post on Whims of Valadae, “It’s one of the most comprehensive and personal forms of conveying one’s delight in something. Creating art takes time, effort, and a tiny piece of the artist’s soul-expression; that there is enough to tell you the value to be found in fan art.” Being able to create an extension of a fandom you cherish and having people interested in buying it reinforces the concept of fandoms and the community they create.
In wrapping up the story of Michele Fried and Handcrafted Geekdom, it’s clear that her endeavor embodies the essence of Artist Alley’s vibrant community, a fusion of creativity, fandom, and commerce. Michele’s pursuit of creating and selling quiet, not loud geeky art fills a unique niche within the nerdy and geeky communities and highlights the broader challenges and triumphs independent artists face in the geek and game sphere. Her work, which emphasizes the personal connection and shared excitement between creator and consumer, underscores passion and community’s significant role in fan art.
Michele’s journey serves as a compelling reminder of the value of supporting independent artists as they continue to enrich the tapestry of fandom with their diverse and heartfelt creations, proving that in the realm of geekdom, there’s a cherished place for every artist’s voice, no matter how quiet or bold.
Check out Handcrafted Geekdom’s Instagram, threads, and online store.
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