Critique Clinic – September 16-18, 2011
How does it work? For three days a week (Friday-Sunday midnight), I will open the clinic to any artist who wants an honest peer review and critique of a card which gets plenty of clicks but no sales, so something’s probably not quite right, or you’ve got a new design you want to test drive, or you’re unsure about the marketability of a card. Or perhaps you’re a newbie who isn’t sure if a recently submitted card is up to a marketable standard. Anyone is welcome to participate. In fact, I encourage everyone to at least look at the cards in question and read the critique comments – you may learn something. The purpose of the clinic is to help artists improve the commercial appeal and marketability of their cards.
THE RULES
- ONE card per artist only.
- Card must be for sale at Greeting Card Universe.
- We will take an unlimited number of artists, including those who have submitted recently, HOWEVER I reserve the right to close a clinic for the day if the submissions become overwhelming. If the clinic has been closed, and you submit a card, your comment will be deleted.
- To submit a card for critique, post a link to the card’s details page at GCU in the comments section of this clinic post.
- Any artist is free to comment and/or give a critique of a submitted card. HOWEVER, post-and-run comments like “great card” or “you suck” will not be tolerated, nor will abuse. Criticism should be constructive, not destructive. Play nice or you will be banned.
- I also won’t tolerate temper tantrums if you decide your “artistic integrity” is being stepped on because you asked for a critique, and someone told you the photo you’re using isn’t in focus. If you can’t take honest criticism, don’t submit. Once gets you a warning; twice and you’re banned from submitting in the future.
- Artists who critique may do so by giving their opinion, posting an example of another card, or pointing the submitter to a video, on-line article, or other helpful suggestion.
- Don’t forget that artists who are giving you tips and helpful advice are volunteering their time and trouble. Be nice. A link back to their store on your website or blog is appreciated (but not mandatory).
- You are free not to take any advice offered. There’s no guarantee any card will be a bestseller, so don’t come into the clinic with unrealistic expectations.
- Rules may change as we go along and we see how things turn out, okay?
So without any further ado, I declare this week’s Critique Clinic open!
GCU Community 
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Happy+Thanksgiving-greeting+card-851429
I have several clicks on this card but no sales. Just about 32 clicks…I didn’t want to make it to busy in design, just simple. Maybe I need something else on the frame.. HELP
Donna, your frame is good, I like your colors, I’m just finding the pumpkins somewhat flat and odd looking. Maybe if you went for a rounder pumpkin?
Corrie
I agree with Corrie about the roundness of the pumpkins. They look a little bit distorted. I am also wondering about the font. It seems a bit too small, and doesn’t stand out as much as I’d like. Otherwise, it’s a very nice card.
Donna, in addition to what has already be mentioned about the pumpkins and font, I don’t think all the blank green space works at all. Empty space on a card is terrific, sometimes, BUT usually not when it is 1) A color other than white, cream, gray or black and 2) When it will reflect color back onto a photograph of people, which is something the human eye sees not a literal reflection.
I would break that green up by adding a slight texture or a small pattern to stop the feeling of drowning in a sea of green.
The font does not match the feeling of the card which at the moment is somewhat cartoon-like and casual whereas your font choice is more semi-formal / business oriented.
Thanks everyone.. I will go in and make some changes..and change the font too… although I think the customer can change it too..
Thanks again for your critiquing…..I really appreciate it….
Donna
I don’t know if your intention was to make a card that looks like a casual snapshot, but at first glance my eyes were drawn to the blown-out background and the mysterious objects in it. If not, maybe some blurring and texture?
Violet
Violet, that is not Donna’s image it’s a placeholder for her Photo card.
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Happy+20th+Wedding+Anniversary+-+Two+cats+dancing-greeting+card-859441?aid=154637
I am a bit unsure about this card, as I played around with the colour scheme so much that I find it hard to judge whether or not it looks appealing! It hasn’t received any clicks yet, but I only posted it the other week. Looking forward to receiving some honest feedback!
I love the color scheme and your illustrations. I just wonder where the musical notes are since the kitties are dancing? But otherwise, the composition is very nice.
Corrie
Thanks Corrie, I appreciate you advice. You’re right – those cats need some musical notes to dance to!
Heather, I love the color scheme too. The only thing I would change if it were my card is that I would make the text White rather than the ‘gold’. Two reasons, 1: I think the text and purpose of the card would pop off the card better and 2: The gold color is not found elsewhere in the color scheme and is not associated with a 20th anniversary.
The color associated with a 20th anniversary is Emerald Green or White.
Just a thought! Love the design!
Good point. I’m going to try changing the text to white now. It was a colour that hadn’t even come to mind when I was designing the card!
Sorry I did the wrong thing..is it possible to remove the last post
..here it is
:http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Happy+Halloween+trick+or+treat+Witch+with+cat+on+broomstick+with+moon-greeting+card-862318?aid=140624
Perhaps you could add a few extra details to your background? I think a star or two could really liven it up! You could also move the witch up slightly, so she is farther away from the text at the bottom.
As Heather pointed out, your witch isn’t quite centered between the lines of text. Also, your card lacks inner verse which would make it more appealing to shoppers.
Corrie
Agree with both Heather and Corrie. I would leave the Trick or Treat on the front of the card and move the Happy Halloween inside.
Thanks for the input, I think you have made very good sugestions , Cheers Mary.
Here’s one of my earlier cartoon drawings. My intent with the card was to let someone with an early stage of cancer know you can relate and are there for them.
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-Humorous+Cartoon+of+That+Pain-In-The-Butt+Disease+-+Cancer-greeting+card-845160
Perhaps I missed the mark. I had cancer and know what a pain in the butt it was, but maybe this card isn’t conveying my message. lol. (20 clicks and 1 sale, which was to me).
Thanks!
Cindy
It’s cute! Maybe you could centre the lady a little better. I wouldn’t have her bum touching the square border. 🙂 Otherwise, it’s adorable, and I really like the font!
I have to disagree with Heather on this one. The gal has headroom and in an image like this, she needs to appear to be sitting on something not floating in space 🙂
I like it just the way it is and think your lack of attention is probably due to the uniqueness of the card and a lack of promoting.
I have cancer cards too and sell one every once in a while and since they are not my strong point, I don’t promote them. There are artists such as; Corrie who have cancer card collections which do very well, but those artists also have blogs and other promotional tools to get those collections to the right people.
i think you just let this card be one in your store and enjoy the rare and occasional sale.
You could make minor tweaks on the design, but it’s pretty sound for the idea. Doreen’s right – if you want to sell cards to send to cancer patients, you have to promote them.
Corrie
Okay. Thanks Heather, Doreen and Corrie. I will work on promoting it. 🙂
Cindy
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/my_cards.asp?pid=820259
I get quite a few clicks on this one, but still no sales. I’m thinking of ‘going back to the drawing board’ but have run out of creative ideas. Any help to make them more saleable
would be welcome.
Here’s the right link: http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/-ESTRANGED+MOM-+humorouscaptioned+Victorian+pencil+drawing-greeting+card-820259
You might get a better response if you put “Birthday” somewhere in the title, and beef up your Artist’s Notes a little. Other than that, keep in mind that a birthday card specifically for an estranged mother is probably not going to be a huge seller.
Corrie
Hi Karen,
Also keep in mind that this category is a tricky one and requires a delicate touch with the verse. Your message inside is one of missing you and thinking of you; when the true meaning of the card needs to touch the key element which is:
ESTRANGED:
–adjective
displaying or evincing a feeling of alienation; alienated.
–verb (used with object), -tranged, -trang·ing.
1.
to turn away in feeling or affection; make unfriendly or hostile; alienate the affections of: Their quarrel estranged the two friends.
2.
to remove to or keep at a distance: The necessity for traveling on business has estranged him from his family.
3.
to divert from the original use or possessor.
—Synonyms
Estrange, alienate, disaffect share the sense of causing (someone) to turn away from a previously held state of affection, comradeship, or allegiance. Estrange often implies replacement of love or belonging by apathy or hostility
So I’m thinking that even though this is not a big selling category, your inner verse needs work in order to grab the few sales that might be out there.