Dualmask

So, funny story.

I thought I could try selling my traditional art on eBay a few weeks ago. I started a store and I put stuff up there. My mindset was, people go to eBay to buy things. It didn't necessarily rely heavily on me having a huge online following right away (though that would obviously help if I led people to the page) because people who were looking for something specific on eBay were there with intent to buy.

I'd listed several of my traditional sketches. Got a few views, but no purchases for a while. And then eventually, one of my drawings sold... this one. It didn't sell for much but hey, first time selling an original piece online--I was inspired. I shipped it, got paid, all was well.

And then maybe a week after that was done, I got an email saying that my eBay account was PERMANENTLY suspended.

No clear reason why, but the email said it was because of 'activity that was putting the entire eBay community at risk'. The email said the decision wasn't made lightly, but...

I actually got on the phone with a human eBay rep and they told me they had no idea why my account was suspended either. It wasn't due to the art--there is far more sexualized imagery than my tame sketches on the site. The guy said the system did it automatically, and since it was permanent, there was nothing he could do. Not sure how much I believe that, but it doesn't matter.

My store hadn't even existed for more than two weeks or so. I was informed that even if I'd opened another one, it would probably be immediately flagged and shut down.

So that was my brief and demoralizing foray into an attempt to sell original art online. Between that, the fact that I haven't gotten any commissions since last year, and the way my work has been failing to really find its footing online lately (did I mention I've been shadowbanned on Instagram for almost the entire year?), making art has never felt so rough.