I got caught up in other things again, but haven’t stopped arting away. It took some time for me to finally finish my new piece “DragonGears”, and I hadn’t done a 11″ x 14″ size artwork in a while.
Ended up with some steampunk gears in the background. Goodies and prints of this piece are now available through the shop links listed on the homepage.
I have had some issues with camera and video editing for my youtube channel the last two weeks. Couldn’t get my camera positioned right for filming, and failed to try and understand the LightWorks video editor. As a result, the last part of this artworks progress was all in still shots.
I’d been looking for a decent editor to help improve the quality of videos and utterly failed with that particular one. I finally found one that has an easier to grasp interface called VideoPad. It has a nice design and welcoming interface, along with added effects and things to help make videos look more professional.
In other news, I have new products exclusively available through my Etsy shop. Bookmarks and 11″ x 17″ posters of some of my work is slowly being added to shop sections. The bookmarks are pretty nicely made, and aren’t available anywhere else.
I have lots of small and medium sized original artworks for sale, and there is a 25% off sale going on until this Sunday. Just use code 25OFF at checkout!
I’ve been working on improving the youtube channel, and recently learning to make better, more eye catching thumbnails. The keywords are more tricky, and peoples’ interest are always fickle.
I’m maintaining the style of fantasy, women, and reptiles, which seems to attract a decent amount of attention. I haven’t really seen anything else quite like what I’m doing. Women and dragons are another route to take every so often. Can’t go wrong with dragons.
As I type this, I have my bearded dragon soaking in his designated tub while I’m updating things online. My desk is also a mess, with two new artworks on top of each other, bills near by, an open package of batteries, and color pencils and tools spread everywhere.You can also see where I’ve utilized one of my reptile clamp-lamp fixtures as a spotlight for my videos. I usually have it attached to the tripod for filming, but has the habit of falling if not clamped on properly.
Despite my potentially dangerous workspace, I have managed to make a few decent new videos. Here are the latest.
And I have new products coming this week that will be available through my Etsy shop. They will be 11″ x 17″ art posters of some of the best pieces in my collection. I will update as soon as they come in.
Keeping busy finishing some turtle artwork, and the accompanying videos for my YouTube channel. Here are the latest entries in the finished pieces.
And here are the latest things I’ve been doing. Mini Drawings: these are 5″ x 5″ colored pencil drawings of turtles and bearded dragons. These are available through both Society6 and RedBubble shop links on the homepage. I’m also selling the originals on Etsy for $12 each. I’m making new ones each day, with new color variations.
Here’s a quick video on how I went about making one of them.
A Torrent Of Turtles
This artwork depicts many of North America’s common species; (from top left) Eastern Box Turtle, Florida Box Turtle, Wood Turtle, Yellow Bellied Slider, Red Eared Slider, and the Spotted Turtle.
This one is available as prints and other products through the links on the homepage.
I have started adding narration to my videos explaining what I’m doing in each artwork. Here are a few videos I made for each stage of working on the above artwork.
That’s it for now. I’m always keeping busy, so if you don’t hear from me here on the blog, please check out the links on the homepage where you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and any of the shops I run online.
Happy New Year! Here’s to hoping everyone meet their goals for this year!
Among the gifts I got this Xmas, were giftcards for certain chain stores, or ones that I have free reign to spend where I like. Books are one of my favorite things to buy, and I can’t do this too often or I go broke. Those costs add up. However, through Barnes & Nobles, you have the option of buying used books for very reasonable prices. As low as $1. It was this method I used to buy some science fiction classics I have yet to read. There are two books relating to the subject of biology; One on Coyotes in America, and the other on the cognitive abilities and otherwise fascinating info on octopuses.
I have been continuing my videos on YouTube now focusing on each artwork I work through. I show timelapses of the stages of drawings, highlighting, shading, and coloration of a subject.
I’ve not done as many tutorials lately, but will be doing some when I can incorporate them as I work on each piece.
Here are the latest videos! Check them out, and if you’d be so kind, like the videos and subscribe to my channel. I thank you for watching.
Here is the new work!
“Blue Nova”
Blue Nova
Buy prints and other products of this artwork at the links below:
Holiday sales have been keeping me busy, as well as producing ideas and completed artwork. Had to order some supplies that were running low, too.
I am getting back to doing youtube videos, but much more limited since I needed to narrow the scope of what I was doing before. I’m currently working on a bearded dragon animation for my new intro.
I can’t imagine what it would be like if she actually had laser beam eyes. She already nips my toes if I don’t give treats right away.
The last week has been a little draining with bogging myself down with the details of the new online shops. I also had a two commissions which were due, and they’ve been sent out to their new home. I already have a few repeat customers, which is a great asset to have for my business. Everyone I’ve worked with so far has been great, and I’ve enjoyed the challenges of each piece.
The shops are what I find a little draining. Getting familiar with, and using better search tags, proper image resolutions, making image edits for certain product templates, as well as deciding which artworks to cement my brand have been the bulk of setting up those accounts. With most of that done, now I have to do the work of gaining followers to reach a wider audience in those arenas. This includes promoting/ or adding other artists’ work to my favorites. I’ve also been leaving comments, and following some of them, too. This is something I have read needs to be done daily, if not every other day, and it seems to help in the long run. Artists promoting each other is part of the networking process on these sites. So far, I have a few new followers, and eventually that should build up to higher numbers and then sales.
I have noticed another detail in looking over the products available at each site, and realized that some product options are unique to each shop. Where you can buy that particular item on RedBubble, it doesn’t exist on Siciety6, and vice versa. For instance, RedBubbble offers drawstring bags, scarves, dresses, mini skirts, and acrylic blocks. Society6 offers backpacks, dufflebags, and all-over print shirts.
The artwork I had didn’t fit a few of the products on RedBubble properly, so I opted to just have those available through Society6. The apparel, home décor, and tech accessories products in each shop are virtually identical. In this line of thought, I felt it would likely be a good prospect to capitalize on each site’s unique products, rather than have just the same in each spot. Only time will tell which on these becomes more popular.
As per my usual dose of self doubt that pops up every so often, I happened to look up how long most small businesses take to finally get off the ground. The average, depending on many factors, is 3-5 years. This made me a little depressed, but at the same time, I’m learning albeit slowly not to overload myself. I want things to happen faster, so some of my worry might go away, but worry is the hallmark of starting a business. It probably continues afterward, too, but the initial startup gets everyone stressed. One thing I did read that for some odd reason made me feel a little better was that the first year is also the most fun. This is because this is the time when you are learning where your niche is, and figuring things out. There’s some relief in thinking that I will figure out what works and what doesn’t and finally get the routine of things.
In the meantime, I can finally get back to creating new art again. I have a few rough sketches for some ideas, and here are a few.
Stay tuned, as I will have more updates with new products and art coming out in the next few weeks. ~Angela
I have branched out to add new online shops for my work, as well as have new and really awesome products. I’m getting out my brand and hopefully expanding in potential revenue streams. Society6 and RedBubble are where I set up a few spots of my own. I may also be adding Threadless soon.
Products include apparel, home decor, stationary, drinkware, and tech accessories.
My RedBubble shop is here. Here are just a few images of what’s available there.
Meanwhile, I’m taking a break from the YouTube videos for a while. I enjoyed doing them, but they were an added chore getting in the way of my priorities. I will have a loose uploading rhythym for now, but mainly for videos having to do with my own work( not tutorials) and the occasional pet video.
My most recent video was actually taken at an event held by my local reptile club where we have animals displayed and educate the public on reptiles and how they’re kept. Some really cool animals were brought out. Dax (Eastern Box Turtle) & Gimli, my bearded dragon were brought along with me to meet the public. Dax is a great little turtle to bring, just as an example of how NOT to care for a box turtle, but so many people loved him for his cuteness and colorful markings.
I recently had the pleasure of doing a commission for a fellow bearded dragon owner, and I was pleasantly surprised when she sent me these photos after she got it in the mail.
It’s one of the best responses I’ve ever had sent to me on facebook. Here is the 8″ x 10″commission once I finished it.
Another thing that I got done last week was a video about my pet turtles and the Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society. MATTS does wonderful work promoting responsible care of captive and wild turtles and tortoises, as well as rescuing and adopting out those in need of homes. If you like the video, please share it. More people should know that pet turtles are a commitment, not a throw away pet.
In the meantime, I posted two new tutorials, so here they are for your viewing pleasure.
After the mess with hurricane Irma, and thankfully avoiding the worst of it, I’ve been pretty busy focusing on my YouTube content. I also had an event to attend with my local reptile club last weekend. I will be making a video on that soon, so check out my YouTube channel for updates – My Channel
Firstly, let me post the latest content from the past week or two.
Here are some color pencil tutorials.
Product reviews.
And a new type of video where I discuss things that inspire me as an artist. These will be uploaded monthly.
I have a few things I’m working on at the moment, but for now, this is all I can show. It’s my first piece doing Uromastyx lizards.
And lastly, the latest Patron-Only tutorials posted to my Patreon account. Head here to become a Patron.
I thought I’d add a reminder since the end date is just around the corner. As it says above, please subscribe to become a Patron to avoid losing the benefits of Patron-only content! There are three tiers $1, $5, or $10 per month to gain access to content and rewards!
I’m in the process of growing my YT channel to coincide with my Patreon, so any feedback is appreciated. Please check out the tutorials and other videos there, as I upload about 3 videos per week; A review, a tutorial, and a video of how an artwork goes from concept to creation. I periodically add videos of timelapse, nature walks/ herping, and personal causes. Let me know your thoughts!
As stated before here is a list of free and paid content.
NOTE: I decided to make the Product Reviews and Videos Highlighting What Inspires Me part of the free content. I felt that the reviews would be more helpful to a wide range for people, and the inspiration stuff would give my audience more insight into who I am.
Free content will include :
Simple Tutorials (Quick Techniques For Drawing In Graphite/Colored Pencil)
Ended up with some steampunk gears in the background. Goodies and prints of this piece are now available through the shop links listed on the homepage.
