Update 06/21/2018

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.

 

Here is a look at the posters I have in stock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy them here – https://www.etsy.com/shop/AngelaDeRisoArt

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!

YouTube Channel Updates & New Work

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.

 

 

02/11/18 – Mini Drawings!

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.

~ Angela

Update 12/18/17

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 do have a 35% off sale going on in my Etsy shop, so definitely check it out!  https://www.etsy.com/shop/AngelaDeRisoArt

 

I also made a sale in each of my new shops on RedBubble and Society6, which is good news no matter how small.

My newest pieces feature Philippines Sailfin lizards, and Bearded Dragons. Links to art prints for each shop are listed below.

sml-sailfin-summon
“The Summoner”

 

Dragon's Call
“Dragon’s Call”

 

RedBubble Links:

The Summoner Art Print

Dragon’s Call

 

 

Society6 Links:

The Summoner Art Print

Dragon’s Call

 

 

That’s it for now. More content coming soon.

~ Angela

 

 

Bearded Dragon Commission

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.

Beardie Comm1

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.

Be back next week.

Free Patreon Content Ends After Tomorrow!

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!

My Patreon – www.patreon.com/AngelaDeRiso

To view the free content, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel – www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Mgj…

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)
  • Photos of Completed Work
  • Product Reviews (Art Supplies, Etc.)
  • Time Lapse Videos
  • Inside Look At How I Gather & Use References
  • Videos/Photos Highlighting Reptiles, Responsible Ownership & Conservation
  • Nature Walks/ Wildlife Videos
  • Content Highlighting What Inspires Me

Paid content will include :

  • In Depth Tutorials (More Focus On Details, Textures & Animal Drawing Studies)
  • Inside Look At Concept To Completion
  • Photos of Works in Progress & Sneak Peeks At Upcoming Art/Projects
  • Your Suggestion Of Topics/ Tutorials
  • Live Chat/ Hangout
  • Physical Rewards (prints, postcards, etc.)
  • Advice On Your Own Art & How To Use Materials
  • Downloadable Images & Photos

 

Stay tuned for more next week. 🙂

The Benefits For My Patreon Community

In keeping with my online marketing, I have been posting about once a week while maintaining a presence on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. I want to cement this effort into a platform where I can finally do what I truly love, while creating something unique for others to enjoy.  I will be posting more of my newer work as I finish it. It’s not just art I’ll be making. I will be making a few types of content for my Patrons, and I would love to have some of my followers on this blog to check out what I have to offer. I’m creating free content until the end of August, and then about half of it will become exclusive to Patrons only.

Visit my Patreon or my YouTube channel for new content every few days.

To show the benefits of becoming a Patron, I’ve listed what you’ll get or have access to at each level.

      $1 or more per month
  • You get to suggest tutorials you want to see
  • Advice on Materials & how to use them.
  • Wallpaper Downloads
  • 20% Off One Purchase
  • Art Postcard

     

    $5 or more per month

  • 30% Off one purchase
  • Advice & tips on your own artwork/ drawings
  • To thank you for support, you’ll be sent an art bookmark
  • Live Hangout
  • Plus all previous rewards


  $10 or more per month

  • A Custom Notebook, Postcard, or Pen
  • Your Choice Of Video Topic
  • 40% Off One Purchase
  • Live Hangout
  • Plus all previous rewards
  • Surprise Gift Box for long term Patrons!

 

 

Free VS Paid Content

  • Free content will include :
  • Simple Tutorials (Quick Techniques For Drawing In Graphite/ Colored Pencil)
  • Photos of Completed Work
  • Time Lapse Videos
  • Inside Look At How I Gather & Use References
  • Videos/Photos Highlighting Reptiles, Responsible Ownership & Conservation
  • Nature Walks/ Wildlife Videos

 

Paid content will include :

  • In Depth Tutorials (More Focus On Details, Textures & Animal Drawing Studies)
  • Inside Look At Concept To Completion
  • Photos of Works in Progress & Sneak Peeks At Upcoming Art/Projects
  • Product Reviews (Art Supplies, Etc.)
  • Content Highlighting What Inspires Me
  • Physical Rewards (prints, postcards, etc.)
  • Advice On Your Own Art & How To Use Materials
  • Downloadable Images & Photos

 

 

I have more work on my plate, but I’ll post back when I’ve got some more goodies. Stay tuned.

 

PS: Here’s a peek at something nearly done!

A Wind Of Lizards (preview)
Quick peek…

 

 

 

 

Drawing Process Videos!

In the last few days, I’ve been putting together some videos of the shot by shot process of some of my latest drawings.

In between working on these, I am still working on more original artworks. I’ve had a couple of commissions all completed and sent out in the last month or two. I’m free again to take on more custom orders if anyone’s in the market for it. Some of my time has been spent on marketing on Facebook, and other social media platforms. Sometimes just before the perfectly timed summer storms begin rolling in. Then, because of frequent lightning, I have to turn off my PC.

This is what it looked like right before things got ugly.

DSC06171
Dark clouds rolling in

 

I have more work left to do. I’ll be back soon!

 

Youtube Video Artist Ad

Utilizing social media platforms to advertise myself and my work have been very beneficial to me in starting my own venture. Some of it has been frustrating and confusing, but I’ve kept learning through trial and error.

I had a Youtube channel a few years before I started posting on many other platforms, mostly for my pet videos and such. However, I just tried my hand at making a video advertisement for this little business of mine. It’s a fairly simple trailer for my artwork, but it is the beginning of something I feel will add another dimension to what I do for my readers, and possible customers.

Many people are fascinated by how art takes shape and progresses over time. While no one but the artist sits hour by hour seeing that process through its iterations, by documenting it in photos I can show it all without taking hours of someone’s time. I would love to have a high-speed camera to record everything, but for now I can provide a similar experience by taking incremental photos.

I did this video below a few years ago on some seaturtle pieces I’d done.

I have several folders of image files for the more recent pieces I’ve done, and I will be putting more art process videos on my channel.

I will still be adding pet videos every now and then, typically of my turtles. Those are fairly sporadic uploads. As I need to increase my marketing platform, I will be trying to focus more on the art side of things.

Although, who can resist the little turtle destroying the live plants I so lovingly put in the terrarium for him?

 

Speaking of turtles, this was my latest completed commission. A pet red eared slider turtle and her owner. This is a big female slider of nine years old. Many people end up getting rid of turtles when they become so large. I’m so glad to see someone who loves their turtle after so many years (and hopefully many more!). It’s very encouraging for me to see others who value them as much as I do. I was very happy to do this piece, and it’s a great piece of work to add to my portfolio.

PetTurtle-Commission
Two Ladies: One A Turtle, One A Human

 

 

Having a love for my pets and wildlife is a big part of what I do as an artist. They endlessly inspire me. And of course, make me laugh.

More content coming soon, stay tuned!

 

Prints & Originals Available Now!

I finally have a few select prints done and ready for purchase, as well as some small 8″ x 10″ original pieces listed in me Etsy shop here Angela DeRiso Art

I’m pushing out small originals at a steady rate, and quality prints are being made one by one. Here’s is the latest selection of available items.

 

prints-insta-ad

“Water Dragon & His Dryads” 11″ x 14″ Art Print

“Serpent Goddess” 11″ x 14″ Art Print

“The Sun & The Dragon” 11″ x 14″ Art Print

 

Here is a closer look at “The Sun & The Dragon” in detail (photo of the original piece).

thesun-thedragon

 

 

Here are the latest 8″ x 10″ original pieces for sale at $45 each.

 

axlotl-dream
“Axlotl Dream”

An axoltl swimming through a dreamworld as two water spirits watch over its journey. This amphibian is commonly kept as a pet, and is unique not only for its strange appearance but its incredible regenerative abilities.

This one of a kind artwork can be purchased here “Axlotl Dream” 8″ x 10″ Original Artwork

 

 

DSC06049
“Turtle Goddess”

This piece depicts several turtle species swimming toward the sanctuary of a goddess who oversees their protection. Species in this piece are Red Eared Slider, Map, Chicken, Snapping, Three Striped Mud, Wood, Softshell, and Blanding’s.

Here are a few close ups for detail.

DSC06050DSC06051

You can purchase this artwork here “Turtle Goddess” Original 8″ x 10″ Artwork

 

 

Here are some previews of works in progress…

DSC06021

 

 

Thanks for reading, and please keep watching for new work and available items!