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:
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
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)
I’ve been busy filming time-lapse videos with my phone via an app called Lapse It, and really enjoying what can be done with it. It does eat up memory, and I ended having to store the video files on Google Drive because they are too big to send to my PC through email. They are well worth the trouble just to see a half an hour of work sped up to a minute or two. Below are the two I’ve made so far.
I’m beginning to understand the importance of lighting and camera batteries as I’ve started my dive into make tutorials. I had to order a new battery (which no store near by carries) for my digital camera after the old one failed to hold any charge. Thankfully, my lighting situation is solved by having my desk set up near a window for natural daylight, and I have a decent lamp with an extendable arm. I also bought a tripod to hold my camera, and occasionally my phone, for proper filming.
Here are a few tutorials I’ve made.
I will be creating more tutorials as time goes on, as well as other video content related to my art, reptiles & the things that inspire me.
Finally got the last few details in, and officially launched my page. I will be offering free content for the first two weeks to give people a chance to see what I will be producing. Right now, the videos may not be top notch but I intend to improve that as I go along.
I would love if you would join me in this venture!
My first piece of content is just a basic overview of the tools and supplies I use.
Here is My Patreon. Check it out, and please know that I’m definitely open to feedback and ideas if you have them. Leave any thoughts in comments below.
I have yet to officially publish my Patreon page, but it shouldn’t be long before it’s ready. Here is my introduction video to get you familiar with the ideas behind what I’m doing. I will post the link when ready soon. Keep your eyes on this spot.
I recently finished up two 8″ x 10″ pieces of two North American species, and have made drawing process videos of them as well. When looking at the average algae covered pond turtle, it’s easy to forget just how colorful some of them can be. The Wood Turtle is a great example of that, with their bright orange skin. So too are Spotted Turtles, with orange to peach scaling on their front legs, and many pale yellow spots.
I wanted to capture these two turtle species in their native habitats, so they are as described below.
The Wood Turtle is not strictly aquatic, often venturing out on land half of the time. However, in the artwork I have one swimming through a creek (or river) accompanied by a small school of minnows. A stand of trees in the woods shows just at the water’s surface.
The Spotted Turtle swims under aquatic plants and their hanging roots. The water is shallow and tinged yellow with tannin from dead and decaying trees.
Here are the process videos!
And here are the links where you can shop for products made with these pieces printed on them!
I’ve developed a soft spot for turtles over the years, from both becoming enamored with local pond residents and rescuing injured or disoriented turtles. I now have two of my own as part of my family. Both were adopted from the Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society, whom I connected with through the wonderful Turtle Forum. Through them I learned about just how many turtles are abandoned and cast off as if throwaway items. I also learned how unique and personable turtles can truly be. No, they are not animals who are soft and cuddly, nor do most of them care for much handling. But they do interact with their owners, they have favorite foods, and some even enjoy a good shell scratch (They do get itchy, especially during a growth spurt). There are even some who actually want to be pet, or held, but it depends on the turtles disposition.
I have also met wonderful people who love them just as I do, and have expert knowledge on their care. A pet turtle or tortoise is a serious consideration as a pet, not just in terms of care, but also in longevity. Some are capable of outliving their owners, especially tortoises.
So, in appreciation of my artwork, I hope that people will also see the importance of the species depicted, both wild and captive, whether they be pets or wildlife that needs protection.
Here is a list of some great links about turtles. Stay tuned for more!
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.
