Decided to restart the blog again, as I’ve been revamping the website and regaining a sense of direction. I will be adding a shop section, improving SEO, pages, etc. I will also be updating the blog weekly, and sharing the latest projects and artworks. The most recent development has been my designing of greeting cards featuring reptiles for holidays and other occasions. Here are a few examples.
Along with art prints, I’ve been branching out to other products like the cards, keychains, and bookmarks. I have some printable stationary listed in my Etsy shop, and eventually I want to have stickers made. Here are a few of the latest artworks that have been finished. One features Day geckos from the genus Phelsuma, and a pair of gargoyle gecko designs for greeting cards.
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 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.
Just a reminder that half the content I’ve been creating for my YouTube channel will be Patron-Only after Aug 31.
If you are not subscribed to me on Patreon, here’s a list of all you’ll be missing out on.
In Depth Tutorials, Previews of Upcoming Work/ Projects, Art Product Reviews, Concept To Completion Videos, Your Choice of Tutorial or Topic, Live Hangout, Advice on Your Artwork, Art Bookmarks & Postcard Prints, and Customized Items. There’s also a Gift Box for long term Patrons!
You can continue accessing this content for $1, $5 or $10 per month! Visit and subscribe here www.patreon.com/AngelaDeRiso
Through my YouTube channel, you can still get videos of simple tutorials, art timelapse, nature walks/herping, and information about my personal causes for reptiles.
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.
