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
Here are a few of my newest pieces done in graphite.
“Chimera” – More of a creature design thing. A combination of a tiger, dog, and a reptile. I love weird combinations of animals blended into one.
“SongBird” – Tried something a little new here, using some different facial expressions. This piece portrays the free spirited nature of birds who sing their song so passionately. 9″ x 12″ Graphite on pastel paper.
“Birds of a Feather” – Similar concept to the piece shown above, though this is a darker themed one. I decided to incorporate a bird or birds into the hair/feathers in this piece. The crow represents a very intelligent, cunning bird, and so is the familiar of an equally cunning bird spirit. 9″ x 12″ Graphite on bristol board.
