Thursday, October 27, 2011

Interview with Will Sawyer of Conceptualized

Will Sawyer of Conceptualized

Rico:
What's Your Name?

Will Sawyer

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Will Sawyer :

Conceptualized

Conceptualized: This is my only shop at the moment. I chose the name because it best exemplifies the central theme of all my work, concepts. For example, one of my recent product lines, hand drawn, began as a breakdown of M.C. Escher’s “Drawing Hands.” I expanded on the original idea with my thoughts as to why the hands were creating themselves and where such creatures would live.

This store is divided into 3 main categories: Digital art, Hand drawn, and Photography. The bulk of my work begins on paper and is then digitally colored, but I will do some purely digital work. My goal is to organize the site so that customers looking for a particular kind of image can look over what I have to offer easily and quickly without having to look all over the place. I may break these into distinct stores as I get further into the development of my site and increase the number of products.

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Will Sawyer :

I’ve been on zazzle about 4-5 months. But I think that if you were to add all the time I’ve spent creating new products, it’d probably be more like a month and a half. I am starting to ramp up a bit though.

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Will Sawyer :

Not yet. I’ve actually yet to make a sale. I’m hoping to move up to that level over the next year as I increase the number of products.

Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?

Will Sawyer :

Be patient. There is a lot of work and learning that goes into making and promoting products on the web and the initial gain is nothing. When you’ve stopped drawing for a week and are learning as much CSS as the web has to offer in order to set up your site and your blog and you’ve yet to sell a single item, patience keeps you going. Early on I read that it’s common that it can take many months to get your first sale, and that’s what I focus on.

Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?

Will Sawyer :

I start everything I draw in pencil. I have a number of pencils of varying hardness/softness depending on what I’m working on. I also use pens, charcoal and on one occasion oil pastel. For my digital work, I use photoshop and illustrator. I use a point and shoot for my photography, but I adjust my iso settings/white balance/exposure/etc.. manually as the default settings for most cameras are all but useless.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Will Sawyer :

I’m inspired by everything. I come up with some ideas while hiking, others when reading and a surprising number when blankly staring off into space while waiting on things/washing my hands/going from point a to b in my daily routines/listening to music.

Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?

Will Sawyer :

I average about 2 hours a week. It depends on whether or not I have a new design for that week.

Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?

Will Sawyer :

Take your time at the beginning and get your processes in place for creating products. If you want to use quick create, get your templates together. As you get further and further into this, your focus is going to shift towards promotion more and more and you don’t want to have to go silent from potential customers for days as you make more products. Try to get to the point that most of your work is either creating the design for your product or promoting your products. This is especially true you have as little free time as I do.

Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?

Will Sawyer :

I like hiking and generally being outside as much as I can in my free time. I also enjoy all the typical things like reading, movies and television. I also like to learn as much about everything as I can.

Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?

Will Sawyer :

I am very likely to talk about science in some way in any given conversation.
I’m generally a quiet person upon meeting others, but I am by no means a “quiet person.” I’m just listening.
If I ever win the lottery, the first thing I’m going to do is hike the Appalachian trail.
I’m a big music fan.
I believe art is a form of communication more precise than words.

Rico:
List 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.

Hand Drawn Collage iPad Case

Hand Drawn Collage iPad Case by Conceptualized
More iphone cases

Conceptualized as a play on the idea of "Hand Drawn" with an homage to M. C. Escher in the background, this is the hand drawn image mentioned previously. This was created with pencil and water color pencil. The text was done digitally, but other than that, this is the original drawing. It is my favorite concept/design to date.

Octobeerfest Mug

Octobeerfest Mug by Conceptualized
See other Octobeerfest Mugs

This pun inspired design gives a new impression of the much-celebrated Oktoberfest while keeping the spirit of the holiday intact. So, grab a beer and a braught and keep this design with you throughout the celebration. The design was created with pencil and watercolor pencil. Only the beer and foam were added digitally.

Love Song Mouse pad

Love Song Mousepad by Conceptualized
See other Lava lamp Mousepads

This depicts a moment of time, unseen. I came up with this while listening to 311’s version of “Love Song.” In listening to the song I was reminded of a lava lamp I used to own and the image just seemed to create itself from there. I originally did this as a sketch, but ended up completely redoing it in illustrator and photoshop. This is one of my favorites in how the scene syncs up with refrain of the song.

Rico:
This is one of my personal favorite designs from your shop

Eyes Shirt

Eyes Shirt by Conceptualized
See more Eye T-Shirts

The designs of this shirt are a more abstract take on what it means to see and the different ways that can be expressed. Rico: Very cool design!

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Facebook Artist Page

Tumblr Page

I also post some updates via my personal google+ account (this will change once google+ allows pseudonym):
Google+

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Interview with Matt Hymes of Hymes Design

Matt Hymes of Hymes Design

Rico:
What's Your Name?

Matt Hymes aka Hymes Design and that's what I look like. Trust me it's less scary that the real deal, so go with it, oh and he's wearing one of my shirt designs on a color I don't know if it comes in...weird right?

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Matt Hymes :

Hymes Design

It doesn't have a true theme at this point in time, basically it showcases my insanity. If I have an idea and it turns out mediocre to great I upload it to my store. I do currently limit my selection to shirts, ties, phone covers, speakers, and my favorite product the customizable keds "sneakers."

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Matt Hymes :
Technically a little over two years, but not accurately because I made a shop toward the end of 2009 uploaded a few designs and quit in a childish tantrum when a design was pulled do to trademarks. I then waited several months and read the guidelines finally before starting up again and this time uploading thrity shirts like it was an accomplishment, I waited three months before a sold anything, and in a fit of stupidity I ended up erasing that design after the sale which led to me giving up again. This time however I've come to zazzle with a different attitude, I am no longer trying to get rich, or find the secret to happiness I'm just having fun uploading designs and being a part of everything. Having been back for just over a week and a half I've already tripled my product lines, maybe quadrupled, and made two sales. Makes me wonder what changed about me that I finally grew up and did things right.

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Matt Hymes :
No I'm not a proseller, but when I become one I might be willing to share my secrets. The first being right there, read that sentence, "When I become one," you have to have confidence in your designs and the will to see it through to become a proseller, and this time around I have both.

Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?

Matt Hymes :
When I was first starting out I didn't seek any advice, and I failed because of it. This time around I read forums, studied other shops, and even browsed a few blogs and squidoos. The best advice I got from it all is that I was being childish the first two times I made a go of things. There are billions of designs in zazzle's marketplace and I expected thirty shirts to make me a living without promoting them anywhere, or bothering to mess with the keywords and descriptions. Epic failure on my part.

Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?

Matt Hymes :
90% of everything I do comes from adobe illustrator, the other 10% was in Photoshop at some point, but probably started in Illustrator. I draw cartoons, it's my only artistic talent away from the computer and Illustrator lets me do that and much much more. Plus the concept of vector designs being scalable without losing resolution etc. is pretty cool. My talents don't often lend me confidence in Photoshop, but I respect those who have mastered its intricacies. Don't get me wrong, I do web design and use Photoshop there a ton and it never lets me down, but for print work I prefer Illustrator ever single time.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Matt Hymes :
My inspiration comes from everywhere, movies, books, advertisements, but the things that inspire me most are searching google for keywords like "vector art" or "cool vector designs" etc. The true vector masters blow me away, but at the same time I find myself getting ideas from their masterpieces. It's like going to a museum and then getting out your notepad and doodling when you get home. I'll never produce a Mona Lisa, but I might just parody her with a mustache and a cowboy hat. Another source of inspiration is my dreams, I have one messed up mind sometimes...

Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?

Matt Hymes :
It's hard to say being so new to come back, but this last week I've easily put in 50+ hours I wouldn't be surprised if it was higher than that even. I don't anticipate having this kind of drive forever, but while I lasts I'm milking it dry. Plus I do freelance graphic design normally so when I get another client I'll have to put them over my store. At least until I'm making enough money through zazzle to justify turning down other work, which I don't see happening in the next few months.

Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?

Matt Hymes :
Realize what you're competing with, look through the marketplace, read some things (I know but sometimes you have to), and most importantly be prepared to put in the work. I can attest to the fact thirty designs, even good ones, won't make you rich. It's hard to find anything in the marketplace, and even if you truly stand out if nobody can find you then nobody will be buying your stuff. Think of zazzle more like a job and you'll do much better for it. Although if you're just looking for a place to display a few designs to impress your friends you can use zazzle for that too, but don't expect something like that to do much business.So to make it clear, what I'm saying is you have to stick with it, the more you put in the higher your chances of success.

Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?

Matt Hymes :
I watch movies, and TV shows like nobodies business. I also write fiction, but I'm not pompous enough to claim I'm a writer yet. When I'm published or at least self published, then I'll take that notch on my belt. The rest of my time is spent sleeping. Yeah I'm lame, my social calendar hasn't been full in ages.

Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?

Matt Hymes :

I snore, loudly, enough to wake myself up sometimes.

I hate vegetables.

In a zombie apocalypse I'd be the douche bag who closes the door on somebody who might have made it if I'd waited just a little longer, because hey I've seen the movies and somebody has to be that guy.

If I could have any super power I'd take super speed, which nobody ever seems to think is as cool as I do.

And lastly I hate heights, even climbing on top of a chair scares the crap out of me. I'd fight a bear before I'd climb a ladder to get on a roof, or go sky diving.

Rico:
List 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.

Matt Hymes :

Robot in Disguise Shirt

Robot in Disguise Shirt by Hymesdesign
See more Robot T-Shirts

I actually plan to eventually redo this shirt. Maybe, I don't know, the idea still makes me laugh but there's something unbalanced about the text.

Argyle Pattern Low Top Sneakers, blue and orange Pro-keds Low Top Shoe

Argyle Pattern Low Top Sneakers, blue and orange kedsshoe

Argyle Pattern Low Top Sneakers, blue and orange by Hymesdesign
Make a custom made shoe at zazzle.com

I cry when I think about how I'll never wear these shoes. My feet are wide, and it's a curse, because I'm like a girl with a problem when it comes to sneakers. Or hats, i have a huge head and hats never fit me... I'll be okay, just give me a minute.

Retro swooping stripes on brown, hitop sneakers. pro-keds high top sneaker

Retro swooping stripes on brown, hitop sneakers. kedsshoe

Retro swooping stripes on brown, hitop sneakers. by Hymesdesign
View other Vintage Shoes

I probably have better shoes in my shop, but I love these, they came out better than expected, and while I've since seen something I could have done to make them better I'm not going to mess with them. Their simplicity reminds me that sometimes I should feel the design instead of trying to force it to be what I want it to be. I'm getting all zen up in here.

Rico:
This is one of my personal favorite designs from your shop

Random Patterned Tie

Random Patterned Tie by Hymesdesign
Create your own personalized neckties on zazzle.com

Rico: Love the colors and pattern!

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Matt Hymes :

Obviously I have a Zazzle store, but you have the link to that up there, stop being lazy and scroll up.

I have a Facebook but I don't like using it much so I'll be keeping it a secret.

I use twitter even less but I do have one, my user name is hymesdesign just like on zazzle. Twitter

And finally my webdesign website - Hymes Design

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Interview with Diane Clancy of Diane Clancy's Art

Diane Clancy of Diane Clancy's Art

Rico:
What's Your Name?

Diane Clancy

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Diane Clancy :

This is just Zazzle, right? So I will just give you Zazzle shops.

Until recently I had only one shop (DianeClancyArt) so the other shops are fairly new and I am slowly getting my images in them. As an artist, I like to have a story to go with each image, so that makes it a slower process to get my work up. But I am very excited about how it is going and the responses I have gotten. My intent is for my art to be uplifting and inspiring.

Diane Clancy's Art

This is my original shop (I choose the name because DianeClancy was not available then) This shop has some of my unique art from each of my styles since this was my only shop until recently. I decided it would be helpful to my customers to showcase my different types of art in separate shops. I am adding more art from Traditional Mediums into DianeClancyArt. This will be a shop of my Fine Art with examples of other work to also direct people to the other shops.

Diane Clancy

I choose this name because as an artist, my name is how people can find me and see and know my work. Each shop is building on this. I have recently acquired this name and I am mainly showcasing the other shops in this shop.

Diane Clancy Fractals

This shop has a few of my colorful mind expanding fractals. These have been very popular with people. I have lots and am eager to get them in the shop!

Diane Clancy Goddess

Some of my work has a spiritual and visionary goddess theme so that is the work that is featured here. Much of it is in traditional mediums.

Diane Clancy Animals

I have a line of engaging Fanciful Animal Images where I take a photo of someone's special companion and put them into a field of flowers or butterflies. I have some already made and I also create custom ones for people with their own photographs. It takes me several hours to do this but many people find it worthwhile to have this special keepsake.

Diane Clancy Bubbles

I create stunning Bubblescapes that are vibrant and fanciful landscapes with bubbles. They are fun and very unique. These tend to be very popular. Again, I have lots more to add to my shop.

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Diane Clancy :

Since 4/08 but it is really only the last couple of months that I have networked with folks and figured out how to make Zazzle work for me - which means work for my collectors.

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?
If yes, how long from the time you open a shop until you made it to ProSeller?

Diane Clancy :

I believe I qualify as a ProSeller once my last sale has cleared. She is a repeat customer so I feel confident about that sale. I have had several sales of one card through the years by the same buyer, but it is only the last couple of months that I have sold anything else.

Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?

Diane Clancy :

In the last few months I have gotten great advice - from one friend and from a couple of Facebook Zazzle groups. Networking with others would be the best advice. But I also saw tutorials and videos during the last couple of months that had me change the whole way I have set up at Zazzle. I think it is really working well for me to have different shops for my distinctive lines of art.

Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?

Diane Clancy :

Originally I used lots of traditional mediums - pastel, oil, acrylic, collage. etc. Then I found digital - so I do a lot of digital too. Bryce, Photoshop, Artmatic and Painter are some of the main programs I use. I want to streamline what I do to get back into the studio to work with paint again.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Diane Clancy :

Spirit and the Life Force are my main inspirations. That can be from anywhere - nature, people, art - but my art has to feel like it increases my connection to the Universe for me create it.

Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?

Diane Clancy :

Sometimes I can only squeeze in a couple hours and other times I spend 40 or more. If you add creating the art, of course the number of hours goes up. Also, I have several other shops that I have to maintain.

Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?

Diane Clancy :

I would tell someone before you get too involved in Zazzle to really think about how you want to connect with your customers - in terms of number of shop and also how to use your categories. It is much easier to start right (for you) rather than redo. This is from my own experience! And network, network, network! People are so generous to help you - once you find them! I have found the networking on Facebook invaluable.

Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?

Diane Clancy :

I like watching movies and our favorite TV shows with my partner - we analysis the content, delivery, use of color and lighting and we have great fun. She is writing a screenplay and we have great fun thinking the producers should be asking us for advice because of our feedback would make the films and shows better. We also turn off the sound and analyze ads. We enjoy all this!

I love to meditate. Also, being in nature, looking at the sky and trees.

Visiting with friends. I have done tons of organizing around social justice, environmental, etc. issues in my life and now I am enjoying just being by myself. But I still have my fingers and hands in activism.

Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?

Diane Clancy :

These are not important and no one needs to know these ;-) but
I usually wear my hair in braids
My hair is now below my waist
I am usually very happy
I have several long term serious illnesses
Looking out our kitchen window, it looks like we live in a tree house

Rico:
List 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.

Diane Clancy :

Counundrum I – Rainbow Woman Cards

Counundrum I – Rainbow Woman by DianeClancyGoddess
View other Colorful Cards

Conundrum I - this is my signature piece. Conundrum I is a fabric, paper and paint collage inspired by quilting. It took over 100 hours to create. Conundrum I is part of Diane's goddess series. The depth and awareness you receive from this painting creates inner peace by opening the door to the soul.

Ocean Dreams - Aqua and Violet Ocean Fantasy Custom Shoes

Ocean Dreams - Aqua and Violet Ocean Fantasy kedsshoe

Ocean Dreams - Aqua and Violet Ocean Fantasy by DianeClancyBubbles
More Colorful Shoes

Ocean Dreams is one of my most popular Bubblescapes. Dare to Dream! - Ocean Dreams is a digital painting that dares you to fantasize, dares you to go beyond the comfortable.

Emerging Galaxies – Teal & Lime Currents Ipad Skin

Emerging Galaxies – Teal & Lime Currents speckcase

Emerging Galaxies – Teal & Lime Currents by DianeClancyFractals
Become a part of Zazzle's ipad affiliate program

Joyfully Streaming into the Unknown - Emerging Galaxies - a womb, a matrix, nurtures forming universes and then allows them to pour out into the great unknown. Emerging Galaxies reminds us to balance nurturing in the known and then letting our lives and creativity stream out into life where they become something greater.

If you want a 4th to show my other style, this would be it - but fine it you do not.

Freckles in Flowers II - Tuxedo Cat Stamps

Freckles in Flowers II - Tuxedo Cat by DianeClancyAnimals
More Colorful Postage

Freckles was my kitty companion for 18 years. Brighten Your Day - Freckles in Flowers II is a tuxedo kitty who sits in a field of flowers on the side of a hill.

Rico:
This is one of my personal favorite designs from your shop

Glowing Burst of Color – Teal & Violet Deva Posters

Glowing Burst of Color – Teal & Violet Deva print

Glowing Burst of Color – Teal & Violet Deva by DianeClancyFractals
Learn how to sell my artwork online at zazzle.

Energy, Wonder and Delight - Glowing Burst of Color brings energy, wonder and delight into each day. This brilliant painting shows a spirit dancing for the pure joy of living; this deva is sure to enliven your life. A rainbow of colors in this vibrant, swirling force of electric blue, lime green, mellow yellow, violet, magenta, maroon, lavender, teal, pink, purple and orange brings life and fun into each moment. You can see this Goddess dancing dynamically as she twirls and spins in the magnificent splashes of vibrant color.
Rico: WOW! This is gorgeous! Your descriptions above says it all.

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Facebook Artist Page
Diane Clancy Website
Blog
Twitter
Squidoo
Etsy Shop
These are some of them. People can find the others at Zazzle Member Profile

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Interview with Shelley Kuhn of Designs by Shell

Shelley Kuhn of Designs by Shell

Rico:
What's Your Name?

Shelley Kuhn

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Shelley Kuhn :

Designs by Shell

My Store is Designs by Shell I chose the name just simply because it represents me and my artwork. I’m not sure I really have a specific theme for my store but I would say my designs cover everything from cute and stylish to whimsical and fun along with a nature/floral theme. I love to create designs for birthdays, holidays and weddings. Things like fancy cakes and cupcakes, flirty flowers, and expressive cartoon animals. I also dabble in amateur photography and have sold many of my favourite flower (hydrangea) pictures.

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Shelley Kuhn :
I started at Zazzle in the fall of 2008.

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Shelley Kuhn :
I am a ProSeller. I reached this level just over a year ago. It did take some time and a lot of creating to get to this point.

Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?

Shelley Kuhn :
The best advice I received when I was just starting out was to never delete designs or products that you don’t think will sell. You never know who will be interested in them. I have found this to be true and have sold products that I really wanted to delete but am now glad I didn’t. I was also advised to create new designs daily or at least as often as possible, the more you have in your store the more opportunity for sales.

Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?

Shelley Kuhn :
To create my designs I draw everything on my Dell Tablet with a digital pen. I use a paint program called Sumo Paint. For my photography I simply use my digital camera. ( All you need is a steady hand and a good eye)

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Shelley Kuhn :
I am inspired by many things but especially nature, flowers and my love of the outdoors.

Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?

Shelley Kuhn :
I spend about 4 hrs. a day on Zazzle. This includes marketing my designs as well.

Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?

Shelley Kuhn :
If I was to give someone who is just starting out on Zazzle my advice it would be first of all don’t expect sales over night. Create good quality designs and lots of them and the sales will come. Don’t forget your tags, this is so important in order for your products to be found by the search engines and for your potential customers to find you.

Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?

Shelley Kuhn :
When I’m taking a break from my work I love to spend time with my husband and family. Going for walks, going for coffee, working out at the gym, reading.

Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?

Shelley Kuhn :

Five random things about me…
I love to sing and I’m on a worship team
I don’t eat red meat
I love chocolate (almost any kind)
Like to try new recipes
Fall is my favourite season

Rico:
List 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.

Shelley Kuhn :

Roaring Good Time Party Invitation

Roaring Good Time Party Invitation by seashell2
Design a custom printed announcement at zazzle

I love this cute animal birthday party invitation, I just had fun drawing that cute little tiger face, animals can be made with the cutest expressions!

Designer Cakes Business Cards

Designer Cakes by seashell2
More Designer cake Business Cards

This elegant designer cake business card is one of my popular ones. I love the soft color combinations that I used. It seems others like it too!

Best Music Teacher Coffee Mugs

Best Music Teacher by seashell2
Browse other Music Mugs

This music teacher mug is one of my simpler designs featuring black musical notes on a soft yellow background. It’s been a good seller for me!

Rico:
This is one of my personal favorite designs from your shop

Halloween Cat Cupcake Christmas Tree Ornament

Halloween Cat Cupcake by seashell2
Browse Halloween Ornaments

Cute Cupcake Halloween - A cute faced cat cupcake in an orange cupcake liner. Halloween candies around the base. A border of stripes in green and orange.

Rico:
I just fell in love with this design as soon as I saw it. I love the colors. The cat is adorable and the composition is great!

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Shelley Kuhn :

Shells Zazzle Journal
Twitter @ShellsDesigns2
Facebook

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Interview with Arwen De Lyon of Artsy Arwen De Lyon's Store

Arwen De Lyon of Artsy Arwen De Lyon's Store

Rico:
What's Your Name?

Arwen de Lyon

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Arwen de Lyon :

Artsy Arwen De Lyon's Store

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Arwen de Lyon :

1 year

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Arwen de Lyon :

No

Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?

Arwen de Lyon :

Promote both online and offline, and feed the money you make from your store back into your store. Be patient, and don't expect to make a ton of money right away. this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?

Arwen de Lyon :

Watercolor and ink pen.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Arwen de Lyon :

Jody Bergsma and Alphonse Mucha inspire me because of thier vision, distinct style, and sense of beauty and wonder.

Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?

Arwen de Lyon :

About 20 hours.

Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?

Arwen de Lyon :

Jump on the zazzle forms, and don't just read them, be an active participant. Join other sites to network that are related to what your shop is about, and be an active participant. Tell everyone about your zazzle shop, as you never know who will stop by. Always be ready to learn something new, and try new things.

Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?

Arwen de Lyon :

I like to do other things to fuel my creativity. Read books about things I love: stories, astronomy, angels, you name it. If I have painted it, you can bet I have studied and read about the subject first. I also like to watch interesting shows about science and hands-on shows, or even funny sitcoms that I find especially creative or offbeat. Going on trips to new places whether right in town or a good distance away also fuels my creativity, as does watching movies. I also enjoy making challenging origami with beautiful origami paper in fantastic designs.

Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?

Arwen de Lyon :

I love science fiction and fantasy
I think the world needs more art in every aspect of life
I love cats
I require chocolate on a daily basis
and my dream is to travel the entire world

Rico:
List 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.

Arwen de Lyon :

The Zodiac Calendars

The Zodiac by Arwen_deLyon
Browse other The zodiac Calendars

This calendar is a compilation of all my zodiac paintings, presented beautifully in this calendar which has a celestial feel, and includes symbols for each zodiac sign and celestial body of modern astrology.

Unicorn, Universe Personalized Necklace

Unicorn, Universe by Arwen_deLyon
Browse more Unicorn Necklaces

This Unicorn painting is set off well by the circular shape of the necklace. The unicorn represents pure understanding and awareness, as she gallops across the universe.

Fantastic City Posters

Fantastic City by Arwen_deLyon
Find more matted prints

One of my favorite watercolor paintings, based on a finished fantasy sketch I did a few years back. The globe in the sky is an otherworldly etherial city, and surrounding it are numerous beautiful celestial bodies.

Rico:
This is one of my personal favorite designs from your shop

Alternate World 1 Poster

Alternate World 1 by Arwen_deLyon
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A digital abstraction of Phsychedelic City, I used the kaleidoscope effect to give this swirling, otherworldly feel. The brilliant, psychedelic colors and swirls heighten this effect.
Rico:
I absolutly love the colors and composition in the design! It is definately something I would hang on my wall in my office.

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Arwen de Lyon :

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Shadowness

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Interview with Joyce Geleynse of JoyArt

Joyce Geleynse of JoyArt

Rico:
What's Your Name?

Joyce Geleynse

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Joyce Geleynse :

I have several shops but will only list my main two here.

Joyart

The first one is called "joyart" because my name is joyce, and I take great JOY in creating my art. This shop features my main style of art, which is realism, created mostly with pencil, color pencil, and oil pastel. There is no main theme, but my subject matter reflects my love of the country, animals, home life, nature, God, and the simple things in life.

Joyful Critters

This shop features my whimsical drawings of animals, created from my imagination. I am challenging myself, as a realist artist, to draw from my imagination once in a while. I think it opens doors for me as far as subject matter goes and it allows me to have fun, while still keeping my drawings realistic.

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Joyce Geleynse :

I have been at Zazzle since December, 2008.

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?
If yes, how long from the time you open a shop until you made it to ProSeller?

Joyce Geleynse :

Yes. I became a Basic Pro Seller about 20 months later, and am now a Bronze Pro Seller.

Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?

Joyce Geleynse :

I think the best advice I got was to use good descriptions, titles, and keywords.

Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?

Joyce Geleynse :

I draw or paint everything freehand with pencils, color pencils, and oil pastels.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Joyce Geleynse :

I'm inspired by people and farm animals, as well as beautiful objects, particularly objects that are roundish and shiny, like marbles or balls or mushrooms, etc.

Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?

Joyce Geleynse :

I spend at least two hours a day on Zazzle, and often the whole day, which I can do, since I work full time as an artist. I sometimes think I should get away from the computer and back to my drawing board, but I know that getting creative and making more products with the designs I already have will pay dividends. I see Zazzle as a way of making "passive" income for years to come.

Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?

Joyce Geleynse :

My best advice is to create LOTS of products (making sure they are good ones, of course). You are competing with literally billions of other products so you need to be found. Don't ever get tired of creating new products. Use great keywords, titles and descriptions. Take part in the forums a lot, and use it as a means to advertise your products.

Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?

Joyce Geleynse :

I like to spend time with my large family, bike down country roads, read a good book, or engage in a friendly debate.

Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?

Joyce Geleynse :

a.) I have five grown kids
b.) I have fifteen grandkids
c.) I have a solar panel in my yard; another investment for future passive earnings!
d.) I am a follower of Jesus
e.) I play guitar and sing for patients at the local hospital once a month.

Rico:
List 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.

Joyce Geleynse :

EGG REALISM ART CANVAS PRINT

EGG REALISM ART CANVAS PRINT by joyart
Large format printing from zazzle

This poster features my painting of a raw egg. A rather unusual subject, but I was very much drawn to the shapes, colors, and reflections in this image! I took a picture of an egg I was frying one morning, and then made my painting using the photo as a reference. I think it could be an interesting work of art to hang in a restaurant or in the kitchen area of a home. It is one of several images of eggs that can be found on many products in my "joyart" store.

Cowboy With Chaps: I Love Cowboys: Pencil Iphone 4 Skins

Cowboy With Chaps: I Love Cowboys: Pencil speckcase

Cowboy With Chaps: I Love Cowboys: Pencil by joyart
Browse more iphone cases

This drawing is representative of my realism style. My "joyart" store has many realism drawings of horses and dogs, as well as people. The western-themed drawings are the result of having had two of my sons heavily involved in the world of rodeo, one as a bull rider, the other as a bronc rider...........even though we live in Eastern Canada!

Two Cute Little Mice and a Toadstool: Artwork Postcard

Two Cute Little Mice and a Toadstool: Artwork by joyfulcritters
Browse Mouse Postcards

This is a color pencil drawing of two mice and a mushroom, created from my imagination. It is found in my new store "joyfulcritters". I am finding it great fun to take a break from my more "serious" drawings to create whimsical scenes that only come into existence because I imagine them and then draw them!

Rico:
This is one of my personal favorite designs from your shop Joyart:

Getting Hitched: Two Horses in Pastel: Wedding Greeting Card

Getting Hitched: Two Horses in Pastel: Wedding card

Getting Hitched: Two Horses in Pastel: Wedding by joyart
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Original art in oil pastel Send a unique, one of a kind wedding invitation (or engagement announcement) with this card featuring my oil pastel painting of two horses standing affectionately together at an open barn door. Rico: Beautifuly done!

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Joyce Geleynse :

Joyce's Art Stores Blog
JoyceArt Esty
Facebook

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Interview with Doris Hernandez of Calypso Dreams