Interview with Carolyn McFann of Two Purring Cats Clothing & Gifts Part 2

  Carolyn McFann

Interview with Carolyn McFann of Two Purring Cats Clothing & Gifts Part 2

Rico:
What is your favorite aspect about Zazzle?

Carolyn McFann :
The freedom to do what I want without anyone telling me what to do, the large amount of quality products that we can design and the ability to expand with new products.


Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Carolyn McFann :
As a kid, my dad was my inspiration, he was/is really good at drawing. An architect who also drew pretty pictures. I am inspired now by just about anything plant or animal.


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

Carolyn McFann :
Keep your designs original, don't do what everyone else does, be different and be good at what you do. That will make you stand out.


Rico:
What was the latest product you added to your wish list (include link)?

Carolyn McFann :
Love this poster. Plan to buy it:
The Planet Earth Posters

The Planet Earth Posters by solarviews
Look at Earth Posters online at Zazzle.com

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

Carolyn McFann :

I'm a workaholic, it's not work to me, I love what I do and love to learn new things to improve my work.

I have three loving, deaf, white, long-haired cats (and no, I'm not changing my studio name to "Three Purring Cats" ;) , rescued from death row in shelters

I lived in Playa del Carmen, Mexico for awhile. Lovely, fascinating place but prefer home in the Midwest. Used to travel to and live in different places for work every so often but am now settled in Ohio.

Did some print modeling when I was really young. Kind of fun but my heart wasn't in it. I was really shy back then.
Am more of a business person than artist. Art is the easy part..marketing/promotion is ongoing and has to be done.


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

Carolyn McFann :
Take business courses, photograph nature, travel, bake..when I have time, that is.


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

Carolyn McFann :

I did this a few years ago, in memory of a cockatiel I had a long time ago.


Cockatiels and Forget Me Nots Mug

Cockatiels and Forget Me Nots Mug by twopurringcats
Browse other Cockatiel Mugs

Cockatiel parrots of different kinds from pied, fallow and pearl to regular wild coloring on a quality frosted glass coffee mug for parrot lovers.


I just love macaws, they're brightly colored and fascinating birds with big voices.



The Macaw Parrot Jungle Wall Clock

The Macaw Parrot Jungle Wall Clock by twopurringcats
Check out other Wall Clocks at zazzle.com

Original fine art design of colorful Macaw parrots from Hyacinth and Scarlet to Military, and more by artist Carolyn McFann printed on a quality wall clock for parrot lovers.



I did artwork awhile ago of primates for a natural history museum/learned quite a bit about them during that project and this was just something I did for myself on the side, lemurs were really interesting creatures.


Black and White Ruffed Lemur Poster

Black and White Ruffed Lemur Poster by twopurringcats
Find additional posters for sale at Zazzle

This cute and fuzzy animal is a primate, related to monkeys, and comes from the island of Madagascar off the coast of Africa. It is an endangered species.



Rico:
Zazzle has helped many people meet goals that they otherwise wouldn’t have achieved. What has Zazzle helped you to achieve in your personal life?

Carolyn McFann :
It has helped me live as I want, and work for myself instead of for others, and makes my life everything I want it to be.

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online? (Facebook, Twitter, other blog or website)

Carolyn McFann :

Facebook

My Blog

Interview with Carolyn McFann Part 1

  Carolyn McFann

Interview with Carolyn McFann Part 1

Rico:
What's Your Name?

Carolyn McFann :


Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Carolyn McFann :

Two Purring Cats Clothing & Gifts

A large and colorful store featuring my artwork. I specialize in drawing/painting anything to do with nature. The name comes from my cats, who were/are by my side as I work here in my studio.

Ornamentation (holiday ornaments)

Just ornaments for holidays or any occasion, featuring my artwork and designs.

The Case Place

Cases for phones, computers and more.



Rico:
How did you find Zazzle?

Carolyn McFann :
I heard about it from a friend on that other POD I won't mention.


Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Carolyn McFann :
How long have you been at Zazzle? I've been here since September of 2008, nearly five years.



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

Carolyn McFann :
Yes. I forget, a few months.


Rico:
What made you decide to open your own store?

Carolyn McFann :
I've been freelancing for a long time and thought this would give me more creative freedom to do what I want, not just what the client wanted.


Rico:
What makes your shop stand out from the rest?

Carolyn McFann :
It's VERY colorful.


Rico:
How would you describe your design style?

Carolyn McFann :
It varies, I have different styles that I use, from realism to impressionism (when painting on canvas), but here I use mostly realism/plein-air styles.


Rico:
What type of product do you prefer to design?

Carolyn McFann :
Posters, cards.


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

Carolyn McFann :
Never give up. Do what you want and don't waste time worrying about what others think. There's room in the world for all styles of work. Be confident and be good at what you do, have pride in your work.


Rico:
What was your first Sale (include link)?

Carolyn McFann :

I have no idea! On Zazzle? Don't know. Off of Zazzle, I used to sell my artwork quite a big when in elementary school and upwards. I'm still doing what I did as a kid, just being paid more for it now. It's been my calling in life ever since I could hold a crayon/pencil as a small child. I live to draw.

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

Carolyn McFann :
Everything from pencils, professional artists' markers and technical pens to paint, computer too. My dad taught me to use technical pens when I was little and I use them for line drawing, mostly then colorize them with markers or on computer.


Rico:
A few of my Favorite designs from Two Purring Cats Clothing & Gifts :


Peaceful Jungle Tiger Kitchen Towel

Peaceful Jungle Tiger Kitchen Towel by twopurringcats
View more kitchen towels.

Original fine art design of a resting young Bengal tiger by artist Carolyn McFann printed on a quality, machine-washable American Mojo kitchen towel for big cat fans.



Fierce Hunter Kitty Plate

Fierce Hunter Kitty Plate by twopurringcats
Create unique custom plates online at Zazzle.

Original fine art design of a cute young Tuxedo kitten playing with a bug by artist Carolyn McFann printed on a quality, dishwasher safe plate for cat lovers.



African Praying Mantis Mug

African Praying Mantis Mug by twopurringcats
Look at other Nature Mugs at zazzle.com

Original fine art designs of pets such as cats and dogs as well as wildlife, insects and more on quality mugs for nature and animal lovers by designer Carolyn McFann.



Moonlight Stallion Avery Binder

Moonlight Stallion Avery Binder by twopurringcats
Design your own custom vinyl binders on zazzle

Original equine design by illustrator/designer Carolyn McFann printed on a quality Avery binder for horse & pony lovers.



The second half of the Interview with Carolyn McFann : will be posted on Wednesday May 22, 2013. So come back for more with Carolyn McFann!

Interview with Lisa Snyder of Dead Tree Art

 Lisa Snyder of Dead Tree Art




Rico:
What's Your Name?

Lisa Snyder

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Lisa Snyder :

Dead Tree Art

Dead Tree Art doesn’t really have a theme. It is just kind of a mishmash of the different kinds of artwork that I like to do. My interests change so often that I have a little difficulty sticking with one thing in particular. I might possibly have AADD or something. Why Dead Tree Art? Well, I had a really hard time coming up with something that wasn’t already taken. My husband insisted that I have my own domain, so we did a lot of research and settled on Dead Tree Art. No, you won’t find many dead trees in my store. Maybe one, but that’s about it. I do have this fascination with dead trees though. I wonder if that had anything to do with it.

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Lisa Snyder :

I have been with Zazzle since June 2011, about 8 months now, and I am love, love, loving it!  

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Lisa Snyder :

I am not currently a ProSeller, but hope to become one someday.

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

Lisa Snyder :

Someone told me to mingle in the forums, talk to people, and get myself out there. Someone else told me to make sure my storefront images had a res of 100 instead of using images I had on my products, so that my storefront would load faster for people.

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

Lisa Snyder :

I use whatever medium happens to float my boat at that particular moment. My designs are a combination of traditional art, photography, and graphics created in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. I also found out about this fractal flame thing, and have been playing with it. It is so cool! I haven’t posted any in my store yet, but plan on doing so very soon.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Lisa Snyder :

My family and my pets are what inspire me the most. They make me laugh. What more could I ask for?

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

Lisa Snyder :

Just like the mediums I choose, the amount of time that I spend on Zazzle varies. I usually work on my store, and designs full time. That is when I am not busy being a wife and mother which is a full time job all by itself.

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

Lisa Snyder :

Have patience, and make sure that you enjoy what you are doing. I haven’t made a ton of sales yet, but the reason I keep doing it is because I enjoy it so much. I would still do it even if I didn’t make a single sale. I love developing my store, and my style.

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

Lisa Snyder :

I love spending time with my family, and playing with the cats. I love watching horror movies (the ones I haven’t seen five hundred times already), and I like to put things together. I get this weird sense of pleasure when I get the opportunity to assemble a piece of furniture. I know right?! Really my whole life revolves around my family, and art.

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

Lisa Snyder :

I met my husband on the internet (back in the old days when they still charged per minute)!

I have a teenage daughter (and it sucks! The teenage part, not the daughter part.)

I like pickles

I drool when I sleep, I drool when I’m awake, and I have two cats, two hermit crabs, and some fish. There used to be a hamster in there, but she died, and actually they are my daughters, but she’s a teenager, so I take care of them.

Oh, I know I’m only supposed to put five, but I stink at punctuation too. In case you didn’t notice.

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

Lisa Snyder :

Rocks Laptop Computer Sleeves

Rocks by DeadTreeArt
Shop for other laptop computer sleeve designs.

I had originally intended this to be something else, but it didn’t work out. It was created with the gradient mesh tool in Illustrator. I think it looks really cool.





White Orchid Flower Iphone 4 Cases

White Orchid Flower by DeadTreeArt
View more iphone cases

This flower was shot at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in North Carolina. I took it in raw, and then cropped it until it looked nice. I love orchids. They are really pretty flowers.





Astra Ipad Skin

Astra by DeadTreeArt
Browse iPod touch covers

This design was actually done by my 14 year old daughter. She loves anime, and she likes to draw these little cats. I thought it might be good for her to hear that other people like them too, because she doesn’t think they are any good. I thought they were adorable.

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





Art Cat Ipad Case

Art Cat by DeadTreeArt
Browse cases for the iPod touch

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the studio! Art Cat is a black and white vector drawing with a multicolored painting and... PAW PRINTS!! Copyright © 2011-2012 Lisa Snyder “All rights reserved”    Rico: I just love this. It mad me smile and think this is something my cat would definately do.

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Lisa Snyder :

Facebook

Twitter

Interview with Barbra of Barbra's Artist Pad

Barbra - Barbra's Artist Pad








Rico:
What's Your Name?

Barbra

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Barbra :

Another Peaceful Venture
Barbra's Artist Pad
Artist's Pad

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Barbra :

Wow according to my records I've been with Zazzle since 2007. To tell you the truth in 2007 I put some artwork up on Zazzle and forgot all about it. Then in 2009 I received an E-mail saying I made 25 cents. Well this made me think and I started adding more artwork and product to the site in 2009. Truthfully I feel my official Zazzle experience started in 2009!

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Barbra :

Yes I am a ProSeller a Bronze Proseller. It took me just a tad over a year to become a Pro seller. I'm sure I could do better and move up the ranks if there was more time in my day. I work full time and than dabble with my art on the side. Plus believe it or not I'm a wife and mom as well. Although I must confess my daughter is an adult now and doesn't need me as often as a young child needs their mommy.

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

Barbra :

The seasoned Zazzlers would always remind me about good tags and quality products. I heard repeated over and over less is better than more if the quality is there.

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

Barbra :

I mostly create my designs by drawing with pen & ink. Quite a few of my designs are just black and white. Althought lately I've been experimenting with color via pen & ink as well as other mediums. I also create some commercial looking products with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop (these designs are usually color).

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Barbra :

I receive my inspiration from many different sources. Just two years ago I received my inspiration from children who asked me to draw animals and mythical creatures for them. Sometimes the inspiration comes from nature via my long bicycle rides. Let's just say my inspiration is born from the beautiful world surrounding me.

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

Barbra :

The time I spend on Zazzle really varies from week to week and sometimes month to month.

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

Barbra :

The best advise I can give to someone just starting out is to follow your heart and don't give up!

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

Barbra :

When I'm not creating art I like to spend time with the family, bicycle ride, hike, read, see music, and the list goes on....

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

Barbra :

I think outside the box
I'm passionate about peace and diversity
You can figure out the rest.

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

Barbra : 

 

Melodic Enchantment T Shirt

Melodic Enchantment by IArtist40
Learn how to make money as an artist online at Zazzle.

The Melodic Enchantment design was originally drawn as a present for my daughter. She is a musician and takes after her mom when with her passion for diversity. My daughter and I have had many discussions over the decades about people accepting one another for what they are. I love the design because it share this feeling without using words.

Mum's the Word Artwork Iphone 4 Cases

Mum's the Word Artwork by BarbrasArtistPad
See other iPod touch cases

I have a fascination with owls and this summer I started to experiment with applying colors in different ways. This mum & young-ling is what evolved from one of my experiment. I've gotten to see this IPhone case product off-line and in real time and I'm impressed with the results. Due to this I will be experimenting more with color.

Midnight Owl Ladies Keds Shoe

Midnight Owl Ladies Keds by IArtist40
Browse Slip on Shoes

Midnight owl is a surrealistic drawing I did about a decade ago. This has always been one of my favorite owl drawings. It was interesting playing with the artwork and cutting it apart to make it work on the Ked's Ladies Slip-ons, and I'm please with the results. In fact the Ked's Midnight Owl design has become one of my most popular products.

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

Lucky Traveler Ipad Skin

Lucky Traveler by BarbrasArtistPad
Be a iphone affiliate with Zazzle.

I chose this design because my wife loves elephants and black and white art. It reminds me of her and she would love this stunning work.

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Barbra :
Facebook
An Artists Pad Blog
Twitter

Interview with Deborah Miller of Visages

 


Deborah Miller of Visages


Rico:
What's Your Name?

Deborah Miller :

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Deborah Miller :

Visages

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Deborah Miller :

Just about two weeks

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Deborah Miller :

No... not yet. One day soon I hope

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

Deborah Miller :

Promote... promote... promote and don't give up

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

Deborah Miller :

Acrylic paints, camera that needs upgraded badly, soft #6 pencil, oil pencils, PhotoPosPro software and most importantly, my imagination.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Deborah Miller :

If I look, I find inspiration everywhere but primarily I use nature, my pets (currently my ferrets), and I peruse the internet when I have a particular subject in mind.

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

Deborah Miller :

80 to 100 hours promoting, adding my art to product and reading the blog for research and such.

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

Deborah Miller :

Be a Nike and just do it. Then spend the time promoting. Lots of time! You can create a gazillion pieces of art but until you're known, you won't sell anything. I don't know much about promoting online so I do a lot of reading and research. This is also a must-do.

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

Deborah Miller :

You know? I almost can't remember since getting into Zazzle and putting my art onto things like postage stamps. I did play Scrabble nearly everyday, read, play with my ferrets, and learn. I LOVE learning.

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

Deborah Miller :

I love to sniff new books in the book store.
Nothing like the aroma of fresh ink. I would say the same about my oil pencils.
I art directed automotive magazines in the 90s. Mustang Monthly and Super Ford out of Lakeland, FL.
I can teach old dogs (yes, the animal) new tricks.
I HAVE to be productive; I can't just sit and waste a day.
I enjoy pleasing people.

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

Deborah Miller :

 

Monarch Butterfly Card:

Monarch Butterfly Greeting Card by Visages
Shop for greeting cards at zazzle.com

After sitting for an hour in my back yard during the monarch migration, I finally managed to digitally capture this little guy resting on a vibrant flower. I used the zoom but to ensure I got all of his fine detailing, I crept forward as much as I dared. This is the final result of which I'm proud.

Ferretism (Sayings) T Shirt:

Ferret-isms & Sayings by Visages
More Ferret T-Shirts

After getting a look from one of my ferrets, I couldn't help but imagine what he was saying to me. I searched the internet for ferretisms and sayings but found only a few. The idea blossomed from there. Shortly after creating the line, I sold a mouse pad! My ferrets are a constant source of entertainment and inspiration.

Panda Bear Apron:

Panda Bear Apron by Visages

I created this panda with pencil and oil pencil after I received a request to draw one. It took a full day and the end result was well received by the requester who loves to cook and wanted a panda bear apron. Most everything I create is simple. I'm not wont to add frills to my art...

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

FrankenFerret Shirt:

FrankenFerret Shirt by Visages
See more Ferret T-Shirts

I just think this design is unique and quite cute!

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Deborah Miller : 

Facebook

Crafting: Homemade Handmade Repurposed Blog

Dreams Come True So Get to Dreaming! Blog

Millers Wrapped Expression

Squidoo: Ferret-art-ferret-inspirations-and-creations