Interview with Rusty of Rusty Doodle Zazzle Store Part 2
What is your favorite aspect about Zazzle?
Rusty :
The Zazzle community! Zazzlers and the Zazzle staff are helpful people and we cheer each other on towards success! Lots of love in the community!
Rico:
Who or what inspires you?
Rusty :
This may seem like a textbook answer but frankly anything can inspire me if I open up my mind to it. It could be a mosaic wall feature, nature, other designers etc. That is why I keep my notebook or mobile phone with me to jot down or take a picture of these ideas before I forget about them.
Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?
Rusty :
The same useful advice others have given me, “Be patient and keep working at it!” To elaborate using my personal experience, the sales I got are usually not the designs that I put up in that week but rather designs that were uploaded a month to a few months back. So don’t expect a sale the following day for a design that you have just uploaded today. Work today is more likely for a sale 3 months later or even later. There is just no shortcut to this unless one is already an established artist with a sizable following. Doing promotion does help though.
Rico:
What was the latest product you added to your wish list (include link)?
Rusty :
I haven’t explored the wish list until this question! Learn something new every day!
I added this design of a subdued dark green messenger bag with decorative pattern design which is very different from what I design. If it is something that I wear or an accessory, I prefer it to be plain and simple. If it is something for home use, that is another story.
Cool retro grungy dark forest green decorative pattern design.
Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?
Rusty :
I draw comic strips about the ongoing events in my life ever since I started my blog.
I love Japanese food like sushi, cha soba (a green cold noodle dish), Onigiri (Japanese rice ball formed in the shape of triangle) and the list goes on!
I can spend a whole afternoon at a bookstore browsing books in the areas of graphic designs, interior design, finance and self-improvement. Each topic can take one afternoon.
I was in the customer service industry for 6 years before exploring a career in illustration and doodles.
I am a procrastinator. Things only get done if I write them down in my organizer and keep reminding myself about them.
Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?
Rusty :
Read up on self improvement materials. Catch up on Manga. Write for my blog.
Rico:
Include links to 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.
Rusty :
Kawaii Zoo Animals Theme Baby Shower Invite - A new personal favorite is this zoo animals’ theme invitation which I created recently. It is a cartoon design of popular zoo animals consisting of elephant, lion and zebra. I like the color palette and the layout. There is also a pattern variation of this design for an organizer which got me featured on Today’s Best on Zazzle! .
Kawaii Zoo Animals Theme Baby Shower Invite by RustyDoodle
Find other Safari Invitations at zazzle.com
Kawaii Zoo Animals Theme Baby Shower Invite by RustyDoodle
View more Safari Invitations at zazzle.com
Colorful cartoon design of cute zoo animals consisting of blue elephant, orange lion and zebra. Reverse page consists of same color palette arranged in a pattern style. Design is gender neutral, making it suitable for both baby boy and girl. Make your baby shower extra special with this adorable baby shower invitation that is going to impress your guests. It is also suitable for kids theme birthday parties like safari and jungle theme. Invite can be easily personalized with your party details. Matching party favors available. Designed by Rusty Doodle.
Kawaii Underwater Theme Baby Shower Invite - I would say that this is an improved version (at least to me) for one of my earlier designs. The design consists of cute underwater animals like yellow seahorse, blue jellyfish, striped fish and pink starfish.
Kawaii Underwater Theme Baby Shower Invite by RustyDoodle
Look at Baby shower Invitations online at Zazzle.com
Kawaii Underwater Theme Baby Shower Invite by RustyDoodle
View more Baby shower Invitations at zazzle.com
Cartoon design of kawaii and colorful underwater animals consisting of yellow seahorse, blue jellyfish, striped fish and pink starfish all with big cutesy eyes! Bubbles which are attractive for kids as background. Make your little baby boy or girl's baby shower extra special with this adorable underwater animals theme baby shower invitation card that is sure to leave an impression with your guests. Easily customizable with your party details. Designed by Rusty Doodle.
Funny Cartoon: Kawaii Yellow & Brown Bee Humming Throw Pillows - While I do add my sense of humor to my designs, this cartoon of an adorable yellow and brown bee humming along is a rare one where I make use of homophone word play to come up with a meaningful message "Bee Humble". Amusing yet spreading a positive and meaningful message around.
Funny cartoon of kawaii yellow and brown stripes bee with big cutesy eyes humming along. Tagline reads "Bee Humble". The illustration is a wacky and humorous, homophone play on the words "Be Humble". Amuse your friends with this funny design and yet spread a positive and meaningful message around. Designed by Rusty Doodle.
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?
Rusty :
Zazzle has helped me to believe that my doodles have a place in the world. I was doubtful at first whether my doodles are good enough.
Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online? (Facebook, Twitter, other blog or website)
Rusty :
Rusty Doodle Blog
Rico:
Anything you'd like to ask me?
Rusty :
I like Zazzle but I am also thinking of putting them on other companies to spread the risks and widen my exposures. Hence, my question is besides Zazzle, do you upload your designs to any other companies? If the answer is yes, what are they and your level of success with them?
Rico :
There are a lot of POD's out there, most of which I have no experience with. When I started out I was with Cafe Press. I left there in 2009 when I found Zazzle. CP had made some major changes that were unfavorable to the shopkeepers. You will find many CP Refugees here at Zazzle in fact there is a Sticky "CP Refugees Check in Here!" in the New to Zazzle forum. I love Zazzle and find the community an d staff there to be the best! I still have a store at CP, but have not updated it since I joined Zazzle. I still make some sales there, which is why I never closed it.
