Interview with Dalia Tenenbaum, aka yarijik

 Dalia Tenenbaum, aka yarijik

Rico:
What's Your Name?

My name is Dalia Tenenbaum, aka yarijik

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Dalia Tenenbaum :

Beautiful Things for Beautiful People gift shop

"Beautiful things for beautiful people" is all about photography, mainly nature and animals from all over the world. Some of them where taken by me and some - by my spouse.

Graphiking gift shop

"Graphiking" is about Illustrations. I love to draw and this is where I let my creativity burst out. There are monsters, holidays illustrations, romance and loads of other cute images.

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Dalia Tenenbaum :

Since 2009, if I'm correct, but I really started seriously using it only a year ago.

Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Dalia Tenenbaum :

I am and it happened only recently... i guess you cant really get there if it's not a goal.

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

Dalia Tenenbaum :

Do, do, do, create, create, create!

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

Dalia Tenenbaum :

It is mainly a Photoshop for my photos; Pen and paper + Illustrator for my graphics.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Dalia Tenenbaum :

Nature, animals, special events like annual holidays, kids and their toys; cartoons and colors.

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

Dalia Tenenbaum :

It is usually depends on the everyday events. Up untill now I would spent an hour or two a week... and that was the best case scenario :)

A few months ago I became a full time freelance illustrator and it gave me an opportunity to invest some more time in Zazzle too, so right now it stand on 2-3 hours a day, not including image creation itself.

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

Dalia Tenenbaum :

Read the forum before you do anything. It can save a newbie a lot of extra and unnecessary work in the future.

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

Dalia Tenenbaum :

I love watching movies!!! And usually I watch something while creating or uploading. Also I love traveling and hiking; I live in Israel, it's a beautiful county and I try walk it as much as possible.

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

Dalia Tenenbaum :

1. I always look at the full half of the glass.

2. I have a natural blond-reddish hair.

3. I love to figure skate.

4. I want to illustrate a children book next year.

5. I prefer to be.

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

Dalia Tenenbaum :

Illustration of a Cute round creature with flowers Cat Water Bowl

Illustration of a Cute round creature with flowers by graphiking
Browse Creature Pet Bowls

I created this one as an exercise to see what can be possibly created from a simple circle. Can't help it, I think this creature is absolutely adorable, it makes me smile each time I see it.




Singing chick coffee mugs

Singing chick by graphiking
View more Singing Mugs

This cute singing bird is one of the first images I ever uploaded to Zazzle. It;s just so positive and cute!!!



Jack o’lantern with dry tree and a moon bag

Jack o’lantern with dry tree and a moon by graphiking
View other Jack Bags

This Jack o'lantern with a dry tree was created,obviously, for Halloween. Somehow it looks just right to me.

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



Mushrooms and blue butterfly t-shirt

Mushrooms and blue butterfly by graphiking
Join one of the biggest artist affiliate programs

Rico: This is adorable! I love the colors.

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?

Dalia Tenenbaum :

You can find me on Weekly Doodles Blog , where I write about illustration and report y development as one.

See my additional work on Flicker

This is my ShutterStock gallery Shutterstock

And of course, the Twitter

Interview with Debi Cady of DebiCady

Debi Cady's mini dachshund Ringo



Rico:
What's Your Name?

Debi Cady :

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Debi Cady :

 
DebiCady

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Debi Cady :

Since 2010 (can't remember which month) Rico: Are you a ProSeller?

Debi Cady :

No, but hopefully one day I will be!

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

Debi Cady :

Hmm... I really didn't get much advice from anybody, to be honest.

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

Debi Cady :

I do most of my illustrations in ink or digital paint. I occasionally dabble in photography as well.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?

Debi Cady :

So many things! God, nature, colors, music, literature, architecture... far too many things to list here.

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

Debi Cady :

It depends. Some weeks it's only an hour or two, but when I have a new design to post I spend a lot more time there.

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

Debi Cady :

Post your designs on as many products as you can (as long as they will look good on them), and post as many designs as you can, as long as they are designs you are happy with. Don't be discouraged if you don't make sales right away, eventually you will. Stay positive, and look into as many different marketing ideas as you can.

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

Debi Cady :

Knit, sew (although I consider these things to be art too), play with my dog, read, learn foreign languages, dance, sing, spend time with family and friends, watch movies.

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

Debi Cady :

I am a Christian (although you could probably tell that from some of my art)
I absolutely adore animals!
I love learning about other cultures and languages - I speak Chinese (Mandarin), basic Russian, and I'm learning Korean. I also know a smattering of a bunch of other languages.
If I weren't an artist, I would love to be involved in costume or fashion design.
I used to work as a Chinese>English translator before I decided to focus on my art.

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

Debi Cady :

It's so hard to choose, because in one way or another they are all my favorites! But here are three I think turned out particularly well (I'm linking to the greeting/note cards, but they are all available on other products too):

Our Lady of Guadalupe:

Our Lady of Guadalupe Card by DebiCady
See other Mary Cards

The original illustration is the size of a baseball card, yet I think it is one of my best. It's also one of my best sellers ^-^ I have always loved reading the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, it's very beautiful.

Emelya and the Magic Pike:

Emelya and the Magic Pike Card by DebiCady
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This is an illustration from my book, "Dachshund Furry Tails: Russia". The story is about a very lazy boy who catches a pike, and is planning to eat it, but the pike tells him if he sets it free it will grant him any wish he may have. Aside from it being a very cool fairy tale, I like this illustration because the pike reminds me of my grandfather, who passed away years ago - he used to hunt and fish a lot, and that was one of the fish he often caught. Also, I just really like the way this illustration turned out ^-^.

The Snow Maiden (Red Version):

Snow Maiden (Red Version) Card by DebiCady
Make a greeting card design at Zazzle

The Snow Maiden is another fairy tale I really love, it's about a childless couple who make themselves a daughter out of snow, and she comes to life. This illustration is a new version I did, with the Snow Maiden dressed in white and red, I also offer another version where she is dressed in blue. I am very happy with both versions.

Rico: 

This is one of my personal favorite designs from your shop

Christmas Dachshund (Ver.1) Card

Christmas Dachshund (Ver.1) Card by DebiCady
Shop for greeting cards at zazzle.com

Ringo is just too cute to resist!

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online?




Debi Cady :My Cafe Press store
My Red Bubble Store
My Blog

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

 

Interview with Peter Guckes aka Greendeer

Peter Guckes aka Greendeer










Rico:
What's Your Name?
 
Peter Guckes

Rico:
List your shop(s) -

Peter Guckes
I have one shop on zazzle, greendeer

Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?

Peter Guckes
I joined zazzle in february, so I am rather new to this. This may be the reason I didn’t sell much yet, which means I am far from being a ProSeller. Still hope to make it one day.

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

Peter Guckes
When I started at zazzle, I thought all I had to do was upload my designs and wait for the sales. In the forum I found out that it is a lot of work and you have to promote to get noticed. The people in the forum are so helpful, it is amazing!

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

Peter Guckes
I make my drawings with a paintbrush and ink and add the colour digitally. I do other things, too but for the store I decided to stay with this style of illustrations.

Rico:
Who or what inspires you?
 
Peter Guckes
Inspiration is not a problem – I just make pictures of my fellow animals here in the wood and put them on t-shirts – who knows where ideas come from anyway? It is a rather mysterious process …

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

Peter Guckes
I spend as much time on zazzle as possible, still as I don’t sell much I have to do something for a living. But a few hours every day are usual for me.

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

Peter Guckes
My advice to new zazzlers is to be patient. I had no idea how big this is when I started. Thousands of shops, billions of products. It takes very very much time to get noticed and I’m not there yet, so it may be better not to take my advice and ask a more successful shopkeeper ;-)

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

Peter Guckes
I don’t draw animals all the time, I am a deer, so I do deer things like roaming the wood, eating leaves, belling, that kind of occupations …

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

Peter Guckes
Being asked for things everyone should know about me confuses me. I am not a person everyone needs to know about, I’m just a simple green animal. I’d like many people to know I do illustrations and have a zazzle store (which anyone who reads this might have guessed by know), I also do other things like photography and play music (sometimes), You won’t find me on facebook and I am left-hooved.

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

Peter Guckes
Picking 3 favorite designs isn't easy, as all of those creatures mean a lot to me, so don't be upset if you're not included, folks:

Gotowork coffee mug

gotowork by greendeer

This is one of the first animals I did in this style, long before I found out about zazzle. The simplicity and expression make it still one of my favourite.

Yeti t shirt

yeti by greendeer

The yeti is a close friend who always helped ma out when i got into snow trouble

Porcupine t shirts

porcupine by greendeer

This shirt got a TBA (what ever that is), I’m quite proud of the porcupine drawing as it has that quiet madness I was going for...

Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online? 

Peter Guckes

Who ever likes my work might want to have a look into my blog at deer prudence where you can read little stories about these creatures.