Once in a while, you create an image your reeeaaallly like.
"Jaguar Sunset"
A few years ago I painted a 3 foot tall cat statue for a charity auction. It was titled Little Cat's Four Season Fantasy. Each side featured the different seasons of the year.
It was the second one I painted, the previous statue having sold at auction for $1100. So of COURSE they nicely asked me to paint another! I was happy to help, since it was for C.A.T.S., Committed Alliance to Strays.
But since I donated it to charity - and seeing as how I loved some of the images on it - I decided to photograph them for my own collection. This fantasy setting of the jaguar swimming in a cool pool at sunset was one of my favorites.
To put it into context, here is the completed
3 ft tall statue from different angles:
(can click on any images to enlarge)
(can click on any images to enlarge)
But how do I translate that into a product to offer collectors??
Here's what I did.
It all started with a nekkid statue:
Underpainting getting started:
Giving him some spots:
Continuing around the jaguar:
All done:
So how does he look when you put his image onto products? I found a site that does "POD" (print on demand) and I'm very happy with their quality. Here are some of the things they can do with my jaguar. I was so tickled when I saw these for the first time!
This is the main page for my "Jaguar Sunset"
And here is how he looks on a throw pillow.
The newest to join the product line is this cute Tote bag
I think the metal prints are cool!
They even have smart phone case covers.
Naturally there are also greeting cards, framed prints, canvas prints, and posters.
And there you have it. From blank white statue to all kinds of fun stuff to put your image on.
I hope you found this interesting. I sure had fun seeing my little jaguar on all these items. If you have any questions about Fine Art America (FAA), the folks who do my printing, just give a holler in the comments and I'd be glad to share my experiences.
Now, imagine something YOU created. If you have paintings, images of your creative endeavors, or photographs that you'd like to have printed, I can wholeheartedly recommend FAA. You have your original, yes. But by creating "multiples" of your efforts, you can offer your art to more people in many more forms, including gift giving.
If you try FineArtAmerica, I'd love to hear how it went for you. :-)
Thanks for reading,
Retta
Beautiful work. I think I'm going to have to get one of the jaguar totes for my sister as part of her Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMostly I just wanted to commend you on taking a step to make money with your art and give you a vote of confidence. I have been selling my work in the form on graphic design and graphic design for web forever. I recently began to give serious thought to selling more illustration (and prompted by my husband to maybe open an Etsy store once I have enough illustration amassed).
It's fun and helpful for me to see someone who I've been following as a food blogger for years do this. Good job girl. :)
Oh, thank you so much, Oct. This is encouraging to me to read! I'm so new at it, and I've been totally enjoying the process. We JUST came out with t-shirts, and I learned how to make a PNG. ha ha, nuthin new to you!
DeleteDo you have a link to your graphic images store?? I'd love for you to share it here in the comments. And let me know if you start an Etsy store. I adore browsing at Etsy, and would enjoy writing a post featuring you and your new store.
It's not false flattery, you earned my praise with good work.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an illustration store yet. My website design isn't in a store since it's done custom for each client and not sold to anyone else. I worked for an advertising agency for years and have only been doing my own thing since 2012. It's scary but so rewarding too!
The illustration shop on Etsy is a new dream but I'm sure it will happen as I amass work. It will be so cool to have residual income from illustrations that can be sold again and again. You are an inspiration for that so thank you for being the sweet person you are (I can tell you like to share and help others with what you know… I like to share what I know and give others a little boost too. :))
Aww, sweet of you to say.
DeleteIf you want to test the waters, you could set up a free web page for your illustrations that you can sell at Fine Art America. That's where I got mine from. The free account allows up to 25 images, and you can put each on a myriad of things: prints (my favorite is the metal print), greeting cards, throw pillows, totes and more (as you know).
Anyway, I've found it very motivating to see my "stuff" up for sale on the website! There is still the marketing thing to do (which I'm still trying to figure out), but the actual printing and fulfillment is done by FAA. They allow you to set your own profit margin, not like a lot of places that tell you what your percent will be. Right now their "sister" site, Pixels.com is revving up by adding new products on a regular basis. So eventually, FineArtAmerica will be the "fine art" place, and Pixels.com will be the "gift shop" for your art on merchandise.
I'm so busy with all this, my husband is pouting I'm not in the kitchen baking (sugar free) desserts! Well, I'd rather be makin art! LOL