LITDigital Art Sales

I started my LITDigitalart Etsy shop ten years ago. After that Zazzle, Fine Art America/Pixels and Redbubble shops were added. And then Amazon Merch. I still do occasional custom pet portraits through Etsy. Digital art has exploded over the years and there are so many more options now. For every portrait that was painted, the images are used on the other websites. And I get a lot of gratification whenever an item is sold. I certainly couldn’t make a living off of the profits - but I am touched by the interest anyone might have to find my work out of the millions of images out there. Someone really likes the black German shepherd on my Amazon shop. I don’t know who it is because that information is not shared. But ever since I posted that item it has consistently sold over time. Maybe it has something to do with a dog show and orders are taken? A cat postcard was liked by someone in Ohio and another person in Virginia. A golden retriever postcard was liked by someone in Michigan. A parakeet sticker was noticed by someone in Canada. And someone from New Jersey liked the Persian dancers tote. It’s amazing how these images are now scattered literally around the world. I would never have guessed anything like this could happen. When I get an Etsy order I need to create a product and it takes a good bit of time to paint a portrait. But for the other sites it’s a simple notification and it’s a great feeling. Thanks to everyone for noticing! 

  

Time to Update Amazon Merch Digitalart

The Black German Shepherd is the most popular item in my Amazon Merch shop. Someone out there really likes it because every month a couple of TShirts  are sold in all different women, men and children sizes and colors. It’s like someone takes orders at a dog show or something. I can’t tell who it is because Amazon does not provide that level of detail. My Amazon shop is called LITS Pooches, Kitties, and other Sweet Faces. My limit was 100 items. But now that I have sold a few, my limit has been raised to 500. Unfortunately, if you don’t sell an item, it is removed after six months. And I haven’t been keeping close track of my status and just realized a lot of the items will be expiring. So that, along with the increased limit, means I need to spend a lot of time to repopulate my shop. I don’t mind it, but everything has to be done using my laptop instead of my iPad. I hate using the laptop. Plus, all the images have to be sized perfectly to meets the required file sizes. That means I need to resize all the images specific to each product, and convert them to PNG files from JPEG. It’s a rather tedious process. Additionally, Amazon has also updated the products to include phone cases and pillows. That means even more detailed sizes per product. And, there are now five or so countries that each require their own specific products. Most websites have one item uploaded for everything. So, it’s a big project in front of me and will keep me busy for quite some time. Last month I sold a Vizsla and an Eskie so they will get to stay on the website. As for all the others? I need to upload the files again and hope for a sale so they will stay on forever, and add the new portraits I painted for Christmas. And this is just one website I have... it’s no wonder I save it for last. 

LITDigitalart Christmas Pet Portraits

I’ve been painting pet portraits for over eight years using my iPad as the canvas and the stylus as my brush. It’s so much neater than watercolors, pastels and charcoal. The Christmas season always tends to be the busiest time of year. Luckily my studio travels with me, but this year was the first time we didn’t drive home for my birthday or Christmas. So I was able to spend more than the usual time getting the requests completed for the holiday deadlines. I really have to thank my repeat customers for remembering me. Many of the commissions came from folks I have done paintings for several years ago. That probably means more to me than any new customer, and the feedback on my Etsy site is so positive. With every portrait I always send the in process, ideas for digitalart options, and a PNG image that can be used if a background is not needed - like for a T-shirt. I never post the final portraits on social media until the holiday passes in the event someone might see it unexpectedly. Once the holiday is over I start to upload the portraits to Fine Art America/Pixels, Zazzle, Redbubble and Amazon Merch to sell the digitalart art images on products; Etsy to showcase my latest work; and all the other social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook Business page, Instagram, and Tumblr. Today I got an email informing me that someone in Suffolk, UK purchased a ten greeting card pack of my Cairn Terrier portrait. What a lovely way to end the year. The profits are tiny, but the idea that someone from across the ocean noticed and purchased my painting out of all the millions of images out there is thrilling. So, thank you so much for trusting my work. I really appreciate it! 

Thanks to Etsy LITDigitalart Returning Customers

One of the highest forms of flattery is getting an order from a previous customer. I’ve been painting digitalart custom pet portraits for eight years when I opened my Etsy shop. When the iPad was introduced in 2010, it reignited my love for painting. Rather than watercolors, pastels, ink and charcoal, my studio is on the iPad and travels with me - though we aren’t traveling much these days. The holiday season is typically busier than other times of the year, and memorial portrait requests are not uncommon. Last week I received three orders in one day - from customers that I worked with many years ago. I don’t need to explain the process and it feels like old friends because there is a lot of back and forth communication during the process. Selecting the best photo, suggesting several options, creating the prelim sketch, sending updates, seeking approval of the final draft, and then sending the portrait, in process compilation, suggestions for digitalart options aside from a framed image, and a PNG image in case something doesn’t require a square background are all part of the process. I always appreciate the wonderful feedback comments that are left on my Etsy shop and to me personally. Sometimes a photo of the gift is sent to me of the completed project. So thank you for remembering me. I have a portrait of our wonderful Borzoi Tatiana in our home. Every time I look at it I remember her. It feels good to share that experience. 

Redbubble and Zazzle Digitalart Sales

Painting pet portraits is fun. Painting them with my iPad is even better. I’ve been creating portraits for over eight years, when my interest in art was reignited when the iPad came around. When a portrait is completed I upload the image to four websites where a variety of products can be made. The websites include Zazzle, Pixels/Fine Art America, Redbubble, and Amazon Merch. It is with a great deal of satisfaction whenever I get notified that an item from one of these virtual shops is sold. The margins on these products is tiny, but the idea that someone out there liked an image so much to want to purchase it is simply wonderful! And the purchases come from all over the world. I do spend a lot of time every day “marketing” these shops and my website, Etsy shop, and Amazon children’s books on twitter, tumblr, and my Facebook business page. It’s like a full time job. My gallery has grown a lot over the years and every pet portrait request is special. So thank you for noticing my work - I really appreciate it!

Zazzle, Redbubble, Amazon Merch LIT DigitalArt Sales

I’ve been painting digital art pet portraits, and other Washington DC and travel scenes, since the iPad came along in 2010. Most of the portraits are uploaded to my Zazzle, Redbubble, and Amazon Merch websites. It always tickles me to get a notice when something sells - and not just that it sells out of all the millions of designs out there - but from where the orders come from. Since June, the favorite black German Shepherd T-shirt was sold eight times. All I know it’s from somewhere in the US as the fine details are not available. A Redbubble set of mugs with Birman cats went to Surry, England. A Redbubble American Eskimo face mask was purchased in Connecticut. And a Zazzle Persian mosaic tote bag went to California. Aside from those, I sent a Vizsla face mask to my daughter in law in Virginia, and an Iran teahouse coaster set and mugs to a friend recuperating from major surgery in England. Every day I use social media to market my shops, which also include Etsy Pixels/Fine Art America, and my own Wordpress website. It’s like a full time job, but more like a hobby since the sales generate very little. Regardless, I’m still amazed when someone likes something enough to want to purchase it and share it - from all over the world. What more could anyone ask for? Thanks so much for noticing!

LITDigitalArt Custom Pet Portraits for Christmas

When the first IPad was introduced back in 2010 I was immediately on board and waited anxiously for it to be delivered. I’m now on my fourth iPad and the main reason I use an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil is because I like the bigger size, and I love to draw. Drawing and painting wasn’t the main reason for the iPad initially,  it I found an app for drawing - by mistake - downloaded it and have never gone back. Since 2012 I started an Etsy shop primarily to do custom pet portraits. When the first order for a Vizsla came in from Oregon, I was ecstatic. Now I have shops on Zazzle, Redbubble, Pixels/Fine art America, and Amazon - along with several social media sites. I started this blog around 2006 and have tried to keep it updated on a daily basis - whether we are in town or on travel. Some of the entries, like this one, refer to my digital art. This is the busiest time of the year for requests for customers for portraits for Christmas gifts. I really appreciate the folks who know it takes a while to prepare, then paint, the portrait and request the order at least six weeks to two months in advance. Because it is impossible to do them all by the holiday due date, I will at least provide a sketch with an IOU to complete it as soon as possible. After all, I need to maintain a bit of sanity in my life and take time to do what everybody does at this time of year. Without the iPad I’m not so sure I would have ever gone down this route. It’s been a great hobby since I retired three years ago, and kept me very busy while I was still working. So, thank you for all the orders over the last many years. I really appreciate it! If you are interested in a custom portrait, please contact me at LITDigitalart@gmail.com