About Lisa

Lisa is a professional Zazzler (‘Zazzler’ is a term generally used to mention Zazzle’s artist-cum-entrepreneur). And she is one of Zazzle’s ProSellers, one to top money makers in Zazzle.

She has these 4 stores on Zazzle:
LisaMarieArt Web Store at http://www.zazzle.com/lisamarieart*
LisaMarieDesign at http://www.zazzle.com/lisamariedesign*
BawlingBunny at http://www.zazzle.com/bawlingbunny*
Snapikat at http://www.zazzle.com/snapikat*

My personal experience with Lisa: she’s been helpful in solving my problem in Zazzle’s forum.

Here’s how Lisa describes herself in her Facebook’s profile:

I’m addicted to painting. My main style of work is fun and whimsical where cats are the main focus. I use this style as a way to express my humour and wit.

I love experimenting with different art materials and artwork styles.

Although I have a plethora of art materials cluttering my shelves, including pencils, watercolour, inks and pastels, I prefer using acrylic as a whole.

I mainly paint whimsical cats but I do indulge in other animal artwork when the mood takes me.

I’m also partial to a bit of photography.

Lisa’s Facebook fan-page is at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Marie-Art-Illustration/57616060135

Interview

Vipul:
Lisa for this interview, including me, there are 5 people on the interview panel today. I’ll continue with the suspense and will reveal them as the interview progresses.

Lisa, tell us about yourself. Are you a full-time artist? Are you self-employed?

Lisa:
I don’t really know what I call myself! I’m self employed, mainly selling art over the Internet. As well as that I sell around 10 paintings to an art gallery in Whitby, UK every 2 to 3 months.

I work from home. Still live with my parents as the housing market here is tough and money is tight. Over the past year I’ve turned to Zazzle to explore other creative outlets and hopefully increase my income.

I’ve been painting my whole life but only became serious about it this past year or so after I left my previous job.

Vipul:
Lisa, I’d a great time browsing through your Zazzle store http://www.zazzle.com/lisamarieart* and your blog at http://lisa-marieart.com/blog. Apart from these, as part of your online presence you have 3 more Zazzle stores, a store each on RedBubble, eBay and Etsy, and the venture Purrfect Gifts. Tell me something about your online journey, how did it begin, when did you start each of these ventures.

Lisa:
Well, where do I start? I started eBay in 2006 as a hobby, a test if you like, to see if anyone out there would actually want to buy my art. I was still at my job (sports retail) then and I was quite surprised when I sold my first piece … an ACEO of a falcon. I hadn’t really done any ‘serious’ art since getting my art degree in 2000 so I didn’t really know how it would go. I sketched and painted for myself, but not for someone else. Now that I’m self employed, eBay makes up around 1/3 of my income.

I started selling on Etsy in November 2008. eBay had started to change their policies and fees, and I was thinking about closing up shop so to speak. Etsy became my way out but I don’t put as much up for sale on Etsy as I would like to. I’m hoping that will change this year so that eBay is less prominent.

Vipul:
That is interesting to know, that eBay’s contribution is one third. I was going thru your blog and came across that excellent article you wrote “What is ACEO: A Brief Introduction” at http://lisa-marieart.com/blog/view_post/the-artbox/3/what-is-aceo-a-brief-introduction/10.

That helped the art novice in me learn a new thing. Yes, please continue …

Lisa:
Thank you! eBay used to be more like 3/4 of my income but as I say, they changed. It’s getting harder to sell over there.

Where was I? Ah yes! Zazzle and RedBubble arrived in my life at almost the same time. I think I joined RedBubble in April 2008, Zazzle shortly after in July.

Like Etsy, eBay was to blame for the addition to my online ventures and I’m rather glad it happened.

Zazzle is by far more successful than RedBubble at the moment but I’m working on that.

Vipul:
At present what is the contribution like, from these 4 online avenues … eBay’s is one third … and the others …

Lisa:
Etsy is none existent at the moment, I think my last sale was in October last year … I’m lucky if I get much from RedBubble … I think the easiest way to explain is if we discount RedBubble and Etsy … . It’s about a third eBay, third Zazzle, third Whitby. Zazzle is slowly working its way to be my main earner though.

Vipul:
For a Zazzler, it’d be heartening to know that Zazzle has this kind of a potential when stacked against other avenues … interesting to know this Lisa.

Lisa:
I must admit, I was a little sceptical when I first joined but after reading the forums and becoming friends with so many prosellers I realised the potential. You only get out what you put in, so I’m working hard to promote and add designs every day if I can.

Lori Malibuitalian:
As a child, were you artistic or is that something that developed as you grew older?

Lisa:
I’ve always been artistic. I still have the first painting I ever did. It was painted when I was 3 and is a picture of my mum. Ever since then my pencils and paintbrushes have been surgically attached to my hands.

Lynn-Marie:
And Lisa, were you encouraged at a young age to be creative?

Lisa:
I’m lucky to come from a family who are very loving and believe in encouraging you with whatever you choose to pursue. When I was growing up I couldn’t wait to show my parents my newest creation … I still do it now! I always show them what I’ve been up to and my dad is my worst critic!

Vipul:
Wow, that’s so sweet!

Lori Malibuitalian:
Do you think formal training is a MUST or do you think you would have achieved your success regardless of your education level?

Lisa:
That’s a tough one Lori! I’m not sure. Ability wise I don’t think that it would have made a difference, but I do think that studying art and design did kind of make me realise that it was the right route to travel. In fact, if it wasn’t for a certain lecturer telling me that I wouldn’t be successful, I don’t think I’d be here trying to prove her wrong!

Vipul:
Also it’d (ed. formal education) have helped you increase your repertoire, in terms of the different materials you can use or your knowledge of handling different media, ain’t it Lisa … or it wouldn’t have made that much difference …

Lisa:
Wow, I’m having real difficulty answering this one for some reason … If I didn’t go to college etc, I don’t know whether I’d still be where I am now, knowing what I know … if you know what I mean. I didn’t travel down the other route so I can’t really say what would’ve happened. It’s like not knowing if a tree makes a sound when it falls if no one is there.

Vipul:
Oh ok, then in a way it answers the question Lisa … that the interest in art would have found the path to each of the knowledge you have. For someone like me, who is not formally trained, I felt the answer would have been all for formal education for the knowledge part, but in a way I understand what you mean.

Lisa:
That’s good. I find it difficult to express how I feel through words. Painting does that for me … I’m glad you understood.

Ruth Jamieson:
How are you inspired to create a painting? (also Lynn-Marie, Briana Blair had this question for you)

Lisa:
How am I inspired? It can be literally anything. I may have been watching a TV show, something I hear in the street, family, the news, dreams what happened at breakfast … I do have my days where the inspiration is there but I’m just not in the mood… something I’m having a lot of lately. When that happens I make sure I jot anything which made an impact on me during the day down so that I can work on it later.

Lori Malibuitalian:
What is your favorite medium to use to create your art and why?

Lisa:
Acrylic because if you make a mistake it can be easily corrected! I make tonnes of mistakes.

Ruth Jamieson:
I would like to know how you came to find your focus on animals and their engaging antics.

Lisa:
Animals have always played a big part in my life so it was only natural that they would be the main focus of my art. Since being little I’ve always had pets. Cats, rabbits, hamsters, fish, rats … I just love animals. The antics of the animals in my paintings are a little hint to one side of my personality!

Vipul:
Let me mention the excellent post you’ve written “How I Paint An ACEO” at http://lisa-marieart.com/blog/view_post/the-artbox/3/how-i-paint-an-aceo/49. It was great to see your one such artwork coming to life there.

Briana Blair:
When you create a piece for your shop, is it fairly spontaneous, and you just run with it, or do you plan each design in advance?

Lisa:
My mind tends to wander a lot so around 3/4 of what I do is spontaneous. I get an idea in my head and I go with it. I’ll do one sketch to get it down on paper, but I very rarely do any more than that before painting it up. I’ll make changes as I paint and I very rarely know what colours I’m going to use until I have my paint brush in hand.

Lori Malibuitalian:
How long does it take you to finish a drawing once you have started it?

Lisa:
It varies. My ACEOs usually take around 2-4 hours depending on the complexity. Canvases take usually take around 8 hours upwards depending on the size.

Ruth Jamieson:
What is the one most important tip you would give an emerging artist for their art career?

Lisa:
Keep drawing, keep painting, never give up, and always strive to better yourself with each new piece of artwork. You are your own worst critic, remember that and success will come.

Vipul:
Thank you so much for your time Lisa … this interview is now in its 3rd hour … appreciate it. Now its time for the quickfire round, I’ll ask you 5 Q’s in quick succession, so here goes.

Lisa:
Okay, fire away!

Vipul:
How many cats do you have?

Lisa:
None at the moment. I would like to own one again some day.

Vipul:
And I thought looking at all your artwork you must be having at least 5-6. You like playing bass guitar, which song do you like playing the most?

Lisa:
The cats thing gets people everytime! … Bass? I love playing Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing.

Vipul:
Which one is your favorite work?

Lisa:
This one http://www.zazzle.com/sheep_dreams_fantasy_cat_art_print-228514913405822255?gl=lisamarieart&rf=238422722583517014 because it’s full of my favourite things … sheep, cats, mice and sleeping!

Sheep Dreams Fantasy Cat Art Print by LisaMarieArt
View other posters at Zazzle

Vipul:
For promotion, what have you found to be the most effective?

Lisa:
It’s hard to say. I haven’t really looked at the stats in detail yet but at a pinch I’d probably say my website, closely followed by Squidoo.

Vipul:
What is the most recent thing you’ve learned?

Lisa:
My Wacom Bamboo. Up until Christmas I’ve done all of my digital and vector art with my mouse so I’m having fun getting to grip with my new toy.

Vipul:
Is “Miniature Art On a Playing Card” at http://lisa-marieart.com/blog/view_post/art-general-news/1/miniature-art-on-a-playing-card/41 the most interesting medium you’ve used for painting or have you bettered that.

Lisa:
That’s as adventurous as I’ve gotten so far … I like surprising people though so you never know!

Vipul:
Lisa, this was the last of the questions. Thank you so much for your time … all 160 minutes of it.

Lisa:
The pleasure was mine! Or rather it was my pleasure!

Vipul:
You’ve made this interview a memorable one for me … and I’m sure everyone would love it as much as I’ve enjoyed taking this interview.

I could sense that apart from being a wonderful artist, you are also a wonderful person, thank you so much for your time! Appreciate it!

Lisa:
I’m blushing now and you’re very welcome! It was a refreshing change from my usual routine.

Vipul:
Thank you once again, from the whole panel! We wish you All the Very Best with your Art and your Zazzling!

Lisa:
Thank you! I’d like to thank the panels for taking time out and coming up with all the questions. You all made it an unforgettable experience!

Lisa’s stores on Zazzle

• LisaMarieArt Web Store at http://www.zazzle.com/lisamarieart*
• LisaMarieDesign at http://www.zazzle.com/lisamariedesign*
• BawlingBunny at http://www.zazzle.com/bawlingbunny*
• Snapikat at http://www.zazzle.com/snapikat*

Interview Panels

• Vipul Sharma http://www.zazzle.com/renascencepub*
• Lori Malibuitalian http://www.zazzle.com/malibuitalian*
• Lynn-Marie Gildersleeve http://www.zazzle.com/lasgalenarts*
• Ruth Jamieson http://www.zazzle.com/dequilla*
• Briana Blair http://www.zazzle.com/mandalamagic*

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