Sunset through trees - an original pastel painting

My initial reason for joining Zazzle was to try a make a little cash from my paintings; these were the images which I used in my early days with this Print-On-Demand company.  Alas, the best laid plans do not always work out as you hoped. I soon found out that success on this site was not simply dependent on having good original images. Like most things you need to work at it, hence this blog. However, I guess I am not terribly good at promotional work. Most of my sales have been products with photographic or cartoon images. Am I despondent? Of course not! I am too much in love with painting to worry over whether I can make money from it. I have sold several at exhibitions, but then I am always sorry to lose them. I often wonder if they end up in someone's garden shed or worse yet, maybe even the local rubbish tip.

But I keep trying - in my own way to put forward the images on Zazzle products, maybe I will strike lucky one day. Or perhaps when I am not here, my artistic merit (ahem!!!) will be recognised and my family will see a benefit. So here is a reminder of a painting, one which I am very fond of. I used a photograph, as a reference for this sunset, which a friend had posted onto a web page. Sometimes, I wonder if my sunsets are a little too colourful but then I see something like this - nature is wonderful.The first product is a printed canvas - a range of sizes are available with prices to match.

Sunset thru' trees wrapped canvas gallery wrap canvas by PastelsByArtyfax
Browse Sunset Canvas Prints online at Zazzle.com

Or what about a postcard? Or a greeting card? I even do mugs with this image and will be happy to try to put the image of this paiting or any other on any Zazzle product. Just leave me a message in the comment section.

Postcard,Sunset thru trees postcard by PastelsByArtyfax
See more Sunset Postcards

Pastel landscapes on Zazzle

I am posting here some recent pastel paintings which I have uploaded to Zazzle, they are not on many products at the moment but will soon be found on many of the products in Zazzles product range. If you particularly like an image but would like to see it on something which isn't yet available, please let me know and I will oblige as quickly as possible. It would be best to contact me via my Zazzle account (profile). Let me bring you some of my recent artwork:-

Storm Gallery Wrapped Canvas by PastelsByArtyfax
Browse Blue Canvas Prints

red sky blue village stretched canvas print by PastelsByArtyfax
Check out more Sunset Canvas Prints at Zazzle

Road Through The Valley - wrapped canvas Canvas Prints by PastelsByArtyfax
Print your own canvas at Zazzle

October Dawn Gallery Wrap Canvas by PastelsByArtyfax
Browse other Red Canvas Prints

I hope that you enjoy these paintings, and that you might consider even a postcard from my store; but it isn't a pre-requisite; if you simply want to browse the store and enjoy the art please free to do so with my best wishes.

New Pillow Designs On Zazzle

I am still adding to the portfolio of designs on my Zazzle account: these three are digital designs. From a photograph of a red leaf bract on a pieris plant, I created a kaleidoscopic design using Photo Shop from a tutorial by Helen Bradley which I found on the web.

I then used the ability to change hue and saturation to create this design in three different colours. I have put these onto ipad covers and computer and messenger bags - so far. Today, I have created designs on throw pillows which I am posting here.

Red Kaleidoscopic Abstract by ArtyfaxProducts
Shop for another pillow.

Blue Kaleidoscopic Abstract Throw Pillow by ArtyfaxProducts
Browse Zazzle for a different pillow.

yellow kaleidoscopic abstract pillow by ArtyfaxProducts
Look at other Kaleidoscopic Pillows at zazzle.com

I will be adding these design to other products asap, if you are interested in any particular product please leave a comment here and I will endeavour to aadd the design to that product as a priority.

Greeting cards on Zazzle

I wish I knew what sells on Zazzle. Have I said that before?

I guess it is just necessary to keep plugging away. And here are a few cards which I have in my card shop on Zazzle. New additions arriving (?) regularly, at least I do try to keep adding different designs to build up the number of designs available.

African Sunset Greeting Card by artyfax
Browse Sunset Cards

Hero Blue mixed media collage Greeting Cards by artyfax
Add your photos and text to blank greeting cards at Zazzle

it's a long road birthday card by artyfax
See other Greeting Cards

red sunset birthday card by artyfax
Design custom note cards online at Zazzle.

I have now started a page on Facebook to try and promote my Zazzle stores, I would appreciate your visit and possibly a like, they seem to be important for some reason. And don't forget my Zazzle lenses on Squidoo. They can all be reached via a directory lens (=lensography), but for a rundown of my first steps on Zazzle, try this one, in which I document how I learnt a few home truths while starting a store.

Vintage Mothers Day Cards

Wow, sure is hard to make posts here regularly - I really must try to gee myself up. With the latest new poetry blog I now have seven on the go and I am writing articles on one or two web-sites. I am going to have to start to make a concerted effort to rationalise and plan my on-line activities.

Do you find that you spend too much time on forums without doing anything really positive ..... thats me; always procrastinating. I read rather than get down to doing that which I should be doing. A much more positive approach is needed.

Ok, enough self-development, what have I been doing on Zazzle?

I made a set of St Patricks Day cards and begorrah, I sold 24 of one design. A nice little earner.

Mothers' Day in the USA in 2012 is Sunday May 13th and a few weeks ago I started to create some mothers day cards with a view to possibly getting a few sales for this holiday. So far I have sold one card. That isn't going to make me rich. It is a small victory however, and I will be looking for more opportunities to create cards and expand my portfolio.  Like everything else on the internet, you need lots of "stuff" to even stand a chance. I am also trying to improve my SEO understanding to bring more visitors to the Zazzle store as well as my other web-sites.

Here are a sample of the vintage cards that I have in the store:

Vintage mother and daughter greeting card by ArtyfaxCards
Shop for a different greeting card template online at zazzle

Happy mothers day greeting card by ArtyfaxCards
make your own greeting cards online at Zazzle.

Of course not being sexist, I am also putting together a set of vintage fathers day cards, June 17th in the USA. Here is an examples of this set I have designed so far:

Vintage gentleman fathers day card by ArtyfaxCards
create a card designs on Zazzle

All the cards can be customised by changing or adding/subtracting any text and sentiments to make the cards personal. You can even add your own photographs.