Ultra Fractal 5 Released!

Golden Web

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

(available exclusively at Dreamstime)

A new version of Ultra Fractal is now available! UF5 is ready for download at the Ultra Fractal website. Since this is my primary software for creating fractals, I'm very excited about seeing what new features will be introduced. I'm also very interested in upgrading to the animation version of UF5. Even though it is a little more expensive, I've never been disappointed in anything that UF has offered. We'll see what the learning curve is in creating animation as I've never done anything like that.

Taking Stock on Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Candy Mountain

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

As I start painting again, I'm reassessing my microstock strategy. When I first started working in microstock, I thought I would try to upload to as many sites as possible to make the best of the finite number of images that I have created. One of the sites went under (Lucky Oliver--went out of business last month after I had already pulled out). One hasn't panned out like I would have liked and isn't really worth the effort to upload. (Fotolia--they don't like my style of art, either fractal or vector and I've made less than $100 in a year) Stock Xpert is a newer site for me and I'll give it a little time before judging and Big Stock Photo which isn't doing much. (I'm stuck in BSP, regardless, for 3 months from the last upload, as per their contract)

Now, my thought is to just concentrate on a select few sites and for now, they are Shutterstock, Dreamstime and StockXpert. Shutterstock and StockXpert take virtually everything I upload. Dreamstime is a little pickier but sales are going okay. And I've started trying to upload some exclusive images to them. I figure if they reject them, I can still send them to SS and SX and if they take them, I receive a higher commission. It's just a test to see how it works out. If I can limit how much time I spend keywording and uploading, I will have more time to work on art away from the computer.

Now, totally off the subject, my older daughter turned 22 yesterday so a belated Happy Birthday, Samantha!

Art for Art's Sake

White Vase

aka--My First Oil Painting

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

This was the first painting I did in my BCC painting class a couple of years ago. I haven't kept up with painting at all since then but I find I'm missing it. I stopped by the BCC student gallery yesterday and dropped off a couple of digital pieces for their upcoming "Creative Expressions Show". I will be working there this fall after classes start. Being in the gallery was like coming home. I've been doing temporary office work this summer and I'd much rather be around art, even though it doesn't pay as well (in my experience, that is!). While there, I purchased a couple of canvas boards and a small canvas and maybe I can convince myself to actually use them. Procrastination, fueled by fear, is one of my greatest challenges!

Taking Stock on Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Egg

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

I've been so busy this month that I have hardly uploaded any new work to my microstock portfolios. Shutterstock, of course, is reflecting that in lower downloads but Dreamstime is going great! To my amazement, I have gotten 2 enhanced license downloads on DT in the past week. They are the first I've gotten there since I've been on the site. What a boost to the account! This just proves to me that it's best not to put all my eggs in one basket. It also shows that I should be continuing to upload, at least a little, on an ongoing basis.

Happy Father's Day

Popcorn 005

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

A very happy Father's Day to my father, my father-in-law and my husband, all who are wonderful family men and deserve many wonderful days!

Business Plans

Country Home

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

I've started seriously working on my business plans. I bought a display system for any shows that I manage to get into this fall and have it set up in our living room. It's quite the monstrosity and I will have to practice setting it up and taking it down by myself, so if I don't have help at a show, I'll still manage okay. I've been researching shows and got a lot of advice from Julie at Creative Genius this week when I took a handful of greeting cards into the shop. She directed me to the display system vendor, Graphic Display Systems, and I am happy with the setup.

Taking Care of Business

Halloween Mask

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

I've deliberated over the weekend about redoing the CFA website and decided against doing it. I'm so busy right now with trying to develop a business plan that would actually work, as well as temping and all the other things I'm obligated to do that I don't feel like I could give it my all. Doing someone else's website doesn't exactly fit in with where I want my business to go. But I was able to provide another resource for the CFA; the website development business of a friend of my husband: Jag-WebDesign. He does good work with specific package prices so there are no surprises in what is included or charged.

I will still work on learning Dreamweaver. First thing I'd like to do with it is revamp my own site. Part of my business plan also includes getting some of my printed art into local galleries and gift shops and participating in a couple of art fairs and shows this fall. So I have to make prints, order supplies, cut mats and frame my work. I also need to get some display walls for the shows. I'm enjoying the process of planning and find that having specific goals to be a great help in defeating, or at least hindering, procrastination.