New Job

Retro Rainbow Burst

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

I've finally started working at the BCC Student Art Gallery. Since I'll be working part time, as well as taking 2 classes, I don't expect to be submitting to microstock as much as I did this summer. I'm glad I pushed my uploads as much as I did last month. One of my classes is the first in the Graphic Design and Digital Media program. My other class, cultural anthropology, is online and should also be interesting.

A Shutterstock Milestone

Blue Bunny

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

I'm trying my hand at cartooning again, although I'm still not very good at it. My characters seem to lack a certain liveliness that I appreciate in good cartoons. But I remain hopeful that practice is the best way to improve on this. My daughters say that this blue bunny is actually a teddy bear who wants to be a bunny so I obviously have some work to do!

But the better news is that I reached a new payment tier at Shutterstock and got a raise starting this morning. I had hoped I would reach it before the fall sales cycle started and am gratified that all the uploading has paid off. Now I'm ready for fall!

Taking Stock on Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Textured Background

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

The image above started as a photo of clouds on a blue sky background. I've been playing in Photoshop with brushes, art history brushes and filters to create different style artworks, some of which started as photos. They are mostly textured background images, which are a dime a dozen in microstock. But it's fun and will be interesting to see if any of them sell. So far, August sales over all are looking pretty dismal. But as long as I am learning new techniques in the realm of digital imagery, I'm happy.

New Adventures Ahead

Retro Rainbow Background

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

Summer is rapidly winding down and new adventures lie ahead. I've signed up for a couple of classes at BCC to start working toward an AAS degree in graphic design. Since I'm a student, I qualify for working in the BCC student-run art gallery and will be starting in a couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to earning a little to supplement my microstock earnings, which aren't rising as much as I hoped they would. Maybe Labor Day will signal not only classes starting, but also the beginning of fall purchasing for microstock buyers.

Taking Stock on Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Native Pottery

copyright (c) Joan Kerrigan

I'm spending time learning to process photos for microstock and haven't been uploading as many fractals and virtually no vectors. So my position in the marathon is slipping. But some good things are on the horizon. Dreamstime has finally implemented its new commission structure. And by the end of August, I will have earned a raise at Shutterstock. Now I'm hoping that sales pick up soon like everyone says they should.