Congratulations on first place winner status for both February and March design challenges for GCU artist Linda Gladman of Bright Star Cards

February Design Challenge – Wild About You

Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU.

I’ve won a few gardening and photography challenge awards including a few on Facebook.

Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.

This card was my very first ever design!

I had a creative vision out of my love for nature and animals of the design and from there I was challenged to bring it to life.  I did not have any formal training, teachings, research or knowledge on how to accomplish this.  I just pushed through with trial and error and loads of perseverance.  To my surprise this design was my top selling card of 2019 and earned me 2019 “Hottest Seller” award.   I’m very thankful!

Please list any of your professional social media sites.

@brightstarcards on Instagram

The Decor Nest on Facebook

What was your inspiration for your Wild About You winning card? 

Simply my imagination!  As soon as I read the design challenge words, “Wild About You”, I immediately envisioned a chubby, lovable hog.

What was your inspiration for your Shower, Showers, Showering winning card? 

The design and idea just popped in my head.

What sparked your interest in photography?

My passion and love for nature and animals sparked my interest in photography.

Back in the day (lol) on my 18th birthday, I received my first “real” camera from my mom.  To this day this is one of my fondest memories.

A year later, I was married and at that time being a photographer was not considered practical so I went to business college and pursued a career in office management and bookkeeping while still embracing my passion for photography on an amateur level.

Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?

Self-taught

Honest answer.  Easier models, people or pets?

Pets

What would we be surprised to learn about you?

Possibly, that I’ve never eaten seafood.

I have, however, won a 35 lb lobster at a charity event.

(I gifted the couple that sat next to me)

In Remembrance of Dad this Christmas

What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from an idea to a greeting card. 

You asked about my inspiration for the November challenge fusion card design.  Well, this card was inspired by a personal event.  My dad passed away unexpectedly this October and with the holidays approaching I thought about Christmas without my father.  The design challenge asked us to incorporate different elements and glasses and a book were a couple of the items that were mentioned and stood out to me.  I had come across these things in my dad’s personal belongings as I was going through his belongings, glasses and a bible.  It all blended together to make the card that won this challenge.

I really liked the fusion design challenge, it gives you a head start in designing a card with items for ideas.  In fact, the first challenge I won a few years ago was a challenge that was similar.  The challenge was to incorporate certain colors and items in the design. I painted my Sleigh bells ring in a winter wonderland card which became a very good selling card for me.

You’ve won several GCU’s Design Challenges, what advice would you give to other artists who are hesitant to enter?

I urge artists to enter the design challenges!   I sometimes feel a bit intimidated in entering depending on the theme or idea I have entered, but, you just never know if your card will be a winner! Try to look over the challenge every month and see if it might be one that pulls at your creative self, design a card, and enter. Ask for help if you are unsure of the rules or how to enter, Doreen is great at getting back to you. Winning challenges has improved my exposure and I am sure it has improved my sales greatly over the years. It’s well worth the effort.

You have created many lovely frosty scenery Christmas cards. How do you get inspired and in the “merry” mood?

How do I get in a merry mood:) Well, I have always had a special heart for Christmas.  The colors, the joy, the season of magic. I think about the memories of my childhood Christmases and Christmases with my own children and grandchildren.  I think all these things just tug at me to share my feelings through painting.

Which card is your favorite of your Christmas cards and why?

I looked over my Christmas cards and really couldn’t pick out a sure favorite, but I think I lean towards the winter wonderland card and the city park Interfaith card.  I think there is a mood with these cards that people pick up on for their own holiday season traditions.

Tell the truth, did you send holiday cards this year and if so did you send one of your own cards or send a design by a different artist? 

Truthfully, I sent out a lot of cards this Christmas season.  A lot of my own and a few other artists also. I wanted to reach out to family and friends after my dad’s passing because that reminded me how important they all are to me.

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions …

If you had to be allergic to something, what would it be?  

I think it’d be holiday movies. Haha. I can watch them over and over and never get sick of them!

What is one thing you miss about being a kid?  

The simplicity and innocence for sure.

What makes a good friend?  

Someone who is there for you no matter what.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?  

Chocolate for sure!

What is your hidden talent?  

Repurposing I guess. My mind is always thinking of ways to reuse something instead of tossing it.

What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from an idea to a greeting card.

I had the email from GCU Forum Wanted Cards in my mailbox regarding wanting Adopt a Shelter Pet Day designs, and as I was scouring my design resources for anything about hands I came across the little family holding hands with a dog and I thought I would address the challenge as well as the Wanted Cards request. Fortunately in the same bundle of graphics there was a cat I could incorporate into the design.

Did this occasion/category resonate with you in supporting animal shelters?  Are you/were you a pet owner?

Most definitely! We have a local woman who quit her job and used all of her built up retirement to create an animal rescue. I once donated many of my cards in a basket for raffles for one of her fundraisers. I also have done a few little designs for her to use on Facebook to encourage people to adopt from her rescue. A couple of  years ago she was featured on the Harry Connick Jr. show. She works so hard as do all of her volunteers to make a difference in animals’ lives. I just wish I could do so much more to help.

To answer the second question, Yes, I have had many cats and dogs over the years, all of which have come from a shelter, or in most of the cats’ cases, from being dropped off at our house as we live in a very wooded area and people do this thing all the time. It makes me so upset, but at least we have been able to care for most of them and found the others a good home.

One of the rewards to being a Design Challenge winner is being able to use the winning design, should the artist choose, in a new series and using Fast Track review for all cards in the new series.  Will you leverage this design for more cards and if yes, what other occasions / categories?

I haven’t given thought to a series with this design.

Holiday card sales are already in full swing.  Do you have new holiday card design(s) that you think / hope will be popular sellers this year?  If so, please share a link.

Yes, I would really like to see this design be popular this holiday season. I am almost done uploading the entire series.

 

1-What one accomplishment are you most proud of?My graphic design work. Never in a million years did I imagine I would stumble upon something that would bring me so much joy and an amazing sense of accomplishment!

A black and white drawing of Frank Zappa incorporated into an antique vanity mirror that hangs right over my monitor.

3-What is your greatest irrational fear?

I am very afraid of the dark.

4-Who was your childhood actor/actress crush?

Davy Jones and David Cassidy. One day I found out that my mother went to high school with David Cassidy’s mother. That was a cool bragging point!

5-What was your first paid job?  What did you love or hate about it?

Working in a little clothes factory with a lot of older local women in the little Pennsylvania Dutch community I moved to during my last 2 years of high school. It was a huge culture shock for me to move from the suburbs of New Jersey to this little place, and oh boy could those old ladies gossip! I found it very amusing, especially because you could tell they were whispering a lot about my friends and I because we were so young and we provided a lot of material for their cackling!

Teri Francis of Squirrel Hugger, Design Challenge Winner, August 2019

Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU.
I don’t usually enter contests. Only did this one because I was curious to learn how to do the Stock Cards on GCU. It was really a fun experience, and I look forward to doing more in the future.

Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.
All of my favorite cards came about as a result of some personal connection to the intended recipient. I try to keep that in mind when creating cards. What would the person receiving this card need or want to hear? What would mean the most to me if I were the recipient of this card? Those are the 2 questions that I strive to answer in every greeting card I create. Here are my favorites, in no particular order:

What Have You Been Up To?
Still have the framed photo that inspired this one on my desk. One of our kitties got into the yarn basket and had a ball. We snapped a photo before untangling her. This was originally a pen-and-ink drawing that I later filled in when I scanned it into Photoshop. Not my best work, but certainly my personal favorite.

Oh Nuts – Belated Birthday Card
Just happened to snap this photo at the right time to catch the squirrel’s expression. I also needed a belated-birthday card at the time. The two just seemed to mesh together in a fun way. BTW–the squirrel in this photo is Buttercup, the same squirrel that is used for my Squirrel Hugger logo. He and his brother were orphans that my mom hand raised and released to the backyard. Anything with Buttercup on it automatically falls into my favorites.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom
I got these roses at the supermarket checkout to practice different lighting techniques with a new camera that I had just bought. I set them up in all sorts of different ways, with and without wine glasses, natural lighting, strobe lighting. My mom was there, watching all this go on for hours, assisting when necessary, and ultimately opening the bottle of wine and telling me to take a break after shooting about 400 photos. I have such wonderful memories of that day — and the results are seen in dozens of my cards. This one, after much trial-and-error processing in Photoshop, became one of my favorites, and more importantly it was a card that my mom kept and treasured until the end of her life.

Please list any of your professional social media sites.
I don’t do the “typical” social media marketing that most others use. My early experiences with on-line marketing resulted in too many DMCA letters, legal fees, and headaches, so I reverted to old-fashioned B-2-B marketing through emails and newsletter updates to my client list, which includes event planners, hotel/hospitality industry contacts, etc. That’s worked out much better for me. As a result of those bad experiences, I now work under several different names, so that if one or two IP stalkers get hold of my work, they cannot rummage my entire collection of work. I do keep a website (DeluxeBridalWeddingInvitations) that is very difficult to find unless you are on my “by invite only” list, and I’m pleased to say that in 7 years that I’ve maintained that site, there has not been one theft or copy-cat problem. I also do some Pinterest Pins prior to major holidays.

Luxury Ink Invitations

What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how these cards went from ideas to greeting cards.
I was working on “coffee” themed holiday card ideas for a local coffee shop owner prior to the Design Challenge. This was my first time trying out the Stock Card creation process, so the first search I did was “coffee Christmas” and I was surprised by how many wonderful images came up in the results. I was drawn to the photo of a coffee cup with the snowflake cream, surrounded by coffee beans. First, it’s a great eye-catching image, but most importantly it was winter-holiday themed but without any kind of religious or sectarian references — important for business owners who send holiday greeting cards to customers and clients of all faiths. As a coffee-lover myself, java equals joy — so the first thing that came to mind for the cover text was “Peace, Love & Java”. The inside verse was just what every coffee-hound loves to hear, “… filled to the brim …”, along with traditional holiday wishes.

What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?
Yes, I’ve been drawing and painting from the time I could hold anything that made marks on the walls, lol. Love for animals of all kind has been a passion throughout my life, so it’s no surprise that horses, cats, dogs, squirrels and bunnies were my first subjects. When I was in school, I learned to do calligraphy as well as pen-and-ink drawings. Even though all my professional work is done on the computer these days, I still love to pick up a pen with a firm nib and just draw for fun and relaxation. I took up photography as hobby several years ago, again mostly wildlife
and nature shots, but I found a great challenge and fondness for taking photos at sporting, dancing, and auto racing events — basically anything that moves fast. I’ve shot many events that I had no prior interest or knowledge of, but I’ve found that looking through the lens of a camera opens up the “creative eye” in your mind to see things you would otherwise miss. And that is something I don’t get from simply drawing or painting. I heartily recommend it to anyone who has a desire to pursue a career in creative arts. Just pick up a camera (even a cheap one) and go for a walk on a familiar path — once you start shooting, you’ll see things you never knew were there.

Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?
I had some fabulous art teachers in both middle and high school that inspired and encouraged me to continue with art as a major influence in my future. But I was working, and I liked making money, and didn’t really see art being a viable career for me. I took business, writing, and marketing classes in college, which came in handy for paying the bills. Then, in my early 40s, life took some unexpected turns, and I found myself being drawn back to art as form of relaxation and coping. I began to learn how to “draw” in Adobe Illustrator (15 years later and I’m still in the learning phase), and around the same time started selling some of my artwork and photos through microstock companies such as BigStock and Shutterstock. A customer let me know she had purchased several of my drawings (Irish-themed) to be used on greeting cards … and it was from that one chance interaction with a customer that led me to look for on-line greeting card suppliers, and I luckily found GCU!

In general, is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer?
All of my professional work since 2004 has been done on computer, although I still enjoy doing artwork by hand for my own pleasure. In the early 2000s, I did scan some of my earlier artwork and polished it up in Adobe Photoshop — there are a few of them on GCU and at the microstocks. But I find that the time and detailed “clean-up” work involved with scanning and processing hand-drawn artwork is more burdensome than if I just create the same or something similar from scratch on the computer. There are some artists I admire at GCU whose brilliant brush work and fine art skills would make it worth their time to do such refinements. But my art is not that elegant, so it’s really a matter of weighing my time investment.

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?
I’m an old galoot, so I’ve had many jobs over the years in addition to my on-line ventures. Early in my career I was mostly involved with marketing in the hotel/restaurant/hospitality field. When health and family issues turned my world upside down, I worked part-time for a group of psychologists. That was interesting! I worked for them for 21 years while I was developing my art and learning to sell my work through the internet. There couldn’t have been a better team of cheerleaders to have on your side. I retired from the psych practice to take care of my mom, whose physical and mental decline required full-time care.

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?
So many! These are just a few whose work always stands out.
Diana Ting Delosh: Awesome artwork, adorable little animals, very sweet cards.
Maria Dryfhout: Loved Maria’s photography (especially of her beloved animals) since my early days in microstocks. She makes beautiful cards.
Sandra Rose Designs: Very professional designs, polished layouts and typography.
Tom Rent: Tom can find a picture, a funny quote, and a reason to celebrate any occasion with a smile. Love his humor.
Norma Comes: Norma has a great eye for color and balance. Loved her work for a long time.
Doreen Erhardt: Doreen is just a fabulous card-maker. She understands both the artistic and marketability perspective. And she is a wonderful, generous person who is always willing to help.
Teri Nelson Kuster: Teri’s work is relatively new to me, but her cards stand out, and I’m very impressed with her ability to fashion just the right typography for the design and the occasion.

Squirrel Hugger? Ok, you must tell us where that comes from.
As I mentioned before, animals of all kind have been a great influence in my life. My parents were “pet” people, my mother particularly could make a pet out of almost any creature alive. She would have squirrels, bunnies, chipmunks, and even birds scratching at the backdoor every morning for a handout. And if they were hurt, inside they came to be patched up, fed, and comforted until they healed and could be released. Remember, this was in the 1950s-1960s, and there weren’t many wildlife refuge places around in those days. So, as my mom’s health declined, I sort of took over feeding and care of the furry and feathered crew outside. When I took up photography, I began with the squirrels, birds,and bunnies in the backyard — they’re beautiful, they move quickly and unexpectedly, and they’re just darn cute. I posted some of my photos on Flickr, and I was shocked by the interest from all over the world in our little critters, particularly the antics of the squirrels. I soon picked up the nickname “Squirrel Hugger” from those photos. It became my handle on Flickr, and over a period of years, some of our most adventurous squirrels, namely Ratface, Buttercup, and Rambo, have made their way into news articles, advertising, and even television background settings (and some GCU cards too!). So, when I came to GCU and was asked to pick a name for my store, it seemed like a perfect way to pay homage to the adorable fluff-balls that helped me start my on-line business ventures. I’ve often joked, if I had known then that it might be successful, I’d probably have chosen a different name. But all these years later, I’m so pleased and proud to still be known as “Squirrel Hugger” both personally and professionally.
BTW — While I certainly appreciate and encourage everyone to care about injured and orphaned wildlife, there are so many wonderful wildlife rehab places in every community these days. I’m a strong advocate for helping wildlife best by getting it into the care of professionals who are skilled and equipped to treat and rehab them back to their natural environment.

What would we be surprised to learn about you?
Most people are surprised when they learn that in addition to my obvious interests, my guilty pleasures are Star-Trek, hot-rod cars and the rock band Queen. Captain Kirk and Freddie Mercury reside side by side in posters over the computer in my office. When I’m working, the songs most likely playing in the background are “Don’t Stop Me Now” and “Under Pressure.” : )

Sharon Dominick Photography, Design Challenge Winner, May 2019

Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.

I love these three designs as they give a little taste of my favorite style of cards that enjoy creating. A tad funny, a bit quirky and sometimes cute and furry.

Please list any of your professional social media sites.
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest

What was your inspiration for your winning card? Please walk us through the process of how this card went from idea to greeting card.
I have over 11,000 photos that I have created over the years for my stock collections that I sell exclusively though Getty Images/iStock. I will sit in front of my computer and just scroll though these images until something sparks for me. My fisheye characters are some of my favorite topics in my photography collection and I love bringing that humor over to my cards. After glancing at a list of common oxymorons, my crazy geek in the orange dress seemed like a natural fit for “clearly confused” and “pretty ugly”! Don’t worry, the model isn’t offended! She’s just me in a wig and glasses, lol!

What sparked your interest in photography? Did you start as a young child?
I remember having a camera as young as six years old. I always loved taking pictures, but I never saw it as a possible career. Fast forward to the future when I had my first child, my baby girl who is now 17, I decided to get a nice Canon SLR camera to take pictures of her. That’s when it all really began.

Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?
A little of both. When I first discovered my interest in photography, I took two non-credit classes though my local community college. This was around the time that the transition from film to digital was happening. It was a bit of a struggle for me at first as I still was shooting film. Once I purchased my first digital camera is when things really started to click for me. There is nothing like seeing instant results to understand what mistakes you are making!

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as a photographer?
Before I discovered this career path, I worked for two different companies in their offices as a buyer in the purchasing departments. One was a metals distributing company and the other was an office supply products company. All through the years of doing those jobs, I always felt that I wasn’t in the right place. I had this inner desire to be creative and there really wasn’t any room for creativity in the type of work that I was doing. Today, shooting stock photography, stock video footage and making greeting cards is my full-time job. And I’m much happier!

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?
My biggest inspiration at Greeting Cards Universe is by far Sandra Rose Designs. Not only is she an amazing designer with a knack for finding niches in the industry, she’s the reason for me discovering Greeting Card Universe! We met by chance though Linkedin. She noticed that I also did creative work for a living and live in Pittsburgh, PA and suggested that we get together. As it turns out, we only live about a mile away from each other! We get together on occasion to talk shop or to take a creative class.

Other artists that always catch my eye are Ron Magnes (whose profile says he’s from Pittsburgh too!) Laughing Hippo Studio cards always crack me up! Betty Matsumoto-Schuch’s creations of Bud & Tony the cats are so adorable. I love the humor of Ron Kanfi & Chuck Ingwersen’s creations! Corrie Kuipers illustration style & designs always stand out to me. I could go on and on! There is so much talent at Greeting Card Universe!

Honest answer. Easier models, people or pets?
Whew, that’s a tough one! They each have their own challenges. I think I’m going to go with models because of these options, they are the ones who actually love to be in front of the camera. But honestly, I do enjoy the challenge of pet photography. It’s very rewarding when you get good results!

Looking at your storefront, up close and personal photography dominates your designs. Can you share your thoughts on how you match a photo to an occasion?
My process varies from day to day when it comes to creating greeting cards. Sometimes I will plan a shoot based around an idea and other times I will have an idea and will sift though my thousands of images to find the right fit. Most of the time, I will have no occasions or photos in mind and I will just sift though my images and wait for something to inspire me.

• If you had to be allergic to something, what would it be?

• If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

• What is one thing you miss about being a kid?

• What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

• What is your favorite scent /smell?