Occasionally Thoughtful - The official blog of GreetingCardUniverse.com

M.M. Anderson, Design Challenge Winner, February 2023

Pattiann on April 9, 2023

Mothers Day Grandmother Azalea Pink and Magenta Flowers Custom card

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

This ostrich art birthday card is a favorite because the bird portrait is quite whimsical and I feel the design came together well with my text. I also appreciate that it can be customized for any recipient.

This daisy encouragement card appeals to me because it has such a cheerful look and message but it may also be customized to suit the needs of the buyer.

This blank note card with winter berries is a favorite because it features seasonal artwork that I particularly love and also for the design’s versatility. The inside may be customized for Christmas or for any wintertime event.

Please list any of your professional social media sites.

mmandersonart on Instagram

MMAnderson Art on Pinterest

MMAndersonArt on Facebook

MMAnderson Art on Twitter

MMAnderson on Mastodon

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 generally create the artwork first. I was inspired to do the azaleas in soft pastel after photographing the early blossoms in my own garden this spring. I always find the vivid magenta color of these shrubs striking when they appear after the drab winter season. These spring flowers with their delicate appearance and pretty pink hues, I felt, would lend themselves well to a Mother’s Day design.

What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?

As a child, I did enjoy drawing but I did not become serious about art until I attended college and found myself trying to decide on a path that would make the most of my talents. My work has always been inspired by a love of nature and a desire to capture something of the way in which I see the world.

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

I have a BA in art from the University of Lynchburg in Virginia.

Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer?

I do most of my artwork by hand in soft pastel and then scan it for use at my various websites. Occasionally, I also do some graphic artwork on the computer but my heart is really with the traditional media. After I have the image saved on my computer I then tweak it in Lightroom to get the colors, contrast, etc. as close as possible to the original and clean up any scanner lint. I design my greeting cards in Adobe Illustrator utilizing my artwork image and choosing fonts and colors that I feel will work well with it. Finally, I export the card designs as jpeg files for upload.

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?

Originally, I had intended to teach art, but that never became a reality. Before I decided to try a full-time art career around a decade ago, I used to do data entry in an accounting office.

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?

I admire all of the GCU artists because I know how much dedication it takes to create beautiful, unique designs that will meet the review standards.

Looking at your storefront, which is your favorite subject matter: flora or fauna?

It would be difficult for me to choose between flora and fauna as a favorite subject. I love working with both. I feel that alternating between the two keeps the work interesting for me. White flowers are a favorite subject of mine as well as birds of various kinds.

What would we be surprised to learn about you?

Folks might be surprised to learn that, even though I currently live in a small town not far inland from the coast in South Carolina, I was born and raised in Central Virginia within sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains and I miss them. I’ve never come to appreciate the flat coastal plains, wetlands and beaches, as beautiful as they may be and where I have lived for nearly three decades, as much as the hills and valleys of the Blue Ridge.

Trudy Wilkerson, Trudy’s Impressions, Design Challenge Winner, September 2022

Pattiann on January 27, 2023

Christmas Tree Typography Presents Star Streams around Decorated Tree card

Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.
Sunflowers have always been a favorite flower of mine due to the message they seem to suggest, which in my opinion, is happiness, brightness, and hope. Although, I have designed many sunflower cards, this particular one I really love because of its down-home country feeling it seems to scream.
Country Sunflowers, Birthday, mom, Brown Texture, Tied Knot card

I love designing with bold colors, thus I have created what I titled, KALEIDOSCOPE COLLECTION, whereas I have designed images in bright colors in abstract forms. One of my first cards in this unique collection. My favorite is: Hi, Hello, Colorful and Happy Frog in Kaleidoscope Collection card

My third choice would probably have to be a religious Christmas greeting honoring Christ’s birth.
Christmas – Religious – Baby Jesus/Manger – Greatest Gift card

Please list any of your professional social media sites.
Basically, I don’t indulge too much in social media, however, I do enjoy visiting Facebook to see what my peers are up to and keep in touch with family and friends.

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.
When GCU announces the new monthly challenge, it often gets my designer juices flowing and I am eager to challenge myself to come up with something new and fun for it. The thought process for this typography holiday card was simply to focus on my favorite upcoming holiday, Christmas, and then I began thinking of all the words that immediately popped up in my mind that best described that holiday. Then I incorporated all those words into the form of a Christmas tree, and then it all fell into place quite easily.

What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?
I have always loved art since childhood. After my mother passed back in 2000, I thought to myself, life is short, so I focused on learning photography, and that became a real passion of mine. From there I was introduced to stock sites and of course GCU. At first, I just started with photographs of flowers over and over again, but soon discovered there were millions out there of gorgeous flowers. That’s when it dawned on me to start learning via digital designs and quickly discovered how much I absolutely loved it. Over the years, I self-taught myself how to design digitally through the use of tutorials and more on the internet and slowly started adding programs that I could use along with photoshop, and the rest is history.

Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?
I started with photography taking a year course through the New York Institute of Photography and then later I self-taught myself techniques in designing through many, many online tutorials.

Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer?
First, I so admire those who are natural artists and draw by hand, simply amaze me with their talents. However, I 100% design everything on my computer through either or both Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop. I usually go back and forth between both programs.

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?
Yes, I previously was a Realtor for 27 years. I loved helping people find their dream homes. Once I started dabbling in photography and then on to designing, I found that it relaxed me and gave me great peace of mind by shutting out the stresses of the world.

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?
There are so many inspiring artists out there, too many to mention that I like. However, like many of us, Corrie Kuipers and Doreen in our Community Blog, have both inspired and educated us with their ideas and suggestions to improve ourselves. I appreciate their hard work and steadfastness.

What would we be surprised to learn about you?
On a very personal note, I’d like to share something about myself that I discovered I had within me, but never knew just how strong I really was. Two years ago, I discovered I had cancer, and sadly a very aggressive
cancer which I was told, that even after chemo, women don’t survive more than two years. At first, fear gripped me to the core. I wanted to see my grandchildren have children and families. Then with God’s almighty grace and with the support of my family and friends, I took on the belief that I would be one of the 9% that could survive this. Thereafter, everything I looked at in life became less important but at the same time, I wanted to strive to be a better person, more caring, more loving, and appreciate every moment that God allows me to have here on this beautiful earth. These past few weeks, I did have a scare it may have come back, however, after undergoing cat scans, and many other tests, my doctor advised me that at
this point I am in remission and cancer free. Now that dreaded two-year mark is only two months away.
The reason I am sharing this personal information is to encourage anyone that is struggling with something in their life, to not
give up, and to fight tooth and nail for what they need to conquer, and with God’s grace, you can pull through it.

Ramelle Richardson, Eloquence by Ramelle, Design Challenge Winner, August 2022

Mindy on October 27, 2022

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.
It was a nice surprise to have my entry selected for First Place in the Design Challenge. Thank you! My idea for the card came to me when the Big Stock image of leaping dolphins brought back memories of a beautiful sight I had seen while on a Polynesian cruise.

We were leaving Rangiroa by way of Tiputa Pass, a gap in the atoll which is famous for its raging outgoing current. As the islanders on shore waved goodbye and blew on huge shell trumpets, over a dozen dolphins raced toward our ship, then turned around to ride the surf created by the bow wave. I hung halfway over the railing to catch a glimpse of the dolphins and was astounded by their acrobatics. They were leaping into the air, spinning and playing in the surf with obvious joy. When I saw the stock image of the dolphins, I knew I had to use it for a Christmas card and add text that would allude to the joy one might feel at Christmas time.

What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?
My interest in art was first sparked as a child of three or four as I sat in front of the TV, watching Popeye cartoons on a local Los Angeles channel hosted by artist Tom Hatten. Tom would draw an abstract figure called a squiggle; on the sketch pads of his young studio guests who would then incorporate that squiggle into a drawing. I did my best to copy the original shape onto my own art paper and then would turn it this way and that, looking for some recognizable form within the abstract lines while asking myself, “What do I see here . . . a dragon . . . a face?”

I not only learned how to accurately copy lines and forms, but this helped me develop creativity and an awareness of negative space. I also acquired an incurable case of Pareidolia from which I hope to never recover.

In Kindergarten, I would spend every recess at a big wooden easel, painting. I loved painting so much that for Christmas, when I was five, my dad and brother built me my own easel. I was given all the necessary supplies to make large watercolor paintings which—believe it or not—are still in existence, thanks to my mom who saved each and every one, thinking I’d be the next Picasso. Ha! I have no idea what to do with those childish paintings, but after hanging onto them for the past 64 years, I’m reluctant to part with them now.

Please list any awards or contests you’ve won outside of GCU.
As an adult, I have not entered any art contests or competitions. I really can’t say why . . .
I just haven’t given much thought to it. But as a kid obsessed with art, I was determined to enter and win every coloring contest I could get my hands on. I began with two entries I submitted for a national competition, sponsored by Post Cereals and Mattel Toys. For the contest, five different cartoon characters were printed on cereal boxes with no context of the setting or what the character was doing. The challenge was to draw the details surrounding the cartoon character and tell a story with imaginative artwork. Using a Crowquill pen, India ink, and watercolor pencils, I created two entries, each of which had the potential to win a nice selection of toys.

I will never forget the day my mom picked me up from school, brandishing not one—but two registered letters. One letter said that I had won First Place for one of my entries; the other letter announced that of all five categories, my other submission was awarded Grand Prize as the best entry over all. As the National winner, I was given a bicycle and nearly every toy Mattel made. After that confidence-building experience, I kept my eyes open for art contests, both national and local. What followed was a string of first-place wins and by the time I ended my career as the coloring-contest kid, I had won another bike (a gorgeous blue Stingray) and a boat-load of other fun prizes.

As I entered high school, I participated in various art exhibitions, poster contests and competitions, winning several cash prizes. Upon graduation in 1971, I was selected as the recipient of the Bank of America Award in Art.

Do you have formal training or are you self-taught?
Though mostly self-taught, I attended a community college with an extensive art department where I took a smorgasbord of classes: art history, oil painting, life-drawing, sculpture, jewelry design, commercial art, watercolor, even glassblowing. Concurrent with my art instruction, I took an equal amount of theater classes. When I transferred to the University of California Irvine in order to complete my degree, I changed my major from Studio Art to Theater Arts. In 1976 I graduated from UCI with a Bachelor’s degree in Acting.

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?
As soon as I got my acting degree, I joined Lamb’s Players, a Christian drama ministry, and traveled with their Street Theater troupe for the next two years, performing comedy and drama at Renaissance festivals, churches, colleges and other venues throughout the US and into parts of Canada.

After my adventures with Lamb’s Players, I did some freelance graphic-arts work, designing logos and ads for magazines. That was before computers and digital art when all my graphic artwork was freehand and the text had to be done with press-on lettering. I was often commissioned to do pastel portraits as well. For a while I worked at a sign company, creating vinyl signs, but the work was tedious and mind-numbing. The business was in a large unheated building that was so cold that even in SouthernCalifornia it numbed the fingers as well; so I sought a job as a waitress and thoroughly
enjoyed the interaction with the public.

During this time I utilized my theater arts degree by directing church musicals and acting in community theater. (Fun Fact: I played the “Day By Day” girl in a local production of Godspell and had the dubious honor of playing the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.)

My best friend Oscar and I married in 1980 and we had two kids. (We’re now the grandparents of six grandkids.) After quitting my waitress job, I wrote and performed a one-woman dramatic presentation called Through a Mother’s Eyes in which I played the role of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Using my knowledge of Biblical history and scripture, along with my drama skills (and some maternal humor,) I told the story of Jesus’ childhood and ministry from the perspective of a very human Jewish mother. For the next 19 years, I performed Through a Mother’s Eyes at churches, retreats, women’s prisons and other service organizations.

Please list the URLs of your 3 favorite cards in your storefront and why they are your favorites.
This was my favorite card for the Chinese New Year of the Rooster in 2017 because of its uniqueness. My design is a nod to the famous French poster “Le Chat Noir” (The Black Cat) by Theophile Steinlen. I found a drawing of a rooster’s head that Steinlen had used on a lesser-known cabaret poster and I completed the bottom half of the rooster with my own artwork

My Christmas card featuring inquisitive donkeys and ponies gathered around the Bethlehem manger was inspired by a photo I took of a friend’s baby who was wrapped in a crocheted blanket with only his toes and hands visible. I thought it was a cute photo and wracked my brain to figure out how to use the baby in a Christmas card. This is what I came up with.

This whimsical birthday card was one of the first designs I made with an iPad. Prior to 2022, all of my digital art was drawn with a mouse—a painstaking method and very time-consuming. For this design, I created each of the little critters and the flowers as vectors and also incorporated a photo of “Mr. Snoofles” our neighborhood squirrel who went to his reward years ago (but has found immortality in several of my cards that feature him.

Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the
computer?
I use both methods. I often blend my own digital artwork with my original photos as well as free-commercial-use pictures available online. Lately, I have been scanning or photographing my decades-old paintings and drawings from my college days, and I have been giving them new life with added layers of new artwork and text.

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?
There are so many wonderful artists who contribute to GCU. I admire them all, but I particularly enjoy the art of Betsy Bush (Dragonfire Graphics), Michelle Lanoue, and Cathie Richardson (Country Garden Cards). I especially love Asian art and so the beautifully detailed Chinese and Vietnamese New Year cards by Cisillia Tay are some of my favorites. Cisilla’s work never fails to fill me with wonder, admiration, and a teeny bit of envy.

Doreen Erhardt’s artwork is fantastic, too. Doreen was a great help to me when I first joined GCU in 2011. I had just learned how to use a computer and I needed tons of help to create a card worthy of GCU approval. I appreciated that Doreen always took the time to answer my questions and offer valuable advice.

What would we be surprised to learn about you?
I spend a ridiculous amount of time caring for PidgieWidget, an ornery, bad-tempered rock pigeon that I rescued as a chick over a year ago. “Widgie” has crippled feet and cannot be released into the wild so she lives in an open cage in my living room, scattering feathers everywhere. She is occasionally loveable, and enjoys traveling in the car, hunkered down on my shoulder and watching the scenery as it passes by. My pigeon is featured on only one of my cards so far, but I have plans to use Widgie’s image for some future designs if I can get her to cooperate.

Robin Chaffin of Simpy Put by Robin, Design Challenge Winner, April 2022

Pattiann on June 13, 2022

Robin Chaffin of Simpy Put by Robin, Design Challenge Winner, April 2022

Get Well Soon Baseball Batter Sports card

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

Watercolor Flower I like this one because it represents the current style I’m learning, “sketchy doodle” watercolor.

Why Do I Love You I chose this one because I believe it has my best front/inside verse. At least the cards using this verse in both my Rycky Creations and Simply Put by Robin stores are popular, so the verse must resonate with buyers.

HOPE I chose this one because John is on the front (see HOPE story below)

Please list any of your professional social media sites.

Simply Robin Creations on Facebook

Simply Robin Creations on Instagram

Simply Robin on Pinterest

Simply Robin Creations website
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.

Since it was a “sports themed” contest using stock cards, I knew I could easily find a suitable card front from Big Stock photos and figure out something to submit. I have a basketball sports themed card in my Rycky Creations store, so my thoughts were to use that as a jumping off point, but to choose a different sport. So I chose baseball since we’re currently in baseball season (Go Braves). I loved that particular Big Stock photo and the rest just fell in place!

What sparked your interest in art? Did you start as a young child?

If you’re old enough, you might remember those ads back in the 60’s and 70’s, “Can You Draw This? As a child, I use to see those and drew the examples fairly easily. But I had no confidence I could draw anything without copying someone else’s art, so I dismissed any small bit of talent I had thinking, “anyone can do that.” Later, in my 40’s, I decided to try taking an art class and discovered that I actually had a little bit of talent. Once I started painting, my friends encouraged me to “do something” with my artwork and I found Greeting Card Universe online and the rest is history. Although I did go through a (fairly long) phase of using 3^rd party artwork to create cards, I’m again trying to create my own and enjoying the process once again.

Is your work done by hand and then scanned or do you work entirely on the computer?

Early on, all my work was done by hand and scanned. Now, I mostly create on an iPad using Procreate and I’m loving it!

Have you ever/do you currently have a job other than as an artist?

Yes, I’ve always had another job, usually in an office environment. Currently, I work as an Office Administrator for a small construction company.

What GCU artist(s) do you admire?

Of course, like most people, Doreen Erhardt and Corrie Kuipers have been an inspiration to me from the very beginning. Some others that I admire: Sue Nollmeyer, Stephie McCarthy, Michelle Lanoue, Teri Nelson Kuster, Gerda Steiner … I could go on and on, and I know I’m going to miss someone! There are a lot of very talented artists at GCU!

Can you tell share a bit about your HOPE line of cards for the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation (SBTF)?

Thanks for asking! The HOPE cards in my Rycky Creations store are near and dear to my heart. A dear friend’s son (John) was diagnosed with a brain tumor and the first card of the HOPE series was created in his honor in 2008. He courageously battled cancer for several years before losing his battle in March of 2012. When I created the first HOPE card, I decided that any commissions earned on that card would be donated to finding a cure for brain cancer. The Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation is a wonderful organization that supports patients with brain tumors. It was through John and his connection with SBTF that I decided to make them the recipient of the donation. Since that first card, several other HOPE cards have been created in honor or memory of others, including my dad, mom and good friend Kim, who all had their own cancer battles. I have committed to donate 100% of all commissions on all of these cards to SBTF. A few years ago, SBTF reached out to me to design cards specifically for their organization. They now sell these cards (along with my HOPE series) in a private store, here at GCU: Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation.

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions …

What’s your dream occupation– the one job you’d love to have if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?

It would probably be something in the travel industry; I enjoy visiting new places!

Which is your favorite, puppies or kittens?

Definitely kittens (there’s a cat in my lap as I type this), but puppies are adorable too

What is the grossest food you ever had to eat to be polite?

When I first started dating my (now) husband, his parents invited me over for dinner. The meal was great, EXCEPT for the English peas. I hated English peas! But in wanting to make a good first impression, I ate them (yuck), but ended up swallowing each bite whole. I was a (skinny) very picky eater back then … not so much now!

If you could choose your own name, what would it be? My first name is Cathy, so if I had it to do over again, I’d be called Cat

If your clothes had to be one color forever, what color would you pick?

My favorite color is blue, but if you looked in my closet, you would think I’d pick gray

Design Challenge Winner, August 2021, Educator Retirement – Tammy Moody

Pattiann on May 19, 2022

Life Well Spent Teaching Assistant Retirement Card

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 knew I wanted to do something inspirational for this card. I think educators really do lift us up and help inspire us to be the best versions of ourselves, so I wanted to reflect that in the card. When I started searching for images and found this one, I knew exactly what I was going to do with it.

Stock Card Creations can be tricky and there are so many images to choose from. What advice do you have for other artists on how to settle on one image?

Basically, I usually have a pretty good idea in mind for a card when I am searching for an image. Then it is just a matter of typing in the right keywords.

Some things I usually have in mind when searching are:

What kind of card am I creating?

Category

Birthday?
Holiday?
Business?
Get Well?
Bereavement?

Who is the card intended for?

Is it for adults, kids?
Do I want something that speaks to many age groups or one specific age group?

Is this a card for personal use or business?

What is the overall tone of the card going to be?

Is it funny or serious?
Is it heartfelt or sarcastic?

Is this something new or different for the category it is intended for? You want to create something that adds to the selection, not repeats what is already there.

Holiday card sales are picking up. Which of your card designs do you predict will be your best seller this year and why?

I think this Dairy Farm Cow Card will do well. People own dairy farms and like farmhouse theme cards, so I think this one will go over well.

What is your favorite holiday or occasion to design cards for and why?

I like to make Christmas cards because that is one of my favorite times of the year.

You have created some COVID-19 themed cards. Which is your favorite and why?

One of my favorite Covid-19 related cards is a humorous Cat in Santa Hat Christmas card that I designed just because it brought a little humor to the pandemic.

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions …

Whom would you call for bail money?

My sister Lola.

What was the worst job you ever had and why?

I worked on an assembly line and built small motors. I hated it because it was so monotonous.

Who was your childhood actor/actress crush?

David Cassidy

What’s the grossest food you ever had to eat to be polite?

Menudo

Pick up pennies or walk past them?

I pick them up if they are heads up – if not I flip them over for someone else to find.

Laurie Schneider, Design Challenge Winner, May 2021

Pattiann on June 23, 2021

Laurie Schneider, Design Challenge Winner, May 2021

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 and how you chose your 3 items from the list (a remote control – a mirror – a mailbox – an orange – a daisy – a beach towel – a bird – a coffee mug):

My inspiration for this card was the mailbox. It got me thinking about all the people that we are not able to see because of the pandemic. Then came the bird because whenever possible I put living beings into my designs and then last the daisies I thought added a delicate touch.

This is a wonderful Thinking of You card and fitting for the post 2020 pandemic. What did you do to keep some normalcy and positive outlook during this challenging time?

How I keep some normalcy and a positive outlook during this challenging time is I concentrate on the things I can do instead of what I can’t. I work a lot on my card store, I Facetime with my daughter and granddaughter a lot because Covid ended flying for a time and I spend time with my wonderful husband and other daughter. 2020 was a very bad year for all of us. I hope if nothing else, one good thing comes out of it and that is we all learn to cherish every moment with our loved ones, friends and appreciate the little things in life that mean the most.

We believe you may have entered every Design Challenge. Bravo! What advice would you give to other artists who are hesitant to enter?

Yes I have entered every month after the first time I gave it a try. My advice to other artists who are hesitant to enter is why not, what do you have to lose. It encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. If you do win, great if not that’s great too because you have added a new design to your store and it just might become a great seller. I personally do not enter to win, I just enjoy the monthly challenge. I look forward to seeing what the theme will be for the new month.

You’ve been a member of GCU’s artist community since 2014. How have you seen your card designs evolve or change since the early days?

I have seen my card designs evolve and change drastically. The cards I submitted in 2014 in my opinion were terrible and very embarrassing to me.:) I am so grateful to you and to the review team for allowing me the time to learn and all the help so I could remain a part of GCU.

There are many rewards for the Design Challenge Winner. Which is your favorite and why?

My favorite reward for winning is the exposure, It brings in a lot of good sales.

Mid-year is a good time to start designing cards for the Winter holidays. What are your plans?

My plans for the holiday season is to add three or four new card series for each holiday. In my experience, relationship specific cards sell rather well.

They say Christmas in July and we are almost there. How do you get inspired and in the “merry” mood?

When it comes to designing Christmas cards I am always in the “merry” mood. I love designing cards for Christmas so it comes easy especially ones I design for children.

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions …

What’s your dream occupation– the one job you’d love to have if you weren’t doing what you’re doing now?

My dream occupation would be a Wildlife Veterinarian. I think that would be an awesome job. I have always been an animal lover but life led me in a different direction. However, I was lucky enough to work with wild animals for the past forty years as a Wildlife Rehabilitator.

What one accomplishment are you most proud of?

The accomplishment I am most proud of is all the injured, sick and orphaned animals that I have helped and returned successfully back to the wild.

List something that is on your bucket list.

One thing on my bucket list is to go on an African Safari but the problem is my daughters would be terrified and my husband doesn’t like to travel. Which means I would have to go by myself and that wouldn’t be any fun.

If you could choose your own name, what would it be?

If I could choose my own name it would be Roxanne, I have always liked that name. I did name my dog Roxanne and she is very bossy at times, I’m afraid it might have something to do with her name. LOL

If your clothes had to be one color forever, what color would you pick?

If my clothes had to be one color I would pick red. I would happily wear it forever

Getting to Know … Sharon Dominick

Pattiann on May 28, 2021

Sharon Dominick, a GCU artist since March 2018, has a creative and unique approach to photography. Her images, coupled with her sharp sense of humor, make for imaginative greeting cards.

Sharon Dominick Photography Greeting Cards

How long have you been involved with photography?

I have always loved taking photos and had a number of point-and-shoot film cameras since I was a child.

How long have you been selling your photographs online?

Since December of 2002 when I stumbled across a website called iStockPhoto.com during a Google search about how to sell photos.

What sparked your interest in photography?

Although I’ve always loved taking pictures, having my first baby is what really sparked me to learn how to take it more seriously. I wanted to have great memories of those precious early years. Nineteen years later, I still have my camera in my kids’ faces as often as they will let me, lol!

How do you control the animals you photograph? Do you have any funny stories to share?

Shooting animals is always an interesting task! With my cats, I always have a bag of treats and a palm leaf or a stick toy nearby for entertainment. As for shooting animals in general, the only way to get a few good images is to shot fast and shoot a lot!

What are your favorite subjects to photograph, animals or people?

I really enjoy the challenge of shooting animals. People are fun too and way more cooperative, but there is a different kind of satisfaction of discovering that you got an adorable shot even though it felt like the session was mostly a failure.

We need to know more about your top models Pringy and Lucky. Can you share their stories with us?

Lucky came to live with us in January of 2014 after we made a stop at the Beaver County Humane Society here in PA for my daughter to drop off some donations that she collected for the shelter. We already had one cat, Mittens, and really were not in the market for another. But we decided to “just look” anyway. He had only been there a week and he was so vocal that we could not ignore him. We visited with him in a separate room and fell in love, so we adopted him. Mittens was not happy about it and still isn’t to this day!

Pringy (which is short for Pringles) was born to a feral cat on our deck in April 2015. I discovered some strays in my backyard, so I started putting food out for them. When winter came, I put a Rubbermaid shelter in my deck so they could survive the winter. In the spring, one surprised us with kittens in her shelter! My daughter used to sit on the deck and snack on Pringles chip and one of the kittens took a liking to her and would snack on her chip crumbs. Hence, how she got her name. We knew we had to do something or the cat population in our backyard would explode, so we captured the mother and two of her kittens and thought we were going to get new homes for all of them. Of course, my daughter was in love with Pringy so we kept her. The mother and other kitten are doing great in their fur-ever homes as well.

We understand some of the photos are of you. How do you pull this off?

In the beginning, when the technology was not as good, it was a little tougher to model for my own pictures. I would use a stuffed animal to focus on, hit the timer on the camera, run around and toss the animal and stand in its place. Now, my camera has an app and I can control everything while in front of the camera making it so much easier. It is challenging, but I enjoy it. Especially the silly characters that I create.

Your more recent submissions deviate from your first collection of fish-eye people photos. Intentional change of style or an evolution?

In 2019, I made the decision to stop renting commercial studio space as I was not utilizing it enough to justify the cost. I had it set up to throw my camera on a tripod and shoot away at any given moment. The fisheye shoot is a complex one requiring lots of space and lights. It’s a little harder to pull off at home so I don’t do it as much. That, plus Greeting Card Universe has inspired me to try drawing and illustrating again, something I always enjoyed doing for fun.

Are you formally trained in photography or self-taught?

Mostly self-taught, with a couple of non-credit classes that helped get me started.

What’s your equipment set up like?

Since I’m working all from home now, I keep a strobe with a softbox in my office so it’s ready to go at any given moment. I have a stand and lots of colored backdrops that I drag to my living room for a shoot.

What editing software do you use?

I subscribe to all of Adobe’s programs. I mostly use Photoshop, Fresco, Illustrator and Premiere.

How much time do you typically spend on post-processing?

It all depends on the project.

Tell us a little bit about your prop collection? Is it small enough to store in a closet or do you need a storage shed? Is it organized or in chaos?

Lol, this is a great question! When I had the studio space, I would buy props at the drop of a hat knowing I had the space for them. I kept them in several Rubbermaid tubs, somewhat organized. I also had a couple of clothing racks full of costumes. I did not realize how much I actually had until I had to have a sale and get rid of it all. Now I have a couple of boxes of miscellaneous items. I shop at Goodwill often with my son to help him find stuff for his eBay store, but I often find cool things to bring home for myself. So, one of the boxes is starting to overflow. Might be time for a new box!

Is there anyone who has influenced your interest in photography and your style?

My fellow iStockers artists from the early days of the site were such an influence and inspiration on my style and desire to improve my photography.

We’ve seen your work shared on book covers, magazine articles and more. How are you alerted when your image is used in a project?

Unfortunately, the buyers are not required to share how they use my images, so I often go on a wild Google goose-chase to find them. The coolest way to find them is organically. I love when I’m watching my favorite shows and they just pop up on the screen, or spot one while browsing a magazine.

How do you come up with your creative ideas?

They come in different ways, whether it’s inspiration from current events or just grabbing my camera and just seeing what I come up with. Sometimes I will get an idea for a card design that almost feels like it was “downloaded” into my head!

Offering images on stock sites and creating greeting cards are two very different things. What advice do you have for stock content submitters who want to leverage their images on greeting cards?

It’s a tough balance because they are two totally different animals. To be honest, I currently have been creating about 75% of my shoots based on ideas for card designs since discovering Greeting Card Universe. I really enjoy creating humorous images and while they were extremely popular as stock images a decade ago, they are not as much anymore. So, I was extremely grateful to find Greeting Card Universe as a new outlet for some of my goofiness! My advice is to focus on one type of creating at a time and see how your content can fit into the other format.

Besides GCU, where else can your work be seen?

All my photographs and video clips are available exclusively though iStock and Getty Images. I have stores on Zazzle, Card Isle, Society6, Fine Art America and a few others I am currently testing the waters of. But GCU is by far my favorite for cards!

Please list the URLS of your social media sites:

Website: https://SharonDominickPhotography.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonDominickPhotography

Instagram: sharon_dominick_photography

Twitter: sdominick

Linda Gladman Art, Design Challenge Winner, March 2021

Pattiann on April 26, 2021

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

My inspiration for this design challenge was found while looking at photos of our gardens last year which led to browsing through a seed catalogue. My favorite color is blue and I was pondering how to add more blue flowers to our gardens so I did a quick sketch on paper before creating the actual design.

Those stunning flowers can’t be ignored. What is your favorite flower?

That’s a tough question because as a gardener, I truly do love all annual and perennial flowers but I especially like sunflowers and ranunculus in a fresh cut bouquet.

There are many rewards for the Design Challenge Winner. Which is your favorite and why?

My favorite reward would be having my design chosen as a winner because as a designer it confirms your creativity.

You have created some COVID-19 themed cards. Which is your favorite and why

That’s an easy one .. lol

The green “Covid germ guy” is my favorite design for a couple of reasons.

First, it was my top selling card in 2020 and second a shopper messaged me

to let me know they she was sending this card to President Trump at the White House when he contacted Covid19.

Ok now for the fast five, fun questions…

What did you name your first car?

Blue not just because I like the color but it was a blue Bobcat.

What is your best scar story?

My aunt and my grandmother were visiting and at the time we lived in an upper apartment above our grandparents duplex and they left the outside door open to the downstairs. I was nine months old and learning to walk and I tumbled down two flights of metal stairs and had quite a scar that looked like a middle hair part!

What was the worst job you ever had and why?

The worst job I had was picking cherries at 11 years old because we lived half an hour away from the orchard and this old flat bed truck would pick each worker up their home and it seemed like it took a day to get to the orchard!

Would you rather be a giant rodent or a tiny elephant?

Hands down a tiny elephant!

Are you a traveler or a homebody?

I’m actually both! I go in seasons where I love to travel and love to stay home.

Shoaff Ballanger Studios, Design Challenge Winner, February 2021

Pattiann on April 19, 2021

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.

We knew we wanted a funny Easter greeting card about bunnies and chocolate. We searched through the stock images and found this one. It was perfect! We then had to decide how to incorporate the text on the cover and felt the best way was to fit it inside the handle of the basket with an emphasis on “feel”. It was just the right place because both the young lady and the earless chocolate bunny could be saying “I feel a little hollow”. The young lady’s expression of feeling a little hollow or guilty fit perfectly into the concept we were looking for. The dripping and smeared chocolate was a plus!

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Meaning did you have the verse and find the stock image to fit it or did you find the image first and the verse followed?

The stock image came first. It was our inspiration and then we brainstormed on the text and wording to fit the image.

Your store features many Stock Image Creations. What tips can you share with other GCU artists on making Stock Card Creations?

We always check the current cards available on Greeting Card Universe to make sure ours are different and unique and not more of the same. Don’t choose the first images that appear in your stock image search. Keep looking for the best one that fits with your style. We try to use the text tool in creative ways by maybe adding dashes as an element in the design or using the asterisk key/symbol as a snowflake. Experiment by using the various symbol keys to see how you can use them in your design. Making sure we use the stock image in a way that accentuates the visual appeal of the finished card is also important. Considerations such as making the image bigger or smaller to fill the whole cover or using background colors to emphasize colors that already exist in the stock image.

Let’s talk about Easter. Can you share a favorite Easter card by another GCU artist?

We have always loved this card by Tamara Dawn Adams. It looks so funny and we love cats!

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions …

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate?

Susan likes milk chocolate and Jay likes dark chocolate.

List something that is on your bucket list.

We would both buy an RV and travel south where it is warmer. We would also have Brown Betty and Max, our poodles, in tow.

What was the worst haircut you ever had?

Susan says it was recently when her husband, Jay, cut her hair above her ears and gave her “boy” hair.

Who is your celebrity look-a-like?

Susan is Dame Judi Dench and Jay is Orson Welles.

If your clothes had to be one color forever, what color would you pick?

Susan’s would be bright red and Jay’s would be bright blue.

Design Challenge Winner, September 2020, Holiday Spirit – Tammy Moody

Pattiann on December 7, 2020

Cat in Santa Hat COVID-19 Social Distance Humor Christmas card

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 just wanted to create a Christmas card that spoke to 2020. I basically imagined Santa
going from house to house this year- and it occurred to me that there is no way he could
ever practice safe social distancing going into hot spots! Lol Then, I thought Nope- he
can skip me this year- I’ll buy my own gift. Then I thought I needed to use a sarcastic or
wisecracking animal and what better animal than a cat to do that. So, I searched for
images of cats in Santa hats and found one immediately and everything just sort of fell
into place.

Holiday card sales are picking up. Which of your card designs do you predict will be
your best seller this year and why?

Well, I think Product ID: 1550210 will probably be one of my best sellers because it’s a
patriotic themed card with a snowy landscape that features a little country snowman, an
old barn, and a red truck. I really like these kinds of cards myself and after the year we
have had, people need something that takes them out of the moment and reminds them
of things that are relaxing and good in life.

Strange year this year with COVID-19. How has this impacted your work as an artist?
For me, I just tried to concentrate on Covid-19 related cards mostly and thinking of you
cards this year because people were so isolated and they needed relevant cards to
send to friends and loved ones. I think my heart was lent to the families who have lost
loved ones and to the healthcare workers who were putting their lives on the line to take
care of those affected. I just wanted to contribute to people in some way and this was
one way I could do that.

You have created some COVID-19 themed cards. Which is your favorite and why?
I think my favorite Covid-19 related card is Product ID: 1609146 because it features a
a group of cows who look like they are getting ready to walk in a grid across the pasture
to find some form of human life. I have cattle and they do come and look for you if you
are not where you are supposed to be at a certain time of day. Anyone who has cows
could attest to this. I love animals, so this one is just personal and funny to me.

Ok, now for the fast five, fun questions …Sour candy … love it or hate it?
Absolutely, love lemon sours!

What is your best scar story?
I was bitten by a copperhead when I was four and I have a large scar on my foot from
that. We were swimming at a river while vacationing in Missouri when it bit me. We were
50 miles away from a doctor, so my oldest sister had to make a tourniquet and use it on
my foot to keep the venom from spreading very quickly. My Dad threw all the kids in the
station wagon and sped over the hills to the nearest doctor’s office. I think I was in
better shape than my seven siblings by the time we got to the doctor’s office because
they were all car sick from the wild ride.

Are you a traveler or a homebody?
I am a homebody. I like to take a two-week vacation about once a year, but aside from
that I stick close to home. I have lots of animals, so I like to be there and take care of
them. I liked to travel all over when I was young, but not so much anymore.

What is your greatest irrational fear?
I worry about my kids way too much. My kids say I watch too much Dateline because I
am forever asking them if they have their pepper spray with them or if they are going out
with a group of people and not going places alone. They ridicule me a lot over it, but I
just want them to be safe.

If you were a vegetable, what vegetable would you be?
I would be a potato. I’m kind of complex, but stable. People can count on me to be there
and find comfort and support when they need it.