I needed to hear this . I was trying to do too many things myself, start a print on demand store selling my designs on products, build my portfolio , pitch for freelance and work a part time job in something unrelated to design . I recently and ended up going around in circles and got completely overwhelmed. I need to narrow my focus now and drop some responsibilities if things are to work. Trying to start too many things at once is counter productive and really detrimental to the moral. Thanks Elizabeth for all the amazing content . I find all your videos super practical and really helpful.
I'm glad this hit home for you, we often expect WAY TOO MUCH from ourselves, so I hope this helps you give yourself some grace and build on one thing at a time, understanding that it's a slow process and working super hard won't necessarily make it go faster. (Unfortunately!!)
12:36, you mentioned spoonflower!! I have just started with it uploaded 6 abstract pattern designs. Is there any step by step on spoonflower, which I can see and better my design skills and results as i have only 15 likes 6 bookmarked but not a single sale yet.
Hi Elizabeth, I can totally relate to what you’re saying here, thanks for sharing your insight and experience. I have tried Redbubble with some success (but I find their shop navigation glitchy and unreliable), society6 (was very time consuming and no sales so I deleted my account with them), spoonflower (I only have a small collection of work here but still get some interest and sales even after neglecting my shop for many months), I’ve tried direct client contact (with interest but no commitments), doing my own products through printers etc… I feel like a stretched rubber band with not much to show for all my hard work 😂 I’ll get there
This something sounding familiar as I am trying to do many things to get results in various skills like : graphic design ( tshirt, print design, logo and branding identity design and now pattern design in both Photoshop and illustrator. Video editing for events, weddings education n vlogs on Adobe Premiere with color grading ( enhancing video colors) in davinciresolve. 2d floor plan design in Photoshop to 3d architecture visualization using 3ds max, maya, and expanding knowledge with unreal engine and twinmotion. But, due to my fear / camera shy being an epileptic patient pulls me ( mental block) back in sharing knowledge with the world. Hey Elizabeth, can tell how did you overcome this fear before posting your first video !!
Wow it definitely sounds like you've got too much on your plate!! For videos, you don't always have to show your face, a lot of my early videos were slideshows where I just did voice over and my face wasn't on camera at all!
Oh this was a much needed message for me. My whole life I’ve wanted to do EVERYTHING and have been paralysed into doing NOTHING. Now I’ve narrowed my goals down to some sort of art, inc surface pattern design, and this was a great reminder to narrow down even more. I love the idea of variety and multiple streams keeping things interesting, but you’re right, I’m always overwhelmed and abandon stuff and end up doing nothing. But also, by narrowing down you’re eliminating a lot of awesome paths and missing out on so much! But I think that’s life. Just had my 3rd baby anyway so taking my time to focus and consider what will work and where to focus. Am powering through all your videos!
Congrats on the new baby! I heard a really great metaphor the other day about your energy and opportunities that I think makes the point even more clearly. If your energy is a steam of water coming down an incline, and at the bottom there are 10 little openings, the water is trickling out of those 10 openings. If you close off 5 of them, the water pressure is going to be way stronger coming out of the remaining 5 openings. Imagine if for your business, you only had 2 openings? So much energy (water) going into those special two focused options!
I know this video is a year old but it is still so relevant. This gave me a lot to think about and I definitely think I have been trying to do too many things. I really needed this video. I have been really working towards building my portfolio and your resources have been so helpful. I haven’t decided what two things I want/need to focus on. I’ve been trying to rework my website to add a place for my portfolio. Any tips on how it should look? I’ve seen a few and they are all a little different.
I'm so glad you find this helpful, yes it's older but definitely still something that we all struggle with...wanting to make *something* work, so trying to do *all the things*. I promise even if it's slow, WHAT YOU FOCUS ON GROWS 😊
For any printable item like for example coloring book. Is it mandatory to link etsy shop with any printing service? If yes, which one , one should opt for as a beginner?? Keeping a long term view
Gotta just laugh at the financial planner who is obviously not very in tune with self employment....Blows my mind- I would be so angry too - lol like I'd like for you to do my 10 jobs plus be a parent on top of it all Mr. Financial planner. I think part of it is that creative self employment still has a stigma around it that it is not a "viable career" - Yet, it is people like you Elizabeth, who are highlighting how it IS viable and important part of the creative industry. Great video as always!! - Jen Lezan
I know I was so mad. Boy, bye. 🙄 I do understand that non-creatives aren't used to it but still, he knew I was bringing in $40k a year (at that time) which is a lot of you're unemployed 😆
@@ElizabethSilver that’s even worse! He knew you were bringing in money 🤦🏽♀️ ay ay ay! Patience of a saint lady 😅and yes that’s a great income for self employment!
It depends on what you want to use it for- trying to get art licensing deals, an agent, a staff design job, sell on print on demand sites? I say start any of those endeavors at about 10 strong designs, but continue to build as you continue to pitch yourself or move forward.
Can I include art about existing characters, cartoons, on my patterns ? Is it legit to do so or have any copyright issues ? If no then is there any other way to do so by mentioning there brand name ? Btw I love your channel 😇
If you're looking to sell or license your patterns, you will not be able to use existing characters for copyright infringement reasons. There is a possibility that creating those type of patterns for your portfolio might help show a freelance or in-house art director that you have the skills to work for them, but it really would depend on the job.
I needed to hear this . I was trying to do too many things myself, start a print on demand store selling my designs on products, build my portfolio , pitch for freelance and work a part time job in something unrelated to design . I recently and ended up going around in circles and got completely overwhelmed.
I need to narrow my focus now and drop some responsibilities if things are to work. Trying to start too many things at once is counter productive and really detrimental to the moral.
Thanks Elizabeth for all the amazing content . I find all your videos super practical and really helpful.
I'm glad this hit home for you, we often expect WAY TOO MUCH from ourselves, so I hope this helps you give yourself some grace and build on one thing at a time, understanding that it's a slow process and working super hard won't necessarily make it go faster. (Unfortunately!!)
I sooooo appreciate you and all of your knowledge.
12:36, you mentioned spoonflower!! I have just started with it uploaded 6 abstract pattern designs. Is there any step by step on spoonflower, which I can see and better my design skills and results as i have only 15 likes 6 bookmarked but not a single sale yet.
This from an experienced and very talented artist. Love your advice, Elizabeth.
Thank you so much :)
Can a same pattern design be submitted to multiple websites like you are mentioning @1:59
You need to read their terms. Some sites ask to be exclusive, others not. Some may offer more royalties for exclusive.
Hi Elizabeth, I can totally relate to what you’re saying here, thanks for sharing your insight and experience. I have tried Redbubble with some success (but I find their shop navigation glitchy and unreliable), society6 (was very time consuming and no sales so I deleted my account with them), spoonflower (I only have a small collection of work here but still get some interest and sales even after neglecting my shop for many months), I’ve tried direct client contact (with interest but no commitments), doing my own products through printers etc… I feel like a stretched rubber band with not much to show for all my hard work 😂 I’ll get there
you will! Choose two and go deep with those two for a year!
This something sounding familiar as I am trying to do many things to get results in various skills like :
graphic design ( tshirt, print design, logo and branding identity design and now pattern design in both Photoshop and illustrator.
Video editing for events, weddings education n vlogs on Adobe Premiere with color grading ( enhancing video colors) in davinciresolve.
2d floor plan design in Photoshop to 3d architecture visualization using 3ds max, maya, and expanding knowledge with unreal engine and twinmotion. But, due to my fear / camera shy being an epileptic patient pulls me ( mental block) back in sharing knowledge with the world. Hey Elizabeth, can tell how did you overcome this fear before posting your first video !!
Wow it definitely sounds like you've got too much on your plate!!
For videos, you don't always have to show your face, a lot of my early videos were slideshows where I just did voice over and my face wasn't on camera at all!
@@ElizabethSilver thanks for appreciating and suggesting a solution.
Excellent guide ..👍, Im going to be a new student of you...
yay! Welcome!
thank you for your advice…its help me so much
I'm so glad!
60th view for the video.
Yes, fire that financial planner! 😊
Right?! On to the next one!
Oh this was a much needed message for me. My whole life I’ve wanted to do EVERYTHING and have been paralysed into doing NOTHING. Now I’ve narrowed my goals down to some sort of art, inc surface pattern design, and this was a great reminder to narrow down even more. I love the idea of variety and multiple streams keeping things interesting, but you’re right, I’m always overwhelmed and abandon stuff and end up doing nothing. But also, by narrowing down you’re eliminating a lot of awesome paths and missing out on so much! But I think that’s life.
Just had my 3rd baby anyway so taking my time to focus and consider what will work and where to focus.
Am powering through all your videos!
Congrats on the new baby! I heard a really great metaphor the other day about your energy and opportunities that I think makes the point even more clearly.
If your energy is a steam of water coming down an incline, and at the bottom there are 10 little openings, the water is trickling out of those 10 openings. If you close off 5 of them, the water pressure is going to be way stronger coming out of the remaining 5 openings. Imagine if for your business, you only had 2 openings? So much energy (water) going into those special two focused options!
@@ElizabethSilver oh yes that’s a great one!! Makes so much sense. Thank you
I could've written this, minus the baby. Thank you Elizabeth! This is so helpful.
This really resonated with me Elizabeth; I’ve been trying to master too many things.
I'm so glad this hit home, it's sooo common. Give yourself a break!
@@ElizabethSilver Thanks, I am going to reasses.😁
I know this video is a year old but it is still so relevant.
This gave me a lot to think about and I definitely think I have been trying to do too many things.
I really needed this video. I have been really working towards building my portfolio and your resources have been so helpful. I haven’t decided what two things I want/need to focus on. I’ve been trying to rework my website to add a place for my portfolio. Any tips on how it should look? I’ve seen a few and they are all a little different.
I'm so glad you find this helpful, yes it's older but definitely still something that we all struggle with...wanting to make *something* work, so trying to do *all the things*. I promise even if it's slow, WHAT YOU FOCUS ON GROWS 😊
For any printable item like for example coloring book. Is it mandatory to link etsy shop with any printing service? If yes, which one , one should opt for as a beginner?? Keeping a long term view
I’ve been looking into kdp
Gotta just laugh at the financial planner who is obviously not very in tune with self employment....Blows my mind- I would be so angry too - lol like I'd like for you to do my 10 jobs plus be a parent on top of it all Mr. Financial planner. I think part of it is that creative self employment still has a stigma around it that it is not a "viable career" - Yet, it is people like you Elizabeth, who are highlighting how it IS viable and important part of the creative industry. Great video as always!! - Jen Lezan
I know I was so mad. Boy, bye. 🙄 I do understand that non-creatives aren't used to it but still, he knew I was bringing in $40k a year (at that time) which is a lot of you're unemployed 😆
@@ElizabethSilver that’s even worse! He knew you were bringing in money 🤦🏽♀️ ay ay ay! Patience of a saint lady 😅and yes that’s a great income for self employment!
Great advice! It is so easy to feel like you have to try everything!
Agreed...I fall into this trap as well!
How big should a surface pattern portfolio be?
It depends on what you want to use it for- trying to get art licensing deals, an agent, a staff design job, sell on print on demand sites? I say start any of those endeavors at about 10 strong designs, but continue to build as you continue to pitch yourself or move forward.
@3:43, one query, how to differentiate between print studio and company and identify them.
A company manufactures products. Usually, print studios only have art and no products.
Great tips! Thank you!
You bet!
SO helpful, thanks!
You're welcome!
Nice Video, Thank you !
You're welcome!
Can I include art about existing characters, cartoons, on my patterns ? Is it legit to do so or have any copyright issues ? If no then is there any other way to do so by mentioning there brand name ?
Btw I love your channel 😇
If you're looking to sell or license your patterns, you will not be able to use existing characters for copyright infringement reasons. There is a possibility that creating those type of patterns for your portfolio might help show a freelance or in-house art director that you have the skills to work for them, but it really would depend on the job.
@@ElizabethSilver thank you for your response ... I will add in my portfolio..
I have seen many products in market which have cartoons characters on it so I wonder if I can do that too.