A new webpage is coming soon!

It's official a new web design is coming soon!

After a couple of months of learning Adobe Muse and waiting for Creative Cloud updates - a new look is coming to the web site!

The new design will be one page, mobile friendly, and include: parallax scrolling, simplified navigation, new portfolio image views, along with an easy to use contact form.

Below is a sneak peek concept of the site, but the final design will be surprise! So stay tuned!
 

Art/Design © Heather O. Studio

Featured on IGN.com

I'm excited to share that Heather O. Studio was published on IGN.com's 2011 Legend of Zelda: Hyrule's Most Wanted! 
To celebrate the good news I have offered computer wallpapers featuring "At Midnight".

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Art © Heather O. Studio
Wolfos/Zelda © Nintendo

How to have a successful Trade Show or Convention Table

So it's almost time to work on the Youmacon convention and I have been reflecting what my last year show was like compared to my trade show venue.
Many of you may also be interested in having your own tables at these trade shows and convention, so let me share a bit of wisdom with you.

In my experience, a trade show or convention is a great way to advertise yourself, company, artwork, and services. Now do not think this is a monetary pay off, because it's not.
This is a sacrifice of time and money, but I in my opinion, I think the benefits of working at these venues far out ways all of the cons!

So let me tell you what you will need in at any of these events:

1. Table (with a table cloth of your company/favorite color) and chairs (not all venues will have chairs or tables)
2. Guestbook (to collect emails, address, or just how many have gone to your table that night)
3. Bring a laptop or portfolio, bins, table tents, office supplies such as pencils, pens, and paper (trust me, people do forget these)
4. Have some type of contest, drawing, candy or any promotional item that will bring people to your table! (Advertise and Market)
5. Have a handout of some sort whether it's a flyer or a business card.
6. Baggies (in case you are selling products), Order forms, Carbon Receipts, Cash box (to take on commissions or orders). These are available at Office Max or Staples
7. Be ready to stay at your table for the day so bring food, water, and maybe a book

Each show has it's own rules, regulations, start-up costs, and audience. So be sure to know your venue, by researching and asking questions!

Also be sure to get to know your neighbors during these events! It's important to make friends/allies. You never know if you will need to borrow anything or have to leave your table.

Now let me tell you some of the mistakes I made that all of you can avoid:

• I did not keep a budget! Really it's simple, but if this is your first show, you will be bound to forget. I was so scared that I would not have enough products, I ended up shipping over half of my back-stock home!
• Be careful when you sign up with others to share a table! Due to unseen circumstances, I ended up at the show alone trying to find out how to receive my badge that was in my partners name! Luckily for me I was able to receive all of my convention materials, but be sure to have place your name on any type of registration information. (also I did have family and neighbors that were able to help me during the show)
• I did not have a game plan. Since I did not budget, I did not know how much of a profit I would need to cover my losses. (Again you will not recover everything you put into these shows, so be warned) Each day I had to create a new strategy of pricing, specials, and contest.
• I did not set up an attractive table setting. I was newbie that did not understand the concept of how my customers see my table. Think of your table as a mini store or shop, which has "features", "accessories" and "sale" areas. (I was lucky that someone was kind enough to help me set up "shop") 

If you are interested in starting a table, be sure to know what you want to sell; whether it's yourself, products, or your company's services!

And lastly, the biggest tip I can give you, is Have Fun! These shows are a great experience!
I've had wonderful time meeting new people, selling my products, placing a smiles on clients faces, learning about my competition, and most of all building a Fan Base.

What happens after the shows?
Well just be ready to crash once all of the excitement is over! Give yourself a day or two to recover, especially if you have 2-3 day showings.
Sit down and make a list of what was successful and what was unsuccessful. This is a great way to retain information and reflect.

Now that you have a bit of knowledge, go and have an incredible show!

Happy Anniversary to Heather O. Studio!

 Welcome to the new look and feel of the company! I'm excited to present my new logo!!

Art/Design © Heather O. Studio

What's on your iPhone?

I've had my 3G iPhone for a few months now. I want to share which apps were great for my business's well-being and for just the fun in life.

For business these are my top 5 apps:

1. Virtual Receptionist (free; except after 60mins are up, but this keeps your cell safe)
2. Trip Case (free; keeps all my hotels, flights, and rentals in one space. I can even share with my family and friends! This was so useful for my mother to know where I am ^^)
3. Tick (free version; I am able to keep track of hours on each of my clients' projects)
4. iDisk ($99/year with MobileMe; I am able to share and email files to clients from my iPhone! Great for someone who is always out and about)
5. VehiCal (free; a great way to keep track of your vehicle expenses and mileage)

For the personal side of life, these are my top 5 apps:

1. Shazam (free version; download it, turn on your radio and tap Tag Now. You will love this app!)
2. Amazon Kindle (or similar software) - (free; I love to read, but I can't always carry a book with me. That's where this app comes in! Best part, it stays in sync with my Kindle!! I always start where I left off no matter which device I am on!)
3. Tipulicious (free; a great app when it's time to split the meal; try it out!)
4. Starbucks Mobile Card (free; I love to know how much I have left on my Starbucks Cards. Try it out!)
5. Teavana (free; I love this app! You will too, especially if you are a tea lover! Try this one out!)

Well that was just a taste of what is on my iPhone....trust me I have about 6 screens so far!
So here's my question to you...What's on your iPhone?

Quick Tips and hints for Starting a Small Business

I haven't been able to blog for awhile due to the high volume of work I've taken on. But this is a new year and it's time to share! :)
This is just a very quick summary of what you need to do within your first month of starting a business.

In 2009, I started Heather O. Studio....of course I had no clue how or what to do. So I had to learn, study, focus, try, fail, and accomplish on my own.
Some quick background though, I'm an at home business, sole proprietorship, and freelancing/contracting so my situation maybe different from yours, but maybe not completely.

So I've got a few tips for some of you looking to start your own business.
First and foremost, find a mentor or business counselor/adviser! I found mine at a nearby community college. I was able to find out what type of business I needed to open, and what were my next steps.
Now these were business analysis counselors/advisers available for anyone! Best part...it was free!!

Next tip, is to open up a business checking account. Make sure they are free of annual fees or dues. You're a new business, right now its about saving as much as you can all you can.
Also you want to separate your personal expenses from those of your business.
Be sure to start a profit-loss excel sheet or invest in Quicken (or similar software) and TurboTax (or similar software). This will make it so much easier by tax season.

Next up, have a business credit card or designate a credit card for your business only. Again this just helps keeps your expenses in order.

Now here comes the fun...maybe hard part. It's about marketing your company and gathering business. There's a lot of creative ways of doing so, but you need to have the basics. Identity packages are your standard business card, letterheads, envelopes, and some type of promotional material.
For example, when I had met up with my business adviser, I not only handed him a business card, but a bookmark (my company design) as well. This is a great way for people to remember you. And that's what it's about, standing out.

Another idea is to invest and stay involved with your community in some way.
I've invested my time and marketing into my local Chambers. This is has been a great way for me to gather potential clients, strategic alliances, and overall some really great friends.

Now it's time to learn how a business works. I'm actually studying for my MBA to grab hold of this (my art degree can only go so far). But there are tons of books, seminars, blogs, articles, and workshops for this. You don't need a degree, but overall basic education of how to interpret contracts, understand your finances, and complex business works. Makes sense right? Can't be a mechanic and have no clue how to take apart a machine!

My last quick tip....be ready for slow days and expensive purchases. It's natural to feel lost and confused, but if you keep I promise you will succeed.
At the beginning, I was worried I had invested in a fool-hearted dream, and I would have to admit to those who didn't believe in me I couldn't do it. Well my hard-work paid off!
I maybe a small business, but I am a successful one!

So don't give up and Good Luck! :)

Bookmark of Luck

"Bookmark of Luck"

I've been lucky so far this year :)

I was just playing around with a bookmark design...
This is about 2.5in x 6.5in
Currently up for sale on Heather O. Studio

Art/Design © Heather O. Studio

Open on Zazzle.com!

You can now find new products with my artwork on them here on Zazzle.com!

The Heather O. Studio Sweatshirt

Here's my new Heather O. Studio sweatshirt!! :aww:

Get yours today! [link]

Butterfly © Heather O. Studio

The Store and New Online Retail Store have been updated!

Hi Everyone!

Great news! My artwork is now on CafePress! You can now get some really neat Tshirts, Journals, Bags, and even some items for your pet!
Be sure to take a look in the retail store today! :)

I'm thinking about getting the butterfly tank and Tsuki Tshirt...but there's so many to choose from! :aww:

Also I've added artwork that was available at the Youmacon on my website. These will only be up for a limited time since a lot of the items are starting to sell out.

Let me know if anyone has any questions!

The Youmacon Fun!

Wow it's been quite an entertaining first day at the Youmacon.

I've met so many nice people and learned so much at my first convention! Also this is my first Artist Alley as well is it's been a real treat.
I wanted everyone to know that there is a special treat for those that purchase a print tomorrow! :D
Trick or Treat folks!
Happy Halloween!

New and improved website

Finally the website is all done! :) http://www.heatheroneal.com
There is now a Services, Store, and the Portfolio/FineArt are seperated!
Overall it's new and improved! Be sure to stop in!

Published in Game Informer!

Wonderful news Heather O. Studio was published in the October 2009, Issue 198, of Game Informer Magazine! Be sure to pick up your copy today!

Game Informer Magazine (c) GameStop/Game Informer
"At Twilight" (c) Heather O. Studio

*Do not republish or print works from this entry*

Convention work update 2

To keep everyone up to day. I'm done with listing the any work that's for the convo.
Anything else that's been created will be a surprise. :)

I will also post any details to the Youmacon in a few weeks.

Getting ready for classes and convention

Its been very busy for the last few weeks.

I'm still working on FanArt to sell at the Youmacon convention.

At the same time I'll be back in school going for my masters...so there's just a lot to keep up with. But there is always work posted up on my DeviantArt page. Be sure to take a look!

http://stormwhisper02.deviantart.com/

First ACEO

I've never done an ACEO before and this is my first.
ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". These art cards must be the size of a trading card (3.5x2.5 inches).
For my first subject I decided on a caracal. I really do enjoy these cats for their beauty and exotic features.
This was done in colored pencil, and is suppose to appear as a quick "sketch" of that current moment.

Card for the Convo

Well this is one of my ideas for the Youmacon convo. This is Toshiro and Matsumoto on a soon to be 3.5x2.5 inch trading card. I think this will be a bigger hit then just them separate.

Convention work update

I've been quite busy lately, but I'm back up and running
Currently I've been working on FanArt for the Youmacon convention on Oct 29- Nov 1.
Some characters I'll be working on:

1. Eevee and its evolutions
2. Ninetails and Vulpix
3. Toshiro Bankai (Bleach)
   
4. Hisagi (Bleach)
5. Edward Elric
6. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru

Heather O. Studio

Really excited to announce Heather O. Studio is official!
I'll be getting a few things together this weekend, but by monday I should be ready to go.

Open for Commissions!

Finally I'm open to take on Commissions!

All my fine art commissions are done traditionally or can be digitally colored.
I can do anything concerning Animals (either Anime Character style or natural) and Fantasy/mythological creatures. I will FanArt also in the media of your choosing (media listed below).
My pricings are usually standard for 1 character with a simple shadow shading. Additional characters, backgrounds, etc., are an extra cost. All of that is listed below.

I, currently, work in Staedtler ink pens, Prismacolor pencils, pencil, Photoshop and Illustrator (digital coloring).

~Here are some additional details~

Standards:
• All commissions are on 8.5x11 copy paper; additional cost for acid-free Strathmore paper.
• S&H is $4 for all commission pieces (priority mail)
• US insurance add $5, International insurance add $25
• Original Finish/Final Work is shipped to client

Details:
• Unit price includes one character with simple shadow
• Additional characters cost extra (same piece)
• For simple background (symbols, washouts, etc.) add $30

Pricing:
• Line Art character is $25, and additional character on the same piece is $10, full backgrounds are $40

• For Color pencil character is $25, and additional character on the same piece is $20, a full background is $55

• For 1 digital color character is $120, and additional character is $75, and a full background costs $100

• For simple backgrounds (symbols, washouts, etc.) is an additional $30


I can create bookmarks, cards, or anything else in different sizes just check out my official price listing (this one gets updated a lot).
Feel free to send me a note or email through my web page if you are interested in a commissioned piece.

Official Price List

FAQs:
• Can I use your artwork on forums/Neopets/MySpace/Bebo/Orkut/etc...?
NO. I do not want my characters or really any commissioned artwork to be used anywhere else. A lot of my artwork is copyrighted, and clients' work are not to be reused anywhere or by anyone else.

• Can I repost your images on PhotoBucket/Flickr/Webshots/etc...?
NO. Please do not re-post my images anywhere without my given consent.