Guest Interview & Giveaway from OriginalCin

Giveaway is now CLOSED!!!

Our second giveaway running until the end of March is from my dear friend (and partner in crime for some of the shows I do), Cindy from OriginalCin. She's a fun loving person and a great artist to boot!

Here's my interview with her:

Colleen: What got you started in your business ?

Cindy: I always was an artist, since I was a kid. I remember being eight years old and selling hand drawn greeting cards in my front yard to my neighbors. Some kids sold lemonade. I sold drawings. I began drawing character sketches for gamer friends when I started on the internet, just for fun.  After a while, when I started to develop a skill, I thought "huh, People are always asking me for art, why not start selling commissions and prints?"  And much to my surprise, people were willing to pay for it.

Colleen: How long have you been in business?

Cindy: I started doing art commission work back in 1998, when I was introduced to the internet. I had so many gamer friends who had other gamer friends that wanted sketches of their RPG characters. I didn't start selling my craft work until 2010 when I wanted to expand what I did. I started making hair clips and other sundries.

Colleen: What are you focused on right now?

Cindy: Right now? My art. I love to draw. Its what I always have done since I was little. I try to improve myself with every sketch I do. For a while there I was falling into some lazy habits with my work. But for the last two years I have been trying to push myself further and further towards improvement. Its an eternal process.

Colleen: Where do you get your inspiration and ideas?

Cindy: My friends. Seriously. I have tons of creative friends who inspire me everyday; crafters, illustrators, writers, and costumers. The list goes on and on. When someone gets bitten by the creative bug its infectious. I need to be a part of that as well and share with them.

Colleen: How would you describe your personal style?

Cindy: Quirky. Definitely quirky. I have a weird sense of humor and I tend to paint the world in broad colorful strokes.

Colleen: What does the handcraft/DIY movement mean to you? Where do you see it going?

Cindy: For me its a sense of community. The DIY crowd have been so warm. Everyone wants to share with everyone else and everyone revels in eachother's work. Its nice. Its like a huge think tank...but with more hot glue.

Colleen:  How do you balance things like family, work and your crafting/art business?

Cindy: Well, I don't have children. I have a husband, two cats, and about 12 fish in a 100 gallon tank. My husband supports my crafting habit. He knows its my way of unwinding and tends to get out of my way when I'm on a roll. Not to mention he is a bit of a DIY guy himself and loves woodworking. Its easy to balance your habit when you live with another "user".

Colleen: Do you have specific things you do to keep yourself motivated or things you do to handle the stress?

Cindy: I make lists. LOTS of lists. I also find other friends to create with. Arting in groups! It keeps you focused, not to mention helps if you need a little girly bitch fest WHILE you are working. Doing art is my stress relief. Sitting and sketching or sewing focuses me and helps me keep my "normal" life under control.

Colleen: Are there any local businesses or artisans that you are exited about right now?

Cindy: Oh GOD I am addicted to etsy. Seriously. How awesome is that place? Its not really a local business but it really excites me to see other people and their work.

An artisan I am particularly inspired by these days is Shing Khor form Sawdust Bear (http://www.sawdustbear.com/). She is amazing with what she does. She has a thriving business but is always 100% true to who she is as an artist. I admire that. I hope someday I can be that.

Colleen: Any tips for setting up a table for vending?

Cindy: Make friends with your neighbors! Seriously. They will help you out. We're all in this together!

Colleen: Do you have any upcoming shows that you are doing?

Cindy: I'll be doing Artists Alley at Anime Conji in San Diego March 16th - 18th. I'll have prints and will be taking commissions! Also, Colleen, from Wyng'd Lyon is kind enough (AGAIN! I owe her a HUGE BEER!) to have some of my clips and prints at Gaslight Gathering May 11th - 13th.

Colleen: Do you have any suggestions for getting your name out to the public?

Cindy: Hell, I'm still working on that myself. Right now what is working for me is always keeping my blog current. Showing people what I do, how I do it, and just talking about what I love keeps an interest and most of all  keeps me motivated.

Colleen: What is one thing you would like people to know about you or your Art?

Cindy: I do what I love. Period. Granted, it might not be a mass market type of deal but dangit I have so much fun!

Colleen: Do you have a website, blog, store front ?

Cindy: You can find my art blog at www.originalcin.net I also have an etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CinsAngel

Colleen: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Cindy: I...got nothing. CHEERS!

Giveaway is now CLOSED!!!

And now onto the giveaway! Cindy has so graciously offered up two prints for us to giveaway.

We're proud to present Lord & Lady Cthulhu

REQUIREMENTS:

To be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment on what type of costume or character you would like to see Cthulhu in or dressed up as.

Please note that your entry is null and void if I have no way to contact you. If you have your profile set to private or if there is no email or blog connected to your post, you must leave an email address with your entries. If there is no way to contact the winner after they are picked, a new winner will be selected.

Please note that contest is open to US & Canadian residents only. 


Giveaway is now CLOSED!!!

 OPTIONAL ENTRIES:

For extra entries, you many do any or all of the following.  Each requires a separate post in the comments.

*Visit Cindy's  Etsy store, Original Cin, then return here and leave a comment about your favorite item from her shop.(1 entry)
* Blog about this giveaway (1 entry), with link back to this page.  Leave a comment to this post with the URL of your blog post.
* Become a follower of this blog. New followers only.  Leave a comment stating you have done so. (1 entry)
* Become a follower of  Cindy's blog. New followers only.  Leave a comment stating you have done so. (1 entry)
* Tweet about this giveaway, with a link back to this page.  Leave the URL of your tweet in comments.  This entry is available daily (up to 24 entries; leave a comment for each individual tweet).
* Make  Original Cin   a "favorite" on Etsy. Leave a comment here stating that you did so. (1 entry)
* "Like" Original Cin Art on Facebook - New followers only.   Leave a comment here stating that you did so. (1 entry)

PLEASE NOTE: Comment moderation is on.  You will not see your post immediately, but it is there - please do not repost. Duplicate posts will be removed.  =)

Contest ends March 31, 2012 at 9:00 pm  Pacific time, with a winner selected by a random number generator and announced shortly thereafter.

Entries must be in English.  Entries containing URL links not connected to this giveaway will be considered spam and deleted. Please note that contest is open to US & Canadian residents only.