TIPS & TRICKS!

Try not to lift your pen so often- you get a cleaner and confident line quality

PRESSURE: Try to use lighter pressure in the beginning of blocking out your drawing

SIMPLIFY: Less can be more when drawing an artwork that will be transferred to stickers, shirts, or tote bags.

Wet-on-dry
Here, you paint on dry paper. The edges stay sharp and controlled, making this ideal for details, outlines, and defined shapes. Most beginners start here because it’s easier to manage.

Dry brush
Using a brush with very little water, you drag pigment across the paper. This creates a rough, textured effect that works well for things like tree bark, grass, or fabric texture.

Glazing (layering)
You apply thin, transparent layers of paint, letting each layer dry before adding the next. This builds depth and richness in color without muddying the painting. Patience is key.

Gradient (wash)
A wash is a smooth area of color. A gradient wash transitions from dark to light (or one color to another). This is commonly used for skies or backgrounds.

Lifting
You remove paint from the paper using a damp brush, sponge, or tissue. This is useful for creating highlights, soft clouds, or correcting mistakes.

Salt technique
Sprinkling salt onto wet paint creates starburst-like textures as it absorbs water and pigment. It’s often used for interesting textures like foliage or abstract effects.

Splattering (spatter)
Flicking paint onto the paper creates random dots and specks. This can add energy, texture, or suggest things like stars, sand, or leaves.

Masking (with masking fluid)
Masking fluid is applied to areas you want to keep white. Once the painting is done and dry, you remove the masking to reveal untouched paper—great for highlights.

Negative painting
Instead of painting the subject directly, you paint around it. This technique helps define shapes and layers, especially in foliage or complex compositions.

Blooms / backruns
When extra water flows into a partially dry wash, it pushes pigment outward, creating cauliflower-like patterns. These can be controlled or used intentionally for expressive effects.

If you want, I can suggest a few beginner exercises to practice these techniques or show how they combine in a simple painting.

Shirts

Stickers

Tote Bags

Pins

Magnets

Lawn Flag

Journal Covers

Phone Cases

You scan or photograph your artwork, then print it onto products.

• Inkjet or giclée printing: High-quality art prints on paper or canvas. Great for selling reproductions.

• Direct-to-garment (DTG): Prints directly onto fabric (like T-shirts). Good for detailed, painterly designs.

• UV printing: Prints onto hard surfaces like wood, acrylic, or metal.

Best for: scalability, online shops, print-on-demand.

2. Heat transfer

Your design is printed onto transfer paper and applied with heat.

• Iron-on transfers: Beginner-friendly, works on fabric.

• Heat press vinyl (HTV): You cut designs from vinyl and press them onto fabric.

• Sublimation: Heat turns ink into gas that bonds with polyester or coated surfaces (like mugs).

Best for: apparel, mugs, tote bags.
Note: Sublimation works best on light-colored polyester or specially coated items.

3. Screen printing

Ink is pushed through a stencil (screen) onto a surface.

• Produces bold, durable designs.

• Each color requires a separate screen.

Best for: bulk production, simple color designs (like posters or T-shirts).

4. Decoupage

You glue printed or original artwork onto objects and seal it.

• Works on wood, furniture, boxes, etc.

• Finished with varnish or sealant for durability.

Best for: handmade crafts, one-of-a-kind items.

5. Transfer paper / gel medium transfers

You print your artwork (usually with a laser printer), then transfer it using a gel medium.

• Apply gel to surface, place print face-down, then remove paper after drying.

• Leaves the ink embedded in the surface.

Best for: wood panels, canvas, mixed media art.

6. Laser engraving / etching (for adapted designs)

Your artwork is converted into linework and engraved into materials like wood, leather, or metal.

Best for: premium or minimalist products.

7. Embroidery (digitized artwork)

Your design is converted into stitch patterns and sewn into fabric.

Best for: hats, jackets, premium apparel branding.

8. Stickers & decals

Turn your artwork into adhesive products.

• Vinyl stickers are durable and waterproof.

• Can be applied to laptops, bottles, packaging, etc.

Best for: low-cost merch, branding add-ons.

9. Print-on-demand services

Platforms like Printful or Redbubble handle printing, packaging, and shipping.

• You upload your design once.

• They apply it to many products (shirts, phone cases, posters, etc.).

Best for: artists who don’t want to manage inventory.

10. Hand painting / direct application

You manually paint your design onto objects.

• Use acrylics, fabric paints, or sealants depending on the surface.

Best for: custom, high-value, one-off pieces.

How to choose

If you’re just starting:

• Try scanning your watercolor + print-on-demand for easy setup.

• Or use heat transfer / sublimation for DIY products at home.

If you’re scaling:

• Move toward screen printing or DTG.

If you tell me what kind of products you’re thinking about (shirts, prints, home decor, etc.), I can narrow this down to the best method and even suggest a simple workflow.

https://woodartsupply.com/products/htvront-sublimation-paper-8-5-x-11-inch-120-sheets-easy-to-transfer-sublimation-paper-for-t-shirts-tumblers-mugs-a4?variant=45940911734950&_gsid=YSH4jvmxPikN&utm_source=chatgpt.com&utm_medium=feed

Sublimation Printer:

https://www.swingdesign.com/collections/sublimation-printers-materials-blanks?srsltid=AfmBOoo6cN6LzSsVMStkjzrb6Een6sAyjTr2yO4PijHWd1cGn-IgozYm

Cricut Heat Press:

https://cricut.com/en-us/cricut-heat-presses

Heat Resistant Tape, Butcher Paper, & Sublimation Blanks

Sublimation blanks (the surface)

You can’t sublimate onto just anything.

You need:

• Polyester fabric (or high-poly blend)

• OR specially coated items

Common blanks:

• T-shirts (polyester)

• Mugs (poly-coated)

• Tumblers

• Tote bags

• Coasters

https://artesprix.com/products/sublimation-starter-kit?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.printful.com/sell-with-printful?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11962243183&gbraid=0AAAAACuqv4utL0ISf4OotrqrU_6NHvw_Y&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_r7exqCllAMVBEhHAR3UlA2TEAAYAiAAEgKJzvD_BwE

Society6

https://society6.com/

1. A clear creative identity
You need to know what you stand for and what makes your work distinct. Whether you’re a designer, writer, or filmmaker, your “voice” or style is your brand. Without that clarity, it’s hard to attract the right audience.

2. A real problem or desire you serve
Creativity alone doesn’t guarantee demand. The most sustainable creative businesses sit at the intersection of what you love making and what people value enough to buy. That could be solving a problem (e.g., branding for startups) or fulfilling a desire (e.g., art, entertainment, aesthetics).

3. Consistent output (not just bursts of inspiration)
Waiting for inspiration is a trap. Treat your creative work like a system—regular production builds skill, audience trust, and momentum.

4. An audience-first mindset
You don’t need millions of followers, but you do need your people. Understanding who resonates with your work—and why—lets you refine both your creative direction and your offers.

5. Multiple revenue streams
Relying on one income source is risky. Creative businesses often combine things like:

• Services (freelance, consulting)

• Products (prints, courses, digital goods)

• Content monetization (ads, sponsorships, memberships)

6. Basic business skills (non-negotiable)
A lot of creatives avoid this part—and that’s where things break down. You need at least a working grasp of:

• Pricing your work

• Negotiation

• Marketing and positioning

• Managing cash flow

7. Strong storytelling and branding
People don’t just buy creative work—they buy the story behind it. Why you do what you do matters. This is what turns casual interest into loyalty.

8. Adaptability
Trends, platforms, and audiences change fast. The ability to evolve without losing your core identity is what keeps a creative business alive long-term.

9. Discipline and resilience
There will be slow periods, rejected ideas, and inconsistent income early on. The difference between a hobby and a business is sticking through that phase and improving.

• Start as an LLC if you have yet to make any income on your work

1. Illustration- private drawing commissions, sales of original art, web shop

2. Markets/ Festivals

3. MSAC Roster Artist- Private funding for workshops and creative art making residencies

4. Brick & Mortar Partnerships- Stores sell my work in Baltimore, Severna Park/Annapolis, Hereford County, Frederick, and DC.

5. Murals

BEST ADVICE*** Join a creative community. Your community provides you with confidence and resources.

** Do a pop up at a store or apply to a small market- NETWORK THERE. Grab everyone's business cards and follow them on social media

Apply for a credit card that only charges your business expenses. Create your business at your local bank and get a business credit card!

Funnel those emails into a subscription list

Other options are:

Shopify

Wix

GoDaddy

I use square for transactions at markets.

🧾 1. It automatically tracks your income

Every payment you take gets recorded:

• Sales

• Tips

• Taxes collected

• Fees

So instead of guessing your yearly income, you already have clean records. This matters because you owe taxes on all business income, whether you track it or not .

📊 2. It gives you tax-ready reports

When it’s time to file, Square can generate:

• Sales summaries

• Transaction reports

• Fee reports

• Inventory/value reports

These are exactly what accountants usually ask for, so you’re not scrambling at the last minute .

🧮 3. It helps you separate what you earned vs. what you keep

Important detail:

• Square reports your gross income (total sales)

• But you’re taxed on net income (after expenses like fees, supplies, etc.)

Square tracks both, so you can:

• See total revenue

• Subtract fees and costs correctly

📄 4. It may send you a tax form (1099-K)

If you hit certain thresholds, Square will send you a Form 1099-K and report your income to the IRS .

Key idea:

• The IRS gets a copy too

• They use it to check that you reported your income correctly

Even if you don’t get a 1099-K, you still have to report your income.