Using Public Domain Images: Cute Owl Images

I have not sold many things on Zazzle or Cafepress (mostly because I have not been marketing them very much.) But I did make a few sales which has inspired me to give it more of my effort and attention. It seems like my "cute images" do the best.  For example this mother and baby parrot that are on many of the products in my Cafepress Store and also in my Zazzle Store.

(I wrote a post about this image, My First Attempt at Using Public Domain Images earlier this year.)

Since cute seems to sell, I decided to create some more cuteness.  Drawing animals is not one of my strongest qualities so I I found this wonderful owl by moonlight at http://www.publicdomainpictures.net

In Gimp, I used the free select tool (feather edges set to about 6) to cut out the owl. I duplicated the owl 2 times and used the colorize tool to color mom pink and baby blue. I used the scale tool to make baby owl smaller and add some girth to the mother owl.

I also changed baby owl's nose, to make it more "button-like."

I used the round paint brush, and changed the eyes to make it seem as if the owls were looking at each other.

I created a few of my own stars.

I created the appearance of mother owl extending her wing protectively around baby.

I also shortened and thickened the branch and placed it at a more horizontal direction. I put a courtesy to Public Domain Pictures on tree trunk.  

I ended up with this image of a cute owl family. 

After brainstorming a while, I came up with 2 more versions, using just the mother and baby owl. I thought it would be a great image to put on gifts for mothers to their children or a grandparent to give to a grandchild.
 

I welcome comments. Please share your own tips and thoughts with the rest of us. 

Public Domain Images: 7 Benefits of Giving Away My Artwork

This morning I was thinking about some of the benefits I've received as a result of putting a few of my images in the public domain (free for any use- including personal and commercial use). I have a few of my images on Pixabay as well as on a free blog.  Here are some of the benefits I've seen.

1. It's a good way to get practice. I enjoy the process of creating without the pressure of stringent guidelines.

2. It feels good to give back. I use other people's artwork and designs for free so I feel good about giving away some of my work.

3. It's one way to use quality images that haven't sold. I have a lot of images on microstock photography sites that haven't sold and are just sitting there taking up space.

4. It encourages me to keep creating when I see how many times my images are downloaded and see where people are using them.  Sometimes people will send you a link and let you know where they are using your designs, but if not, you might find some of them with Google's search by image tool. (Click on the camera icon). 

5. It's a way to generate income. I put Adsense on my free blog. Another way to make money is through donations. Places like Pixabay make it easy for artists and photographers to be able to receive contributions.  

7. It offers exposure for me and my artwork. I try to make it a point to only offer high quality images  even if it is free because you just don't know what doors may open as a result.

 

Use of Public Domain Images, Part Two

 
Awhile back I wrote a post on how I used an image from a public domain site and created a new image using Gimp. Today I'll show another example and hopefully inspire you to come up with your own creations. 

I found this cute little penguin at Pixabay.

I duplicated him, elongated the body, made the wings point downward, changed his eyes and straightened out the beak. I played around till I came up with my version of the little penguin's dad. (Don't laugh- I was having fun :)

Then I found some other clip art elements, a fishing pole and fish, from clkr.com. They 

needed a few tweaks to make them work.

 

Last I added some hats, a background and a credit line and there you have it- isn't that fun?

I put the design on Zazzle and Cafepress to see if it would generate any responses.

Father and Son Penguins with Fish Pole and Fish Post Cards by Lorenedesigns
View Ice fishing Postcards online at zazzle