About Paint Chip

A Bit About Paint Chip

My name is Cindy Angiel and I’m known throughout the art community as Paint Chip.  I am a multi-media artist.  Paper has always been my favorite medium to work in and scrapbooking is one of the ways I began expressing my creatively when I was a very young girl around the age of ten.  Fast forward twenty-something years and you could find me still playing in paints, papers, textiles, inks, and all sorts of artful mediums.  Naturally, I quickly jumped on board the creative scrapbooking trend as soon as the millions of products began hitting the stores.

In addition to these tactile mediums I picked up designing digital art along the way and used my computer generated creations in various projects.  Digi-Scrapping came about in the early part of 2003 and I gave it a try.  Not finding it particularly thrilling, I tucked this method of scrapping back into the drawer and continued to play with my paper scraps.  It was around mid-2004 when the scrapbooking community began producing some awesome digi-art, that I decided to give it another try.  This time I found the process of creating digi-layouts much more enjoyable and creatively challenging.

I Was Hooked on Digi-Scrapping

I went from creating digi-scrap pages using other designers art work to creating some of my own.  Along with creating pages for myself I began scrapping for friends and family as well.  It wasn’t long before digi-scrapping became another “art addiction” as my husband refers to it.  I took a few classes, experimented a lot and started distributing my own products while pulling in a few Scrap-for-Hire gigs.

I Saw a Hole in the Digi-Scrap Industry

As my interest and skills increased in digi-art I could see that there were tons of new online businesses popping up everywhere and most of them were by stay-at-home-moms who had never owned or operated a business.  The paper scrapbooking business community appeared to be providing guidance, tools, and plenty of goods for new store owners and professional level scrappers to use and market.  While the digi-scrap business community continued to grow and produce wonderful products, it seemed to be a little more protective of sharing tools to help new business owners.  I’m not sure if this had to do with fear of digital piracy issues, competition, or what.

It looked to me, digi-scrap professionals needed more than just commercial-use licenses to accompany a few pieces of digi-art in order to be successful in their businesses.  There are actually a few websites focused on delivering scrapbooking industry news to scrapbook professionals.  Some of these are even starting to market products and services directly to digi-scrappers too.  I’m now seeing a slow trend toward digi-scrap professionals sharing the “inside scoop” with one another and I think it’s time we take this trend to the next level.   After discussing my ideas with several peers it was apparent I was not alone in my thoughts.

Time to Jump Into Action

I have over 20 years of experience business/program management and have been an entrepreneur on one level or another several times in my life.  I’ve worked for state and federal government agencies as a data analyst and database developer for a little over 12 years.  I’m now taking these honed business skills, mixing them up with my art interests, and having a great time building a new business to benefit my peers in the digi-scrap industry. 

You can already find my writings and tutorials in a number of blogs, forums, web/wiki sites, as well as in printed and e-publications and now here at DSD-Pro as well.  As your hostess and the director for the DSD-Pro Business Association, through this web medium I’ll continue to provide digital products, training materials, business guidance, and peer-coaching opportunities to help professionals be successful in their digi-scrap businesses.

Through the business organization we will provide services and products mainly through reviews and interviews, online training courses and e-pubs, the DSD-Pro Shoppe, our community forums, and a variety of info-articles presented as concept/technical papers, business reports, and newsletters distributed via our website.

Friends Working Together to Improve the Digi-Scrap Business

Although DSD-Pro is primarily presented through my eyes - I actually spend a great deal of time collaborating with a terrific team of creative artists and web-preneurs.  Much of the information provided here is a result of the conversations and research efforts we share.   So I’m not alone in this endeavor and our team is always looking for creative spirits interested in sharing their skills, knowledge, and experiences with their peer business owners.

Are you interested in lending a helping hand and assisting with getting the association up and running?  Would you like to make a guest appearance, be a contributing artist, or offer your assistance in another way?  Please don’t be shy.  Drop me an email (paintchip [at] dsd-professionals [dot] com) anytime and let me know your thoughts.  I’d love to hear from you!

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