Blog

January 2026

January 2026
A New Year

Dear Friends,

As the new year begins, January provides a pause for reflection and reset at cHerArtwork. Following an intensive close to the year, this month allows space to step back, assess what was completed, and move forward with greater clarity.

December was the most active month of the year, combining new product launches, a public exhibition, daily holiday promotions, paid advertising, and the completion of a major website content initiative. Highlights included participation in the Gift of Art Exhibition at the Grand Theater in Lewisville, the addition of Baby Cheerful to the Little Expressions Collection, and the launch of the Pencil Animal Mug Collection on Zazzle. A structured Holiday Countdown campaign ran across the website, email, and social media, testing promotions, messaging, and engagement. Behind the scenes, The Story Behind the Artwork was completed and launched, resulting in forty-two published articles documenting the creative process and collections across the site.

January is intentionally quiet, with no launches, exhibitions, or campaigns scheduled. After an active year that resulted in two sales—Frantic Flight of the Cuckoo and a Pencil Mini Giraffe—the focus will shift. Rather than continuing at the same pace, the priority will be maintaining the website through June, after which plans are uncertain. The e-newsletter will be discontinued, and monthly blog updates will be reduced.

Product extensions referenced in the blog were developed over the past six months but ultimately truncated, including four new games and seventeen new books with three variations each. These projects were intended to be expanded with support from cHerArtwork; however, while interest and followers remain appreciated, observation without corresponding subscriptions or sales has not aligned with expectations.

Additional details on the holiday sales campaigns are available in the red collapsible file below, along with quarterly summaries and a 2025 overview at a glance. The 2025 blog is archived by month. The website remains fully updated, collections are documented, and the creative archive is complete.

 

Warm regards,

Cheryl Vaca
cHerArtwork

Website: www.cherartwork.com
Ebay Store: www.ebay.com/usr/cherartwork_cherylvaca
Facebook: @cherartwork
Instagram: @cherartwork_cherylvaca
Pinterest: @cherartwork
Zazzle Store: www.zazzle.com/store/cherartwork

2025 December Promotional Details

December 2025 Holiday Campaign Full Activity & Promotion Log

December 2025 was an intensive execution month for cHerArtwork, combining new product launches, exhibitions, daily holiday sales, advertising, email marketing changes, community promotion, and the completion of a major website content initiative.

New Artwork & Product Releases

  • Introduced the Pencil Animal Mug Collection with 3 new tiled designs which launched on Zazzle
    – Pencil Animal Collection Mug
    – Pencil Animal Collection Mug – Tiled Horizontal
    – Pencil Animal Collection Mug – Monkeys
  • Baby Cheerful was created as a new addition to the Little Expressions Collection
  • The Pencil Portrait & Expressions Collection split into 3 collections: Little Expressions Collection, Vintage Poise Collection, and Charcoal Portraits, now each with 2 artwork in each collection

Exhibitions in December

  • Gift of Art Exhibition at the Grand Theater, Lewisville
    Exhibition dates: December 6–21
    Artwork exhibited:
    – A Musing Chimpanzee
    – Baby Cheerful
    – Nativity in Gold Ink

Paid Advertising Campaigns

Pinterest (Nov 27–Dec 27)
Total spend: $7.54
Total impressions: 899
Pin clicks: 10
Outbound clicks: 9
Overall CTR: 1.11%
Average CPC: $0.75

Campaigns included:

Mythological Turkey Mug campaign:
Spend: $5.54
Impressions: 361
Clicks: 8
CTR: 2.22%
CPC: $0.69

Automated Q4 Holiday Contest campaign:
Spend: $2.00
Impressions: 538
Pin clicks: 2
Outbound clicks: 1
CTR: 0.37%
CPC: $1.00
CPM: $3.71
Delivered primarily on Dec 22, no delivery after Dec 23

Facebook (Nov 24–28)
Boosted post ran for 4 days
Budget: $2/day
Total spend: $7.98
Reach: 828 people (United States)
Views: 975
Link clicks: 28
Landing page views: 22
Average cost per landing page view: $0.36
Engagement: 31 post engagements, 3 reactions
Audience: 60.5% female, ages 18–65+
Campaign goal of driving website visitors completed successfully

Unpaid Promotional Campaigns
Alignable
Promotion: Holiday Contest, survey, and Digital Abstract Office Series

BubbleLife
Promotion: Holiday Contest, survey, and Digital Abstract Office Series
Broadcast: multiple North Texas communities including: Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Coppell, Las Colinas, Preston Hollow & North Dallas, Lewisville, The Colony, Richardson, Park Cities, Lake Highlands, Grapevine, Irving, Dallas Uptown, Flower Mound, Lakewood & East Dallas, Grand Prairie, Euless, Highland Village, and Frisco.
Views: 76 followers
New Followers: 0
New Subscribers to Website: 0

Email Marketing Platform Update

  • Switched to Constant Contact in December
    Subscribers: 292 added within the last 30 days
    Unsubscribes: 77
    Engagement breakdown:
    – 1% highly engaged
    – 30% somewhat engaged
    – 68% rarely opening or clicking
    – 1% insufficient data

Holiday Countdown – Overview of Promotions

Dec 5 – St. Nicholas Day: 40% off Holiday Scratchboards
Dec 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe: One-day 30% off Nativity in Gold Ink
Dec 16 – Las Posadas: One-day 30% off Nativity in Gold Ink
Dec 17 – 8 Days Until Christmas: 50% off Holiday Scratchboards 
Dec 18 – 7 Days Until Christmas: Zazzle Stocking Stuffers promotion
Dec 19 – 6 Days Until Christmas: $100 off Little Expressions bundle (Baby Crying + Baby Cheerful)
Dec 20 – 5 Days Until Christmas: $100 off Framed Pencil Chimpanzee Collection bundle (A Musing Chimpanzee + Laughing Chimpanzee); Joy & Life Collection Buy One Get One Free Offer, and $100 off all purchases over $200 sitewide.
Dec 21 – 4 Days Until Christmas: Free shipping on orders over $25
Dec 22 – 3 Days Until Christmas: Free gift with purchase
Dec 23 – 2 Days Until Christmas: Holiday close-out sale, 25% off orders over $200, 20% off of individual artwork sitewide
Dec 24 – 1 Day Until Christmas: Free Shipping on orders over $100 (website only)
Dec 21–24 – Holiday Contest and Marketing Survey

Holiday Countdown – Daily Promotion Details
2025DecemberHolidayPromotions.png

• Total unique coupon codes used: 12
• Promotions ran daily with rotating artwork, collections, and incentives
• Homepage, e-newsletter, and social platforms reflected active codes each day

December 5 – St. Nicholas Day
Featured artwork: Holiday Scratchboards
Focus: Holiday gifts
Promotion: One-day 40% off Nativity in Gold Ink
Coupon code: STNICK40

December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe
Featured artwork: Nativity in Gold Ink Collection
Focus: Religious significance and sacred imagery
Promotion: One-day 30% off Nativity in Gold Ink
Coupon code: NATIVITY30

December 16 - Las Posadas
Featured artwork: Nativity in Gold Ink Collection
Focus: Religious significance and sacred imagery, Las Posadas
Promotion: One-day 30% off Nativity in Gold Ink
Coupon code: NATIVITY30

December 17 – 8 Days Until Christmas
Featured artwork: Holiday Scratchboards
Focus: Winter, rustic, and nature-inspired framed scratchboard pieces
Promotion: One-day 50% off Holiday Scratchboard artwork
Coupon code: HOLIDAY50

December 18 – 7 Days Until Christmas
Featured products: Stocking Stuffers
Products highlighted: Zazzle mugs, puzzles, apparel, greeting cards, small art gifts
Promotion: Gift-ready small items
Coupon code: None (Zazzle sales)

December 19 – 6 Days Until Christmas
Featured artwork: Little Expressions Collection
Promotion: One-day bundled savings
Offer: Save $100 when purchasing both Baby Crying and Baby Cheerful
Coupon code: 2EXPRESSIONS

December 20 – 5 Days Until Christmas
Featured artwork: Framed Pencil Chimpanzee Collection
Promotion: Framed Pencil Chimpanzee Collection
Offer: Save $100 when purchasing both A Musing Chimpanzee and Laughing Chimpanzee in the Framed Pencil Chimpanzee Collection
Coupon code: 2CHIMPS

Featured artwork: Joy & Life Collection
Promotions:
– $100 off purchases over $200
– Buy One Get One Free
Coupon codes: 100JOY, JOYANDLIFE

December 21 – 4 Days Until Christmas
Featured collection: Digital Abstract Office Series
Promotions:
– FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25!
Coupon codes: FREESHIP

December 22 – 3 Days Until Christmas
Featured collections:
– Birds Sketched in Ink
– Digital Abstract Office Series
– Captivity Series
Promotion: Free gift with purchase of any Trio or Full Collection
Offer structure:
– Buy a Trio or Series → free scratchboard artwork
– Buy a full collection → free framed pencil mini
– Buy individual artwork → free pencil mini print
Coupon code: None (offer-based incentive)

December 23 – 2 Days Until Christmas
Featured artwork: Charcoal Portraits
Promotion: Holiday close-out sale
Offers:
– 25% off orders over $200 → HOLIDAY2025
– 20% off individual artwork sitewide → 20HOLIDAY2025

December 24 – Christmas Eve
Featured artwork: Nativity in Gold Ink Collection
Promotion: Free shipping on orders over $100
Coupon code: MERRYCHRISTMAS


Holiday Contest & Marketing Survey (Dec 21–24)

  • Prize: Free framed tabletop Digital Abstract Office Series trio mini (9" x 5")
    • Artwork included in the framed artwork:
    – Frantic Flight of the Cuckoo
    – Tacky Tongue
    – Collaborative Synergy
  • Entry requirements:
    – Minimum 1,500-word non-fiction inspirational workplace story
    – Theme alignment: time management, communication, or teamwork
    – Completion of marketing survey
    – Email submission required
  • Marketing survey collected:
    – Name, location, email
    – Artwork preferences by medium and theme
    – Favorite collections or artwork
    – Website and social media feedback
    – Primary social platform used
  • Outcome:
    – No contest entries received
    – No survey submissions

Website Content Expansion – The Story Behind the Artwork

  • New blog section introduced earlier in the fall expanded significantly in December
  • Total of 42 published articles completed
  • Each article documents the story, techniques, and creative process behind a collection
  • Content creation involved:
    – AI-assisted writing
    – Archival research
    – Studio process photos and videos
    – Spreadsheet organization and planning
  • Holiday Countdown used to introduce the section
    – Average of six articles featured daily in newsletters
    – Homepage updated daily to reflect sales and featured stories
    – Facebook and Instagram promoted daily artwork, sales, and articles
    – Section announced to subscribers prior to Dec 24 and to Facebook followers on Dec 24


33 Articles Added This Month, Bringing the Total to 42 (December 2025)

Vintage Ink Artwork on Paper Collection
Vintage Nouveau West Collection
Ink & Wash Technique Using India Ink – Part II
Framed Pencil Chimpanzee Collection
Scratchboard: Ornate Letters
Eclectic Abstractions Collection
The DigAI Golden Jubilee Botanicals Collection
Sculpture & 3D Media Collection
Mythological Creatures Collection
From Canvas to Card: Artwork Reimagined for Modern Print
The Zazzle Mug Collections
Nativity in Gold Ink Collection
Scratchboard Collection: Enhancing Artwork Presentation
Holiday Scratchboards Collection
Geometric Abstracts Series
Little Expressions Collection
Winter Acrylic Landscapes Series
The Light Collection
Digital Abstract Office Series
Framed Acrylic Animals
Portraits & Expressions Collection
Painting the Back: Finishing the Canvas All Around
Rich Traditions Collection
Zazzle: Puzzles, T-Shirts, and Gifts
The Captivity Series
The Kaleidoscope Series
3D Artwork Collection
Vintage Poise Collection
Wild Animal Collection
Raw Image Scenes of the Collection (Scenes 1–37)
Framed Acrylic on Paper Collection
Abstract Flowers Collection
DigAI Botanical Brilliance Collection
Birds Sketched in Ink Series
Photography Collection
Pencil Animal Collection
DigAI Fantasy World Collection
Charcoal Portraits
Joy & Life Collection
Farm Animal Collection
Framed Pencil Minis Collection

Additional December Promotions & Activity

  • Website promoted throughout the month:
    – Holiday Scratchboards
    – Geometric Abstracts Artwork Collection
    – Zazzle Geometric Abstract Greeting Card Collection
    – Zazzle Holiday Drinkware and Bowls Collection
    – Coupons setup for each day of the holiday countdown sale
    – Holiday Contest
    – 4 Holiday Articles from The Story Behind the Artwork
  • Facebook activity focused on:
    – Black Friday through Christmas sales
    – Percentage discounts, dollar-off offers, BOGO promotions
    – Free gift incentives and last-chance reminders
    – Promotion of Pencil Chimpanzee, Joy & Life, Little Expressions, Nativity in Gold Ink, Advent Basket, Pencil Animal, Digital Abstract Office Series
    – Repeated visibility for the Gift of Art Exhibition
  • December 14: Milestone reached with the 1,000th website visitor
  • December 15: Holiday party celebrating the close of the year with Italian food at a local restaurant
  • December 24: Seasonal greeting post shared with a Christmas message of hope, joy, and celebration

 

Q1 2025 Summary

The first quarter of 2025 focused on establishing cHerArtwork as a functioning art business. A new website was launched with integrated e-commerce, enabling direct sales and framed artwork purchases. New collections were introduced, including the Digital Abstract Office Series, which resulted in the first sale of the year. Artwork was exhibited locally, inventory systems were built, branding and packaging were developed, and foundational marketing channels—including Zazzle, ArtPal, eBay, and Pinterest—were set up. This quarter emphasized infrastructure, experimentation, and laying the groundwork for long-term visibility.

Q2 2025 Summary

The second quarter centered on creative expansion and public presence. Numerous new works were completed across multiple mediums including acrylic, pencil, charcoal, sculpture, and mixed media. Artwork appeared in several exhibitions at the Grand Theater and Lewisville Playhouse, and participation in community art events increased. Website organization improved, new categories were added, and product listings expanded across platforms. While sales were limited, this period strengthened the catalog, refined presentation, and deepened engagement with local art networks.

Q3 2025 Summary

During the third quarter, focus shifted toward refinement, storytelling, and marketing systems. New collections were organized, older works were curated into cohesive groups, and the Pinterest product catalog officially launched after a long approval process. Blog writing became more consistent, exhibitions continued, and additional marketing tools were tested. Behind the scenes, significant time was spent organizing files, refining imagery, and preparing content for future campaigns. This quarter emphasized visibility, structure, and preparation rather than output.

Q4 2025 Summary

The final quarter was the most intensive, combining exhibitions, new product launches, daily holiday promotions, and major content development. Multiple mug collections and new artwork were introduced, a Gift of Art exhibition closed the year, and an extensive Holiday Countdown campaign ran across the website and social media. The new Story Behind the Artwork section launched with 42 in-depth articles, providing long-term value and documentation of creative process. While promotions did not convert to sales, the quarter completed a full year of development, leaving cHerArtwork with a finished website, comprehensive archive, and stable foundation moving into a quieter, more sustainable phase.

2025 Overview

The year 2025 marked the first full year of operation for cHerArtwork and was defined by extensive building, experimentation, and completion. The year began with meaningful milestones, including the first artwork sale of Frantic Flight of the Cuckoo, followed by a pencil mini sale connected to artwork displayed at the Lewisville Lake Symphony event. Over the course of the year, a fully functioning e-commerce website was launched, multiple sales channels were established, and a comprehensive catalog of nearly 300 artworks and products was organized across original artwork, prints, and gift items. New collections were created in acrylic, pencil, charcoal, ink, digital, sculpture, and mixed media, while existing work was refined into cohesive series. During 2025, over 50 new pieces of artwork were created, with 33 individual artwork pieces exhibited publicly across 11 exhibitions at The Grand Theater and 4 exhibitions at The Lewisville Playhouse, along with participation in 2 live performance shows and 3 contests or juried programs. The year also included receiving the VALS Artist of the Month Award, recognizing creative achievement during the year. Eleven collections were created in the cHerArtwork Zazzle store to extend original artwork into products for sale. A monthly blog and e-newsletter documented progress throughout the year, culminating in the launch of The Story Behind the Artwork, a permanent website section featuring 42 in-depth articles exploring creative process and technique. While sales remained limited overall, the year concluded with a fully realized creative archive, a stable digital infrastructure, and a complete body of work preserved for long-term availability and future reference.