Art Tips and Resources

Custom Pet Portraits

2008-03-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

Article Courtesy of Nikky Hughes
Professional Pet Portrait Artist
http://www.nikkyhughes.com

What is a custom pet portrait?

A custom pet portrait is a portrait of a cat, dog, horse or other pet. In the world of art it has always been traditional to do portraits, but pet portraits are a bit more unique. Pet portraits are a great gift idea for pet lovers or to simply have a keepsake, sentimental possession of your pet.
Generally you can commission a professional animal artist to paint a portrait of your pet.

Tips on Custom Dog Portraits.

When commissioning an artist to paint your dog portrait, it is important to submit several, well taken photos of your dog. Every pet has a special personality, and it must come across in your photos. Using a digital camera, you should be able to capture the best photos of your dog. The nice thing about using a digital camera, is that you don't have to get the perfect shot on the first try. Take photos of your dog from several angles, and different times of the day. Just like humans, pets can have different moods throughout the day, so make sure you capture that moment when your dog really shows his/her personality. Another great idea is to take your dog to a park and let them run around and play. If your dog likes to play catch, bring a ball or frisbe along so that you can get a variety of action shots. Make sure your camera can capture the motion at a high speed, otherwise you'll just end up with a bunch of blurry shots.

Tips on Cat Portraits

Cats are generally calm animals, so taking photos of them is much easier. Again, just like with
dog portraits, make sure you capture several images of them. With most pet portraits you want to get a variety of shots. Make sure you get close up pictures of your cats facial features, a full body shot, a medium shot, maybe showing the head and front legs and finally a back shot and full side shot. Cats have very interesting and detailed color patterns in their fur, so it is important to capture as many details as you can. The closeup of the face is extremely important, because it will help the professional pet artist to capture these details in the painting.

Additional Pet Portrait Tips:
When commissioning an artist to do a pet portrait, always remember these important details:

Always submit more than one photo
Make sure your photos are clear and in focus
Photograph your pet during different times of the day
Take photos that best represent your pets mood or personality
If possible take your pets outside and let them play, while you take photos.
Use a digital camera, it is easier to take multiple shots without wasting film.
Photograph your pet from multiple angles
Have fun with your animals, and they will have fun too!

About the Author:
Nikky Hughes is a Los Angeles based professional oil painter. She paints surreal pet portraits,
traditional portraits, and people portraits. To see samples of her work, visit her site at
www.NikkyHughes.com

Selling and Marketing Your Art.

2007-11-29T15:29:00.000-08:00

Too many times we feel defeated when trying to sell art and compete with the all the other amazing artists in the world. Well, I hope that I can provide you a few tips that will help you and give you the upper hand advantage.

It seems that my career has gone from Art to Technology and back to Art. It goes in this cycle quite a bit. One thing I can tell you is that technology rules and it is taking over so you really need to get on the bandwagon. If you feel like you are not computer savy, then learn and learn quick. The internet can provide a wealth of information and even help you sell your art. There are tons of services online to help you market and I will talk about those in a minute, but first you must understand technology.

If you are a bit behind on computers and the internet these days, here is an update...
"Web 2.0" If you have not heard about this, it basically means "social media". Social Media and interaction on the internet is the next generation, wave of the future. Sites like YouTube, MySpace.com, FaceBook.com, Digg.com, etc. are where the customers are at. Yes it might seem a bit strange, to sell your art through these type of sites, but you can. More and more, our traditional advertising methods are disappearing. Unless you live a very tight small community where everyone knows you and buys your work, you will never be "noticed" unless you get out and sell yourself. Becoming a full time artist is basically becoming a business owner, you really need to represent yourself.

The above mentioned services are only a few of your options, there are tons of sites out there and even some art related like DeviantArt.com. Start doing a Google Search on Art Galleries, Free Art Sites, Free Picture Posting Sites, Sell Art Online, etc. You will find tons of great services. Now, this isn't to say this is your only source. Realistically you should have a very nice online portfolio of your work and use these other sites to drive traffic. For anywhere of $500-$1000.00 you can have a professional web designer build you a site. This is your most important aspect of your business, because it really is your "Front Door" Don't try to take on the daunting task of building a site yourself if you don't know how. So many times I see people using Ugly templates or trying to design something in Front Page, and it is a dead give away you are an amateur. Why would you spend hours painting, drawing, sculpting or whatever art form you do, and then post your beautiful work on an Ugly site? Don't do it. It is equally important that your site can convert lookers into Buyers. If you site is Ugly, no looker will ever buy. Make sure you have an easy payment system and checkout on your site as well. There is nothing more frustrating to the Online Shopper to get stuck during checkout. Take this Tip serious, I build sites all day long and I know.

I was listening to a Podcast about marketing and I heard the Host say, "You can't open a store in the middle of the Desert and expect shoppers to magically arive." This is what your website is when you first launch it. No one knows it exists until you point them there. This is where the Social Media sites come into Play. Many of these social media sites let you add links, make these links point to your site. Another way to drive traffic if you don't like social media sites, have a friend right a Press Release about your art, or have them interview you and do a bio on you and your art. You can post these articles on the net at places like http://www.pr.com/ or http://www.goarticles.com/ Another one of my favorites is EzineArticles.com

The main thing with any of these suggestions is that you are putting your art into your own voice on the net. Additionally there are free services that allow you to have online Galleries. Upon sale they usually collect a small fee, but again you are getting a link back to your full site and getting your work visible. A very quick and simple way to get people to see your art is to Sign up for a Free Google account and Join Google Groups. There are tons of discussions going on. Once you have an account just search for "Art Groups" You will find tons of Art Related discussions that you can join in on. Most times you can even ask people to review your art by posting a link to your site. Whatever group you join, make sure you read the rules, some groups don't like too many links.

So I hope this gave you a few tips and tricks to selling your work. The internet can bring you customers from all over the world you never thought possible. One last tip before I leave, is check out eBay for selling art. There are many successful artists who sell their work primarily on eBay.

Learn to Sell Your Art Work Online

Art A Useful Form of Expression

2007-05-26T20:16:00.001-07:00

Art is an important part of life. Through art one can communicate thoughts, ideas, fears, anxieties, beliefs and much more. ... com) Although art is a useful tool of expression, many children do not utilize it. A lot of children believe that "they arent good at art" or "cant do it." These views prevent them from experiencing art as a therapeutic escape or outlet from the frustrations and troubles of life.

Many people use art as a way to express themselves with mediums such as song, poetry, painting, photography etc. ... In Laylahs "Greenhead" series she uses simple comic book art to "take on the social injustice of politics, human nature and war." (Art Voice) Using her work as a standpoint many valuable lessons about art and expression could be taught. "We all know that art is not truth. Art is a reality that makes us realize the truth. ... , 489) A child in this stage is able to deal with abstract thoughts, which are important when viewing and discussing art. Sixth graders are also at a changing point in their lives and are often faced with anxieties that could be expressed through art.

Andy Warhol

2007-05-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

Never before have I encountered more intriguing works of art than those done by Andy Warhol. ... Andy might just be the most interesting and, at the same time, the most confusing individual you will ever read about. Andy’s work, like his life, is like none other’s. ... Andy’s father, Ondrej Wharhola, is best described as a bald, burly man with a bulging belly and massive upper arms, pudgy nose and bristling sideburns. ... (Bekris 6) He was married and living with Julia Warhola, mother of Andy, for three years in Mikova. ... (Bekris 9)

Andy Warhol was born on September 28, 1930 in Forest City, Pennsylvania, or so we think. This is what the original birth certificate read, however Andy wanted people to believe he was born in McKeesport, or even Hawaii. ... Andy was raised in a coal mining town in Philadelphia. ... This might explain Andy’s later fascination with death-related topics. In 1930, Andy’s father got a steady job laying roads and moving houses. ... The rent was six dollars a week and Andy’s father had to work odd jobs to barley pay the rent. It was not just Andy and his parents, he had two other brothers, one older and one younger. ... " (Bekris 12)

Andy always had a problem with grammar school. ... As most children do, they saw this in Andy and picked on him frequently. (Bekris 18) Andy’s brother Paul stated, "At age four Andy cried a lot at school and one day a little black girl slapped him" (Bekris 15) He was very traumatized by this incident and asked his mother if she could keep him home from school. As the loving mother she was, she took Andy out of school and kept him home for two years. ... It took his mother, brother and neighbor to drag Andy back to school. ... In this town Andy made new friends, which were particularly girls. This would later explain Andy’s homosexual tendencies. ... She was said to be bright and stimulating which would encourage Andy to do better in school. Andy began to have a fascination with the cinema. ... Andy would end up using these same images in his prints. Andy started to distance himself from boys and became closer to girls and his new found talent of drawing. Andy’s brother John said, " When Andy was out in the field by the time you hit the ball he wasn’t there. ... Andy soon got the reputation as a "mamas boy". ... At age six Andy had entered the second grade. His teacher Catharine Meta said that Andy would walk through the halls with his head down wishing he was invisible. ...

From early on in Andy’s life he had been a sickly child. Because Andy was known to be a mammas boy and a crybaby his parents paid little to no attention to him when he whined about being hurt or sick. At age two Andy’s eyes swelled shut due to an infection and his mother had to use daily doses of boric acid to get rid of the mucus. ... At age six Andy contracted scarlet fever, which would later effect his overall development. His illness went unnoticed until Andy began not being able to control his limbs or speech. ... This part of Andy’s life greatly contributed to his mistrust in people and his art. (Bekris 19)

Andy’s art talent in High School was amazing. ... " Andy attended Scheley High School. ... Andy was accepted to both but chose to attend Carnegie Tech. ... Andy’s freshman courses consisted of drawing, pictorial and decorative design, color, hygiene, and thought and expression. Andy had a great struggle with all of his courses, but thought and expression was by far his worst. This was probably because of Andy’s phobia of expressing himself orally. Andy was a man of few words; another reason was because he had such poor grammar. Fortunately, Andy made two friends in this class who tried to get Andy a passing grade. ...

At the time Andy was attending school, there was an economic depression, and the war was ending. ... Andy was one of them. Because Andy showed such passion to his work his teachers fought to have Andy attend Summer school and go for re-admissions the following year. (Feldman, 9) While Andy was attending Summer school he got a job delivering fruit with his brother. ... " When Andy returned for re-admissions he presented the sketchbook. They allowed Andy back in. Along with being able to come back to Carnegie Tech, his sketches were put on display and Andy received forty dollars.

American Art "Icons" on PBS

2006-11-14T23:38:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Cash

"Imagining America: Icons of 20th-Century American Art," an upcoming two-hour program on PBS, presents a concise introduction to a number of important artists, along with an overview of some of the major movements and ideas in art of the last century. Co-created by art historian and University of Illinois professor Jonathan Fineberg, who also makes onscreen appearances, and John Carlin, CEO of Funny Garbage, a New York City-based media production company, the show is divided into chapters addressing such topics as nature, society, identity, mass media, "spiritual wilderness" and "the space between art and life."

Narrated by actor Peter Coyote, the show is enlivened by engaging archival film footage of its subjects. Marcel Duchamp is seen in front of his Large Glass explaining how it became cracked; Georgia O'Keeffe discusses her love of the desert and her relationship with Alfred Stieglitz; Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg are seen working in their studios. Vast differences in style and intent are apparent in scenes showing Andy Warhol in nonsensical interviews and a comical Braniff Airlines advertisement, while others artists such as Stuart Davis and Jacob Lawrence discuss their work and its social implications. Interviews with curators, critics and artists such as Lowery Stokes Sims, Carlo McCormick, Elizabeth Murray, Mike Kelley, Fred Tomaselli, Ed Ruscha and John Baldessari provide insight into the impact of these figures and others, including Thomas Cole, Edward Hopper, Dorothea Lange, Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Robert Smithson, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kerry James Marshall, Cindy Sherman and David Wojnarowicz.

Perhaps given its titular focus, the undeniable influence of European art on the U.S. scene in the early 20th century is conspicuously missing, despite the fact that a number of important artists immigrated from overseas. The show would almost seem to imply that all great modern art originated in America, in a historical vacuum. Minor flaws aside, it is an engrossing and accessible overview of American art since the late 19th century. Production was funded by the Terra Foundation for American Art and the Henry Luce Foundation, with additional support from the University of Illinois, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the National Endowment for the Arts. The show is accompanied by a 208-page book by Fineberg and Carlin, published by Yale University Press. "Imagining America" is set to air on Dec. 28 at 9:00 P.M. (EST).

The Basics of Digital Wedding Photography

2006-11-14T23:29:00.000-08:00

The wedding is considered to be one of the happiest moments in the life of two lovers. Though this can happen again should one of the spouses die or decide to have a divorce, there is nothing compared to the first time.

Since the wedding may last less than an hour while the reception may go on longer, the best way to preserve this memory in time is through pictures taken by a talented photographer.

People who want to start a career here should first take classes on the basics of photography. Some think it is just a matter of looking at a lens and pushing on the button but there is more to it than that. There are factors such as lighting, color and timing has to be considered to be able to get the right picture especially for the candid ones.

When the person has learned this, it is time to get that camera. More people are using digital cameras these days that can hold more than 200 images or more depending on the size of the memory card.

This makes developing faster than the conventional one, which is taking out the film from the camera and working on the pictures inside the dark room.

Some people who want to become digital wedding photographers do it because of the money. The individual must realize that it is only through devotion that the quality of the shots taken is consistent.

It takes awhile to be a good wedding photographer. It may be months or even years so during this time, the photographer will be able to develop a certain style or technique that will surely be remembered by the client years after the wedding took place.

Some of the lessons in digital wedding photography can be self-taught. Since there are other ways to shoot pictures, it is best to talk with other artists or to attend seminars.

Another way to excel in this art will be to enter in competitions. The individual may not win but there are valuable lessons that can be learned which can be incorporated into the style used in taking those photographs.

Research has shown a good wedding photographer can make $24,000 annually or more. This means serving one client well will open the doors to others such as the friends and relatives of the couple who will also be getting married in a few months or years.

Low Jeremy maintains http://digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Low_Jeremy

Podcasts and Art Advertising

2006-08-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Pod Casts, the wave of the future. We are reaching a technological age where anything and everything is broadcast over the internet. From sites like YouTube, MySPace, Blogger, and Odeo.com can make you famous in your private digital world. Digital information is passed through the internet like a chain letter with no end. In some ways it is frightening because you can never see who is receiving on the other end, but it can also be exciting because there are limitless ways to share your world with someone else. Pod Casts have become extremely advanced and will only get better. Ipods and other electronic devices can practically download and play anything these days. If you are looking to expand your business, market a new product, advertise a new website, or just communicate with friends and family, there are literally more than a dozen choices to pick from.

Podcasts are an excellent way to get started. They give your product, name or service a personalized voice that people can trust. Rather than just reading text on a page or seeing the product, your customers get a personalized introduction. Radio advertising is one of the most effective types of advertising because of how personal it can be, so why not start your own Podcast and let the world know who you are.

Odeo.com is a great resource for starting your own Podcast. It is free to sign up and takes less than two minutes to sign up. All you have to provide is a name, email and password.

Clickwhell.net is another great service. This site deals more with comics, but it easily creates great video podcasts. You can create comics or stories about anything, upload them and broadcast your content to the world.

There are tons of great services out there to help advertise your art so take the time to search around and find something you really feel comfortable with. Many services are free, but do have an advanced paid service, which give you all the upgraded features. If you are looking to do anything long term and want to look professional. The upgrades are well worth the price.

Amazing Art Video

2006-08-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

This is another art video I came across on YouTube. Not only is the art good but it is animated and morphed to create some brilliant effects. Definitely a must see.

Make Sure They Know How to Take Care of Your Work

2006-08-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

Taking care of your art work and making sure others do the same is an important part of protecting your work. Alyson B. Stanfield, from Art Biz Blog explains not to make any assumptions when handing over your work.

Canvas Stretching Demo

2006-08-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

A great step-by-step canvas stretching demo I came across on YouTube.
Materials: Staple Gun, Raw Canvas, Canvas Pliers, Staples, Stretcher Bars, Hammer, Scissors, gesso, medium grade sand-paper.

Store bought canvas is great, but there is nothing like being able to stretch your own canvas especially if it is linen. Also, most pre-stretched store bought canvas is cotton and you don't have a choice of size or texture, only what you can find on the shelf. Yes, pre-stretched cotton canvas is easy to buy and use, but knowing the basics is always essential. Master painters like Monet, Cezanne, Winslow Homer, & Rembrant stretched their own canvas. Why not stretch yours! It's really not that hard and only takes minutes. Once you learn, you can set some time aside just to stretch and prime your canvas. You'll feel more in control and get the texture you really want for your individual paintings. Enjoy the demo!

ARTISTS HELPING CHILDREN FOUNDATION

2006-07-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

ARTISTS HELPING CHILDREN FOUNDATION JUST LAUNCHED
By Rachel Goldstein

Remember when you were a kid and you had to go to the hospital? Remember the strange sights, the sounds, unpleasant smells, and strangers entering your hospital room? You had no idea what was happening to you and no one could explain in a way you understood. You waited a lot with nothing to do except worry about what was going to happen next.

Artists Helping Children Foundation (http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing comfort to children in hospitals, clinics, and shelters by brightening their environment with murals and other art. By painting murals and creating other art for and with the children, we create enriching and happy places to ease the children's fear and pain, to take their minds and their hearts out of the cold and into warm and wonderful places. It is amazing how a piece of paper and crayons can divert his attention away from pain. This is because children respond to and use artwork as tools for coping.

The people who work with Artists Helping Children provide art that brings joy and happiness to the lives of ill, mistreated, and needy children in communities everywhere. Through the generosity of artists, patients and community members, Artists Helping Children helps create murals, pieces of art, and provides arts and crafts supplies for the kids we serve.

HERE ARE A FEW WAYS WE BRING JOY TO ILL AND NEEDY CHILDREN

(1) Professional Muralists - Our muralists change the look of hospitals for the better. A team will visit a site to meet with the facilities' staff. With their help, we plan out a theme, the colors, and images that we will use within the mural. Then, we present sketches of designs appropriate to the space. Once the designs are approved, we begin recruiting volunteers and budgeting for the project.

(2) Paint-A-Mural Community Events - Community organizations are instrumental in helping us bring beautiful murals in to as many institutions as we can. Paint-a-Mural events are entertaining, stress-relieving, and a great way to bond with your community members. We provide a color-coded canvas with the mural drawn in, almost like a big coloring book. The volunteer's job is to paint, paint, and paint.

(3) Local Stores are Getting Involved - Stores are even getting involved. Some stores have decided to
Display our pre-drawn canvas murals, cut in to smaller pieces for easier handling. These stores are able to show the local community that their store is a charitable organization and at the same time get eager children into their store to help paint the murals. After completion, we clean up the mural and donate it to an organization of their choice.

(4) Patients Can Join In - Patients enjoy the chance to get out of their rooms and do something uplifting and entertaining. Their minds are focused on happiness and they forget about their pain, if only for a short while. And even when they can't participate first hand, we try to get them involved in the experience by providing outlets such as coloring and watercolor paint-by-number books that they can enjoy in their beds.

Please visit ArtistsHelpingChildren.org to see more about what we are doing, and how you can help our cause.

About the Author

Rachel Goldstein is Founder of Artists Helping Children Foundation - ArtistsHelpingChildren.org - A non-profit charity dedicated to bringing comfort to children in hospitals, clinics, and shelters by brightening their environment with murals, artwork, toys, and art supplies.

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The Art of Cleaning Art

2006-07-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

Art is a part of life and for some, it is their way of life. Others usually consider art as a worthy investment. Regardless of how you see art, restoring and preserving art pieces are important techniques to maintain their value. Painting restoration is a serious matter; that is why most people prefer to have their paintings professionally restored. However, if you like the thought of restoring your own pieces, lots of practice and familiarity with techniques are necessary. Because according to statistics, more paintings and art works are destroyed each year by inept restoration and cleaning than by accidental burning or fire.

Clouded varnish, dirt, and smoke are the usual culprits that cause paintings to become dirty. Restoring paintings by cleaning it is the logical step of most owners. However, wiping paintings with rags or whatever liquid is damaging. Art restoration professionals recommend researching restoration techniques on the internet or attending seminars on restoring paintings before embarking on a restoration mission.

Art works look more elegant and classic when preserved in their original frames. As it is, detaching paintings from their frames is necessary and important before the actual cleaning. Non-removal of the frames not only causes discomfort and unease in cleaning, it also causes scratches and abrasion. Remove the frames by laying the picture backside up on a flat surface layered with foam or cushion to avoid scratching the frames. Vacuum accumulated dust on the frames' back and remove nails gently with a metal ruler and pliers. Secure the nails on board with labels of their previous positions. For example, secure and label the nails plucked from the lower right side of the frame as "lower right". This way, each nail fits exactly on its previous place without causing added strain on the frame. Marking the frame is also a good idea to be able to return it to its original position.

After removing paintings from their frame, it is better to inspect the kind of dirt build-up on the paintings. Knowing the kind of dirt to be removed is necessary in finding and using the right product and tools. Anti-mildew solutions remove mildew build-up or "foxing" effectively. However, soaking the painting in these solutions damages the colors and the painting. To prevent this, soak or spray the solution on a cotton pad and wipe on the area affected with foxing. Follow up with a water-dipped cotton pad and wipe dry. Periodically check cotton pads to see if some color or paint was dissolved. For dirt build-up that requires light to medium cleaning, slicing an onion in half and dipping it in lemon juice remove grime and dirt off art work. Rub paintings with lemon-soaked onion using a circular motion for even application. Slice the onion regularly to expose a fresh layer. An alternative is using warm water with lemon detergent or washing soda. Finish either treatment by wiping their painting with a moist sponge and leaving it to dry. Art works respond to this treatment with improved depth of color.

Experts recommend leaving varnish removal and painting repair to the professionals. Art works do not sell well or look good if extensively damaged. As these types of restoration require complicated techniques, the chances of botching the job are high if done by amateurs. The job is expensive but make the value of your paintings appreciate.

For more valuable information on Art, please visit http://www.artbyelaine.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Teleo

Time Lapse of a Painting

2006-05-31T09:40:00.000-07:00

Justin Clayton paints fruit, see it from start to finish in time-lapse.

Ramifications of Donating Art Featured in New York Times Article

2006-05-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

I’ve cautioned about donating art to charities in previous Art Marketing Action newsletters (and here). Today’s New York Times lays it all out in “Donating Work for Charity Has a Downside for Artists.”

Among the highlights:

- Artists who create special editions and/or a series of work just for donating.
- Artists and dealers who are attaching “resale riders” to donated...

Read the entire text »

Gallery 33 is proud to present Rock the Arts

2006-05-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

COME JOIN US FOR AN AMAZING EVENING OF FINE ART, FOOD, & WINE

Gallery 33 is proud to present Rock the Arts Live and Silent Fine Art Auction to benefit San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts.

Serious, discerning collectors of art will have an opportunity to acquire beautiful paintings, sculptures, limited edition and rare books at a Rock the Arts Live Auction pre-event, Saturday May 27, 5pm at Gallery 33. Bid on signed works by American writer and icon Ray Bradbury, works by painter Edward Borein, paintings and drawings by internationally renowned artists Omar de Leon, Michael Kelly, Rufino Tamayo, and John Anthony Miller among many other high quality artists. Special pricing available for combination Festival and Live Auction Tickets!

Gallery 33 (in the 451 Media Industrial Arts Building)
1328 N. Ventura Avenue
on Ventura’s Westside
doors will close after first 150 people

Tickets: $45
includes: auction, live music, appetizers & wine
The proceeds will fund the San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts & the contributing artists.
Sponsored by 451 media Co and
VC Life & Style Magazine, Ventura County’s keepsake publication

Items are available for viewing from
May 24 ~ 26, 10-4 pm

Interested collectors please contact
Michael Kelly at 805-901-2137
or call gallery33:
805.641.9303

Local student artists exhibit works during gallery opening - Arts & Entertainment

2006-05-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Local student artists exhibit works during gallery opening - Arts & Entertainment

This kind of events are so great to get involved in. I am always looking for these types of events to help encourage my students. Normally I try hanging work in local businesses for my students. This seems to help get the community more involved and drive traffic back to the studio. If you look around in your local community you can usually find 5-10 places that will hang your work free of charge and will never ask for any commissions on sold work. Here is a list of places to check out.

1. Local diners
2. Starbucks
3. Borders book store
4. Barns and Noble book store
5. Any local coffee shops.

Blog for Art Sake

2006-05-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

"Find buyers for your art by blogging online!"

Being an Artist takes professionalism
Many artists just getting started may hear things like, "starving artist" or "all artist do drugs". These are typical stereotypes just like any other group or culture may experience. Being a professional fine artist is much like running a business. You can't just go out and paint every day and expect to somehow magically get recognized. It takes effort, willpower and self motivation to make money in the arts.

We all get a bad wrap...
Artist generally get a bad wrap because of art history and the carefree perspective that many have on life. The truth is, many people just don't understand artists and their way of life. Some people don't care to understand, which is just ignorant. The sad thing is that on average the common person walks away from things they don't understand due to personal fear and trying to, "not look stupid." Other than the common things like death and taxes I live a relatively carefree life. Why? Not because I lack motivation or did drugs, but because art is the most relaxing and stress free
thing anyone could ever do. I paint to be happy and de-stress. Most non-artists can not comprehend or associate this
feeling.

Don't be a "Starving Artist!"
What I see most commonly happen is an artist wants to open up their own gallery. They spend days and months preparing work only to give it away as gifts. Before they know it half of their work is gone and what they have left is sold for half the price they wanted to sell it. Don't get in the habit of just giving away your art. Take more pride in what you do and don't sell yourself short. Don't be overly harsh about giving away work either. If Grandma Rose is in the hospital and needs a little cheering up, give her a painting, no problem. Giving away paintings to friends and family at Christmas is definitely a way to loose business. The problem is that you create an image for yourself when you give work away for free. Do you ever see major art galleries giving away work or advertising sales? That's right, NO! So why should you!

Make Yourself Known
Don't stand around and wait for someone to pick you out of the crowd because it will never happen. With the ease of the internet today anyone can virtually become a celeberty if they want to be. So why not become a famous artist online that everyone talks about? YOU can make this happen! Once people begin to know you and your work, you may be able to host an event or show offline. You will be surprised at how many people show up. If you don't know much about computers or the internet don't worry because many artists don't. Alot of people hire their local computer nerd to put together a simple site. Now days you don't even need to build your own website because their are companies that provide website templates and free online portfolios. Seriously, just go to Google.com and type in, "Free Online Portfolios" you will find tons of awesome software and online services that provide "Free Online Portfolios".

Blog Your Brains Out!
By now if you haven't heard of blogging you better get a time machine and come to 2006. It is one of the biggest online trends of the century and everyone is doing it. Even business owners, celebrities and grandma blog, so you should to. It's easy and free! There are tons of blogging services that have different features so check around. I use "Blogger" to host this blog and it is good if you know a little HTML. If not, there are plenty others. Check this link to find a blog. Once you have your blog up and running you can upload photos and send the links to all your family, friends and clients. Many blog services have included many other features that allow others to get regular updates of your postings so once you start, don't give up because you will lose your potential market. Every blog service has tutorials on how to set up your blog account, so even if you know nothing know, you will soon!

5 Steps to "Making Yourself Known"

Get your head on straight and stop making excuses. Don't be a starving artist!
Find an easy-to-use online portfolio and start uploading your work.
Create a blog, like the one you are reading here and upload images, descriptions of your work and a bio about you.
Create a nice looking professional sounding email to all your friends and family about your new online portfolios and blogg. In the email, include a link to the site(s) with your work. Let them know to feel
free to forward the email to any of their friends if they want to share your artwork.
Wait for the response!

I hope you have gotten something good out of this article, so good luck and let me know how you do!

Discounts for Art Dealers?

2006-05-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

Discounts for Art Dealers?

Lynnda Tenpenny wrote with this question about relationships with gallery dealers and when to offer them discounts:

When you have a relationship with a gallery and the gallery owner keeps saying that he/she is really interested in one of your art pieces, what's the protocol here?

I have this happening at two galleries. One is a frame gallery and if I were to give her the art piece (it...

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Art Galleries

2006-05-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

Author: Richard Romando

Art galleries are institutions or forums to promote art
appreciation in art buyers and a platform for artists to display
their work. The term art gallery initially denoted a particular
area or gallery in a museum to display paintings, sculptures,
and illustrations. The popularity and success of this concept
encouraged reserving rooms and later, private and public
independent buildings exclusively for exhibitions, seminars, art
teaching, and research programs.

Fame or notoriety of a gallery is dependent upon the artists
showcased and, to a large extent, the connection with an art
dealer. The partnership encourages benchmarks of excellence, as
sincere dealers ensure maximum exposure for the gallery and
artist.

It was in 1793, after the French Revolution, that the first
gallery or museum to display royal treasures was established at
Louvre in Paris. It set a precedent for showcasing art
collections for general viewing. With the increasing popularity
of fine arts and artists, galleries catering to different tastes
and denominations sprouted up in most major cities of the world.
The U.S. has its share of both national and private galleries in
towns and cities, holiday resorts, or artist's camps. Majority
galleries have favorite artists on their roster, while some
purchase and promote works of unknown and new artists or host
artistic activities such as musical soirees, book launches, or
photo exhibitions to coincide with the subject or theme of
particular artwork.

A wider demand for art and artists encouraged the establishment
of online galleries to help source and purchase paintings or
sculptures from galleries and art dealers in different cities or
countries. Art collectors or novices find this a convenient way
to browse through paintings of different artists, depending on
taste and setting. But there is nothing to compete with the
artistic ambience of an uptown gallery showcasing traditional
and exclusive artists or a downtown one selling contemporary or
kitschy works of new and emerging artists.

About the author:
Art Galleries
provides detailed information on Art Galleries, Art Gallery
Dealers, Fine Art Galleries, Online Art Galleries and more. Art
Galleries is affliated with Framed Art Prints.

How to Stretch a Canvas

2006-04-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how to stretch a canvas? Well now you can see a great demonstration with a step-by-step guide by clicking the title above or by clicking here. Stretching a canvas is a rather easy process if you have the right tools. Any regular old staple gun will work, it doesn't have to be electric.

The Real Color Wheel

2006-04-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

Today I came across an amazing website, http://realcolorwheel.com, which describes many art related subjects in detail. The example to the left is a color wheel that I pulled from the site. This is just one example of many detailed pages you can find. Below the color wheel, on the site, you can find an extensive list of color names with links to their temperature ranges. Besides the extensive color charts you can find all kinds of great resources by clicking on the links at the bottom of the page. The Perspective Diagrams really caught my attention. The explanations and pictures are clear and descriptive. I also found a link to "Making Mediums" where you can read about the structure of different painting mediums and their qualities. I could continue writing a ton of reviews on this site but I would like you to see it for your self. Click on the title at the top of this review to go straight to the page. Great information, enjoy!

Grants for Working with Art and Alzheimer's Patients

2006-04-26T18:08:00.000-07:00

Received this last week from Noell Hammer, founder of Art Without Boundaries:

The Art Without Boundaries Foundation awards matching grants to deserving visual artists wishing to train to become Certified Mnemetecnic Therapists. MT is a new, multidiscipline therapy for Alzheimer’s patients. As a CMT, artists can earn $100 an hour, own their own business and enjoy a rewarding career that...

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Story Telling With Sand...?

2006-04-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

An entire story of characters are told with sand drawings. Absolutely amazing!!

If that is not cool I don't know what is.

Drawing Animation.

2006-04-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

Animation takes patience and skill. Anything you ever do in animation, even if it is computer animated, starts with a drawing. If you want to get good in animation then start drawing everything. Once you draw enough of the world around you or photos out of magazines you will gain more mental mass on drawing cartoons. Animation is really just an exaggerated reality with creativity and imagination added together. The best way to get good at drawing cartoons without having to spend too much money is by checking out books for free from your local library. You can check out a good variety of children's books to start. Children's books are a great resource for animation because they tend to be packed with animated characters. You may want to check other parts of the library because they may have "How To Draw" books. If you don't have access to your local library try looking online. There are a ton of great resources online about "Drawing Animation" and "Learning How to Draw."
Watch this video as an animated character comes to life on paper.

Another great drawing, this is all done digitally in the computer! Awesome!

Well I hope you enjoyed these demonstrations. Now it's time to draw, draw, draw!

-Developing The "da Vinci" Inside You-

2006-04-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

-Three Simple Steps to develop creativity and endless imagination-

There is an inborn talent that every individual on this planet has, it is the ability to create. You may not realize that you are a creative person by nature, but you are. Have you ever had a dream while sleeping or suddenly remember a moment from the past? This is your mind being creative. The simple act of deciding what to wear in the morning, making dinner, or making decisions in your work place are all creative activities. These simple actions put your mind into motion and help create what you call life. So, with all that said, you can now agree that YOU, yes you, are a creative person.
-Technology and Creative Thinking-

With technology these days everything we do is becoming automated. From simple calculators, to cell phones and automated check-stands, our brains are doing less and less work as time goes on. Unless you work in a technology driven industry like computer programming, building websites, or electronics your brain is becoming a couch potato as we speak. These days you can buy anything online with a click of mouse and never step one foot out the door. Technology prevents many people from doing physical exercise, which is a key factor in strengthening your creative mind. Cars and people movers make it easy to get a coffee at the local Starbucks without having to walk even if it is right across the street. What does all this technology mean? It simply means we as humans no longer have to use our intelligence because we have machines to do the thinking for us. Think about how good you would be at math if you never used a calculator your entire life. How many phone numbers could you remember if you didn't rely on your cell phone. Our brains are being used less and less. If you don't believe me, next time when you see a friends ask them what your home phone number and cell phone number is. I guarantee you that only one out of every ten 10 to 20 people, if that, can recite your home and cell phone numbers from memory. What would we all do if the wireless networks went down and our cell phones stopped working? Is it possible that our technological society could ever go back to using only home phones and pay phones to communicate, I seriously doubt it. To strengthen your creative mind you must stop relying on technology. I am not saying not to use it but use your brain first. I-pods and other audio devices are not a problem, it is the cell phones, palm pilots, and pocket PCs that we store data in that take away our mental strength to remember.

Goal #1: Memorize phone numbers before you put them in your cell phone.

-Brain Food For Art -

Okay, ready for the good stuff? Lets ignore all the technical jargon, put down your cell, stop hacking away at the Internet and get ready for some brain food. The brain is an amazing organ, if you treat it right it can do amazing things. If your breakfast, lunch and dinner consists of Starbucks you can almost guarantee you are killing your brain with all the caffeine and sugar. Fast food is the number one killer of brain activity, so if you find yourself in love with McDonalds, Carl's Junior, or Burger King you might as well stop reading. You will never be able to develop creativity with a “fat” brain. Just like any other muscle in the body your brain can gain weight, excess fat from eating junk food.
So for starters just get rid of the bad diet and find something loaded with protein and other vitamin to feed your brain. Okay now that your diet is corrected and your brain can actually function you can put it to work.

Goal #2: Consult with a health physician or get professional advice on a good diet plan. Protein is good for the brain.

-Keeping a Journal-

First, get yourself a journal, or some kind of book that you can write in. I am not talking about your school books and notes, you want something that you can devote just to your creativity. The journal is so you can keep track of everything you do, dream, and think of. One of the biggest problems with our brain is that we train it to ignore good ideas. How often do your encourage your brain to think up brilliant ideas? Not very often right? You are probably wondering what I am talking about. Over your entire life how many times have you written or kept track of dreams or ideas? Like most people I am sure you haven't, I know I didn't for the longest time. Take your journal everywhere you go, even to bed. It might feel a bit strange at first, but soon you will get use to it and enjoy having your journal with you. It is important to have your journal at your bedside so when you awake first thing in the morning you can write down any details from the dreams you had. If you awake suddenly in the night from a dream, you will have your journal next to you. This action will encourage your brain to dream more. If you don't dream the first couple nights or the first couple weeks, don't sweat it, the process takes time. Take the journal to work and write down any ideas that pop into your mind. If you feel strange about taking your journal to work, at least have some scratch paper nearby. I don't care if you have to write on the back of a receipt or a napkin, get your idea written down. I like sketch books because I can write in them and also draw any pictures that come to mind. I don't let my day dreaming get in the way of my work and neither should you, so don't get fired over this. If you are too busy and can't get to a piece of paper when you have your ideas just repeat it three to six times mentally. Repetition can help you remember until you have the chance to write your ideas down. Try to get your idea documented within the first 15-20 minutes of thinking of it. Try not to go a whole day without writing ideas down, otherwise you will forget.
Remember, repetition is key so you must not forget to write your ideas down. At the end of each week review you idea list and see if you can create anything out of it. I have taken written ideas and dreams and turned them into paintings. While you read over your past ideas you may end up thinking of more, so add them to your new list.

Goal #3: Get a journal or sketch book to draw and write in. Write every idea and dream with as much detail as you can.

So just follow the three above mentioned steps and you will be on your way to generating ideas and creating beautiful pieces of art. Enjoy!