This is the last day of November and the ending of Art Every Day Month. Big thanks to Leah for getting getting me back into writing, I love it!!! I'm really surprised with the amount of people that have come to read my blog, thank you for all the wonderful comments and new friendships that have been made. I'm going to keep writing!
If anyone has something to add to The Paint Pit newsletter please let me know ASAP, I'm writing it today! Click here to become a member of the site and receive my newsletter.
Stay loose, learn to watch snails, plant impossible gardens, invite someone dangerous to tea, make little signs that say yes and stick them all over your house. Make friends with freedom and uncertainty. Look forward to dreams; cry through movies swing as high as you can on a swing in your favourite park. By moonlight cultivate moods, refuse to be responsible, do it for love, take loads of naps, and give money away. Do it now the money will follow. Believe in magic, laugh a lot, celebrate every gorgeous moment. Take moon baths, have a wild imaginings, transform dreams in perfect calm. Draw on the walls, Read everyday. Imagine yourself magic, Giggle with children, listen to the old people open up, dive in, and be free. Bless yourself. Drive away fear, play with everything, and entertain your inner child. You are innocent. Build a fort with blankets, get wet, hug tree, and write love letters. Taste the forbidden fruit, beg no pardon, and hunt the clean water of the carved garden
BEING AN ARTIST
This lays out the basic steps you need to follow to to turn your dream into reality. I really should have posted this first!
Develop a Plan
Identify achievable short-term and medium-term goals and create a time line. Make them tangible: for example, have an exhibition with friends in 14 months, identify some steps along the way: times to produce works, contact galleries, design invitations etc. Consider your strengths and weaknesses - what training or skills do you need to obtain your goal?
Create an Artist's Statement
An artist's statement needs to explain in a few brief statements who you are, and what your art is about. Don't try to be overly artsy - use simple, clear language.
Create a Body of Work
This might sound obvious, but often artists get too involved in the peripheral activities being an artist is about creating art, preferably on a daily basis. Start producing finished, worthy pieces on good quality materials.
Business Cards
If you can't afford professional cards don't panic you can pick up some coloured card and make creative cards to give out. I did this to start with and may people commented on how cool they where. Make sure you have at least 10 in your bag at all time. You don't want to say I'm sorry I have just given out my last card.
Produce a Portfolio
The portfolio is like a visual resume. It should contain your best work, representative of your style. It may display the development of key ideas, or your breadth of style, depending on the intended viewer.
Document Your Work
Keep a photographic record of all your work. This is especially important once you start selling pieces. photograph your drawings, and if keeping an archive on computer, back up!
Know Your Market
You'll need to research your market. Different styles of work, originals, and prints will be in different price brackets and require appropriate marketing strategies. Use Internet forums to find out about other artist's experiences. Be honest about your own abilities.
Find a Gallery
There is no point approaching a traditional, domestic art gallery if your work is bleeding-edge contemporary. Look for art like yours in commercial galleries, and find out which are likely to be interested in your work. The best way to do this is on foot - find them in the phone book then get out there and eyeball the gallery. Does it look like it is doing business? Is it a good location? Who are they representing?
Approach a Gallery
One time-honored way of getting into a gallery is through recommendation by one of their artists. If you are lucky enough to know someone who shows with a good gallery, ask them to look at your work. Otherwise, you'll need to 'cold-call' the gallery and ask them to view your portfolio. Before signing up with any agent, dealer, publisher or gallery, read the fine print yourself, and get a second opinion on any documentation.
Consider Alternatives
Be pro-active. Take any opportunity to gain exposure. Select competitions which are suited to your style of work. Put on your own exhibitions. Do unpaid work for charities. Approach local businesses and cafes to display your art. Ask to be put on the mailing list of your favorite art galleries, as you can make valuable contacts at exhibition openings. Tell everyone you meet what you do. Keeping a small album of your work in your bag can be very rewarding.
Database
Start a good database from day one, I use a great piece of software called EssentialPIM which is free to download. You want to get as much information you can from all the customers that purchases your work, 80% might buy again! Treat those people like gold and keep in contact by sending out Christmas cards, newsletters, invites to your exhibitions etc. Having a visitor book at all my events has worked a treat for me.
Have Patience
You will need it as it takes at least 10-15 years to get to appoint that you will be 100% happy with your career choice. Go for it!
I have finally got my little studio sorted!
If anyone has something to add to The Paint Pit newsletter please let me know ASAP, I'm writing it today! Click here to become a member of the site and receive my newsletter.
How to be an Artist by Sark
Stay loose, learn to watch snails, plant impossible gardens, invite someone dangerous to tea, make little signs that say yes and stick them all over your house. Make friends with freedom and uncertainty. Look forward to dreams; cry through movies swing as high as you can on a swing in your favourite park. By moonlight cultivate moods, refuse to be responsible, do it for love, take loads of naps, and give money away. Do it now the money will follow. Believe in magic, laugh a lot, celebrate every gorgeous moment. Take moon baths, have a wild imaginings, transform dreams in perfect calm. Draw on the walls, Read everyday. Imagine yourself magic, Giggle with children, listen to the old people open up, dive in, and be free. Bless yourself. Drive away fear, play with everything, and entertain your inner child. You are innocent. Build a fort with blankets, get wet, hug tree, and write love letters. Taste the forbidden fruit, beg no pardon, and hunt the clean water of the carved garden
check out my roses, they smell divine!
BEING AN ARTIST
This lays out the basic steps you need to follow to to turn your dream into reality. I really should have posted this first!
Develop a Plan
Identify achievable short-term and medium-term goals and create a time line. Make them tangible: for example, have an exhibition with friends in 14 months, identify some steps along the way: times to produce works, contact galleries, design invitations etc. Consider your strengths and weaknesses - what training or skills do you need to obtain your goal?
Create an Artist's Statement
An artist's statement needs to explain in a few brief statements who you are, and what your art is about. Don't try to be overly artsy - use simple, clear language.
Create a Body of Work
This might sound obvious, but often artists get too involved in the peripheral activities being an artist is about creating art, preferably on a daily basis. Start producing finished, worthy pieces on good quality materials.
Business Cards
If you can't afford professional cards don't panic you can pick up some coloured card and make creative cards to give out. I did this to start with and may people commented on how cool they where. Make sure you have at least 10 in your bag at all time. You don't want to say I'm sorry I have just given out my last card.
Produce a Portfolio
The portfolio is like a visual resume. It should contain your best work, representative of your style. It may display the development of key ideas, or your breadth of style, depending on the intended viewer.
Document Your Work
Keep a photographic record of all your work. This is especially important once you start selling pieces. photograph your drawings, and if keeping an archive on computer, back up!
Know Your Market
You'll need to research your market. Different styles of work, originals, and prints will be in different price brackets and require appropriate marketing strategies. Use Internet forums to find out about other artist's experiences. Be honest about your own abilities.
Find a Gallery
There is no point approaching a traditional, domestic art gallery if your work is bleeding-edge contemporary. Look for art like yours in commercial galleries, and find out which are likely to be interested in your work. The best way to do this is on foot - find them in the phone book then get out there and eyeball the gallery. Does it look like it is doing business? Is it a good location? Who are they representing?
Approach a Gallery
One time-honored way of getting into a gallery is through recommendation by one of their artists. If you are lucky enough to know someone who shows with a good gallery, ask them to look at your work. Otherwise, you'll need to 'cold-call' the gallery and ask them to view your portfolio. Before signing up with any agent, dealer, publisher or gallery, read the fine print yourself, and get a second opinion on any documentation.
Consider Alternatives
Be pro-active. Take any opportunity to gain exposure. Select competitions which are suited to your style of work. Put on your own exhibitions. Do unpaid work for charities. Approach local businesses and cafes to display your art. Ask to be put on the mailing list of your favorite art galleries, as you can make valuable contacts at exhibition openings. Tell everyone you meet what you do. Keeping a small album of your work in your bag can be very rewarding.
Database
Start a good database from day one, I use a great piece of software called EssentialPIM which is free to download. You want to get as much information you can from all the customers that purchases your work, 80% might buy again! Treat those people like gold and keep in contact by sending out Christmas cards, newsletters, invites to your exhibitions etc. Having a visitor book at all my events has worked a treat for me.
Have Patience
You will need it as it takes at least 10-15 years to get to appoint that you will be 100% happy with your career choice. Go for it!
I have finally got my little studio sorted!
such a small room it is hard to take a photo of the space.
Won't take me long to fill everything up again.
all that mess has gone now, I promise!
Kiwi thinking!
My view
Here is a Zentangle that I have adding to each night
Paintings that I couldn't fit into cupboards LOL!
My Youtube clip for the day is Inspector Gadget Theme - Drum and Bass Remix
I remember being in a club and the DJ played a hard house version of this the Inspector Gadget Theme song, the place went off!!!
I want to tell you about Doreen Virtue's daily oracle card youtube page, visit youtube.com/user/4AngelTherapy to subscribe
My card for the day is Go Forward Fearlessly
it said...this card is a sign that you're on the right path and it's safe for you to move forward with your plans. as long as you hold intentions that are focused on your heart's true desire, your steps will automatically poised in the right direction. Right now it's important for you to take action - no mater how small or seemingly inconsequential - toward your desired outcome. Ask Archangel Michael for guidance by saying "Please show me the next step'" and he'll come toy your aid.
CERAMICS: Ann Verdcourt - A Survey
Saturday, 4th December at 11am @ the Sarjeant Gallery, Queens Park, Wanganui. Marks the closing of this much loved exhibition, Wellington writer, poet, painter and curator GREGORY O'BRIEN who was a guest writer for the accompanying exhibition catalogue and LUCY ALCOCK former curator of the Dowse Art Museum who has written on Verdcourt's work, will give an informative and lively talk around the exhibition
Does anyone have any tips on blogger regards to the random spacing? It is driving me mad!
Comments