“@#$%*! I’m an artist, not a writer!”

The art world these days is not what it used to be. Galleries these days require artist statements from all their exhibitors, to give a quick picture to buyers of what the artist is all about. Most artist’s first reaction is like that of our friend to the left. “How can I summarize in a few words what my art is all about? It’s from deep within me; I’m not sure I know myself where it comes from or what it means! Anyway, what business it it of theirs? My art should speak for itself!”

But as far as the world of art business is concerned, it doesn’t. Gallery owners and agents need a short statement which will distinguish your work from others, without actually showing it. So like it or not, if you want to sell your art in today’s market, you need an artist statement. The news is not all bad. The statement is not only a tool for business, but can be a valuable aid in your own work. It requires that you examine yourself and your work deeply, in order to find out where you are coming from. This can be scary, but in the end such a self analysis can be a useful tool in knowing yourself, and some might say that is what real art is all about.

But how to begin? This site is your answer. Select from a wide variety of articles in the menu at right, or check out articles in the following categories:

Writing The Artist Statement | The Business Of Art | The Creative Life

They will help you not only create your Statement, but also make your way in today’s art world, and balance your creative self with the necessities of the (gulp) business of art.

This site is evolving. Please let us know what else you would like to see on these pages. Drop me a line at theartist@artiststatement.com and may the spirit of creativity be always with you!

/glen cram

By
Molly Gordon

Your artist’s statement can be a moving testament to your creativity and integrity. The expression of this commitment will vary, but the effectiveness of your artist’s statement stems from the authority with which you write it.

Think of your artist’s statement as a nourishing stew. The rich flavors and inviting aroma will feed your spirit and summon wonderful people to your table. You’ll want to make sure your stew is made from the freshest, finest ingredients and that it has been simmered and seasoned with care. Do this, and you will be proud to share your creative vision — your authority — with others.

WRITING YOUR ARTIST’S STATEMENT

STEP ONE: Assemble the Ingredients.

1. Take five minutes and think about why you do what you do. How did you get into this work? How do you feel when work is going well? What are your favorite things about your work? Jot down short phrases that capture your thoughts. Don’t worry about making sense or connections. The more you stir up at this point, the richer the stew.

2. Make a list of words and phrases that communicate your feelings about your work and your values. Include words you like, words that make you feel good, words that communicate your values or fascinations. Be loose. Be happy. Be real. Think of these as potential seasonings for your stew. You don’t have to choose which ones to use just yet, so get them all out of the cupboard.

3. Answer these questions as simply as you can. Your answers are the meat and potatoes of your stew. Let them be raw and uncut for now.

What is your favorite tool? Why?

What is your favorite material? Why?

What do you like best about what you do?

What do you mean when you say that a piece has turned out really well?

What patterns emerge in your work? Is there a pattern in the way you select materials? In the way you use color, texture or light?

What do you do differently from the way you were taught? Why?

What is your favorite color? List three qualities of the color. Consider that these qualities apply to your work.

4. Look at your word list. Add new words suggested by your answers to the questions above.

5. Choose two key words from your word list. They can be related or entirely different. Look them up in a dictionary. Read all the definitions listed for your words. Copy the definitions, thinking about what notions they have in common. Look your words up in a Thesaurus. Read the entries related to your words. Are there any new words that should be added to your word list?

6. Write five sentences that tell the truth about your connection to your work. If you are stuck, start by filling in the blanks below.

When I work with__________ I am reminded that___________.

I begin a piece by______________.

I know a piece is done when__________________.

When my work is going well, I am filled with a sense of _____________.

When people see my work, I’d like them to ________________.

STEP TWO: Filling the Pot.

Write a three paragraph artist’s statement. Keep your sentences authentic and direct. Use the present tense (“I am,” not “I was,” “I do,” not “I did.”) Be brave: say nice things about yourself. If you find that you falter, write three paragraphs about an artist whose work you admire. Then write about yourself as though you were an admiring colleague. As a rule, your artist’s statement should be written in the first person. Refer to yourself with the pronouns “I, me, my.” If this blocks you, write in the third person, then go back and change the pronouns as needed when you get to Step Four. Use the suggestions below to structure your statement. Write three to five sentences per paragraph.

First paragraph.
Begin with a simple statement of why you do the work you do. Support that statement, telling the reader more about your goals and aspirations.

Second paragraph.
Tell the reader how you make decisions in the course of your work. How and why do you select materials, techniques, themes? Keep it simple and tell the truth.

Third paragraph.
Tell the reader a little more about your current work. How it is grew out of prior work or life experiences. What are you exploring, attempting, challenging by doing this work.

STEP THREE: Simmering the Stew.

Your artist’s statement is a piece of very personal writing. Let it simmer overnight before your reread it. This incubation period will help give you the detachment necessary to polish the writing without violating your sense of integrity and safety. While your statement simmers, let your mind wander over the ingredients you assembled in Step One. Allow yourself to experience the truth of your creative experience. Marvel at the wealth of seasonings and abundance of vegetables you have at your disposal. Enjoy the realization that your work is grounded in real values and experience. If you think of things you might have left out of your statement, jot them down, but leave the statement alone.

STEP FOUR: Taste and Correct the Seasonings.

Read your statement aloud. Listen to the way the sounds and rhythms seem to invite pauses. Notice places where you’d like the sound or rhythm to be different. Experiment with sounding out the beats of words that seem to be missing until they come to mind. Do this several times until you have a sense of the musical potential of your statement. As you read your statement, some phrases will ring true and others false. Think about the ones that aren’t on the mark and find the true statement lurking behind the false one. You may find that the truth is a simpler statement than the one you made. Or your internal censors may have kept you from making a wholehearted statement of your truth lest it sound self-important. Risk puffing yourself up as long as your claims are in line with your goals and values.

By now your taste buds are saturated. You need a second opinion. Choose a trusted friend or professional to read your statement. Make it clear that you are satisfied with the ingredients on the whole, but you’d like an opinion as to seasoning. You alone are the authority for what is true about your work, but you’d like feedback on clarity, tone, and such technical matters as spelling and punctuation.

STEP FIVE: Summon the Guests.

There’s little point in concocting a fabulous stew if you don’t invite anyone to dinner. Every time you use your artist’s statement you extend your circle of influence and build new branches of the support network for making, showing and selling your work. Enclose a copy of your artist’s statement whenever you send a press release, letter of interest to a gallery or store, or contact a collector. Send it to show promoters and curators. Enclose a copy with shipments of your work so it can be displayed wherever your work is exhibited.

STEP SIX: File Your Recipe!

Save all the notes and drafts that you’ve made. You’ll want to revise and update your artist’s statement from time to time to reflect changes in your work.

Molly Gordon
, MCC, is an internationally recognized business coach helping small business owners, independent professionals and artists to do business in a way that feeds their souls as well as their bank accounts.
Visit her site
to learn how to write a compelling artist statement in six easy steps. While on the site, don’t forget to join 12,000 readers of Molly’s Authentic Promotion® ezine, and receive a free 31-page guide on effective
self promotion
.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Molly_Gordon

http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Write-An-Artist-Statement&id=238319

By
Ariane Goodwin

Is it a dry creek bed, or the Grand Canyon? A closed door, or the Chase
Manhattan Bank vault? Or maybe, it’s the whisper of many doubts: Artist
statements are so predictably icky. What can you say about your work
that someone else can’t simply see? What’s the point of words for a
visual experience? How am I going to be authentic, but not arrogant?
Sincere, but not sentimental?

And yet, you know that pros consider
artist statements an essential part of a good portfolio (or About Me
pages essential to a web site). Gallery owners are relieved by your
professionalism. People who love your work will know more about you.
Offering your audience more ways to connect with you increases their
delight, as well as the perceived value of your work. But, goodness, all
those daunting words between here and there!

For artists, words are a completely different experience from the
tactile world of art making. Paper and paint inhabit the world of our
senses, while words remain the detached curios of our mind. If we’re an
Independent Professional, we want to reserve center stage for our
business. Once in a while, when the two worlds of work and words
connect, language entices our senses and engages our imaginations, and
we love it.

So what stops us from using words to describe our art? Tell about
ourselves? These are the same words that have been with us since we
could walk. What causes us to be deeply suspicious of language, one of
our fundamental connections to being human?

The answer, in part, relates to a fatal combination of art critics
and education. Art critics use language as scepters of judgment. If
words are the messengers that determine our self-worth, then by all
means, kill the messenger. Formal education uses language as bastions of
control. If we are told when, where and how we can, or cannot, use which
words, we grow to mistrust our relationship to language. The mistrust
smolders underground, mostly unnoticed, until our words are thrust into
a container, like the artist statement or About Me/Us web page.

Suddenly, words make us visible targets for judgment and criticism,
so we hide our discomfort at this possibility with what we consider
rational responses. "My work speaks for itself." "Statements are
inconsequential to my work." "I have nothing to say that my work doesn’t
already convey." And the list goes on.

An opportunity, like writing a personal or artist statement, often
causes us to second guess every idea we ever had about our work. We
convince ourselves that we have nothing, really, to say, or for certain,
nothing of value. Our first instinct is to either turn off the light and
head out of the studio or office, or pump up our peacock feathers.

But running away only confirms our unspoken fear: there must be
something to run away from. And pumping up encourages us to use flimsy
or pretentious words to smother over our mistrust of language. This, in
turn, fuels our perception that language related to our work is simply
ludicrous.

Luckily, there is an alternative. Try pretending, that you have a lot
to say, which is neither self-important nor trivial, but relevant and
revealing. Imagine that all of your objections have been met and you are
simply going to write whatever you believe to be true, at the moment,
about your relationship to your work. Because, the good news is: you can
recover your own words.

Why and how do you do what you do?

There is an unselfconscious language about your work, which you use
all the time. Every time you talk or think about your work, you create a
relationship between words and your chosen passion. The trick is to
learn how to catch yourself doing this, and then faithfully write it
down. Yup, I said: write it down. How else will you engage that part of
your brain for continued support and help?

But why bother at all?

Because an artist statement or personal statement builds a compelling
bridge between you and your audience. An inspiring statement gives the
people who see your work another reason to remember you. It’s
reinforcement, clean and simple. And there’s not an artist or
independent professional around who can’t use a little extra
reinforcement to make it’s way through the crowd.

Equally important, a statement gives you the opportunity to see what
you do through the eyes of language, to validate your creation and
profession from a new perspective. Really, you can’t lose! You can only
procrastinate.

Want to get started? Try this:

–TAKE care: Treat your statement with the same care that your treat
your work; after all, all of it is you.

–GATHER raw materials: Use a notebook that is lovely or practical
and keep it with you in the studio, in the car, in the office, beside
your bed and take a few weeks to catch any fleeting thoughts that come
to you about your work. Give your self permission to gather. Selecting
and sorting comes later, when you have enough in your basket. Find a
writing pen or pencil that flows smoothly across the surface. Make it a
tacticle pleasure.

–TIME: Make a specific date with yourself. Respect this time. Do not
tolerate interruptions.

–PREPARE your internal space: Close your eyes and conjure up your
worst critic. In your mind’s eye, lead this person out of the room. Give
them another task, besides breathing over your shoulder, say, climbing a
tree, skipping stones, or going to the local library. Tell your critic
not to come back until you are ready. Critics are terrified of being
abandoned, that’s why they are so tenacious, so reassure yours that
there will be a place set just for them at the editing and revision
table. Critics are also stubborn. You may have to do this more than
once.

–WRITE more than one: Like different works of art, a statement also
thrives on change and rising out of "the moment." What suits this
month’s work may not work for the next month. Independent professionals
need to revisit their intentions from time to time, and writing a new
personal statement gets the juices flowing.

–GIVE yourself permission to make mistakes: Let yourself write
badly. Crumple up lots of paper balls and throw them in a corner. It’s
the beginner’s way. Then, when it comes out great, which it eventually
will, you will know the difference.

–WRITE as much as you want: Winnowing down is so much easier than
filling in later.

–DON’T hesitate to ask a professional: Some things just beg for
help. If you find yourself endlessly circling a dead pigeon,
really…aren’t there other things you’d rather do and still get that
statement written?

Ariane Goodwin helps artists take their careers to the next level, so they can make an honest living doing what they love. Besides art-career coaching and my seminal book, Writing the Artist Statement: Revealing the True Spirit of Your Work I also host the annual smARTist Telesummit , the only professional art-career conference online or off that helps you build your art career from the comforts of home You can also sign up for your weekly smARTips to advance your career one tip at a time. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ariane_Goodwin

By
Alyson Stanfield

An artist statement is a necessary component of any professional artists’ portfolio or promotional packet.

When writing your artist statement, DO:

*
Write in the first person.
It is a statement, after all.

*
Be brief,
2-3 paragraphs at most. Always err on the side of brevity. You can write more, but why would you want to? People have short attention spans these days. Load as much punch into the delivery as you can. Combine sentences and delete ones that aren’t vital. As Henri Matisse said in his treatise on painting, “All that is not useful to the picture is detrimental.” The same could be said of your statement.

*
Describe the current direction of your work
and your approach, particularly what is unique about your methods and materials.

*
Sit on it for a few days and come back to it with a fresh mindset.
Most artists, in my opinion, hate their statements because they rushed them in preparation for an exhibit and didn’t care to spend any more time on them. How do you expect it to be any good if you don’t work at it?

*
Consider more than one statement if you are trying to discuss more than one body of work.
If you try to get too much into a single statement, you run the risk of saying nothing and trying to be everything to all people. This is bad marketing/bad promotions.

*
Allow your artist statement to grow, change, and mature along with your work.
Don’t let it sit on a shelf and collect dust. It should be organic and you shouldn’t be afraid to change it and make it better.

*
Make sure your statement passes the litmus test. Above all, viewers should be compelled to put the statement away and look back at the work.
Your statement isn’t successful if people read the words on the page, and then put them down and go on to the next artist.

When writing your artist statement, DO NOT:

*
Use too many personal pronouns.
Yes, I said to write in first person, but try to severely limit the number of “I”s, “me”s and “my”s that are used. You’ll be amazed at how many other ways there are to phrase things. You want people to relate to your words and to your art. Too many personal pronouns will put up an unnecessary a barrier.

*
Tell your life story.
You can keep that for your bio (as long as it’s interesting). Your artist statement is only about the current direction of your work.

*
Quote or refer to anyone else by name.
Keep the focus on you and your art. Mentioning another name shifts the readers’ attention from your art to the other person.

*
Forget to use spell check and ask someone else to read it over for you.

View the time to write your artist statement as an opportunity to clarify your thoughts.
A well-written statement, approached deliberately and thoughtfully, can be a boon to your self-promotion efforts. You’ll use the language on your Web site and in grant applications, press releases, brochures, and much more.

Copyright 2008 Alyson Stanfield, All rights reserved.

Alyson B. Stanfield is an art-marketing consultant, artist advocate, and author of
I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion.
Sign up for her free Art Marketing Action newsletter at

Here is a constantly updated list of links to sample artist statements from all over.

Here is a constantly updated list of links to sample artist statements from all over.
Here is a constantly updated list of links to sample artist statements from all over.

• Need editor – i'm an artist in LES looking for a writer who can edit an artist statement and a bio for me. Doesn't need to be super elaborate but has to be professional sounding.
  newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wrg/3212996036.html
• Dream House Installation Artist Statement | amy barrett – Dream House Installation Artist Statement. Published . at 1024 × 682 in Dream House · ← Previous Next → · Dream House Installation Artist Statement …
  amybarrett.wordpress.com/…/dream-house-installation-artist-st…
• – “What is an artist? A provincial who finds himself somewhere between a physical reality and a metaphysical one….It's this in-between that I'm calling a province, …
  www.pandorapillsbury.com/about/artist-statement/
• Dan Deacon: America – review –
  

  In his artist's statement Deacon makes the point that touring in Europe for the first time made him feel truly American, despite being the sort of American who habitually eschews the corporatism and apple pie. He's part of Baltimore's Wham City arts … See all stories on this topic »

  The Guardian

• ARTIST STATEMENT Arnold – Artist StatementSince my preliminary year, my work has involved symbolic patterns of traditional and modernSamoan body art. In year 11 I began sketching …
  www.docstoc.com/docs/…/ARTIST-STATEMENT—Arnold
• What do you think of this painting and artist statement Concerning … – Peregrine Honig, 'Bed of Roses'Artist's statement: I came to "Bed of Roses" because my body and wo.
  www.cafemom.com/…/What_do_you_think_of_this_painting…
• ARTIST STATEMENT – Threesquared – Emily Clayton: Studio Warmups. ARTIST STATEMENT. Studio Warmups began as an exploration of what transpires inside verses outside of the studio. While in …
  www.threesquaredgallery.com/…/CLAYTON-ARTIST%20ST…
• Artist Statement | Denise Philipbar – Artist Statement. My work is about transformation. I love to make objects out of unexpected materials that become recognizable only upon closer inspection.
  denisesart.com/?page_id=25
• Suda House: Artist Statement: Aquarella – "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. She to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no …
  www.dnjgallery.net/popup_shouse_statement.html
• bryan holland arts: artist statement – ARTIST STATEMENT: Recently, I began working on a series of animal portraits based on photos that I'd taken at zoos or museums. These are combined with a …
  www.bryanholland.com/artist-statement.html
• Seattle artist debuts mural painting camp – The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow – Music Videoby artists846,111 views · Artist's Statement 1:54. Watch Later Artist's Statementby charlotteyoung248,595 views · Autistic Artist 5:17. Watch Later Autistic Artistby scvw79351,351 views · Neil Gaiman …
  See all stories on this topic »
• Iranian-American Artist Eric Parnes Dreams of “Jeannie” in His Middle Eastern … –
  

  Parnes, whose work often applies Iranian iconography, text, textile, and ceramic patterns to incongruous mass-produced objects like soccer balls, deck chairs, or cars, coined the term “Neo Orientalism™” to describe what he calls in his artist's … See all stories on this topic »

  ARTINFO

• CD: Dan Deacon – America –
  

  Dan Deacon's 'America' is mostly oblique and observational. America comes with an artist statement where Deacon says “I never felt American until I left the United States”. His third album digs into his “frustration, fear and anger towards the county … See all stories on this topic »

  The Arts Desk

• Bonny Zanardi: 16 artists share 'FourSquared' show at Arc Gallery – In her artist statement she notes that portraits, the major part of her work, "incarnate the most representative archetypes of human condition." "From spirituality to propaganda, from lust to virtue, from loneliness to seduction, they become strong …
  See all stories on this topic »
• Video: Christian Siriano's Spooky, Sexy New Collection – Siriano said the collection was inspired by “bats and film noir,” and according to his artist's statement, “These flying demons of the night intrigue me with their creepy, dark, and dramatic presence…the intricate details of the veins and bone …
  See all stories on this topic »
• Buffalo River Photography Exhibit on Display at Cantrell Gallery –
  

  “I have spent over 40 years hiking along the Buffalo and its surrounding mountains and valleys," says Caldwell in an artist's statement. "I have enjoyed this part of Arkansas probably more than any other part of the state. With these photographs I hope … See all stories on this topic »

  In Arkansas

• Roberta Trentin Photography: Artist Statement – Artist Statement. All of my projects, ideas, and moments of creativity come from an encounter — not necessarily a physical rendezvous, but a coming together of …
  robertatrentin.com/Statement.html
• Artist Statement | NEW "Visions of Bay View: The Exhibit" – Artist Statement Eveyline Hall 1890, BAY VIEW #1/1 Cottage on Glendale Ave., BAY VIEW #5 The Music Box Cottage circa 1890 Porch Culture IX & Woman's …
  www.robertclevelandphoto.com/…/artist-statement-49_1_460….
• artist statement (PDF) – Lucas Dickerson – Artist Statement. When I begin a series of work I come to a piece with a vague idea of what I hope to achieve, and immediately start working. After I have …
  www.lucasdickerson.com/…/Dickerson_Lucas_ArtistStatement…

Author:
Abhishek Agarwal

We are all creative beings just as the ultimate being is the divine creator. To create something is to bring into existence something that did not exist before. Creative genius comes when you bring into existence something that will enhance the lives of all who encounter your creation, including yourself. In order to tap your creative genius, there are a few considerations that you should be aware of.

There is one thing that your creative energy demands a lot of and that is time. You have to allow yourself enough space for your creative energies to flow. Some people are fortunate to have a form of employment which requires them to apply their creative minds on a regular basis. If you are a teacher you will continually creating new ways in which to impart knowledge to individual children. The best teachers are always creative geniuses. Others of us are in jobs that only require a certain set of skills. After we have acquired the skills we keep on applying them over and over again without much room for creative thinking. If you fall into this category then you will need to set aside separate time in which to work creatively.

Finding extra time is not always easy with modern daily schedules. Work, travel, family, health, are all things which take precedence over our time. After these priorities are attended to we are often too spent to begin thinking creatively about anything. The problem is that when we are not able to apply our creativity, which is an inherent drive within all of us, we become dissatisfied and unfulfilled. Sometimes we encounter disgruntled people in the work place and those who appear to hate their jobs. These people are often expressing the deep dissatisfaction they feel at not being able to express themselves more creatively in their lives.

To avoid becoming dissatisfied you must apply yourself creatively. The best way to do this, if you have a very busy schedule, is to channel your creative energy into those things you have to do everyday. A good example of this is food. Cooking is an excellent way to get creative and many of us have to do it everyday. Instead of preparing the same old meals everyday or relying on supermarket ready prepared selections you can create new ways in which you and your family enjoy food and stay healthy. If you travel to work everyday by bus or train you might use this bit of regularly occurring time to read. Reading inspires creativity and you can use the reading time to read something that will teach you something new about what you are interested in.

Although being creative is time consuming it can also be very relaxing. After a hard day at work, instead of slumping in front of the TV for the next 3 hours, you can use this relaxation period to apply yourself creatively. If painting or flower arranging or writing is your thing, this is a very good time to allocate toward pursuing such creative hobbies.

Those who do have a bit of extra time to spend being creative can consider attending a course or group that specialises in their chosen creative pursuit. Other people who are interested in the same thing as you are and who express themselves creatively in a similar way to you, provide a wonderful resource of creative energy which you can draw on to fire up your own creative thinking. Other members will be drawing from you too, everyone contributes and everyone benefits.

It is always a good strategy, for those who are able, to take time to visit somewhere else away from home. If you are able to get away to areas of outstanding natural beauty for example, you should find that the environment inspires you creatively. It is no coincidence that many artists have produced some of their best work in some of the world’s most fabulous locations.

The way to tap your creativity is to try to think creatively as much as you can even while occupied with mundane, non-creative activities. You should also understand that creative energy needs to be fed by time; you must find as much time as you can to apply your creative thinking otherwise you might not blossom into the creative genius you are capable of being.

About the Author:

Abhishek is a Self-Improvement expert and he has got some great

Self-Improvement Secrets

up his sleeves! Download his
FREE 81 Pages Ebook
, “Self Improvement Made Easy!” from his website


http://www.Positive-You.com/775/index.htm


.
Only limited Free Copies available.

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
Your Creative Genius – How To Tap It For Success

Author:
c. b. murphy

If my title is not cynical, what can I possibly mean when funds are being cut to non-profits, when people look twice at the cost of theater tickets and stay home to watch broadcast television, when even masterpieces fail to bring in money for Christies? All luxury or nonessential purchases like books and art will be scaled back. Strapped corporations and executives are dumping their vanity collections onto the prestige auction houses who are seeing prices and attendance fall precipitously. Many small art-related businesses will fail, including bookstores, small theater companies, galleries, even museums. Surely this is a time for a great wailing to arise in the land of the creatives, who have already pinned their last hopes on a new W.P.A program that will surely be announced soon.

So why in Picasso’s name would this be a good time to be an artist or writer? Let’s start with Bush or should I say Bush-hating. Artists and writers have been a disproportionate amount of effort “fighting the man.” The stance, however justified, made it easy to structure plots and feel good about poorly realized efforts because the artist was focused on the urgent need to topple the evil regime. How much subtlety was required?

With a new dynamic Democratic administration firmly gripping power in Washington, there is no longer a need to waste any more effort haranguing the public about the war in Iraq, and his other unpopular positions. Soon “his” mistakes will be “our” mistakes as Democrats innovate and/or borrow from the previous administration and we will only have our own to blame. Only the farthest left of us (like the ones already unhappy with Obama’s practicality) will continue to use artistic outrage as their main source for inspiration.

I am hoping the whole concept of “artist as politician” phase will come to an end. Sure, we can still support our causes of global warming, corporatism, land mines, and nuclear disarmament if we like, but adults in Washington will be doing their best to represent the constituencies that have promoted these causes. We no longer will have to shout at them, though there is no guarantee that we will like their solutions or pace. Nevertheless, artists will find the protest stance somewhat emptier, somewhat less compelling and, hopefully will be moving on to new, less knee-jerk, less repetitive, less strident content.

Back to the issue of business failures in the art community. It’s not that I think the art world is too fat and will benefit from a crash diet, but it’s worth thinking about who the market for art has been and who it might become. Art has been, in a sense, also feeding at the trough of the high finance world. How many people can afford a painting over say $10,000 (and I’m stretching here). Clearly the middle class doesn’t buy much original art. Why not? Because the content (often incomprehensible but supported by museums and academics) is largely non-compelling to average people.

In the literary world, where the readership is shrinking, agents and publishers are running scared. They want another J. K. Rowling phenomenon but aren’t sure where and how to find it. Meanwhile a tsunami of self publishers and bloggers are going around the publishing world for their reading. Both the sellers and makers of art need to accept this challenge. If they have something to say, how should they say it and where? New forms, hybrids and experiments are springing up and the world of criticism (e.g. The New York Times Book Review) are holding up their noses in hopes that the riff-raff will all go away soon and everyone will return to network television, Broadway shows and industry-picked “geniuses” in the print world. That’s not going to happen. People are entertaining themselves in new ways, from YouTube, to bloggers, to game designers, to “low-brow” art that embraces illustrators, graffiti artists and tattooists as “real” artists. Some see this as a devastating collapse of “high” culture, I see it as evidence that in many ways the arts have not been doing their job.

Music might be an exception as well as an example. While mainstream media continues to site declining CD sales something we’re supposed to fret about, an explosion of interest in music is happening all over the world. The internet is allowing us to create our own custom radio stations (e.g. Pandora), iTunes is making it easier to buy exactly what we want, and portable music devices have freed us from Big Radio and Big Music companies. This is partly because, unlike say painting or the literary novel (the bad ones not the good ones), the general public has never given up its love of music and never will. So music will lead the way. Will there be fewer superstar groups but more people creating the music they love? I hope so. Will it be difficult to find the new geniuses if they are not picked out of the crowd and promoted by Big Music? Maybe, maybe not. Most likely the internet will evolve forms of self criticism which will allow more diverse music to survive as the cost of getting that music to the public continues to decline. Overall will less money go to music because people are used to getting it free? Maybe. Inevitably good stuff costs money, think organic produce. People pay more everyday for both the label and the confidence in its quality and taste, even if they can’t prove it or taste it.

People will pay to be entertained. Collecting original art on a small scale could conceivably be something people do again once their more confident of their taste. How many people worry about their taste in music needing outside experts to tell them whether or not it’s good? I know what I like is the rule. In fact, for millions, if its popular it’s already time to dig deeper and find the creatives (the new new) that have already been there and done that and are now doing something altogether new.

So we might be on the edge of a burst in creativity. I’ll make my final point be referencing an economically difficult but extremely creative period another country experienced: The Weimar Republic. This from Wikipedia:

“The 1920s saw a massive cultural revival in Germany. It was, arguably, the most innovative period of cultural change in Germany. Innovative street theatre brought plays to the public, the cabaret scene became very popular. Women were americanised, wearing makeup, short hair, smoking and breaking out of tradition. Music was created with a practical purpose, such as Schoenberg’s ‘atonality’ and there was a new type of architecture taught at ‘Bauhaus’ schools. Art reflected the new ideas of the time with artists such as Grosz being fined for defaming the military and for blasphemy.”

There’s plenty of opportunity out there, folks, stop whining and get busy!

About the Author:

writer, painter, anthropologist

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
Why It’s a Great Time to be an Artist or Writer

Author:
Kristin Royce

As an artist, the key to selling more artwork is maximizing its
exposure. The internet is an increasingly popular tool for
promoting original art, and if done properly, can be quite
profitable.

One of the most effective (and free!) online marketing tools for
artists is the blog. Artist blogs provide an easy way to display
your art, discuss your creative process, post exhibition
announcements and more. Best of all, blogs require no working
knowledge of HTML and the search engines love their dynamic
content.

What is a blog and how will it sell my art?

A “blog” is a web-based diary or journal. The author of a blog,
also known as a “Blogger”, publishes content on a regular basis
about a focused topic. These regular postings typically provide
a “community” feel by allowing site visitors to post feedback to
your journal entries. This mode of communication can deepen
relationships with potential art buyers, leading to increased
sales.

Blogs also have the ability to archive all of your previous
posts, dynamically creating an individual page for each journal
entry. The feature is great for art buyers using search engines
to find original art. For example, if you have a blog post
describing a painting that you just completed of the Golden Gate
Bridge at sunset and an art buyer in Florida goes to Google and
searches for “painting of Golden Gate Bridge at sunset”, there
is a very good chance that your blog entry will appear pretty
high in the rankings.
Cha Ching!!

Many artists have felt the pain of email marketing losing its
effect due to spam filters, junk email overloads and virus
paranoia. Blogs provide a new way to communicate with clients,
fans and industry professionals. This trend can support your
email marketing efforts by allowing blog subscription options
for site visitors so that they are notified whenever your blog
is updated along with providing a permanent place on the web for
all of your postings as opposed to newsletter emails that are
typically deleted.

How to start a blog

Blog Publishing Tools

To begin, visit some of these free blogging sites, all offering
unique template options that even an artist can appreciate,
image uploads and syndication ability.

Blogger.com
(Simple
to set up and multiple authoring ability)
MSN Spaces
(Create your own
mini site, with an exceptional blogging feature)
Live Journal
(Requires a
bit of ‘blogging knowledge’ to get it set up)
Blog Drive

If you’re interesting in reviewing additional blog features,
these sites require a small monthly fee to maintain.

Typepad
(starts at
$4.95/month)

Tripod Blogs
(starts
at $4.95/month)

Note to artists with MySpace accounts:

MySpace
provides members personal blogs, but it is important to know
that MySpace blogs are not currently listed in search engines,
which as noted above, is one of the main reasons to get a blog.
While MySpace works to remedy this issue, it is recommended that
you blog using a tool that is accessible to search engine
spiders.

Decide on a title for your blog

The title of your blog should be brief and to the point. You
can get creative with your language in the blog description /
tag line. A focused title will help with higher search engine
rankings and make it clear to visitors what the blog is about.

For example, the title for ThePauper.com blog is ”
Diary of a
Pauper
. The blog description is Rants and raves about the
careers and lives of starving artists.” The title is concise,
stating exactly what it is, while the description is a bit more
creative.

Blog theme

It’s important to establish yourself as a professional working
artist if you want to use your blog as a vehicle to sell your
art. Blog theme involves the layout and color of the page,
quality of the artwork images displayed and verbiage used for
blog postings. Select your blog template carefully and make a
habit to review your blog from the perspective of a potential
client. Is the page visually appealing? Do the images of your
artwork provide a link to an extra large version to see detail?
Does your content have a consistent theme? Here’s a good example
of a working blog by mix engineer, Ken Lewis:

http://protoolsmixing.
com/blog.html
The content theme is exceptionally consistent,
plus the colors and page layout match his website.

What to write

What’s beautiful about blogs is that there are no rules on what
to write, but if you want to attract and keep an audience, you
might consider some of these suggestions.

Keep your posts creative and interesting. Move and inspire your
readers by being completely honest about your creative process.

Use keywords in your blog title and post.
Using the
example mentioned earlier – if your post is about a Golden Gate
Bridge painting, be sure to use that exact phrase in the title
and body of your blog. Think about what people might type into
search engines to find your content and then use those keywords
in your blog. This technique will help increase the ranking of
your web page on search engines.

Post daily
, or at least twice a week. If you publish blog

entries frequently, you will see more return visitors,
subscriptions to your blog and comments from site visitors.

Proofread and preview your blog
entries before posting.
Some blog HTML editors have a way of creating weird symbols out
of certain characters and a quick spell-check never hurts.
(Note: be sure to create your blog entries using Word or some
other text editor. Many blogging tools tend to “time out” after
a certain amount of time and you could potentially lose hours of
work.)

Publish your blog
Finally! Your blog looks great and has
unique content. Now, depending on the blogging tool that you
selected, follow the steps to publish it to the World Wide Web.
Test the live URL that now houses your blog. If all of your
graphics appear correctly and the copy is flawless, then you
want to make sure that you promote your blog on your personal
website, in your email signature and by word of mouth.

Using the tools you already have to spread the word while
testing your dedication to frequent posting is the best way to
get started. Part 2 of will unveil tons of ways to promote your
blog online

About the Author:

Kristin Royce is a search engine optimization and online
marketing professional contributing online marketing and
promotional content for artists to The ARTrepreneur
E-Zine. The ARTrepreneur offers articles helping artists
focus on proven techniques to accomplish any goal. Read
More:
http://www.theartrepreneur.com

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
Why Every Artist Needs a Blog & How to Create an Artist Blog

Author:
John Morris

If you are pretty talented at art you might not even consider going to Art College. Why should you, anyway? You can draw like the masters: Boticelli, Michaelangeo, Da Vinci. There wasn’t a landscape scene your brushes didn’t like, and there wasn’t any portrait you couldn’t draw. You can sketch anything that exists!

But as with any talent, you must have realized that this is one big world we live in. There is always room for improvement, and although your work might speak for itself, a degree behind you may be just what employers are looking for. Therefore, you muster all your reserves; you pack your easel, your brushes, and your palette and head north to the nearest art college.

1. Good choice?

Art school will definitely benefit you as an artist. Your innate talent will benefit from the proven concepts and techniques you can learn here. It may be that you already know the basics and the techniques of your art. Rest assured that there are always things the art school can teach you that you won’t already know.

Art school also develops in its students a love and appreciation for the different forms of art. It opens to the student new vistas of learning and expressing. Even if only for that reason, Art school would be worth every penny.

2. Who Is Art School Suited For?

Artists are a rare kind. They seem to be able to create masterpieces without complicated theories and computations. It’s as if they are moved by instinct to draw, paint, and create visually pleasing artworks. Some artists, when asked about their artwork, would simply shrug and say they didn’t know what motivated them, and they just felt like painting it. Art school should not aim to correct this freewheeling style of artistry. It should, however, provide the basic techniques and theories on art and creativity. Instead of suppressing natural skill, it should develop and enlighten it by explaining the concepts behind art. Unlike what most people think, there truly is a science behind art.

Artists sometimes just create art. But after Art College, they come to a realization of theories behind what they have done by instinct. Fundamental theories can only improve and supplement the talent students have.

3. What to Learn?

When choosing an Arts College, look into the nature of its programs.

– Is it solely a graphic design school or does it offer courses in other specific areas?

– Does the school provide any statistics or downloadable documents outlining the percentage of its graduates that are now working in their chosen field?

4. Specialize!

Remember that the subject of art is not just a big blob with the label art. It is composed of numerous subcategories and specializations. You need to choose a specialization because if you don’t, your skills will be diffused trying to learn the many branches of art. Try to improve the most at the area of your interest. It could be painting, sculpture, digital arts or others.

5. Be The Best

Also, look into whether the school participates in any graphical arts competitions or has accomplished anything of renown in the industry. This is a sure sign of their commitment to the arts and the education of its students. One of the best things one can get out of Art College is exposure to competition and industry standards. Such competition pushes one from being complacent. If you are to be a better artist, you should never be satisfied with what you already know. You should grab the opportunity to learn new and exciting things.

6. Conclusion

Your education might be the most important investment you make in your life. Without proper training, your chances at success are greatly diminished. A proper Art college will certainly train you and equip you with the tools needed to make it big in your profession.

About the Author:

For more great art education related articles and resources check out
http://www.artschoolstop.com

Article Source:
Why Bother with Art Colleges?

Author:
Artistopia Staff

Artist development in the music industry has evolved over time, leaving most of the early progress to the artist themselves. For the most part, the days are gone when a record label developed up and coming talent. The question continuously arises for those young artists, “where do I start”? With the advent of the Internet, the possibilities are mind boggling.

Many artists put in their mission statement, simply that they want a record deal, thinking that is all they need to succeed for career in music. Most don’t have a clue what it takes to get that deal, let alone maintain that career.

Artist development is a huge area overlooked by far too many artists and bands. Let’s explore the question, “What is artist development”?

A record label A&R rep once “discovered” fresh new faces in clubs, bars or word of mouth and would then support them, cultivate their creativeness, build up their fan base, and guide their direction with the intent of turning them into superstars. All of this of course, was with the intent of selling those 45’s, LPs, cassette’s and CDs. Gradually, many labels moved more into product development, which meant they are focused more on the immediacy of sales of the latest CD (product) released, and not bringing the artist up to that point. And more often than not, naive artists were at the labels mercy.

In this Internet age, it is more the artist or band themselves that must build the quality sound that is ready as a commercially viable product. On top of that, they need to have an already established fan base, basic music business skills, perhaps even the early music sales of a well produced CD. Labels are looking for pre-packaged, very talented musicians that are already showing their value.

A music career is a charted path to follow. Artist development involves all the issues surrounding and arising from that charted path, and crosses into knowledge of product development the ultimate sale of the music.

Checklist on what artist and product development necessitate:

• Exceptional vocals, musicianship and/or songwriting skills
• Continued education and enhancement of musical skills
• Quality equipment
• Performance ability
• Image creation and maintenance
• Plan of action, goal setting
• Exceptional promotion materials, including photographs, press releases and artwork
• Business management skills
• Marketing, publicity, and promotion knowledge, online and offline
• Professional management
• Basic knowledge of recording, producing, engineering, and mastering
• Basic knowledge of manufacturing, distribution, and sales online, brick and mortar and air-play
• Good choices in members, staff and advisors
• Physical and mental preparedness
• Basic knowledge of finances, accounting
• Law and legal issues: publishing, copyrighting, trademarks, and an attorney
• Alternative career options even athletes need to have other options!

Tending to all areas of your music career may make the difference between a one hit wonder and longevity in this business. It’s been said, “If you think this is a piece of cake, you better go bake one.” The music business, again, is a business. Businesses need to make money. That’s worth repeating – the music business is a
BUSINESS
. Take the time to find out all you can about each of these steps in your journey.

That being said, an up and coming artist must begin somewhere…and if a career in the music business is the goal, then any naiveté must be addressed immediately! Knowledge is power. Power gives you leverage. And who knows…that entrepreneurial artist may just find they don’t need that particular record deal after all.

About the Author:

Artistopia – The Ultimate Artist Development Resource

http://www.artistopia.com

is an artist development service and community on the web providing music artists, songwriters and bands all the tools needed for displaying their talent, music business collaboration, marketing and networking. Online since 2003, Artistopia develops advanced technology solutions that leverage the Internet to both the music artist and music companies respective advantage.

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
Why Artist Development Makes a Difference

Author:
Artistopia Staff

Your online music profile is the bottom-line essential information on WHO you are as a band, singer, songwriter and/or musician. Your profile, as to how it fits in the big picture at Artistopia, an artist development site for indie and unsigned artists, is your biography or resume that presents you to the music industry, other musicians, and your potential fans. That makes it a very important page on the Internet, right? It needs to be interesting, well-written, informative and to-the-point, for this is you marketing yourself. When writing this document, there is much to consider to make it presentable.

Consider these scenarios:

1

2

In the Internet world, any webmaster will tell you content is king. Why? Because it is how online visitors find you. The number one source for driving traffic to web pages are search engines, and it is content they want and nothing else. (Content is literally text, characters, paragraphs, sentences – it’s information.) You can easily improve the traffic to your profile by entering as much relevant content about yourself as is necessary to describe your music, history, act, image, and musical goals.

Knowing this and knowing that in this busy-busy click-happy Web world, you have to have your band description clearly stated at the top of the bio! The rest of the fill-in details are at the bottom. If you have captured the readers attention at the top, they will follow through and read more. Otherwise, they will leave your profile and look for another band that presents themselves better than you did.

The best place to start is by creating an outline, in Word (or other program). Know how many total characters you can use in the field you are entering information in. Use spell-check and save it for later updating. Collect your thoughts and make notes about your background, your musical history, goals, accomplishments, band members, who plays which instrument, etc.

* The music business is a BUSINESS so present yourself professionally.

The first paragraph should be an introduction. It is the lead-in to who you are, what your music specialty is (genre), where in the world you are from, and perhaps an enthusiastic quote given to you about your music. If you sound like a certain pro band or artist, what makes you different from them?

* Busy industry people may not finish reading after a few lines if the opener does not capture them quickly. And you have to live up to the hype you dish out!

The second paragraph could cover what you are currently up to musically. Here you might mention a new release you are working on, or music projects you are involved with. What promotional plans do you have to support your current activities? Mentioning an upcoming tour or gig would be good here.

The third paragraph will include band member information (who plays what) or brief mention of background experiences, instrumentation, and/or accomplishments, that accentuates your artistic development. Artistopia offers locations for detailed information on these entries, so use the available space to present yourself wisely.

The Mission Statement section will cover your music career goals and is aimed at the industry professionals that might be searching for your particular talent. The Influences section will be who your musical influences are, so there is no need to waste the readers time mentioning them elsewhere.

You have to remember, A&R reps, labels, producers, potential collaborators, are all very busy people that have heard it all before. Do not waste words but find a way to stand out from the typical. The music you create may bring them to your profile after they heard it to learn more about you, so it is up to you to show them that you are a person that they can work with.

It is absolutely amazing to see artists that don’t take the time to do this. In countless web travels and thousands of music profiles, you see artist descriptions from as short as a one-liner like “We want to be heard,” to certain social site artist descriptions that go for MILES. There is a big difference in giving the reader vital information that should be included your profile and info that no one will ever care about that should not.

Therein is the essence of what your music profile should be saying about you.

About the Author:

Artistopia – The Ultimate Artist Development Resource

http://www.artistopia.com

is an artist development and community on the web providing indie and unsigned music artists, songwriters and bands all the tools needed for music business collaboration and networking.

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
What your Music Profile Should Say About you

Author:
Carolyn McFann

What is it like to be a freelance artist, and what exactly do you study to become one? I will tell you what courses I took in college that were useful to me later as a professional, and what I needed to know beyond my college education. There are many facets to being a successful artist, many of which aren’t taught in art school.

First of all, become well skilled in color theory, or, how to use color effectively. Using color is important especially to painters, interior designers and anyone who needs to choose colors for clients. There are many books on the subject, but make sure to learn about the Color Wheel, and buy the expensive colored paper packs called Pantone, to experiment with color usage. With color you can create moods, illusions and strongly influence advertisements. It is powerful to know color well so don’t underestimate it.

Take figure drawing seriously. It teaches you the discipline and confidence of drawing live models quickly and accurately. Whether you go for minute detail like I do, or suggestion of a figure, drawing the nude is a wonderful way to know the human body and how to express it well.

Learn how to use lines and textures. One two-dimensional design teacher I had, assigned us to do pages and pages of just different lines and others of different textures. Then, we did a major drawing using those textures and lines altogether. It was a good way to learn how to add interest to your artwork, and to create different effects. I use these techniques in my illustrations to this day.

Try different mediums, just to get experience in them, such as metalsmithing, textiles, glassmaking, and others. This will give you an appreciation for other crafts and teach you different angles of the art world. It also gives you practise in design, color and other disciplines, in a different realm. When I look at a blown glass vase, I know how it’s constructed. I also know how glass is made, from silica powder in batches similar to cooking a recipe. Creating a bowl from a flat piece of brass is something I found relaxing and satisfying. Try new things. When you visit galleries in the future, you will be more aware of how the items in them are created, by skilled artisans.

Learn business. I cannot stress this enough. My school didn’t allow me to double major in business and in art, though I wanted to. So, after art school, I enrolled in business courses on my own, and have been building upon that knowledge ever since. Learn how to market yourself, customer service, how to do accounting and how to be skilled on the computer. These are skills that will help you to work the promotional end of your business, until you find someone else to do it for you. As it stands now, I let my agent handle the selling of my original work, but still manage my own business dealings for my online gallery. Make sure to keep up with the latest trends on computer marketing, and software. It pays to market your business well, so arm yourself with as much practical business knowledge as possible.

Be very disciplined about your work time. In college, it is easy to get sidetracked by friends, parties and other things. I used to work hard then go out with friends, until I wore myself out and ended up with mononucleosis from sleeping too little. It took awhile to recuperate, and I learned to pace myself better. Take care of yourself. Be disciplined, and don’t overdo it when you go out with friends. When school is over and you are on your own, the good habits you have established will definitely come into play.

Attend gallery openings, art fairs, and other art venues. See how other professional artists sell their work. Learn from those who are most successful. Ask questions and take notes. Much of the education for a freelancer starts after college. Join professional artists’ organizations and participate in discussions. The more people you know, the more support they will give you when you need it.

Being a freelance artist isn’t easy, it takes persistence, resourcefulness and cunning. Give yourself a head start by accepting freelance assignments from customers as early as possible. I was taking orders steadily from customers from the age of 16. And the business grew as I grew. I was naiive in the beginning, but in time, my skills increased and it got easier. It is possible to make money as a freelancer. Don’t give up, take a job or two on the side when needed for extra money, but never give up on your vision. It will grow naturally, the more you learn and apply your knowledge. Go with the flow, give it time and you will be an independent, fully functioning art professional. I highly recommend it, and wouldn’t have things any other way.

About the Author:

Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio, which can be seen at:

http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats

. Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist, writer and photographer. She has lived and worked in Cancun, Mexico, among other interesting professional assignments in other countries. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
What you Need to Know About Being a Self-supporting Artist or Designer

Author:
Mary McNeil

If you want to lead an existence which is not just rich in creative thought, but which also produces regular and recognized creative output, you need to design your life so that it supports your creativity. As the writer Oriah Mountain Dreamer observes: “The artist’s life is simply an ordinary human life that is consciously choreographed to support ongoing creativity in both you and those around you.”

So if you’re going to make creative output a practical reality, what are the elements you need to consider as important ingredients in the recipe for your creative success?

Famous achievers in an array of creative fields have written books revealing much about what it takes to live a creatively successful and productive life. Each one describes their individual creative practices, challenges, connections and stories. And while there is much that is unique about each account, there are also many common threads weaving their way through the genre. Here are four of the themes which appear with regularity…

** Don’t wait for circumstances to be perfect before you get started.

Producing creative output is a process of starting over and over and over again. Every single time you come to your work, you’re required to make another beginning. This is a constant challenge for most creative people. No matter how much you love your creative work once you’re in the flow, the struggle to get started rarely goes away.

The temptation to find reasons to procrastinate is strong. That voice in your head can be particularly persuasive. The one that says: ‘the time isn’t right… I don’t have the correct materials… there’s no space to work in… I’m not in the best frame of mind… I might get interrupted…’ All of these objections may have some truth behind them, but if you don’t overrule them, you’ll never get started.

Progressing your creative work means creating in the middle of things. Whilst being aware that there are chores to be done, calls to be made, the trivia of life to be attended to, you have to choose periods of time when your creative efforts take the top spot on your list of priorities. If you wait until everything’s perfect, you’ll simply never get started. And if you never get started, the obvious result is that you’ll never produce anything.

** Don’t rely on inspiration – build appropriate structure to support your creativity.

Being inspired is a wonderful experience. It can give you wings to produce fabulous creative output. But inspiration can’t, unfortunately, be relied upon.

Creative activity needs to have continuity, regularity and a structure to support it. That doesn’t mean a rigid structure that’s more likely to stifle than to stimulate your imagination. It means supportive routines and practices which, when thoughtfully constructed and utilized will encourage you to get working away on your creative projects and entice your inspiration out to play as you do so.

There will be plenty of days when you don’t feel even the tiniest trace of inspiration. These are the days when your support structure will see you through. Your job is simply to show up. If you don’t show up and get started, your inspiration won’t either. The prolific British composer, John Rutter, was once asked when and where he gets his best ideas. He replied without missing a beat: “When I’m working”.

** Be prepared to produce low-grade output more often than top quality work.

The only way to learn and to improve is to experiment. If you want to master your craft you have to practise it. And when you set about practising with enthusiasm, you’ll produce any amount of what you might class as inferior quality output. It’s important not to allow your judgment of it to stop you in your tracks. Instead, appreciate the progress that you’re making and see the improvements as you keep experimenting and learning.

Yes, it’s wonderful to produce top quality output, but the kind of output that teaches you the most and develops your skills is, in fact, the substandard. Treat your less magnificent results as encouragement to try again and to improve upon them. Celebrate your turkeys!

** Allow your creativity to change you.

Creative endeavour can and will move you along the path of spiritual and personal growth. A willingness to embrace the changes that it brings about in you as a person and in your life will allow your creative output to develop simultaneously. The two are interwoven. If you attempt to contain or to control the changes that your creative work is nurturing in you, beware! For you run the risk of settling for a smaller, lesser version of the full, glorious, connected self you could be.

Creative work that stems from deep personal connection has tremendous power to reach and to touch others too. As you are changed by your art, so your art can change the world.

Naomi Wolf describes the power of the creative act particularly expressively: “the making of a beautiful thing cracks open the painful or ugly ordinary world, and then something amazing shines through, which you have forever; which can make you blind with tears.”

About the Author:

If you’re brimming with creative ideas but struggling to develop them into tangible output, the practical support of a coach can make all the difference.

Mary McNeil of
Create a Space
is an experienced, ICF-certified life coach, natural born planner and declutterer extraordinaire! She works with artists, writers and musicians, coaching and supporting them as they make creative output a practical reality.

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
What It Takes To Live A Creatively Productive Life

Author:
Linda Dessau

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

In my 2004 e-book, The Creativity Interviews (details below), I asked 7 questions about the creative process to 19 creative artists from a variety of disciplines.

One of these questions was “what does creativity bring to your life?”

As I’m looking through the answers with new eyes, themes start to pop up in front of me. As you read through these broad themes, and the actual phrases spoken by the artists in the book, consider which ones you identify with most.

Creativity brings adventure, affects my whole life and what’s “out there”

Artist spoke of a sense of “exploration”, “spontaneity” and “adventure”, and that their creativity “brings life to whatever I’m doing”. They felt the effects of their creativity on other parts of their life, giving them “unique problem solving opportunities” and “energizing my relationships”.

Creativity brings opportunities for self-discovery of what’s “in here”

Artists appreciated the “heightened awareness” and increased ability to “understand myself”.

Creativity brings connections to people, both in and out of my “tribe”

“I feel I m part of a tribe of free people” was how one artist expressed this sense of connection and of being understood when they’re around other artists. Another artist recognized their creativity as a “gift I can share with others” fulfilling the desire for connection in a way that’s natural and enjoyable for the artist.

These are hopeful points, considering how isolated and misunderstood many artists feel.

Creativity brings a spiritual connection

Themes of spirituality such as “gratitude”, “purity” and “essence” could be heard in some of the answers from artists. One claimed creativity gives them “a glimpse of the spiritual realm”, and another described creativity as “a soulful experience”.

There was also the idea that creativity brings “a connection to something larger than myself”, and “the feeling that I’m ‘in the zone’, in the flow of life”. Many of us connect to our spirituality most easily through being in nature. One artist found that creativity brings a “freedom to recreate what I see in nature”.

I think one artist summed up the link between creativity and spirituality by answering with one word: “wonder”.

Creativity brings an awakening, a jarring, a sense of delicious discomfort

Though I only heard one answer that fit into this theme one artist felt that creativity brought a “discontinuity” to their life I included it because it really interested me.

What about those moments of torment before the dissonant chord resolves itself, before the elements and colours of a painting “come together”, before the ideas for a story or article make any sense.

And what about the plain fact that there is ALWAYS something we won’t know how to do, always something more to learn, always a creative idea who’s execution is out of our reach because our skills haven’t caught up to it yet. Is that partly what keeps us going?

Creativity brings a return to home, a “normalcy”

“Creativity IS my life” and “creativity is unavoidable”. For one artist, creativity is “a reason to live”, and for another “it helps me live”. Creativity is what we know, and when we’re expressing it our TRUE selves are shining through. As one artist commented, it’s a “relief”.

Another artist noted that creativity often brings “more creativity”. Which make perfect sense when you apply the law of attraction the principle that states that whatever you focus on is what you’ll attract into your life.

Creativity brings a sense of self-worth and identity

For the artists I spoke to, creativity brings a “reward”, “satisfaction”, “pride” and “accomplishment” It contributes to their “self-esteem” and “sense of self and identity”.

For artists, who often feel so misunderstood and different from other people, creativity provides “a way of explaining myself to the world”. Creativity celebrates the fact that we’re different, by showing us “a sense of purpose” and “a sense of my uniqueness”.

One artist said that creativity “puts me in touch with the core and essence of my being”.

Creativity heals me

As a music therapist, this theme was not surprising to me. Not only are the arts amazing therapeutic tools to use in treatment, creativity can be extremely therapeutic for the person expressing it.

Some of the therapeutic benefits of creativity that the artists shared with me were “relaxation”, “centeredness”, “possibility”, “hope” and “connection with self”. Creativity “lifts me from my sorrows” and is “a way to translate my hopes & feelings.”

Creativity brings happiness, energy and power

The “endorphin rush” that one artist described was echoed by many as “joy”, “energy, vitality it s a rush”, “pleasure”, “magic”, “fullness”, “happiness”, “passion” and “a high”. Creativity is “uplifting & motivating” and gives “the impetus to push further” and “a sense of power”.

What does creativity bring to YOUR life? What do you miss the most when you’re not actively expressing your creative ideas? What’s the first thing you notice that changes in your life when you’re in the “creative flow”?

Naming the gifts of your creativity can help to re-ignite your passion for your creative work and can excite you into courageous action. Thinking about these gifts can also put a mysterious smile on your face while you’re traveling through the other parts of your life.

Whatever you’re doing, whether it’s taking care of life’s little details and obligations or taking care of other people’s needs you can remind yourself that you’re one of the lucky ones with access to creativity.

You have this incredible source of adventure, self-discovery, connection, spirituality, awakening, normalcy, self-worth, identity, healing, happiness, energy and power.

This article originally appeared on the Creativity Portal
http://www.creativity-portal.com
in August 2005.

C Linda Dessau, 2006.

About the Author:

Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. For your copy of the Creativity Interviews, visit:
http://www.genuinecoaching.com/creativity-interviews.html

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
What Does Creativity Bring to Your Life?

Author:
Jullie Harvard

Graduates with arts degrees often feel some difficulties to determine their career goal in the initial stage. In general view, most of jobs seem to suit the arts degree graduates but when come to decide a career goal, it seem like hard to define one. Unlike graduates from science and technology fields, graduates from the arts fields feel that their program of study hasn’t necessarily prepared them for specific jobs or careers. Many arts degree graduates become apprehensive once graduation approaches.

Are these the facts of art degrees? Is pursuing an art degree a waste of money and will only get you a job flipping burgers? These popular art degree’s myths affect many students who are interested in art degrees and they stop moving their step into art fields and force themselves to take science & technology related degrees for a brighter future.

The Facts versus Myths

In actual, the facts are contrary to the popular art degree myths, a variety of career possibilities await art graduates, almost half of all job vacancies available to new graduates are open to students with arts degrees. These employers are particularly interested in transferable skills.

Let review the true facts of these popular art degree myths and you will realize that you are totally employable with your Arts degree and arts degree graduates are really in high demand in the jobs market with well-paying positions.

Myth 1:
A Bachelor of Arts degree is not enough to find a well-paying, interesting job. You need to go to Law School, the Faculty of Education, or a technical training institute to be competitive for professional employment.

Fact 1:
Based payscales.com salary survey conducted in 2006, average salary for bachelor’s arts degree graduates in various job fields at United States are ranging from $32,000 to $55,000 annually, without having any further college or university study.

Myth 2:
A Bachelor of Arts degree will get you a job of flipping burgers.

Fact 2:
Based recent job survey conducted by a well-known survey company, arts graduates are often employed in a professional or managerial capacity (50 – 81%). This compared favorably with those in Commerce (60%) and those with technical or vocational diplomas from colleges and technical institutes (24 – 35%).

Myth 3:
A Bachelor of Arts degree is a waste of time and money and does not earn as much money as a bachelor degree in science and technology.

Fact 3:
According to a job survey report from “Express News” of University Alberta, Those with a general arts degree do well in the long term, although initially they may not make as much as graduates of professional faculties, what’s really striking is the gains they make over five years, the gap starts to close. This is because Arts graduates emerge with highly developed research, communication, creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills that are in high demand because they are difficult to teach in the workplace. Many employers want this type of well-rounded employee, who can be trained for more specific skills.

Arts Degree Students Are In Demand

Almost 50% of job markets are opened for students with arts degrees. Many of these jobs are within Arts students’ reach upon graduation, particular if they have already identified their unique interests and abilities. Career opportunities for Arts degree graduates are ranging from non-profit, to private business and to government sectors; examples of job titles held by Arts graduates are:

• Manager
• Events Planner
• Advertising Executive
• Program Coordinator
• Counselor
• Marketing Professional
• Facilitator

In Summary

Arts degree graduates are in demand in the job markets, a variety of career possibilities are awaiting for art degree graduates at a well-paying level and expandable career future.

Jullie Harvard is the author from

http://www.studykiosk.com

. Find out more information of
Arts Degrees
offered by Online Universities and what are
The Myths & The Facts of Arts Degrees
.

About the Author:

Jullie Harvard is the author from

http://www.studykiosk.com

. Find out more information of
Arts Degrees
offered by Online Universities and what are
The Myths & The Facts of Arts Degrees
.

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
What are your Career Futures With an Art Degree?

Author:
MarkVictorHansen

Artistic creation is area where our contributions can outlive us.

This arena includes all the various art forms. The world of art is vast, including music, painting, singing, dancing, sculpting, architecture, crafts, etc.

Art in all of its forms can touch the human heart and leave an indelible impression that lasts for generations.

Today the world still marvels and wonders at the music of Mozart, Bach, and Pachelbel; the paintings of Rembrant and Van Gogh; the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright; the sculpture of Michelangelo; and the literature of Homer, Dumas, and Dickens.

In order to create a legacy at the highest level, you must become a well-known expert in your chosen art form and truly influence and touch others with your work.

Bring your soul into your work and leave your mark upon humanity.

Notice that it requires more than just creating the highest-quality art. It also requires that you become well known.

As you embark on becoming an artist, have the wisdom to create alliances with those who can bring your art into the world where a wide audience of people can become acquainted with it.

Become the best artist in your field. And then pick the best marketing person to assist in your legacy journey.

Art is created in the mind of the artist and made manifest in some physical form.

This physical form is capable of outliving the artist, and the impact it creates can continue on through generations yet to come. Being an artist in this way can give you access to living a life that outlives you.

As an artist, whether you simply “sing the song” and bring that music to one person or bring it to many people is your choice. Your “song” can be heard by few or many.

As an artist, how many will you choose to influence?

About the Author:

Mark Victor Hansen, best known as the co-creator of the ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ empire (which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling non-fiction book series ever), is a walking success magnet! Between his books and speeches, Mark has helped countless millions of people become their very best. Visit Mark’s 101 E-Book Library at
http://www.IdeasThatCanChangeYourLife.com.

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
Ways to Positively Impact Other People – Artistic Creation

Author:
Eric Hines


Being an artist for many years, owning an art dealer business representing multiple artists in Los Angeles, and being employed by the world’s largest fine art instruction school have enlightened me on the finer points of what an amateur artist must do if they desire to make a living as a professional artist.

The following rules are addressed to becoming a professional fine artist working in the medium of paint. However these tips can really be applied to any medium of art, whether it be painting, poetry, or music.

It is my sincere wish that these pointers aid in your journey as a working artist!

Rule1: Know the Underlying Basics and Fundamentals of Your Craft.

For many many years I “played” the guitar and bass without having a clue how to read notes, scales, modes, keys, etc. After learning music theory my music was much better and I was far more productive.

Before I understood the fundamentals of music I had an excuse ready when I couldn’t make a song go right, I was too tired, I was having a bad day, or not in the mood.

As a result since I had no clue WHY I did what I did when creating music I could never reach that state of being cause over my music, let alone professional in anyway.

Information, knowledge, data, has been, and unless the world turns inside out in the future, will always be power. You cannot only rely on your natural ability, you have to know the WHY (all the basics and fundamentals) behind the scenes of your art.

Take art lessons. If you are of the opinion that your skills are past this stage then you need to find a good mentor.

Rule 2: You Will Learn How to Market Both You and Your Art.

In my experience as both gallery owner and art dealer I have witnesses this same scenario time in and time out.

Two comparable pieces of art, each created by two different artists. One sells for $500 and the other for $10,000.

Why?

It has and will always come down to marketing and sales skill. One artist painted and displayed work in a gallery as the sole means of promoting.

The other artists would do promotional actions like press releases highlighting their new work, they had a professional website, they got interviews with art magazines, they networked with other artists, art professionals, and art enthusiasts, they got their work published in a coffee table books or calendars.

The outlets to make your artwork known are infinite, the point being, you are going to have to learn this skill of marketing so that you can apply it to yourself as an artist and to your artwork.

You could always hope that you create such an incredible work of art that the buzz created just by your painting will have the public beating down the door with cash in hand.

However that takes the responsibility of your success out of your hands and places it into the hands of the public.

When it comes to art, the public can be a very fickle entity indeed.

Honestly, do you really desire anything involving or related to the word fickle in charge of your destiny?

Rule 3: Do Not Succumb to Fear of Rejection or Failure.

Everyone has heard some variation of the story about the author who has a closet full of manuscripts that have never been read by another soul due to fear of rejection.

The same phenomena can happen to visual artists.

Many successful painters still do not view their own work to be perfect. So if you wait till your work is “perfect” then you may very well be dead of old age before perfection happens.

Don’t be afraid to get your work out there. People will love your work, hate your work, see it as mediocre, or see it as the beginning of a new renaissance.

Taste in art differs widely and you will never win over everybody.

Rule 4: You Will Give the Critics ZERO Attention.

I am not just talking about art critics, but just negative people in general. A lot people on this planet are miserable and they like to drag others down with them.

Some are overt in your face, “you’ll never be any good.” At least they are easy to spot.

The worst are the ones that give back handed compliments or deftly slide that needle of criticism into the conversation by use of passive aggressive means.

‘That last painting that you made was MUCH better than this one, I don’t intend to be rude BUT.., That is very good work for a student, but there is soooooo much competition out there in the professional world,’ etc etc.

Of course if you called them on it they would profess innocence, say that you are over reacting, that they were just kidding. Don’t buy it.

If you can, just don’t associate with these people, if they are our family don’t talk about your art work with them. Hopefully you are an aspiring artist because you love to make art, not due to some misguided attempt to impress your family.

If you have no choice in being around these people just recognize that they are just lonely unhappy people, and above all, do not take it personally.

The only critique one should listen to is your professional drawing or painting instructor.

And be wary of that as well, make sure that at the same time they are critiquing your work that they are also showing you how to improve.

Rule 5: Speaking of Art Instructors, You Will Choose a Good One.

My spouse came to the states on a student visa from Canada to study drawing and painting in University.

My wife’s first semester involved taking basic sketching and panting classes.

She arrived eager to learn the fundamentals of the visual arts, line drawing, tones, use of color, proportion, and the use of light and shadow.

Instead she received a lot of airy fairy over significant mumbo jumbo. The main technique taught was the ‘if it feels good then do it’ technique.

No substantial techniques were taught to the students simply because the instructors did not know them, or if they did they knew ABOUT them, but didn’t really KNOW them!

When choosing any art school, whether it be painting, dance, music, acting, please PLEASE choose one that teaches the fundamentals and basics of the art.

Speak with your potential art instructor, Make sure that you inspect their work AND their students art as well.

Ask the potential teacher how they go about teaching the basics to a new student.

Rule 6: You Must Learn to Sell (or find someone who can and will)

The odds are, if you work is displayed anywhere where people can view it someone will come along who likes it, maybe even love it.

The problem comes in convincing them that they love your painting more than they love their money.

This is not as hard as it looks. All you have to do is handle any of the potential customers objectives and interest them continually in your work and in you as the artist.

If you absolutely think that selling your art work is demeaning to the concept of art that it totally fine. There is still a way to be an artist and not have to live in your mothers basement. You have to enlist someone who will do it for you.

Rule 7. Learn to Harness the Power of the Internet.

Take a look at ebay, type in ‘original oil painting’ into its search field. You will see hundreds of paintings from artists selling their work online.

Type in ‘fine artists’ into any search engine and you will find professional websites featuring professional artists.

There are a few websites that even act as an online art gallery and will display and sell your work online for you for a cut of the sale.

The world wide web happens to be a splendid way to show of your artwork, garner brand recognition, and to dissiminate your art to a massive international audience.

Rule 8: You Will Not Get Weird About Art and Money.

I know some of you cringe when it comes to selling your art for money, or that some of these tips might sound a little too business like, with words like brand recognition, professional, selling and marketing.

Like it or not, if someone exchanges money for your art you have entered into the field of business.

When you come to this fork in your career as an artist you can take one of two paths.

Path one, never sell your art for money, continue to work at your day job and keep art as a hobby. Perfectly acceptable. Many people do this across the world and lead happy lives.

Path two, realize that your art is providing someone with a product that they will adore for years to come, You created something original. Nothing in this world is it’s exact duplicate.

For this you will receive money in exchange. This will help you concentrate on creating more works of art as you may have to work less hours at a ‘real’ job. Maybe you will get to the point of not having to work that ‘real’ job at all!

Michelangelo was commissioned by the Vatican to do his work in the Sistine Chapel. He was paid quite handsomely for it.

He was also commissioned by Florence to create the statue of David.

Artists can create wonderful enduring works and should rightfully be exchanged properly with.

Well there you have them, 8 rules you need to live by to become a professional visual artist.

I sincerely hope that they help and I wish you the best of luck in how ever you decide to pursue the field of art.

About the Author:

Eric Hines has had the pleasure of working professionally in the art industry with fellow artists for the majority of his working life as an artist, art dealer, musician, and currently as an executive at Mission Renaissance. Mission Renaissance teaches
art lessons
to over 5,000 art students every single week. They teach both children and adults
how to draw
and paint

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
Want to Become a Professional Visual Artist? Here are the 8 Rules You Need to Live By

 by:
Yasmeen Abdur-Rahman

An artist’s statement is a statement of ideas and thoughts that describe your
philosophy, vision, and passion towards your artistic creations.

Ponder over the following questions prior to writing your artist’s statement:

• Is your work whimsical, thought provoking, or edgy?
• Does it portray a series of stories?
• Whom or what has influenced you the most?
• How is your work meaningful to you?

How do you begin to write your artists statement? You could begin by writing
a quote that has inspired you and your work, or you could create a strong
sentence that summarizes your philosophy about your life and how art has changed
your views on life in general. You could also include what type of style and
technique that motivates you the most while creating your art creation.

Some artists have writer’s block when it comes to putting down their thoughts
on paper. I would suggest that you start with words that best describe your art
and inner thoughts then go back to edit them into definite statements. Most
artists know and feel what they are trying to convey to their audience, however,
writing it down becomes a huge task.

Personally, I believe your artist’s statement should be written by yourself
because of the personal touch you would be able to provide to it. No one knows
better about your artistry other than yourself. Your audience will get a feel of
what your inner thoughts are and how you find this passion to be a lifestyle and
not a hobby.

Make sure you aren’t using too many words that only artists would recognize.
Express yourself while allowing your words to flow. You are expressing your
passion; so don’t feel pressured to become a renounced writer.

While being an artist is a rewarding career, unfortunately, there are people
outside of this industry who would say it is a hobby. So, it is very important
to express how you feel about your craft through your artist’s statement.
Writing a one-page statement would be sufficient in getting your statement
across to your audience, but if it runs to a page two, that’s fine. Clearly, it
shows your audience that you are vividly and precisely getting your thoughts
across.

Your artist’s statement should be updated as your career inspires new
direction and when there are profound events that have captured new inspirations
in your creative vision. Your statement could be updated at the same pace
similar to updating your résumé.

If you’re still unsure how to get started, here are two excellent sites that
have sample statements:
www.mollygordon.com
or
www.naia-artists.org

Your artist’s statement is a very important tool. Take a block of time out of
your daily or weekly schedules to create the type of statement that will allow
your audience to understand how you began your journey.

Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_707.shtml

Author: Valery Satterwhite

Copyright (c) 2009 Valery Satterwhite

“Re-examine all you have been told. Dismiss what insults your Soul.” – Walt Whitman

For many artists, challenges are very personal. And one of the biggest challenges is the Critic in the room, the Inner Critic. This gnarly Inner Critic is the voice of your self-doubt and fear. It is the emotional ties that bind you, hold you back, keep you stuck, limit you in what you think is possible for you as an artist. This Inner Critic will critique and beat you up more than any audience or perceived expert ever will. If allowed, this Inner Critic will suck the life force right out of you.

“Being true to yourself is what feeds creativity, not self-doubt and criticism.” – Diane Arenberg

Why? Because it is a very frightened little creature. It acts nasty as a defense mechanism. What it really wants to do is crawl under a bankie with a sippy cup where it’s safe; where no one will bother him.

There are many ‘not safe’ zones for the Inner Critic. Here are a three:

1. Starting big project that you have never done before. (What if I fail?) 2. Having a bigger presence in the public eye than it has now. (It’s only a matter of time before they find out I’m not really that good.) 3. Rejection. (If they reject my art, then they reject me, and I will cease to be relevant – or even exist.)

Fear that you’re not being, or won’t be, acknowledged as an artist will hold you back. Fear that you’re not good enough compared with other artists will choke your expression. This fear may lead to anger, bitterness and even depression. Since you’re art is an expression of you, this fearful held-back state of beingness will be reflected in your art. There is a vast difference between deliberately illustrating and expressing pain, desperation, and other negative emotions and holding yourself back in your artistic expression as a result of pain, desperation and other negative emotions.

Here are some acronyms for the word FEAR (F.E.A.R.):

Finding Excuses And Reasons – Are you procrastinating?

False Evidence Appearing Real – Are you blaming other people or circumstances for being stuck your lack of success?

False Emotions Appearing Real – Are you beating up on yourself for not being ‘good’ enough? Here’s a clue: If you’re feeling ‘down’ then there’s a good chance you’re beating up on yourself.

And my personal favorite (drum roll please)

Fuck Everything And Run – Are you thinking about quitting, giving up on your pursuits as an artist?

You can deny your dreams but the outcome will be quiet desperation. The desperation becomes the safe comfort zone. You’re Inner Critic will fight hard to keep you where it feels safe. You may not like the desperate comfort zone that you find yourself in but it’s what you know. Safe. No surprises.

“To see far is one thing. Going there is another.” – Brancusi

If you find that your in a state of FEAR there is a little trick you can apply to help you crawl out of that dark hole. You can ask yourself the following two questions:

1. What am I getting out of staying in this state? You don’t do anything unless you get something out of it. What is staying right where you are in your artistic process allowing you to do?

2. Who would I be; what would I do; what would I have without this fear? Use your imagination to visualize that life. Run with it! Breathe it in.

The only thing standing between you and want you want to create for your art and your life experience is you. It’s time to get out of your own way. Or, head down to Wal-Mart and get yourself a nice bankie and sippy cup. Get several. You’ll be snuggled in, warm and comfy, for a long time.

“Remember, with every doubt comes a hitch in the natural flow of being.” – Ian Factor

Valery Satterwhite is the Founder of the International Association for Inner Wizards. She teaches artists of all kinds how to get out of their own way, eliminate personal and professional roadblocks, so they can fully express their artistic vision and succeed in the business of art. Empower the Wizard Within, tame the Inner Critic, unleash and Inspire the Muse. Get Free Artist Resource Directory today at http://www.InnerWizard.com.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Inner Critic Kidnaps The Artist Soul

Author:
Vikram Kumar

If you are an artist in any field of art, what is your personal goal for your talent? Would it be for fame? Would it be about mere expressions? Or would it be about making a difference? There is a saying that talents are given for the benefit of others, not for oneself. If you believe in this saying, you most likely use your talent to make a difference in your community.

Fortunately, there are artists who have the heart to organize with other artists for a cause. The cause could be anything from promoting health and supporting children to preserving the environment. Whatever the cause may be, the important thing is that artists are encouraged to express talents not just for the own satisfaction but also for the benefit of the community. With such an organization, there is a chance for change and awareness that makes the world a better place to live.

Organizing Environmental Artists

One organization that gathers artists for a cause is Artful Change. This organization includes a group of environmental artists, whose main goal is to deal with environmental issues. The activities of the Artful Change are geared towards environmental awareness, preservation, and the creation of green and clean environment.

With such goals in mind, environmental artists can express their talents and use their talents to help make the environment clean and green. Their talents could be in music, performing arts, visual arts, graphics, literature, and many others. With such varied talents available, the preservation of the environment for the next generation would surely be possible.

How Environmental Artists Can Help

The impact of our daily activities to the environment comes in little things. Throwing trash just anywhere builds an unclean environment. In the same way, little things that green artists can do will have a great impact in the environment.

Artful Change is packed with activities for environmental cause. Green artists who are good in the field of music can organize concerts and use the earnings from the concert for environmental activities. Also, Artful Change can facilitate programs for the poets. They can organize workshops on how to make readable and effective poetry. It could be about the importance of taking care of environment. Or they can target a specific topic like global warming. Painters can make murals that depict a certain environmental issue.

The Impact Is Rewarding

As a group of environmental artists, Artful Change can organize and facilitate just about any form of activity that would uplift the environment. They can make a huge impact to the environment even in the small things that they do. The important thing is there is impact. The talent is not just for personal use but also for the benefit of the community and even the world.

When green artists make use of their talents for a cause, there is true reward. The reward may be far more valuable than material things such as wealth or fame. It is making an environment that is fun and clean to live in. Plus, it is preserving the planet for the next generations. Those who understand such incomparable reward would surely find Artful Change a good place to join. Green artists would not just express their talents here. They would also make an impact in the world.

About the Author:

Artful Change is a place for
environmental artists
. In this organization,
green artists
can express their talents at the same time make an impact for the environment.

Article Source:
ArticlesBase.com
–
The Impact of Environmental Artists in Artful Change for Green Artists

Author:
Greg Katz

Everyone feels that the artist life is glamorous and easy, but that’s the furthest from the truth. The number of artists making their living from their art is small and those who do have a sustainable business work very hard splitting their lives between creativity and business.

If you want to create an “art business” the four pillars of success are: vision; challenge; perseverance and motivation. Developing actions surrounding the four pillars will give you a giant leap from “Starving Artist” to “Successful Artist”.

Vision
As artists we have over developed right hemispheres of our brain so creativity is not in short supply. The interesting thing is that we don’t use that creativity as it pertains to our business. Having a vision for your business will enable you to begin a different type of portfolio, a business portfolio.

Take the time to be specific about how you want your art to serve in your life. If your art is your bread and butter then you must treat it that way, with respect and lots of elbow grease. If your art is an avocation, then what do you want to accomplish and by when.

It’s important to develop the road map to success or you’ll wander aimlessly, you’ll become discouraged and you’ll put out the fire better known as your dream. Set an intention and once you’ve set the intention build upon that intention. Each action you take should support your vision, shoring up the first pillar of success.

Challenge
If the business of art were easy then every artist would be successful. When we challenge ourselves creatively we are looking for new ways to express ourselves. The same is true in our business, the challenge is to show potential buyers that you wear more than one hat and you do it with conviction.

One of the key challenges for artists is not confidence in their work, but in how they present their work to the world. Artists are notorious for engaging in conversations from a one down position. We feel as if there is a caste system and we struggle to be taken seriously as an entrepreneur. Standing in the role of entrepreneur takes practice. It takes support from others and encouragement from peers. When you take yourself seriously as an “artrepreneur” others will follow suit.

Perseverance
I’ve heard it said that it takes three years to become an overnight sensation. I believe that to be true and I see it as I attend gallery openings, poetry readings and other venues of artistic expression. Those who have separated themselves from the pack have one thing in common, perseverance.

The successful artist has to be focused and find renewable sources of energy to keep moving forward on the journey. The primary factor that hinders perseverance is isolation. When artists have a support system they are more inclined to stay the course toward their vision. They are able to unload the emotional detours that arise from not getting selected for a show or not getting a call back for an audition. We gain strength by the cheerleading squad we’ve assembled in our lives. Create a success team to help you navigate your unchartered waters and you’ll be amazed at the results.

Motivation
You would think creating beautiful work would be enough motivation, but that is the external motivating factor. How do you keep the internal flames that propel you forward burning bright? Reward yourself! We all love rewards and by creating our own incentive program keeps us in the game.

Having mile markers along the way that show your success in measurable outcomes is essential for maintaining motivation. Ever wonder why nonprofit organizations or religious institutions create a huge thermometer during their fundraising drives? It’s to show the public the progression of their mission. As they get closer to the top it draws others who want to be a part of putting the organization over the top. Create your own gauge and make it visible so it stays in your consciousness. When you hit the top of the gauge be sure and shout it from the rooftops because you’ve shown that motivation yields results and that is evident by your success, both personal and professional.

Greg Katz is a national juried artist and the owner of the Artist Success Studio, a virtual artist community that transforms “Successful Artist’ from oxymoron to declarative fact.

About the Author:

Greg Katz is a national juried artist and the owner of the Artist Success Studio, a virtual artist community that transforms \\\”Successful Artist\\\’ from oxymoron to declarative fact. Greg can be reached at 720-851-6736 or visit his website at
www.artistsuccessstudio.com.

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The Four Pillars for Artist Success

By
Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

Often, while viewing other artists experiences with their creativity, defined by pen to paper within their “Artist’s Statements”, I find myself thinking, “This reminds me of man trying to define God by putting creativity into a box.” Oft times too I wonder, “What the heck are they talking about? I wonder if even ‘they’ even know.”

I have met all kinds of artists. I always hope that I will share some kind of phenomenon with fellow artists, of an unmistakable vibration we both generate and feed off of. I hope that our connection will cause us to reach new heights and feel compelled to go home and create great things. I rarely come across artists like that, they are as different from one another as anyone.

I really do believe there is an ‘energy’ within art, colors, and it is that energy about a piece of art that people resonate to.. or not. Some only like only my precise artwork, of which I feel are renderings and not in my personal opinion, ‘true art’. It tells me that we are not connected in a ‘spiritual’ sense. We connect on other levels though so consequences of that kind of thinking are not something that needs to be brooded over, on the outside chance you find my opinion offensive or objectionable.

I think a lot of ‘art talk’ is mumbo jumbo, and is as redundant and boring as the latest football player explaining how his team is going to win the next game. Yet, I also think there is a need for the artist to describe the connection they feel with their art. Doing that, helps the viewer to enter their world, as well as the artist to understand ‘what the heck happened’ to cause them to create what they did.

Creativity is elusive, but the more we enter that gate, the more we find ourselves in the presence of something truly remarkable. I think the vibration of colors, coupled with the spirit of the dance of creative action, can be found in all kinds of art and no one has the market on that. Once in a great while we come across genius like Leonardo da Vinci and we stand in awe. Because of miraculous adventures of the soul, in any genre, it is our responsibility to pursue the unknown. Leonardo da Vinci only scratched the surface. Pursuing the vibrations of the elusive is often an alone experience. It is within that ‘prayer’ of sorts that mystics are uncovered. There are many ways of doing it though, as there are religions, so I don’t think anyone has the key to it all.

So how do you do it? How do you write an “Artist’s Statement” that makes sense? First define who you are within your work in your own mind. If you do not know, you won’t be able to write anything at all that others will comprehend. Be careful of the mumbo jumbo, but write out your heart as you look at your work. You may just discover a part of yourself you had not met before. Take your time, discover who you are. Remember da Vinci as well, nothing he did was done without extreme confrontation of what it was he was looking to explore, so laziness is not acceptable. Right? Yes!

ABOUT Kathy Ostman-Magnusen: I am an artist, represented by Monkdogz Urban Art, New York. ORIGINAL ART may be purchased through Monkdogz:
http://www.monkdogz.com/chelseagallery/artistart/Magnusen/artist_magnusen.htm

My newest website:
http://www.kathyostman-magnusen.com

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http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Challenge-of-Writing-an-Artists-Statement-That-is-Artistic-and-Deep-But-Also-Makes-Sense&id=2424623

Author:
Cynthia Morris

The Starving Artist myth proliferates because it is often accompanied by that other myth: creative people aren’t good at business. With these ideas circulating, it’s easy to see how artists struggle to succeed professionally.

But I don’t buy these myths. In fact, I believe that artists and creative people make the best business people. Here’s why.

Artists are experts in seeing the big picture. They can hold an expansive point of view. This creative perspective, this ability to see what isn’t there and to relish possibility, is key to business success.

Good artists are adept at pinpointing the details. A painter knows the difference between cobalt and azure, a writer uses specifics to describe a character, and a sculptor’s strokes will make all the difference in the end expression on a sculpture.

Artists and business people are willing to risk. There is no guarantee in art, business, or life, but creative people take risks every time they go into the studio. In fact, any art worth its salt takes the artist and the viewer outside the realm of the known and shows them something new.

Artists are able to dwell in the unknown. Art making is the biggest adventure there is. If you do not know what you are creating, if it will appeal to anyone, or if you will make any money at all, you’re in good company with both artists and business people.

Business and art are fueled by a high level of passion. Any advice on running a business will preach that you need to be passionate to fuel the long stretches of challenging times. Artists thrive on passion.

All of these characteristics give artists an edge over others in the business realm. It’s great to be fueled by the knowledge that you do have what it takes to succeed, and you also need to operate in a business-like way to make it happen. Here are the keys to business success that I have used and enjoyed.

Vision. You have to want your creative success from a deep, deep place. What is this about for you, anyway? Have a vision for yourself and your business. Write a vision statement that springs from your values and passion for your art.

Commitment. In a business or art career, there will be plenty of ups and downs. It’s important to have a solid commitment that you can return to when times are tough. You will question this commitment again and again, but if you have a clear sense of your commitment at the beginning, the dips will be navigable. Write a mission statement for how you will fulfill your vision.

Follow through. Most success can be attributed to those extra actions we take – sending a thank-you note, making a call, going the extra mile, or researching a tip. Follow through is a key factor in being able to maximize opportunities, build connections and deliver on your promises. It’s also a key to being perceived as professional and on top of things.

Build authentic relationships. Do business with people that you want to be around. You want to be able to be yourself with your support team (accountant, banker, coach) and your clients (gallery owners, editors, clients). Connect with people who share similar values, interests and art forms. Some people say that building relationships is the key to success, so become a master at being a good human with others.

Maintain self-care practices. Making art and building a business is a lot of work. There can be a lot of stress involved with art and business, so having a stable personal life is key. Know your needs and do what you can to get them met. Know what helps you release stress. Make sure that you have play time, too, since it can be easy to work all the time at your art business.

Perspective. This is the secret weapon. Perspective is the most powerful tool we have. How you see the world, yourself, and your enterprise all have an enormous impact on how successful you will be. If you can shift your perspective easily, you’ll have a much broader range of options available to you in your art and business. Practice noticing throughout the day what perspective you are operating from. Does it feel good? Bad? In between? How does the perspective of any moment contribute to your work?

Systems. And, of course, for business success, you’ll want systems for operating your enterprise, for marketing your work, and for handling all the money that comes your way. Contact systems, marketing systems, bookkeeping systems, and ways to catalogue your art and record your sales are all essential for a thriving business.

If some of these essentials make the artist in you cringe, take that as an opportunity to see where you could grow. I can’t think of any other work that challenges us to grow more than art and business. If you want to stay safe and unchanged, you’ll want to choose another path. But why would you? Art and business are grand adventures!

About the Author:

Cynthia Morris of
Original Impulse
helps writers and visionaries make their brilliant ideas a reality. Author of Create Your Writer’s Life: A Guide to Writing with Joy and Ease, and Go For It! Leading Tours for Fun and Profit, Cynthia coaches from Boulder.

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The Art Of Creative Business Success

Author:
Bob L Cauley

As an artist I find it hard to survive in a rural area where I live now. When I lived in Omaha I had shows just about every month. Now that I live in the small town of Hugo, Oklahoma I find it very difficult to get shows. When I am able to get shows, they are far away and are very few & far inbetween. I now find my best outlet to be the internet. It is not as much fun as it does not get me the reviews like when an artist deals straight with the public. I have also noticed that my art is not selling as good on the net as it had in person. In fact I find most of my sales are going thru EBay & the art is not bringing as much as it had from shows.

As far as getting gallery representation when you live in a rural area as I do now it is next to impossible. Most galleries only want you if you are close to them. When I was in Omaha I had 2 galleries represent me. But when I moved away from Omaha, they no longer wanted to represent me because I was going to be to faraway. Most galleries that claim to be looking for new artists usually won’t take artists that are not in their area. But if you talk to their employees you will find they always claim that, but in reality they have not taken any new artist in several years. Why they do this is beyond me! I have found when checking out a new gallery they are friendly until they find out you are an artist out of their area, then they seem to put on another face.

It seems it is harder for artist to sell their art, get gallery representation, or even get articles written about them nowadays than in the past. In the past art was something that was considered newsworthy and most newspapers were glad to print the articles and give reviews about shows. These days that is not so, it is very hard to get local newspapers to print much about art or artists. They claim that there is not a public interest no matter how good the story may be. National newspapers and newspapers from New York, Chicago, Atlanta and big cities as such usually still give reviews of art and artists.

To put it mildly, as an artist living in rural areas, promoting your art is difficult. It takes innovation and intestinal fortitude in order to be able to get recognition as an artist and to sell and promote it. But with the high cost of fuel and the high cost of shipping art it may now be that the only way to survive as an artist is the use of the internet with all its many connections and downfalls.

About the Author:

ARTIST’S BIO

On May 9, 1960 in the small town of Langdale, Alabama, there was born the eldest of six children Bob L Cauley. He had two brothers and three sisters. At the tender age of eleven, he had to go to work in the cotton fields to help support the family. His family was sharecroppers and migrant workers. Due to having to help support the family financially, he had to drop out of school in the seventh grade. But when he was grown and married with children, he went back to school and received his GED. He then continued his education and received his Associates Degree in Business Management. Over the years, he has worked many of jobs from sharecropper to Business Manager and has had many successful ventures in owning his own businesses.

In 1998, Bob and his wife Judy began collecting and studying art pieces. Bob has always been fascinated with art since he was a child. With a stressful management position at this time in his life, Bob decided to create his own artworks as a way to relax. In 2000, he left his management position to devote full time efforts towards his art. Bob has been primarily inspired and influenced by Jackson Pollock and the Impressionists. Bob considers himself to be a self-taught impressionist and abstract expressionist. He has experimented and used many different media. But is personal preference is oil on canvas. He has devoted countless hours of reading, studying, experimenting, and hard work to create his artworks.

Bob has participated in twelve solo shows and twelve group shows since 2001. He has attended five juried shows. In the second juried show he was in, he won an Award of Excellence. His third juried show, he achieved Best of Show. His fifth juried show he won Judge’s Choice Award. In a short time, Bob has proven to be an accomplished visual artist.

Bob currently lives in Hugo, Oklahoma with his wife and children. His plans for the future involve improving his art skill and techniques. He also plans on exhibiting his art as often as possible in the future. His art can be viewed online at
http://www.bobcauley.artspan.com.

Article Source:
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Surviving as an Artist in a Rural Area

Author:
CD Mohatta

Your fourth step is to assemble the portfolio. A nice, classic-looking portfolio implies you take great care in your art and work professionally, but also remember, it is better to have any portfolio and improve its contents and appearance when you can, than to have none at all.

On the cover page, include your name, address, and contact information. It is a nice touch to include a small professional photograph of yourself. You may also wish to include a short bio of yourself and/or an artist’s statement on that or another page. Your bio could be as simple as, “Jane Doe is an artist living in San Francisco with her family. She has been painting furniture for eight years and was encouraged to start her own business painting furniture in 2007.” Your bio could also include any awards, large commissions, art or craft shows you have completed, quotations of people who have admired your work, or anything else of interest. An artist’s statement should come from you. Don’t force one if you do not have thoughts about what you are trying to do with your art.

Center photos and art as if the background paper is a frame. You can choose any color for the background, but black, white, and cream are the most classic and least distracting. Short descriptions, typed or hand written on either the background paper or typed onto a small card and included in the sleeve, can help the viewer name and understand what they are seeing. An example might be, “Mt. Fuji, ceramic pot, raku, 2007.” The first, “Mt. Fuji,” is the name of the piece, followed by what it is or the medium, the method, and the year. Do not include prices on the pages that show your work. If desired, you can include a price list at the end of your portfolio.

You now have a working portfolio. Don’t hesitate to ask people if they would like to see it. Even if you are asking people who may not buy your work, you never know when down the road someone might mention to them they are looking for an artist, and they will think of you. Keep business cards with your portfolio to give people your contact information.

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Steps for Making a Binder Portfolio – Part 3 of 3

Author:
CD Mohatta

Your second step in making a binder portfolio is to assemble what you have at present to include. Also, make a list of other items you would like to have in your portfolio. Usually 12 – 24 items makes a good portfolio, and if you have twelve items now that is enough for a start. You may need or want to make arts or crafts to show what things you can do.

For some artists, their work is very large or involved, such as painting murals or harpsichords. It may not be practical to have a dozen projects like this completed to show in a portfolio before you begin your business. In this case draw good sketches of designs you could do, preferably in color.

Give yourself a deadline of when you will complete your portfolio, and if you must complete new items for it schedule your projects so that you do not delay. You should be able to complete at least one item a week. Every day without a completed portfolio you run the risk of losing business and income. Plan to complete your portfolio in one month’s time or less.

Your third step in most cases is to work out a system for photographing your arts or crafts. This is particularly true if your art or craft is 3-dimensional or large. Either film or digital cameras will work for a binder portfolio, but you will definitely need to get prints. A tripod will definitely help you to take better photos.

You also need to consider the background to your photographs and the lighting. For 2-dimensional work this usually means a clean white wall and some way of hanging your work. For 3-dimensional work this usually means a table with white paper or a white sheet draped from above on the wall behind the object and over the table in a C curve, so that no distracting edges appear in the photo. Choose a particular place in your home where you can get good results and photograph your work easily as you make it, without a lot of hassle to set it up.

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Steps for Making a Binder Portfolio – Part 2 of 3

Author:
CD Mohatta

The nature of your portfolio will depend to some degree on the kind of art or craft you make. Sometimes it is possible to use the actual art and sometimes instead you need to include photographs or drawings of the art.

Use the original art where possible. This may determine the size of your binder. If you are to include photographs of your art or craft, you must learn how to take good photographs so that your art can be seen well. You can assemble a portfolio in three or four steps. If you have a lot of your work on hand, you may be able to make one in an afternoon, but even if you must start making your art or crafts from scratch, you should be able to have a portfolio completed within a month.

Your first step is to select and purchase a good binder or presentation case. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but you want to take care that you choose something that is attractive and does not appear too cheap. If you are including original artwork, you may want to look for a larger size, perhaps 11″ x 14″ or 14″ x 17″. Larger than that can become awkward to keep with you and limit it’s use. Portfolios of modest size that hold standard typing paper are very convenient to carry, and still large enough in most cases to serve your needs. Very small binders about the size of a baby-brag book could be useful for showing jewelry, or as a duplicate portfolio small enough to keep with you always, but it is too small for most professional use.

Look for a binder where you can easily exchange your artwork or photographs, so that you can keep your portfolio current and improve it. Avoid permanently affixing any art or photo to the binder. Page protectors can be very helpful in keeping your artwork and photos clean, and you can then mount photos to pieces of quality paper with hinges and write descriptions on the paper. This also makes it easy to switch out examples of your work. Catalogs and art stores will have examples of portfolio systems for you to consider.

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Steps for Making a Binder Portfolio – Part 1 of 3

Author:
Michael Bridges

Being an artist myself, I know how hard it can be to sell your art in the real world that is one reason you might what to try to sell your art online. A few years ago I decided to start selling my art online and I’m glad I did. Now, I’m not getting rich doing this, but I have made more sells online than I ever did in the real world. Plus I don’t have schlep my artwork from place to place.

Lets just take a look at some reasons you should consider selling your art online.

Convenience

In the real world you have to sale your art in galleries, art festivals, fairs, libraries or any place that will allow you to place your art and sell it. Now consider you have to pack up your artwork and carry it to these places and in some of cases hung the work yourself. Also consider that the pieces that don’t sale you have to take them down, pack them up and carry them back to your home or studio

However, when you sell your art online you just put up some photos of your artwork on a website with some information on the size, medium and price and depending on where you put it you may be able to keep your artwork there indefinitely. Even if the artwork doesn’t sale on a site where it has to be removed, all you have to remove is a photo and some information. No packing and no carrying bulky paintings back and forth.

You Have Total Control

By selling your art online you take over total control of your art career. No more middlemen telling you how much to price your art for and then taking a cut of your money when the art sells. Galleries will take anywhere from a 40 to 50% cut of your art sales. Art Festivals will charge any where from $200 to $500 fees just to be in the festival and demand that you have a certain amount of inventory, which you have to pay for. If you don’t sell anything at the festival you are just out all of that money.

If you sell your art online you can decide when where and how long you have your art up on a website and although there are some sites that may charge you to have your art on them, most of the places are free and the ones that do charge it’s usually a very small amount. Also most places where you can sell your art online will let you set your own price and won’t charge you a commission. So you can keep 100% of your art sells. Also on most places that allow you to put art on their sites, you can put up as many or as little as you want.

A Worldwide Customer Base

When selling your art in the real world your art sales are usually limited to the place where your art is at the moment. If you are exhibiting at a gallery your art sales are limited to that gallery and the people that come into that gallery. If your art is being shown at a fair your art sales are limited to the people that see your art at that fair. I think you get the picture. For the must part in the real world your art sales is going to be limited to local or regional sales.

On the Internet you have a worldwide audience to market your art to. Because of selling my art online I now have my artwork in Japan, France, Great Britain, Canada and other places that I would not have been able to reach in the real world. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world you will be able to reach people from different countries. An artist in Italy can sell a piece of art to a buyer Russia or an artist in India can sell a painting to a buyer in the United States. Your online presence is your art gallery to the world.

I’m not saying not to sell your art in the real world, but as you can see by opting to sell your art online you have more control and a wider buyer reach. However there’s no reason you can’t do both.

About the Author:

These are some reasons why you should consider selling your art online. For ways on
How To Sell Your Art Online
just click the blue link.

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Sell Your Art Online – Why You Should Consider It