June 17, 2013

How to Promote your Canvas Art via Twitter

Venice-Oil-Painting-0086 — Venice Oil Painting 0086

The Information Age makes it easier for artists to connect with other artists, their clients, and other people interested in art. Many social media websites are available that artists can use to their advantage. You can introduce your canvas art, connect with the community, promote your pieces and exhibits, and more.

Twitter is a microblogging service that’s one of the most popular social networking site. Currently, there are 500 million users of Twitter, 200 million of which are monthly active users. Twitter is an excellent venue for you to network and market your work and these tips can help you expand your online community and advertise your art works.

Tip 1 – Share yourself and your work in progress. Share links to your artist blog, website, and other helpful links to artists. If you’ve posted a new article in your blog, or had an interview, include its link in your tweet. You can also share information about the piece you’re currently working on. Tell about your inspiration, what techniques you are using, incorporate a picture of what it looks like, etc. People want to get closer to those whom they follow and sharing these helpful and personal information can get you closer to your community. Once you’ve finished with your art work, tweet the link where people can see and buy the item.

Tip 2 – Tweet announcements. Announce events which you are involved in and those in your online community. If you run an etsy shop, selling a new art, or having a public appearance, tweet it. Let your followers know where you are and what things that are keeping you busy.

Tip 3 – Grow your community. Establishing an online presence is no overnight work. Patience is key to growing an engaging online community. Search for people who are interested in art, who are into art, and businesses related to the art industry. If you follow people, most likely they will return the favor by following you back. Build relationships with them by communicating with them about art and other topics. Twitter lets you start partnerships with your audience, which grows your personal and professional networks.

Tip 4 – Be an active member of the community. Twitter has tools that encourage interaction among the community. Reply to tweets, retweet, post comments on other people’s messages to let them know that you’re there in Twitter and are valuing the information that they are telling.

Tip 5 – Hold contests and giveaways. Everybody loves winning and getting free stuff. What better way to engage your community than holding a contest. You can offer one of your piece as a prize. Two of the easiest contests are the RT (retweet) to win, and Follow to win contests. Twitter contests can create more traffic to your community and increase your connections which also promotes your work to more people.

Image source: www.oilpaintinghouse.com

June 16, 2013

5 Marketplace to Sell Your Canvas Art Reproduction

Thomas Kinkade Original landscape oil painting ( Natures Paradise ) Art print reproduction on canvas wall decor Photo credit: www.aliexpress.com — Thomas Kinkade Original landscape oil painting ( Natures Paradise ) Art print reproduction on canvas wall decor
Photo credit: www.aliexpress.com

Recreating famous painting is very challenging. You have to capture every detail even the style and brush stroke to make it almost incomparable to the original painting. This will make your reproduction stand out and more convincing to buy. But where can you really sell your reproductions? Here are some suggestions that can help you find your potential buyers.

1. Annual Fair
Let’s just say you don’t have the money to rent an art gallery or to pay for registration fees for exhibits and competitions, don’t be discouraged but be resourceful instead. Why not showcase your artwork during your local annual fair? It’s the best time to attract local patrons and a great way to let your community know that there’s a budding artist in the neighborhood. This might not give you the big break you are waiting for but it’s a good start. Don’t you think?

2. Online Art Galleries
Online art galleries are readily available throughout the internet. Aside from it’s easy to join, it’s also more affordable than setting up your own website. These websites can provide exposure of your recreations to collectors that frequently visit their site. Remember that you will be dealing with financial transactions with these websites as well so choose the most trusted.

3. Local Gift shops/Souvenir Shops
You might think it’s not a good idea to display your artwork in a gift shop or a souvenir shop but think of the possibility that a tourist or someone looking for something extraordinary to buy for a gift may enter the door. Find a shop that sells other quality items and with a great ambiance to match the quality of your artwork.

4. Join Art Exhibits and Competitions
Remember, exposure is the key. Joining these events puts your art in front of a variety of audiences. A lot of artists got their first break through these exhibits and competitions even if they were not a winner. But winning an award has its advantages for you will have something to add to your profile which proves the quality of your work.

Art market in Budapest www.budapesttimes.hu — Art market in Budapest
www.budapesttimes.hu

5. Art Galleries and Museums
You have done your efforts to reach potential clients in all walks of life. Now, it’s time to get noticed by the “cream of the crop”. Having your paintings displayed in an art gallery is a dream come true for a new artist. This will allow you to meet other artists and enthusiasts that can give you feedbacks and can even help you expand your client lists. To have your work displayed in an established gallery helps establish class and reputation of your precious artwork.
Creating and selling art reproductions will always have its pros and cons. Be ready for critics who will scrutinize your work but don’t let negative word get in the way. Remember that it’s all part of being a budding artist.

June 16, 2013

Acrylic Painting Tips for Beginners

water_lily_acrylic_painting — Water Lily Acrylic Painting by Karen Margulis

Acrylic paint is a fairly new medium compared to oil paint, only having been around in the 1950s. Since it’s a flexible medium, acrylic is continuously being experimented and explored in the art world. If you’re starting your hand at acrylic painting, here are some of the painting techniques that you can utilize:

Watercolor Effects
Watercolor effects is a technique where acrylic paint is diluted to reach the consistency of watercolor paint. Many artists use this technique, but unlike watercolor, acrylic washes can be layered on top of another without disturbing the colors underneath. To achieve this, you have to wait for the first pint to dry first before applying another paint color on top. Once dry, the acrylic paint becomes water-resistant.

One drawback of this technique is it’s difficult to modify the color once the paint is dry and sometimes, washes dry with unwanted hard edges. Two tricks to solve this problem: dampen the canvas or use another brush moistened with water. Apply the paint with one brush and soften its edges using the other moist brush.

Pouring and Dripping Technique
Master painter Jackson Pollock popularized this technique in the 1940s and 1950s. This technique doesn’t require the use of paintbrushes or palette knife. You use gravity to move a very fluid acrylic paint across the canvas. You can pour the paint directly on the canvas or you can dip a brush in the paint and let it drip down on the canvas. You can use this formula in creating a fluid paint for this technique: 50% acrylic paint, 20% clear water-soluble varnish, and 30% water.

Sgraffito Technique
Sgraffito comes from the Italian word graffiare which means to scratch. As the name suggests, this is a scratching technique. You scratch the top layer of the paint to reveal areas on the surface underneath. A thick layer of paint is applied onto the canvas and you can use a blunt tool like a screwdriver or an end of an old paintbrush to scratch into the top layer and reveal another color underneath or the white surface of the canvas.

Using a Squeegee
You can use any regular squeegee from any hardware store for this technique. To do this, put some paint blobs on your canvas, you can lay out several colors. Using the squeegee, swipe it across the surface, dragging the paint across the canvas, mixing and smearing all the paints as you go.

Acrylic painting is a good starting point for beginners. It offers versatility and flexibility to an artist.

Image source: www.dailypainters.com

June 15, 2013

5 Ways to Introduce and Promote Your Artwork

Selling your precious artwork can be a little bit frustrating most especially when you are a newbie in the business and don’t really have a market for them. The only way to go is to reach out and attract as many people as possible and make your work known so you can find possible buyers. Here are some tips on how to promote your artwork.

1. Create an Awesome Portfolio
Remember that your goal is to impress potential clients. A detailed portfolio is the first step to establish a first good impression. Showcase what you can offer by having well-photographed, high-resolution images of your work on your portfolio. Put some details about your art like the materials and technique that you used and you may also add a short story about what inspired you to create them which makes it more interesting.

2. Set a Social Media Page
Social media has been the most useful tool to disseminate information nowadays and you can use this to your advantage and it’s free! Set up a social media page and make it as your second portfolio. Organize and specify the category of the artwork that you are promoting either by size, by subject or by material then add relevant keywords to increase the possibility that you will be searched.

3. Participate in Art Contests
This may sound stressful but think again. Remember that your goal is to promote your artwork to as many people as you can. If an on-site art contest is not your thing, you can join online art competitions instead. It really doesn’t matter if you win or not. What’s important is you have exposed your style and what you can offer through your entry to thousands of people who visited the site.

file24954 — “Passage,” 2010, Odili Donald Odita, acrylic on canvas

4. Hold Local Exhibits
There’s no better place for your artwork to be known than in your own local community. Make yourself known as an artist and share your artwork with your community by organizing a local exhibit. It doesn’t have to be grand and expensive. What’s important is you are able to showcase your artwork to possible clients. Find an interesting venue that will serve as a beautiful backdrop for your artwork such as lobbies, cafes, or even malls to attract various kinds of clients.
Doing your exhibit at your local art galleries also has its own advantages. Since they have already established a network of art collectors, there is a better chance of bringing interested patrons to buy your work and you will be able to meet other local artists as well. Why is this important? You will find out next.

5. Get To Know Other Local Artists
More often than not, every city has its own local art community or council composed of local artists and art enthusiasts. Being part of this group will expand your network and will surely give you more opportunities to meet more potential buyers. They usually put on events like exhibits where you can display your work for free. Get involved with community art projects that will expose your talent even more and will introduce you to local businesses as well. Through these events, your chances of being recognized is way much bigger.

June 15, 2013

Best Online Art Markets to Sell Paintings

With the digital age, canvas artists are now harnessing the power of technology to start their art business. Finished paintings are professionally photographed and uploaded to an online art gallery to hopefully interest potential buyers and generate sales. With hundreds of online art galleries and auctions out there, here’s a list of the best of them to help you start.

Artmajeur. Artmajeur is one of the largest finest art gallery in the world, featuring the best contemporary artists. Established in 2000, it displays over 2 million original pieces and has sold over 150,000 art works. You can sign up for free and start networking with other artists. Artists in Artmajeur are ranked by popularity using visitors’ and page views. (www.artmajeur.com)

Artnet. Artnet offers a wide range of information and transaction services for artists. It has an extensive collection in its database of Fine Art, Design, and Decorative Art which provides information on the market and pricing trends. The site features 1,700 galleries around the world and displays 170,000 art works. (www.artnet.com)

Artsy. Artsy features artworks from famous galleries, museums, foundations, and private collections worldwide. It displays the largest collections of contemporary pieces and it aims to make world art accessible to the people. (www.artsy.net)

Artspace. Artspace is an online platform for fine art and design, featuring an extensive selection of curated artworks from leading museums and artists around the world. It aims to help people discover and collect fine pieces of art. (www.artspace.com)

Artwanted. Artwanted is a large network of artists and online galleries. It serves as a community and a place for selling artworks. The site promotes members and gives informative feedback on their work, helping artists to hone their craft. (www.artwanted.com)

Fine Art America. Fine Art America is the leading marketplace for buying and selling artwork around the world. It provides various sales and marketing tools to help artists build their brands. (www.fineartamerica.com)

Deviantart. Deviantart is the world’s largest online community for artists in various genre. The site primarily caters to contemporary artists from fan art, digital art to animation but it also offers its services to painters. It has over 25 million members and artists can submit their works and connect with other members. (www.deviantart.com)

Etsy. Etsy is an e-commerce website launched in 2005 where artists can sell their works. It is a bustling marketplace where you can buy and sell handmade and vintage items, including paintings in different medium and even art supplies. (www.etsy.com)

Imagekind. Imagekind displays millions on canvas art, framed wall art, and photos. It is a platform where artists can share and create their works and buyers can purchase museum-quality framed art. (www.imagekind.com)

Paddle8. Paddle8 is an online auction site, giving artists and buyers a platform for transacting business. It offers low-cost themed auctions, getting 6% commission from artists and 12% from buyers. It also offers benefit auctions for non-profit institutions. (www.paddle8.com)

Zhibit. Zhibit offers user-friendly tools which help artists create their own websites, build their art business, and connect with other members in the community. It offers the lowest rates, for as low as $49/year, in its subscription plans. (www.zhibit.org)

Image source: www.fineartamerica.com

June 14, 2013

Jackson Pollock: Master of the “Drip” Technique

“It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess. Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well.”
– Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock is best known for revolutionizing the world of modern art with his unique abstract techniques, specifically the drip painting technique. Born in January 28, 1912, Paul Jackson Pollock, more popularly known as Jackson Pollock was a major influence in the abstract expressionist movement. He studied under Thomas Hart Benton, an esteemed painter and muralist, before exploring abstraction expressionism. Pollock died in an alcohol-related car accident in December 1956. He was 44.

The “Drip” Period

In 1936, Pollock attended a workshop by Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros in New York City and this is where he was introduced to the use of liquid paint. He used paint pouring as a technique and he began painting with his canvas laid down on the floor and the “drip” technique was born.

The “drip” technique is a combination of Pollock’s body movements, flow of paint, gravity, and paint absorption. It was a technique which merges the controllable and uncontrollable factors in painting. Pollock moves around his canvas while dripping, pouring, splattering paint onto it until he’s satisfied with the result.

Pollock’s paintings became famous during the “drip” period, between 1947-1950. The Life magazine published an article on Pollock in 1949 which asked, “Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?” that made him distinguished in the art world. His exhibition in the sames year at the Betty Parsons Gallery sold out and he instantly became the best paid avant-garde painter in the US.

Here are some of Pollock’s most famous paintings during the “Drip” period:

Full Fathom Five is one of Pollock’s earliest drip paintings. The top layers consist of poured skeins of house paint, creating a lace-like image. Pollock used a brush and palette knife to build up the underlayer of the painting.

Number 1 is the masterpiece of the drip technique. This is one among Pollock’s largest works, pulsing with energy, with an intricate web of hues that suggests speed and force.

Composition (White, Black, Blue and Red on White), 1948 is a great example of Pollock’s “drip” technique or flung paint. When Pollock was creating this masterpiece, he placed his canvas on the floor and painted in a rhythmic, undulating style. This piece represents pure abstraction, a painting with no focal point and thus making all areas of the painting important.

Image sources: www.biography.com and www.jackson-pollock.org.

June 13, 2013

A History of Acrylic Painting

echo-of-a-scream-1937 — Echo Of A Scream

Acrylic painting is a relatively modern medium in painting. Acrylic offers versatility, immediacy, and durability. Acrylic is known for producing bright colors, sharp lines, can be used on various surfaces, and it can be mixed with other media. It gives artists different approaches to express one’s creativity.

Here is a brief history of acrylic painting:

1901
In 1901, a well-known German chemist, Dr. Otto Rohm developed the first synthetic acrylic resin. He published his dissertation on the polymerization products of acrylic acids. Rohm secured in 1915 a patent for polyacrylic ester as a paint binder used in drying oils in industrial paints and lacquers. Initially intended for industrial use, acrylics caught the attention of artists due to its features: quick drying, adheres to any surface, even sheen, and no base coat necessary.

1920s-1930s
Mexican muralists explored these synthetic mediums and experimented with acrylic paints. In 1936, David Alfaro Siqueiros, a Mexican muralist founded a workshop in New York City to experiment with acrylics and its different methods of applications. He used acrylics in his famous painting, Echo of a Scream, in 1937. Jackson Pollock attended Siquerios’ workshop and later used synthetic gloss enamel paints in his art which uses dripping and pouring techniques.

1940s
Acrylics were made available to modern painters. Leonard Bocour and Sam Golden offered mineral spirit-based paints called Magna. Well-known artists including Barrett Newman and Mark Rothko experimented with acrylics in painting.

1950s
Rohm and Otto Haas introduced the first acrylic emulsion specifically designed for paints. It became the foundation for all contemporary artists’ acrylic emulsions. By 1955, water-based acrylic paints were made available commercially on the market.

1960s
UK art supplier George Rowney first introduced the brand “Cryla,” and artist’s acrylic color.

20th century
Acrylics became the center of modern art movements and form. This is the time when artists were exploring pop culture, photorealism, abstract expressionism, and pop art. American artists such as Andy Warhol and Helen Frankenthaler were attracted to acrylics since it provided an ideal medium for these movements. Acrylics provided artists limtless artistic expression and creativity. Artists can achieve different textures, consistencies, and color depths.

Image source: www.wikipaintings.org

June 12, 2013

How to Clean your Paint Brushes

Aside from canvas, one of an artist’s most important tools is his/her paintbrush. Your paintbrushes are your investment and you have to take good care of them so you can use them for a long time and you get your money’s worth. It’s a waste of money if you just leave your brushes after painting and they end up worn and unusable next time you paint. If you clean your brushes and store them properly, you can lengthen the lifespan of your brushes.

After painting, it’s wise to clean your brushes and store them well. Here are steps on how you can clean your paint brushes.

1. Prepare the things you need. Get your paint thinner, turpentine, or mineral spirits, a small container, and some old newspapers or tissue.

2. Wipe off excess paint from your brush using the newspaper or tissue. Gently squeeze the bristles from the ferrule (metal part of the brush) to the tips. Keep squeezing the brush but not too hard as to pull on the bristles.

3. In a small container, put some thinner, enough to dip in your brush. Rinse the brush to loosen more paint. You can use lukewarm water if you used a water-based medium in your painting. Important: Don’t use hot water since it can expand the ferrule which causes the bristles to fall out.

4. Wipe off excess paint with more newspaper. Squeeze off the thinner from the brush.

5. Wash the brush using a mild soap (liquid soap can also be used). Put soap on the brush and gently create a lather in a container or your palm. Let the soap penetrate the bristles to loosen more paint. Use disposable gloves if you’re concerned about possible absorption of Cadmium into your skin.

6. Rinse and repeat until there’s no trace of coloring coming out of the brush.

7. Shake off excess water and use the newspaper to get most of the water out of the brush.

8. Gently re-shape your brush head to its correct shape using your fingers.

9. Leave the brush to dry at room temperature and store it bristles-up in a jar.

Important:

Clean your brushes immediately after painting.
Don’t leave your brushes soaking in thinner since it will weaken the glue holding the bristles together.
Be patient when cleaning your brushes. Rinse it several times to get off the paint.
Use separate brushes for oil painting and water-based mediums.

Image source: About.com

June 11, 2013

Why Buy Canvas Art Supplies in Bulk?

As a struggling artist, you are always in the lookout on how to get canvas art supplies at less costs but without sacrificing quality of the items. One advice that you can consider is buying in bulk. Carefully choose which art supplies you want to buy in bulk to avoid having too much of an item which would just collect dust in your studio. You may be put off by the upfront cost but here are the advantages of buying wholesale:

1. Less cost per unit. Bulk buying is economical in the long run. If you compute the price of an item bought in wholesale, you will see that it is cheaper than when you buy the same item per piece. Bulk buying means you are not paying for each item’s individual packaging, labels, advertising, etc. This savings adds up money to your wallet and you can get cheaper deals when buying in bulk.

2. Environmentally-friendly. In line with number 1, bulk items lessen the impact on the environment. Manufacturing every piece of art supply takes enormous energy and resources, from packaging to storing. The Environmental Protection Agency revealed that we generate about 80 million tons of waste every year. All the boxes, containers, and cans which we throw end up in landfills, and you can help Mother Nature by buying in bulk since you reduce waste from getting to these landfills.

3. Save time. Bulk buying also means fewer trips to the art store. It can be annoying when inspiration strikes but you can’t start painting because you don’t have all the supplies you need in your studio. You’ll have most of what you need at hand so you not only save your time, you also save gas money and wear on your car. Instead of spending your time in the store, you spend it in engaging in your artistic and creative pursuits.

Tips for buying in bulk:

Organize your inventory. List the art supplies which you frequently use (canvas, paints, turpentine, etc.). You can also use this task to free some space in your studio for the items which you will be buying in bulk.
Check out art supply stores about their wholesale policies. Inspect the items which you can buy in bulk and see at which store you can get the most savings.
If your local art store offers a membership card since you’re buying in wholesale, you might want to consider getting one. This card can give you future discounts and incentives.

June 10, 2013

Tips for Building a Successful Online Artist Profile

When it comes to building an online business, artists should include in their priorities writing a quality profile. It may seem not as important as creating your canvas art, but if you want to increase your success rate selling your pieces online, then you have to spend some time drafting your profile.

Here are some tips on how to build an impressive online profile:

Tip 1 – Create an engaging profile. Write about some interesting details about your life, focusing on how you were led to the painting business. Tell why you paint, how do you use your paintings as an expression, and write in the first person narrative (I, we, my). If your site visitors can connect with you on a personal level, they are more likely to purchase your art than those who don’t have that kind of connection.

Tip 2 – Edit your profile. Don’t write a long, complicated profile. Read it to a friend first and if he loses interests after awhile, then you’ll know you’ve written a lengthy one. Ask for your close family and friends what they think about your profile and consider their comments.

Tip 3 – Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. There are websites such as SpellCheck.net which you can use to check these things. Don’t post your profile until you’re sure it’s free from errors. It shows that you care about the littlest details and are serious about your business.

Tip 4 – Use effective keywords in your content. Keywords are important in getting high rankings in search engines such as Google and Yahoo! Using the right keywords will help people find you across the web. Include top keywords which attract people who you want to buy your art works. These will drive qualified traffic to your website. The more popular the keyword, the more traffic it will bring you.

marshall_kerry_james — International renown artist, Kerry James Marshall

Tip 5 – Include your best photo as your profile image. Use a good photo of yourself. People are visual creatures, especially in the online world. We want to see the person behind a blog or website. Seeing your profile picture lets other people know that you really exist and they will be more comfortable communicating with you if they have a picture in their mind of how you look like. It’s difficult to connect with someone whom you don’t know how he/she looks like. Eventually, you will have the occasion to meet your clients, so they should connect your profile photo with you in person.

Image source: http://mileswmathis.com/ and http://newsgrist.typepad.com/