In my experience, I've found that there are four equally important steps to hosting a community art event. Today's article explains what it takes to prepare a full-blown community art event from the ground up.. . . read more
Today I'd like to awaken all of you to an opportunity where you can not only give back to your community, but also position yourself as an artistic presence in your town. I have had the privilege of organizing and participating in more than 10 very large community painting events, and the. . . read more
There's one thing that I like to do before I start painting (sometimes before I even plan a series of paintings) which helps to jump-start my creativity and produce a flow of what I like to call “artistic adrenaline.”. . . read more
For years I've been photographing my paintings as they're completed, and I've always had problems with been poor image quality and resolution. When I started reproducing my paintings as prints, I needed even higher resolution - that's when I started using a scanner and Photoshop Elements 6.. . . read more
Almost every artist does a little commission work at one time or another. It's a great way to earn some extra money and expand your portfolio, as long as the commission piece doesn't turn into more trouble than it’s worth. Here's what you need to know to avoid getting burnt:. . . read more
Years ago I was an art rep for both graphic and fine artists. Today, I have my own interior design firm, yet artists still contact me from time to time for advice. Here a few things to work on if you want to make your portfolio shine.. . . read more
There's often confusion among artists over what their artist statement, biography, and CV (curriculum vitae) should contain. Furthermore, how do you make your biography, or artist statement, interesting and readable?. . . read more
Every artist who shows their artwork in public places runs the risk of having their art stolen - and if your art DOES get stolen, you should know that filling out the police report is simply the first step. There are a few additional things artists can do to help recover their stolen . . . read more
Copyright laws for visual artists are pretty simple. . . so if you've been worried about your artwork being copied without your permission, or you're not exactly sure how to use the copyright symbol next to your art, the following paragraphs should help.. . . read more
There are plenty of paintbrush cleaning aids you can buy in art supply stores (usually jars with a metal screen or grids along the bottom) but if you want an easy and cheap way to make your own paintbrush cleaner jar, keep reading. . .. . . read more
I started cutting my own mats in the 1980s because I often drew in unusual sizes and it cost too much to have specialty mats cut at a store. My first investment in mat cutting was a Logan Compact mat cutter, but when Blick put the Logan Team System 2 on sale in 2004, I replaced my old cutter. . . read more
Like most artist, I have a mound of "leftover" or unfinished artwork that I just don’t know what to do with—I keep thinking I’ll go back and finish them, but it doesn't always happen. If you're the same way, here's something that works great for me and gives new life to ALL those old. . . read more
When I'm immersed in a painting it's easy for my eyes to become "normalized" to the artwork as it is, not as it should be - so even though my brain registers some degree of displeasure at what I'm seeing, I can't really pick up what needs to be changed! If this is happening to you as well,. . . read more
There are often "lulls" in the art business, but there's absolutely no reason to let those "lulls" make us unproductive. If you find yourself with some extra time on your hands (and you’re not in the middle of a painting) here’s a list of projects that just might hit the spot.. . . read more