Author Archives: Webmaster

5 Gifts Under $10 Artists Can Give for the Holidays

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by Nancy Haberman

Once the excitement and frenzy of the new school season has calmed, artists know that it’s time to get going on holiday gift and card making. Regardless of the medium in which you work, you’ll get more satisfaction throughout the season if you begin early and put your energy into what you love to do, and that is to make art.

You probably can’t give everyone an original, especially if you’re in the business of selling your art, but whether you sell your art, give it away, or fill every nook and cranny of your home with it, you can still share your art. These are gifts you can make at home with your computer, printer, and professional packaging. Our resource guide may also be helpful. Create a high resolution digital image of your art and then try any of the following five ideas for artists who want to give gifts under $10.

1.Greeting card – a2, a6, a7

Note Card

For resource information on card sizes, image sizing, envelope sizes and protective bag sizes click here.

2. Enlarge, crop and and print your art on bookmarks in two different sizes. Enclose in bookmark sleeve and add a tassel.

note card image cropped

3. Mat cut to order with 1/8″ foam core back and crystal clear bag, ready display or frame

4. 28-page Journal with your art on the cover

5. CD Calendar

Art Show Reviews: Sarah Joncas and Dabs Myla at Thinkspace Gallery

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by Georgia Lange

On September 3, 2010, I went to the opening reception for Sarah Joncas and Dabs Myla at Thinkspace Gallery in Culver City. For months I have been itching to go to an opening at Thinkspace, ever since I learned of their relocating to the gallery space that once housed Kinsey/DesForges. Thinkspace Gallery used to be located in a smaller space in Silverlake. I went to a few of their openings a couple of years ago, but between the traffic, impossible parking, and their high turn out rate that made their already small space that much more claustrophobic, I usually decided that checking out their amazing shows wasn’t worth the trouble. Now that Thinkspace has moved and settled into their new, much more open space, I no longer have excuses to avoid their openings.

Although this most recent show was not among my favorites, it was still impressive as a whole. I appreciate the way that the gallery allowed the exhibiting artists to treat the space, creating murals and mobiles especially for the show that not only complimented their existing work but made the whole viewer experience that much more fun. Dabs Myla took this idea and ran with it as far as he could, creating a whole world of his own “Tokyo Deluxe” show in the Project Room. Sarah Joncas created a giant mural of one of her “Siren” women that took up three walls, bringing out all the softness and intimacy that can be found in her work while gently guiding the audience through her exhibition. Check out some of the opening night photos on the Thinkspace Flickr site.

The show will be running through September 24, and the gallery is open from 1-6 Wednesday through Saturday. The next show coming to Thinkspace will be the work of Brian M. Viveros, opening on Saturday, October 2, 2010. Don’t miss it!

10 Tips For Photographers

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by Trevor Mauk

1. Back to Basic Rules: When taking pictures, following a simple rule can make your pictures much more interesting and professional. Do not place your subject of the picture (ex. a face, a flower) in the dead center of the photograph. Instead, move the subject closer to the edge or the corners of the picture. When taking portraits, you can follow this rule by putting your subject’s eyes in the top three quarter mark of the photo. With many cameras, a grid can be turned on in the viewfinder to help compose your photographs. Continue reading →

Photo Contestants Beware: Read Contest Guidelines Carefully

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by Nancy Haberman

Some time last spring, knowing that I was fond of hiking and photographing in the hills of Simi, a friend suggested I enter some of my images in a postcard contest sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce. I’m not usually lured by contests, but due to the particular subject matter of this contest, I have to admit, I was intrigued.

I’d always wanted to make postcards from my “Simi Rocks” images, a series of landscape note cards I created between 2000-2004, so I immediately I began a rough edit of my archived photos. Many of the note cards depict the Simi and the adjacent Conejo hillsides, which are dotted with gnarled and mangled oaks. The environment became inspiration for Oak Creek Printworks. The hiking trails that surround our little valley run through a rocky landscape that was home to the Chumash Indians, and later to early western film stars and crews. The few areas that remain open space tell tales of movie land cowboys and real life Indians. I swear there are commercials running on television Continue reading →

Public Workspaces As Galleries: A Public Arts Controversy

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by Georgia Lange

When public workspaces operate as “part-time galleries” by exhibiting artwork on a rotating basis, it can become a controversial public arts issue. Most public workspaces (hospitals, hotels, city halls, banks and offices) typically buy or rent the artwork that is chosen to be put on display. It is often not local or original art, but “decorator” art that is deliberately chosen to fit the design and colors of the interior of the building in question. Because this is typically the case, many artists are fundamentally against the idea of allowing public workspaces to display their work for  “exhibitions” without providing advance compensation.  It is a rare exception for a public workspace to consistently exhibit artwork on a rotating basis, but it does happen. When it does, the issue of displaying prices on the works being shown becomes more complicated than one might assume. Continue reading →

Body of Art Contest: Win up to $2500!

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Aaron Brothers is currently having an art contest called Body of Art! Using pens, paint and markers, artists get to let their creativity loose on clothing including t-shirts, jeans, shoes, and hats. Get involved, get creative, and take a 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 photograph of your original, one-of-a-kind wearable art to your local Aaron Brothers for a chance to win a $2500 Gift Certificate! Entries are due by September 25, 2010. Click here for more details.

ART REVIEW: “In Your Face: An Exhibition of Self Portraits”

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On Saturday evening, June 19, I attended the opening reception for the “In Your Face” exhibition at the San Buenaventura Artists’ Union Gallery. The concept for this juried show was to line up an exhibition of self portraits, “making the private public.” It was one of the more interesting exhibitions I have been to over the past few months. I was highly impressed with the variety of mediums and the broad range of talent exhibited. This show included works from Lens Poteshman, Michelle Bramlett, Aldo Figueroa, William Solomon, Eric D. Ward, Jerome Parker, Melanie Newcombe, and many more. There was even a youth exhibition (these were exceptionally talented children) in the upstairs section of the gallery, which gave the show an innocent flavor. On a scale from 1-10, I would give this exhibition a 9. The exhibition will run through August 1. If you find yourself in the area, I highly recommend that you stop by the gallery to check out this amazing show.
The San Buenaventura Artists’ Union Gallery has become one of my favorite galleries for a number of reasons. The first reason involves its location. The gallery is nestled right next to the Pacific Ocean in the city of Ventura, where California Street meets the sea. The view alone makes it a desirable location. The city of Continue reading →

Co-op Galleries: Pros and Cons

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by Georgia Lange

The most important part of being an artist is showing your work to the public; otherwise, you are just wasted talent. Having said that, how does one go about showing his or her work? Of course, there is the online option; social networking sites like flickr, artslant, and facebook are great ways to get your work seen by others who you might never have met otherwise. However, there is a big difference between seeing a work of art on a computer screen and seeing the real thing in person. This brings me to the subject of galleries; galleries are the primary way that artists get their work shown to the public and build up their reputations. There are several different kinds of galleries, and finding the right one can be a challenge. Traditional galleries provide a client base, all or most of the expenses including the advertising, and take the highest percentage of your sales (usually about 50% of the sale price). Traditional galleries are also the most picky when it comes to taking on new talent.

There is an alternative to the traditional gallery, and that is the cooperative gallery. Co-op galleries are usually run by a group of artists working together to show their work. There is usually a membership fee, and the additional expenses often are shared by the   gallery members. Co-op galleries are a great way to Continue reading →

Summer Projects: keeping the creative juices flowing

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by Georgia Lange

Summer is upon us, and many of us are excited about taking a little vacation time. This is particularly true for those of us who have been in school for these past several months. Just because school is out doesn’t mean you should quit working; art is a constant process, and long periods of “time off” can be a waste of creative potential. For a true artist, the work is never finished. There are dozens of ways to keep busy while still having fun. Remember, experience itself can be a work of art (see our previous article on this topic for some more food-for-thought). Here are a couple of ideas to keep your creative juices flowing over the summer.

  • Wherever you go, always be armed and ready with a camera and a sketchbook. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
  • Getting a second job, an internship, or some volunteer work helps to build experience. Although the job market is still problematic in this economy, volunteer work is always welcome and has a big payoff when it comes to building up the resume.
  • Start a new series, or work on one that you have already started. Galleries love to see a consistent body of work where all the pieces relate to one another (or at least look good together on the same wall).
  • Social networking is crucial these days. It never hurts to get yourself out there and build up your audience. Do this online and in person; use sites like Flickr, Facebook, Etsy, and Twitter and go to as many social gatherings as possible. Remember that the goal is to meet new people.
  • Get feedback from as many people as you can. When you meet someone new, direct them to your website or show them your sketchbook (which you should carry with you at all times). Getting feedback outside of the classroom gives you a better understanding of what market your work falls into, helping you to navigate your career accordingly.

If you would like to comment on this article, or share with us your ideas on how to stay actively creative while enjoyng the freedom of summer, please double click on the title of this article and let us know your thoughts. Let’s get a conversation going!