Take It To The Next Level Discussions - Artists2artists Social Network2024-03-28T16:44:26Zhttps://artdeadline.ning.com/group/takeittothenextlevel/forum?groupUrl=takeittothenextlevel&feed=yes&xn_auth=noPhoto----Friend or Foe?tag:artdeadline.ning.com,2012-02-29:3077055:Topic:1249782012-02-29T00:16:03.678ZSlone Frieshttps://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/SloneFries
<p>I think my heart stopped recently when I was told to never use photos for my oil paintings. I was in a class and I was left speechless. The idea being behind this piece of advice was that if I used a photo I would not be able to 1. Develop a style of my own since I would only be attempting to recreate the picture in the photo and 2. My painting would lack a depth that can only be achieved by painting from "real life". The artist/teacher who told me this prefers to "…</p>
<p>I think my heart stopped recently when I was told to never use photos for my oil paintings. I was in a class and I was left speechless. The idea being behind this piece of advice was that if I used a photo I would not be able to 1. Develop a style of my own since I would only be attempting to recreate the picture in the photo and 2. My painting would lack a depth that can only be achieved by painting from "real life". The artist/teacher who told me this prefers to "<span class="squiggly" title="To see spelling suggestions, click this word">Plein</span> Air" <span class="squiggly" title="To see spelling suggestions, click this word">paint.She</span> mostly enjoys seascapes and other "natural" settings The subjects that I love to paint are European architecture and nudes. I don't live in Europe but I love all my photos that I have taken over there. She admits to usually taking a photograph only after she has mostly completed her painting if she needs to finish it at home. I know a lot of artist who don't like to <span class="squiggly" title="To see spelling suggestions, click this word">Plein</span> Air paint so my question to you is what do you think?</p> What are you putting in your wall art?tag:artdeadline.ning.com,2010-07-27:3077055:Topic:291872010-07-27T17:58:00.392ZSlone Frieshttps://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/SloneFries
Latley I have been noticing a lot of artist using charcole not just as a sketch to paint over but as an intergal part of the painting itself. I would love to hear any thoughts or experiences you may have with this!
Latley I have been noticing a lot of artist using charcole not just as a sketch to paint over but as an intergal part of the painting itself. I would love to hear any thoughts or experiences you may have with this! Digital art or just trying to get the best picture, what software to use?tag:artdeadline.ning.com,2010-07-22:3077055:Topic:289642010-07-22T15:47:36.163ZSlone Frieshttps://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/SloneFries
After losing my computer and all of its software at the begining of the year. I have found myself trying to reload software and trying to figure out what would really be the best software to have. I always have enjoyed Photoshop but after viewing there site I realized that I might be missing out not using some of there other software for my photographs. Wether I am wanting to get the best photgraph for a print or because I am using it as a reference for my painting, I want to hav the best…
After losing my computer and all of its software at the begining of the year. I have found myself trying to reload software and trying to figure out what would really be the best software to have. I always have enjoyed Photoshop but after viewing there site I realized that I might be missing out not using some of there other software for my photographs. Wether I am wanting to get the best photgraph for a print or because I am using it as a reference for my painting, I want to hav the best photo that I can have. For instance another Adobe program seemed to clean up and add much needed deapth to photographs. What is your experence in this area? Any advice? What is the best digital camera and printer to use?tag:artdeadline.ning.com,2010-07-20:3077055:Topic:288822010-07-20T02:56:30.592ZSlone Frieshttps://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/SloneFries
<p>Between photographing my art and enjoying taking artistic photographs I constantly wonder if I need to get a new camera and if so what to get. My friends who do photography for a living tell me my camera is great for what I want to do but then I will see someone else's pictures and it will leave me asking, "What kind of camera do you use?" </p>
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<p>I have also purchased, gotten nervous and returned several "photo" printers, now I know I didn't want one of the ones I had purchased…</p>
<p>Between photographing my art and enjoying taking artistic photographs I constantly wonder if I need to get a new camera and if so what to get. My friends who do photography for a living tell me my camera is great for what I want to do but then I will see someone else's pictures and it will leave me asking, "What kind of camera do you use?" </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have also purchased, gotten nervous and returned several "photo" printers, now I know I didn't want one of the ones I had purchased but through all my reasearch I am still having a hard time figuring out what I do want? I am not prepared to spend a thousand dollars on either item since I seem to dabble in everything at the moment and don't see it as a important investment. I would like a great camera and I would like a printer that I could print fantastic larger (such as 11 by 17) pictures. What would you suggest?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I would love everyone's input on this!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Slone</p> Becoming a Successful Artist?tag:artdeadline.ning.com,2010-02-28:3077055:Topic:235082010-02-28T17:06:49.595ZSlone Frieshttps://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/SloneFries
<p>Recently I purchased a book that was recommended to me, "How successful Artists Study." I haven't read through the whole book but found myself disagreeing with this author on several issues and would love to hear everyones input on a couple of the authors ideas:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. You must treat Art like any other job you are preparing for in life. YOU MUST spend at least 8 years in art school, otherwise you will not have the skills to succeed?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2. You don't have to have any…</p>
<p>Recently I purchased a book that was recommended to me, "How successful Artists Study." I haven't read through the whole book but found myself disagreeing with this author on several issues and would love to hear everyones input on a couple of the authors ideas:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. You must treat Art like any other job you are preparing for in life. YOU MUST spend at least 8 years in art school, otherwise you will not have the skills to succeed?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2. You don't have to have any talent to be an artist. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I spend a lot of time struggling with these two ideas that the author wrote chapters on. First off, many of the artist I have spoke with never attended a formal arts academy. Some participate in groups, where they work on thier art, critiqe it, etc. However, I have found few artist who have spent years at an arts academy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The second opinion of the authors also bothers me quite a bit. I would like to believe that on some level every artist has some gift or creativity, vision, something that drives them to want to create art, however I don't think anyone can do it. I have spent some time recently working with "college age" students trying to prepare them for ART 101. I have to say that I have bluntly used the phrase "You have no talent, but if you keep working on it you may develop the tools you need (to pass the class). They want to be an artist but cannot even get past what I call "the egg" (In terms of shading, making something appear 3 dimensional, etc.) </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So what do you think about these two ideas, I would love to hear everyones input?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>-Slone</p> FEATURED ARTIST - Ron EA Powell (REAP13)tag:artdeadline.ning.com,2009-09-09:3077055:Topic:203212009-09-09T01:16:02.146ZRon EA Powell (REAP13)https://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/REAP13
This is a short path of a much larger journey, walk with me...<br />
<br />
My brothers, my sisters - I so quickly forgot - I am an only child.<br />
L-O-V-E wasn't the spelling of the name at all.<br />
A door - where it led, I wanted you to follow; but that wasn't <s>your</s> plan.<br />
<s>You</s> held me close with <s>your</s> lies, deceit, and empty promises - and for a while, I felt ...<br />
comforted.<br />
<s>You</s> bathed in my pain, I could only wonder, ' why does this please <s>you</s>?'.<br />
<i>Trust</i>- a fool's word. I…
This is a short path of a much larger journey, walk with me...<br />
<br />
My brothers, my sisters - I so quickly forgot - I am an only child.<br />
L-O-V-E wasn't the spelling of the name at all.<br />
A door - where it led, I wanted you to follow; but that wasn't <s>your</s> plan.<br />
<s>You</s> held me close with <s>your</s> lies, deceit, and empty promises - and for a while, I felt ...<br />
comforted.<br />
<s>You</s> bathed in my pain, I could only wonder, ' why does this please <s>you</s>?'.<br />
<i>Trust</i>- a fool's word. I pronounced it well, and <s>you</s> enjoyed my performance.<br />
I lay down for <s>you</s>, broken, bled for <s>your</s> amusement- and for a while, it felt...<br />
comforting.<br />
The dark - it seemed everyone wanted me to stay down.<br />
except me.<br />
The journey continues...<br />
"Don't let the world's excuses be <u>yours</u>." – REAP13<br />
<br />
<br />
That brief journey we took was a synopsis of my life. My name is Ron EA Powell (REAP13), my parents came from a family of farmers in Jamaica and found it fitting to give the initials from the proverb, ‘As ye reap so shall ye sow.’ I am proud to have these initials represent my heritage, my art, and my strides in life. I was born in Newark, New Jersey. I majored in Fine Arts at New Jersey City University, and studied figure drawing at The Art Student League of New York, New York City, N.Y., and now I currently work at Tiffany & Co., as a Graphic Designer. I feel the strong and bold uses of color from the Jamaican culture reflect through my paintings, and living in New Jersey has aided in molding my subject matter and compositions.<br />
<br />
My senior year of college I was exhibiting at galleries such as the Cinque Gallery in Soho, and Rush Arts in Chelsea NY. I also interned at Trillion in NY as a web designer, and I freelanced as a fashion Illustrator for a couture Manhattan shoe designer. Things were looking up and as common as any life story tragedy struck. I say common because we’ve all faced the world’s obstacles that have been presented to us in some way or form. It was unique and uncommon for me because it was my own. It was a culmination of events that all seemed to compile at one time that placed a great load on my spirit. I didn’t paint for about the next two years. I worked nights at a warehouse as I maintained a web design company with my college buddies. Those next few years I learned and experience much about myself- where I didn’t want to be for the rest of my life, seizing the day, and not letting other’s excuses dictate the inhibit what you want from life.<br />
<br />
I went for a job in the shipping department of Tiffany’s where I worked my days there and my nights as a supervisor in the warehouse. This gave me a small window of sleep and a smaller one for my art, but I saw ‘a path to a door I wanted to walk through’. I used the extra money to get my life back on track, pay for supplies/framing, and enter shows such as the 2005 The New York Art and Film Festival. Following my heart and spirit now I left the warehouse job that was now offering me a design position and stayed with Tiffany’s in the shipping department. I showed my portfolio and pushed my resume whenever an opportunity posed itself there.<br />
<br />
As fate would have it about a year later a graphic design position opened up and management decided to give me a chance. The first painted I completed after my hiatus was a commissioned piece for one of my co workers and friend there named ‘Fisher of men’ - an oil painting of Jesus and his disciples that conveys no matter how hard the waters, God still saves. Experiencing life/death, love/heartbreak, and pleasure/pain- I always say my eyes long to bleed, which means to me I embrace and appreciate life’s past and future for its emotions it chooses to bestow upon me.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately being quite the introvert at times, I may not give all the straightforward answers you may be looking for. I use my artwork as a vessel to express my feelings many times over. My Armor series of portraits was reflections of my own strengths/weaknesses I drew from the people around me. I believe portraits should go beyond the just a ‘likeness’ of the artist. It’s a brave journey into one’s reflection and soul. It seeks to encompass one’s inner fears, desires, and passions in an honest way. The spirit cannot deny that the eyes long to bleed from insight. So my advice to give is to persevere, stay focus and determined to achieve your goals.<br />
<br />
I hope that if anything from this journey you realize you are not alone in your struggle.<br />
<br />
"Don't let the world's excuses be yours." – REAP13 How to Put together a feature! (FEATURE ARTIST or FEATURED KNOWLEDGE ARTIST)tag:artdeadline.ning.com,2009-08-20:3077055:Topic:194692009-08-20T21:12:44.207ZSlone Frieshttps://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/SloneFries
<u><i><b>FEATURED ARTIST</b></i></u><br />
For those who want help, need advice or just need some extra exposure!<br />
*If you signed up to be a FEATURED ARTIST just know that it is VERY different from being the FEATURED KNOWLEDGE ARTIST!<br />
*This whole Feature is about You and your Art, specifically where you need help to take it to the next level!<br />
*The previous Featured Artist who have had the most success are those who have used a simple easy to follow format to read (ex. Question/Answer). They have also…
<u><i><b>FEATURED ARTIST</b></i></u><br />
For those who want help, need advice or just need some extra exposure!<br />
*If you signed up to be a FEATURED ARTIST just know that it is VERY different from being the FEATURED KNOWLEDGE ARTIST!<br />
*This whole Feature is about You and your Art, specifically where you need help to take it to the next level!<br />
*The previous Featured Artist who have had the most success are those who have used a simple easy to follow format to read (ex. Question/Answer). They have also used the information they have gained from being a featured artist on other networking sources (mostly the replies-questions you do not think need to be answered but after answering it you realized that it would be good information to have alongside the rest of your Art Info.)<br />
Here are just some of the questions previous artist have used. They may or may not apply to you, your art, or the type of article you want to write up. You also may not be able to answer the questions because that is what you need help answering! Feel free to add anything that you think will add to the experience for you and for your fellow artist. Be sure to attach some files of your recent art and include at the bottom any links to any of your WebPages. Most of all have FUN!<br />
<br />
Background on the Artist….<br />
•Name?<br />
•Where are you based?<br />
•How you got started with art-if it was just a love of art, accident, natural talent, etc.? or<br />
•Childhood background if relevant is okay, mostly we want to know when you got into art and how you got into it …<br />
•What type of Artist are you?<br />
•What form of art do you mostly create?<br />
•What medium do you use? (ex.What type of paint, clay, materials?)<br />
•What made you choose that medium?<br />
•Do your ideas come from life or imagination? or<br />
•What do you find the most to be most useful in creating your art?<br />
•How do you choose your images and colors?<br />
•Who are your favorite artists? Have they influenced your artistic style? If so, how?<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>About your Art…</b></u><br />
Do you have any society issues, art views, anything that motivates most of your art?<br />
Do you have a favorite inspirational quote that you try to express through your art?<br />
Is art your full time/part time/hobby? -(Are you in a position to work on it full time or are you only able to work on it part time?)<br />
How long have you been working as an “artist” to get your art to where it is today?<br />
Where are you with your Art today?<br />
Where are you with your art (art/sitting, art/promoting, art/not-selling, art/selling)?<br />
<br />
What are your short term or/and long-term want goals with your art?<br />
<br />
What is your favorite piece of work by yourself?<br />
<br />
Anything interesting we should know about you or your art.<br />
<br />
How much time (on average) does it take to complete a work?<br />
If you are selling your work how much is it going for?<br />
How do you determine the price of your art?<br />
What/who is your demographic?<br />
Have you accomplished something with your art that is a stepping stone or that some would consider something they are trying to work towards (ex Have you been published?, Do you have any awards?...etc)<br />
How are you promoting your art, and what type of demographic is buying it?<br />
Do you want/need advice with specific things or a helping hand?<br />
Remember -This is where you share as little or as much as you want and you get to ask the questions of why.<br />
Please just use these questions as a jumping off point. Just remember you will get better feedback if give as much info as possible!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><u><b>FEATURED KNOWLEDGE ARTIST</b></u></i><br />
Congradulations, you know something and you are willing to share your knowledge to help others get to the next level! Doing a FEATURED KNOWLEDGE ARTIST article does not mean you need to exsplain rocket science. Everyone here including FEATURED KNOWLEDE ARTIST, are on a different level. When you strip it down to the bare basics everyone knows something about art. Different brushes , different canvases , different paints , mixed materials in with painting , clay and I know that despite what I thought when I was three and took me years to realize was not true, I did not invent the color pink .<br />
As a the FEATURED KNOWLEDGE ARTIST you shpould expect members to email you questions about what choose to write about.<br />
This is supposed to be an article that is written about something/anything, my discovery of the color pink! Anyone who belongs to this group is in it for the same reason. Figuring out how to take that next step , Looking for something ... perhaps a new idea ...something to move them past where they are . No one is an any position to say I already knew that, there is no such thing as waste of time on basics ! Remember you can write about anything...newbie info, advanced info or just info from your perspective since you may have a unique background we do not know about!<br />
<br />
There has been some very successful FEATURED KNOWELDGE ARTIST articles . The easier and clearier it is to read them, the better the response. Many have used a question/answer format as if being interview . Whatever you think works best for you and featuring your knowledge you should do. The following is a list of questions previous FEATURED KNOWLEDGE ARTIST have used. This format is similar to the one used as a FEATURED ARTIST but ONLY the 1st part.<br />
<br />
<b>Instead of rewriting the questions for about the artist just scroll up and check out the ones under Featured Artist!</b><br />
...you may also want to add any other fun facts about you or your art that are relevant to knowledge your giving!<br />
<br />
<i><u><b>Featured Knowledge…</b></u></i><br />
Now, this is all you! This is where you have the opportunity to share tid bits of information that others might not know or don't. You may be at the top of the ladder and talk about a lot of things or one specific thing. You may be in the middle of the ladder and feel comfortable only talking about something more simple, bake to basics type stuff. You are not expected to write some article that will clear everything up for everyone and make us all the next big artist. Although if you do, I will bake some cookies for you! Remember you are not writing for the artist who knows everything! If you can help just one person with your knowledge then it is a success! Like I said before, you can focus on one thing in particular and stick with during you’re the whole time or you can switch it up and type up something for each day, week, etc.(ex .Like Marty did…). Do whatever you think is going to be the easiest and funnest way to share your information and be able to talk about it! There are many different ways to approach this: you can write out facts, advice, how to, etc.” Don't be intimated and have fun! Don’t judge yourself on what others have done.<br />
We are all in different levels on the ladder! The most successful FEATURED KNOWLEDGE ARTIST articles involve you communicating regularly with other members asking questions and writing up something! I once thought that asking people what they want to talk about might be a good idea but it does not work. You need to give something for people to think and talk about.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>To Post your FEATURE article.<br />
Be sure to paste as Featured Artist.:<br />
1. Go to the group "Take It To The Next Level"<br />
2. Scroll down to Discussion Forum below the Group Page<br />
3. Click on Start Discussion</b> New Sources of ways to get your Art out there...tag:artdeadline.ning.com,2009-08-20:3077055:Topic:194682009-08-20T20:49:34.247ZSlone Frieshttps://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/SloneFries
<b>I think this is a much needed on going discussion that anyone can add to when they find a new way to get their art out there!</b>
<b>I think this is a much needed on going discussion that anyone can add to when they find a new way to get their art out there!</b> upcycled arttag:artdeadline.ning.com,2009-08-09:3077055:Topic:186652009-08-09T14:36:56.428ZDeborah Freeman-Voizinhttps://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/DeborahFreemanVoizin
I have been challenged to step outside my normal box of creativity and create new art from things that would normally end up in our land fields. I am a photographer and digital painter. I have been learning to sew.....but I want to make something really cool for this show. The show is in early Sept. So I have need to start working NOW!!! Do any of you have any suggestions?<br />
<br />
Thanks in advance,<br />
Deborah
I have been challenged to step outside my normal box of creativity and create new art from things that would normally end up in our land fields. I am a photographer and digital painter. I have been learning to sew.....but I want to make something really cool for this show. The show is in early Sept. So I have need to start working NOW!!! Do any of you have any suggestions?<br />
<br />
Thanks in advance,<br />
Deborah Featured Artisttag:artdeadline.ning.com,2009-08-03:3077055:Topic:183342009-08-03T16:31:57.656ZCyndy Carstenshttps://artdeadline.ning.com/profile/CyndyCarstens
I guess the best place to start is with a little history. No one ever wanted me to be an artist (they starve, you know). Since I couldn’t imagine doing anything else (I started painting when I was five), I spent almost 20 years as self-taught graphic designer owning a graphic design studio and small greeting card company in Wichita, Kansas. The business was successful but not very fulfilling. Moving to Arizona in 1988, I focused on building a career as a muralist and fine artist. The murals…
I guess the best place to start is with a little history. No one ever wanted me to be an artist (they starve, you know). Since I couldn’t imagine doing anything else (I started painting when I was five), I spent almost 20 years as self-taught graphic designer owning a graphic design studio and small greeting card company in Wichita, Kansas. The business was successful but not very fulfilling. Moving to Arizona in 1988, I focused on building a career as a muralist and fine artist. The murals took over most of my time until June of 2006 when I became a full-time caregiver for my mother and part-time caregiver for my father. I now live a double life – as a caregiver and as an artist. One would think they would have little intersection, but the opposite is true. My work is a direct reflection of my life as a caregiver. The wide-open spaces found in most of my current paintings are a response to the almost sequestered existence I have found taking care of my elderly parents. Breaking up the picture plane by use of a sometimes indistinguishable grid affords organization of elements. Boxes and color bars accentuate the skyscapes, bringing them forward and making them less of a window-to-the-world. As such, the skyscapes become more about the painting and less about the scene.<br />
<br />
Everyone goes about trying to build his or her art careers differently. Due to my double life and the inability for me to network in person (which I would highly recommend), I have chosen to enter competitions around the country and exhibit in juried shows regionally and locally. To date, my reputation is beginning to grow slowly. I am winning awards and selling a piece now and then. Everyone asks me why I am not in a gallery. There are a number of reasons, but in particular, galleries do not make their income from walk-in traffic. Galleries survive by promoting an artist’s work to collectors. I have not found a gallery as of yet that believes in my work enough to promote it to their collectors – but it is just a matter of time.<br />
<br />
I also use the internet to do networking, even though I am still not very adept at it. Belonging to a number of artists’ sites has allowed me the opportunity to talk with other artists about their work and careers, as well as establishing friendships in places around the world I will never have the chance to see. I find it fascinating how a change of terrain and customs influences an artist’s work and yet how little the “art world” alters from place to place.<br />
<br />
If I was going to advice artists at any stage of their careers, I would recommend the following:<br />
- Network as much as possible not only with other artists but with the business community<br />
- Get involved with a business group or charity where you can build relationships – one must not forget art is a business (that is if you plan on eating)<br />
- Read and research on the business of art so you won’t have to learn the hard way<br />
- Research exhibitions and competitions before entering so as to not waste your time and money<br />
- We were all born with a sixth sense – it is called intuition or common sense. Use it.<br />
- When we are young, we think we know a lot. As we grow older, we realize how little we really do know. Ask questions. No question is ever stupid.<br />
- Some will tell you to paint what sells. I would suggest following your heart first and then (and only then) do popular images but never stray from your own style<br />
- Keep good records so you can take every available tax deduction and build a contact/mailing list<br />
- Write a good Artist Statement and keep your resume & CV as current as possible<br />
- If you can, volunteer to talk about your art and do demonstrations for local area groups<br />
- Organize your time to allow for “creating” everyday and put limits on how much time you spend on the internet or computer<br />
- DO THE WORK – paint, sketch, sculpt, carve – you can’t build a career without the work<br />
- Be good to yourself and try to always see the positive<br />
- Make a trip to your local museum(s) at least once a month<br />
I could probably go on, but that seems like enough for now.<br />
<br />
I actually have several Artist Statements for use in different situations. One has a brief bio included, which some jurors find interesting. My current short version is below.<br />
<br />
“Many artists debate social issues, prejudices and injustice – a quandary of multi-faceted personalities battling within the expanse of time and place. My work is more a constant personal struggle to understand (many things) and a learning journey whereby the work mirrors life processes – the flux between too much and too little – an internal argument between control and letting go. I believe art is a vocabulary of poetic reflections – “music for the eyes”, if you will. Ultimately, I strive to build expressions of contemplation and awareness – to paint the melodies inside of me with the hope someone may want to listen.”