Photographing your work

A good photograph of Incarceration
by Felicia Follum.

Most artist have had to, or wanted to, photograph their work at some point in their career.  Photographing your work is essential for any form of social media marketing, grant proposals, or submissions to a show.  For those of us who have not chosen photography as our desired field, presenting photos of our work may pose some difficulties.  Below are some simple steps to improving the photographs that will represent you and your artwork.  Following these simple steps can help you avoid immediate rejection from a show, exhibition or grant funding.

Here is what you can do to avoid rejection based on bad images...
1. Do photograph two-Dimensional work against a solid black background.  A neutral gray or white background can also work, but a black sheet is often a good choice.
2. Do photograph three-Dimensional work in a light box or on a curved wall (designed for photographing work).  You can also use boxes on a table covered in black sheets.  Make sure the background is also covered.
3. Do color correct your images. If there is white on the piece, there should be white in the submitted photo.
4. When, allowed do submit detail images of your work.  This will allow the judges to see how much time you put into your work.
5. Do use a tripod or something to stabilize the camera.
6. Do follow all specific directions on the submission form.

A bad photograph of Incarceration

Here are some mistakes you don't want to make
Don’ts**
1. Don’t photograph your work with a busy background.
2. Don’t photograph work on your sofa, or in your home.
3. Don’t submit blurry images.
4. Don’t submit images with inaccurate color.
5. Don’t ignore directions regarding file size and file type, number of images per work, or total number of images allowed.

Tips for digital work
1. Use screen shots when applicable. The default for screen shots is often a png file making them perfect for posting images on your artist Facebook page and some websites.
2. Pay special attention to file size, dpi, and other settings that are specified in directions.

ETSY also has some great tips.
Time saving tips from ETSY

**Installations, time or space specific artwork, some conceptual works, and performance art may be exceptions.  If you make an exception, there should be a reason.  Even with a strong reason it could be a risk to do some of the don'ts.  Come into WOW or ask other artists what they think.

If all else fails, set up a time to visit with a WOW staff about photographing your work.  In all reality you don't have to wait until you have a problem, just come on in.  You can contact us directly though our Facebook page or email.

Write White Write and Write Some More

Variety of art journals in our gift shop and gallery.

This podcast is an interview with Alyson B. Stanfield, A.K.A. The Art Biz Coach.  She discusses some extremely important steps to becoming a professional artist.  Her four tips are devote yourself completely to a studio practice, create an online emailing list, connect with other artists, and start writing about your work and never stop.

This last post is a response to "writing about your work." As artists, we probably think about artist statements when we think about writing. Though artist statements are a significant aspect of the writing that an artist is expected to produce, we can practice writing about our work in other mediums as well.  In addition to journaling, a blog or various social media platforms including Facebook.com, Blogger.com, Wordpress.com, PitchEngine.com, Pinterest.com, LinkedIn.com, YouTube.com, Twitter.com and even personal websites provide perfect opportunities to write about your work.

Some of WOW's artist social media links
Bethel's Beadwork on Facebook
Deise Patton on LinkedIn
Felicia Follum Design on Facebook
Hannah McNamee's  Website (We have more member websites in the right hand sidebar)
Laramie Art Guild Blog - This site has work from several of our members

If you only plan to use one of these, go with Facebook see why in Top 5 Reasons Artists Should Have a Facebook Page. A blog and website are other top options as well (some would argue for these over Facebook).

The ArtBizblog.com addresses the four topics a bit more.

See the other parts of our Professional Artist Podcast Series using the links below
Part 1 Devotion to you Work
Part 2 Email Lists
Part 3 Networking

Post links to your writing below.  If you would like your work and writing about your work to be featured on WOW's blog or Facebook page, be sure to comment below or let us know on Facebook.

Marketing Tip: Consistency

As an artist you must brand yourself and this branding should be consistent throughout your business cards, brochures, application packets and your web presence.

One simple way to achieve this consistency on a budget is to use the same fonts among platforms (Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, etc.).  Another strategy to help Google know that your various social media sites are all you is by using the same first few lines in your "about me" section of each.

Website

Blog

Facebook

All three pages (my blog, Facebook, and website) use the same font and have the same basic description about me.

How have you utilized social media marketing?

If you have some pages you would like to show up in our blog as sample, 

be sure to send them our way.

If you would like help or feedback, you can contact WOW by email, or on Facebook. 

These services are free for members.

Networking

University of Wyoming Student Art League show Opening at WOW

This podcast is an interview with Alyson B. Stanfield, A.K.A. The Art Biz Coach.  She discusses some extremely important steps to becoming a professional artist.  Her four tips are devote yourself completely to a studio practice, create an online emailing list, connect with other artists, and start writing about your work and never stop.

Part 3 is in response to "connecting with other artists."  WOW can certainly help you connect with other artists and build an art community.  Some of the networking opportunities that we offer include gallery openings, professional development workshops, and a variety of classes (blog post from a past class).  In the near future we would also like to add opportunities for open studios as well as residency programs.

You can find other artists on Twitter, Facebook or Blogs or you could plan an artist meet-up by posting a flyer in a coffee shop or on Facebook.

To see future events at WOW check out our Events page on Facebook (You do not need a Facebook account to view our events).

Stanfield's post about Connecting with other artists offers some more hints and tips.

See other pats of the Professional Artist Podcast series.
Part 1 Devotion
Part 2 Email Lists
Part 4 Write about Your Work

Be sure to contact Works of Wyoming for more information on professional development for artists.

E-Mail lists

Stamps created by Cynthia Norcross Willson

This podcast is an interview with Alyson B. Stanfield, A.K.A. The Art Biz Coach.  She discusses some extremely important steps to becoming a professional artist.  Her four tips are devote yourself completely to a studio practice, create an online emailing list, connect with other artists, and start writing about your work and never stop.  I have already discussed Stanfield's first tip and I will address the other topics in each of my next three posts.

This post is about creating an online emailing list.  An online emailing list is significant when it comes to building a community focused on your work. This can also be done through online marketing tools such as Facebook, Twitter, a blog, a forum or a website.

Tips to remember


A free platform for mailing lists is MailChimp.com.  
ConstantContact.com has a monthly rate option.


Make sure everyone on you list requested to be on the list and know the anti-spam laws. MailChimp will help you with this part.

Use the Blind Carbon Copy tab instead of the Carbon Copy or To options. This is out of respect for those on your list.

The Art Biz Coach discusses this in more detail in her blog post.

See the other parts of this series
Part 1- Devotion
Part 3 - Networking
Part 4 - Writing about Your Work

Contact WOW to learn more about email lists and professional development for your arts career.

Word Processors vrs. Text Editors

Before.  See the blue and purple?

For our first Social Media Marketing Tip, I will share something that I just spent over two hours fixing in Blogger. My mistake is completely avoidable, but easy to make.

Tip: Word and Text Edit (on a Mac) are word processors not text editors (despite the name). This means that you should never copy and paste directly into the Compose screen on your blogger window. Always copy and paste into the Edit HTML screen.

What will happen if you accidentally do make this mistake? If you do copy and paste into the compose screen, the links will all appear bright purple and blue and there will seeming be no way to fix them. This may not happen right away, but when you change your layout or blogger changes, the blue links will likely surface and trust me, it is no fun to fix.

Why does this happen? Text editors are programs designed for editing text in a code format. As I mentioned above these programs are word processors, meaning they add their own formatting, in a code that is not HTML. When you try to use them as a text editor, what is called “junk HTML” or “crap code,” will show up. This is bad and can cause all sorts of problems later on.

Two and a half hours later.

If you happen to make this mistake, here is the blog post that I referenced to fix the problem. (Using the !important code did not work and I had to go though all my posts to find the problem.)

If you would like help setting up a blog or a Facebook page contact WOW by email, phone, or on Facebook. These services are free for members.

What other questions do you have?  Post them below or comment on Facebook.

Social Media Marketing Tip Tuesday/Thursday

The polls are showing that people want social media marketing help.  Fortunately social media marketing is something that I (Felicia) have been researching for a while, so I have decided to start Social Medial Tip Tuesday/Thursday. I will be posting a Social Media Marketing tip to our blog every week on either Tuesday or Thursday, maybe both.

I will be writing these posts as Felicia on behalf of the gallery and will probably use my social media sites as references. If you would like your site featured on here, please do let me know, via Facebook (WOW page or my art page) or contact the gallery by email, WOW@uwyo.edu. I would love to promote other local artists as often as possible.

Stay tuned for the first tip!! 

Are there any specific questions you would like for me to try and answer? Post them below or send them to one of the above contacts.

Devotion

Interactive book created by Sylvia Fonfara.

This podcast is an interview with Alyson B. Stanfield, A.K.A. The Art Biz Coach.  She discusses some extremely important steps to becoming a professional artist.  Her four tips are devote yourself completely to a studio practice, create an online emailing list, connect with other artists, and start writing about your work and never stop.  I will address one of these topics in each of my next four blog posts.

Part 1 of this series will focus on "devoting yourself to a studio practice."  This tip is more for those artists who weren’t forced into the studio practice and competition through art school.  Every artist needs to mature in their field and be prepared to compete.  This means not making excuses and often times making sacrifices.

Let's first look at this competition and how making excuses will not help you succeed.  My car didn’t start, my alarm didn’t go off, or I was sick are all reasonable excuses but none of them will get you the job or help you meet a new client.  This is not saying that you don't need to take care of yourself, or that your personal life is not important.  You do, and it is.  However, a professional artist will often times be less successful if they leave out the professional aspect.

In addition to not making excuses, a professional artist must also make sacrifices the same as any other businessperson.  In the beginning, you may need to make sacrifices, in your vacations, and family time, or in your budget.  Not everyone is willing to do this and that is fine.  Professional artist make art because they have to, not just for fun. Not everyone wants to be in the studio 8 – 12 hours a day. "Is this a hobby (which is often more enjoyable)" or are you willing to make the sacrifices to be a professional?

“It is hard work to be an artist!”

The Coach's Post with more hints on how to devote yourself to the studio practice.

See the other 3 posts
Part 2 Email Lists 
Part 3 Networking
Part 4 Write about Your Work

If you are devoted to your artwork, come on in to or email Works of Wyoming for some tips and information about how to advance your art career.

Book Making Tutorials

Our books arts show was such a success and in response I would like to present
4 great book tutorials…

Squash Book


Explosion Box


Meander Book


Flag Books (Part 2)


The great thing about book arts is that you can use or any other form you choose and they can be tailored to your specific concept.  Post links to some of your books below.  We would love to see them.

If you are interested in book making be sure to keep up with us on Facebook and this blog.  We are in the planning process for a paper making workshop. Some of these book projects may make an appearance in workshop form as well.  If you would like a one-on-one lesson with one of our artists, come visit or give us a call at 307.766.3085 and we can help set you up with private lesson.

What are some ways that you can alter the books in these videos?

Croquis

Felicia Follum, Untitled Sketch
WOW's Figure Show

Student Art League's Croquis (life drawing) sessions are held Thursday evenings from 7-9pm in the Fine Arts building room 226.  The sessions are $5 for community members, $2 for UW students and $1 for Student Art League members.  

If you would like more information, please contact Felicia Follum, SAL President, via Facebook or email WOW@uwyo.edu.

WOW Life Drawing Session

October Promo: Brown and Gold

Go Pokes!

Does your family love football? 

Do you have friends that play sports for UW?

If you can answer yes to either or these, or if you are a fan yourself,

we have the deal for you!

All things Brown and Gold or with Cowboy Joe logo 20% off for the month of October.  

Let's support our Cowboys!