Whether you’re happy with the direction your art is taking, or need to find a new path, here are some New Year’s ideas to get you going and keep you moving.
1. Get your work in order. It’s 2005…. Do you know where your portfolio is? Or what’s in it? Resolve to take a look around, and see what needs to be included, removed, updated, cleaned, polished and generally updated. Get a storage portfolio for the overflow. Put the great stuff in your presentation book. Having problems deciding? Enlist a trusted colleague for a mutual critique.
2. Get your business in order. Organize your statements, purchase slips, invoices, tax forms and other financial data, as well as any other legal forms you might use, such as releases, contracts and letters of agreement. Or at least get all these things together in one spot, even if it’s only a shoebox! Then make a plan to reduce the chaos. (Don’t have any of these materials? Take a look at The Digital Artist bookstore [http://www.thedigitalartist.com/bookstore.shtml] for ideas to get you started.)
3. Sharpen your skills. Take a class or get a good how-to book. Can’t get out to classes? Check out online classes, now available from both accredited colleges and universities and private teachers. Can’t afford classes? Check out free online classes: a Google search on “free online art lessons” will return thousands of possibilities!
4. Show off a little! Whether you exhibit your work regularly, or have never exhibited in public, make a plan right now to show your work this year. It can be as complex as submitting your work to dozens of juried shows (see this month’s listings below), or as simple as a show at your local library, school, municipal building or house of worship. Mounting a show doesn’t need to be difficult or time consuming. And it’s not impossible for a new artist to find places to show. Think outside the box – that is, think outside the realm of traditional, established galleries – and finding places to shoe your work can be relatively easy. More about Diamond Painting
Carol Pentleton is a designer, artist, writer and jazz vocalist. You can see her portfolio at The New Place. She is also the creator and webmaster of The Digital Artist. The Digital Artist is an exhibit site for artists, designers and artisans. Free exhibits include name, contact information, biography, statement, web page link and one image. There are exhibitors from around the world, from students to established professionals. The site also includes daily arts news, directories, newsletters, galleries, bookstore, and other resources. This article may be freely distributed and reprinted as long as the author’s information and web link are included at the bottom of the article. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Minor edits and alterations are acceptable so long as they do not distort or change the content of the article.
Diamond Painting 