At the end of every year, we announce our Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery “Year in Review” recap. In this annual feature we again highlight and promote again the gallery’s top winning artists for the 12 individual monthly art exhibitions and any other special online art exhibitions the gallery conducted, which in 2022 included the gallery’s “Summer 555” art exhibition.

In 2022, the gallery received more than 9,043+ entries for our art competitions and the following artist’s and their art are what we consider to be the best entries from our online themed exhibitions. 

The gallery received a broad array of media and artistic styles throughout the year.  We tried to showcase the various media received in our art exhibitions and we hope that you will take some time to view the various exhibitions that we have posted in our Gallery Archives.

Please enjoy reading about these extremely talented artists.

“Cityscapes” – January 2022 – Jeffrey Friedkin - "Urban Mirror”

“Cityscapes” – January 2022 – Jeffrey Friedkin - "Urban Mirror”Jeffrey Friedkin is a fine art and street photographer, specializing in capturing the energy, vibrancy and isolation of New York City. Jeffrey is a juried photography member of the prestigious Salmagundi Art Club in NYC. He is the Chairman of the Public Relations Committee and serves on the Salmagundi Board and Photography Committee.

A multiple award-winning photographer, Jeffrey has widely exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the tristate area in addition to a large international online presence. His work has been featured on various magazines and is held in private collections and clubs. A series of his photographs have been acquired by the Yuko Nii permanent collection at the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center in Brooklyn, NY and Corcoran Realty of Westchester.

Jeffrey Friedkin’s photography employs a synthesis of the artistic eye and technology. His work focuses on New York life: the streets, people, architecture and nature. The lush rural landscapes and sparkling seascapes of the Hudson River Valley region equally inspire him. His images tell these stories.

Jeffrey’s website is www.jeffreyfriedkin.com  

“All Women – February 2022 – Sophie Parkhill - "Crabtivated”

“All Women – February 2022 – Sophie Parkhill - "Crabtivated”I am a self-taught wildlife & portrait artist in North Wales, UK. With only a small amount of basic school art studied, I rekindled my love for art back in 2019 with a Blue Jay painting after being inspired by Jason Morgan. It was then, that I realised I wanted to aim for realism with my work, in the hopes of one day achieving hyper-realism in my work.

Predominantly I focus on wildlife, whilst also taking on pet portrait commissions. However, since the lockdowns began, I decided to push myself to work on something outside of my comfort zone, which included a range of human portraits. These gained a lot of appreciation from fellow artists and followers and ultimately started a new journey of human portrait commissions being taken alongside my animal commissions.

Through 2021, just 2 years after beginning my art again, I have become a member of the Association of Animal Artists, gained several awards and exhibited in several exhibitions across the UK. Including the very prestigious Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition in London.

Sophie’s website is www.spwildlifeart.com

 “Abstracts” – March 2022 – Harrie Handler - "The Melting of Winter”

“Abstracts” – March 2022 – Harrie Handler - "The Melting of Winter”Harrie still resides in her birthplace of Tucson, Arizona. After attending one photography class in high school, she decided to pursue a career in teaching art. During her university years, she studied with master photographers Jack Welpott, Todd Walker, and Harold Jones and was inspired by their work. Her volunteer work at the UA Center for Creative Photography allowed her the opportunity to meet Ansel Adams.

Harrie began a teaching career after graduation, teaching high school photography for seven years in the Tucson Unified School District during the day, and Art for Personal Development at night for Pima Community College. Her teaching continued for another 21 years. After retirement, she was contracted to lead two commercial interior design projects, and was able to concentrate on her painting which is now her preferred art form. While her original emphasis was oil painting, she currently paints mostly in acrylic.

In her abstract paintings and photography, Harrie is inspired daily by the shapes and forms, textures, shadows and color seen in reflections of water, clouds, human figures, peeling paint, wood and ordinary objects. She is an active member of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild (SAWG), Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona (CASA), Contemporary Art Society (CAS), Southern Arizona Artist Guild (SAAG) and the International Society of Acrylic Painters (ISAP).

See more of Harrie’s work on her website.

“Botanicals” – April 2022 – Stephen Kenneth Hackley - "Reverence”

“Botanicals” – April 2022 – Stephen Kenneth Hackley - "Reverence”Stephen is a native of Des Moines, Iowa who moved to Texas at the age of 4. Taking art classes in school was a beginning for Stephen, including achieving a major art award at the young age of 14. However, he did not immerse himself into his career as a painter until the mid-90's after becoming inspired by the work of renowned American subliminal artist Jim Warren.

“I am really interested in evoking an emotional response from my work using color, motion, texture and form and even elements such as rock and metal right on the canvas. I want my art to touch people and bring some beauty and joy into their surroundings. I truly believe the essence of what an artist does is create.”

Stephen was twice given the distinction as one of the top 50 floral painters in the world by the Susan Kathleen Black Foundation, where twice his work traveled to galleries and museums across the US with the exhibits. He has a 7-panel reproduction spanning 15 feet wide and a 12-foot original both purchased by the M Crowd (owners of Mi Cocina Restaurant) in the Mi Cocina in the Ft. Worth Hulen area.

He has been invited to Art Monaco and shown at the Redwood Media Group's family of world-renowned art shows. His work has also been represented by the Main Street Gallery in Aspen, is in ADC Fine Art in Cincinnati, Ohio and Art on 7th in Henderson, North Carolina.

Stephen’s website is www.hackleyfineart.com

“Figurative” – May 2022 – Linda McCord - "Funny Pages”

“Figurative” – May 2022 – Linda McCord - "Funny Pages”Linda McCord is best known for her figurative work in watercolor and acrylic paintings. The series of watercolors titled, Family, focuses on lighting, texture, and unusual composition. McCord says, “My work is more mathematical than emotional. I focus on shapes and design.” Her work has been described as abstract realism. Linda McCord is a signature member of International Society of Acrylic Painters, Northwest Watercolor Society, California Watercolor Association and Georgia Watercolor Society. Her paintings have been published in several books and she has won numerous international awards. She recently won the Gold Award for her series of watercolors, “In the 90’s” and was featured at the MiKiHASi, Memories, and international film featuring this series.

Linda’s website is www.lindamccord.com

“Animals” – June 2022 – Scott D Ferguson - "The Red Throne”

“Animals” – June 2022 – Scott D Ferguson - "The Red Throne”Scott Ferguson was born in 1982; his earliest and fondest memories were of his mother teaching him how to hold a pencil and draw animals. Growing up in a family of artists and craftsmen Scott's passion for art only grew from childhood as he went on to obtain his BA in Animation. Originally a sequential artist and digital painter for fifteen years in the comic and gaming industry, he found the importance of composition, conceptual development, and creating a story through his work. These base fundamentals he learned would eventually lead him to oil painting.

Drawn to the brilliant works of impressionism done by old and modern masters, Scott uses an array of wet on wet techniques prioritizing thick brushstrokes, lighting, and a limited palette in his paintings. Growing up in old colonial and Victorian homes surrounded by the wilderness of Pennsylvania, Scott's interest in historic architecture, memorabilia, and animals are reflected in his work creating a contrast in his portraits of threatened and endangered wildlife.

Scott’s website is http://scottferguson.net

“Open” – July 2022 – Jeffrey Friedkin - "On the Town”

“Open” – July 2022 – Jeffrey Friedkin - "On the Town”Jeffrey Friedkin is a fine art and street photographer, specializing in capturing the energy, vibrancy and isolation of New York City. Jeffrey is a juried photography member of the prestigious Salmagundi Art Club in NYC. He served on the Salmagundi board and was Chairman of the Public Relations Committee and assists the Chairman of the Photography Committee for the Salmagundi Art Club.

A multiple award-winning photographer, Jeffrey has widely exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the tristate area in addition to a large international online presence. His work has been featured on various magazines, advertisements and news sites and is held in private collections, corporate businesses and clubs. A series of his photographs have recently been acquired by the Yuko Nii permanent collection at the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Jeffrey Friedkin’s photography employs a synthesis of the artistic eye and technology. His work focuses on New York life: the streets, people, architecture and nature. The lush rural landscapes and sparkling seascapes of the Hudson River Valley region equally inspire him. His images tell these stories.

For more information about Jeffrey or to see more of his work, please visit his website.

“Summer 555” – July 5 – September 5, 2022 – Cher Pruys - "Girls Girls Girls”

“Summer 555” – July 5 – September 5, 2022 – Cher Pruys - "Girls Girls Girls”"To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer .... That is the ultimate in self-expression."

Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs and 2 cats.

By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal and ink over the years, until, she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, water color and gouache.

Although self-taught, her dedication and talent has seen her work juried into 199 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non juried shows. She has won 224 awards for her work in the International Juried Exhibits.

To learn more about Cher or to see more of her work, please visit her website.

“Seascapes” – August 2022 – Mike DeCesare - "Storm at Sea”

“Seascapes” – August 2022 – Mike DeCesare - "Storm at Sea”Photography is my first language, and I try to speak softly, using color, light and tone to wrap the viewer in a moment, an insight, an emotion, and a love and respect for the earth. I alone capture and develop every digital negative, taking precaution to do no harm and leave no trace in the environment."

I started taking pictures as a child, using a Kodak film camera. I evolved into medium format film photography for all of its spectacular clarity.  That meant I was “late” to digital capture, not making the transition until digital technology advanced far enough to make it truly enlightened. 

In college, television/film was my focus and became my career choices for decades, even while photography was always near; often, I integrated my images into project work.  Finally, photography became the focal point of my work, and I have fused it with my love and respect for the outdoors.

My fine art photography explores the interactions of people and nature, from an abandoned cabin in a forest landscape to a doorway in an urban landscape to a billowing storm at sea.  Everywhere there is nature’s grandeur and nature’s fury, and mankind’s imprints and interactions. 

In my work, the viewer is invited inside the image, to see, feel, judge and create their own interpretation and emotional bond.  

Mike’s website is http://prophotonorthwest.com

“Landscapes” – September 2022 – Mary McKenna Ridge - "Switzerland Respite”

“Landscapes” – September 2022 – Mary McKenna Ridge - "Switzerland Respite”Mary is a Photographer/Artist living in New York City at the Westbeth Artists' Housing Complex. She holds a Master's Degree in Graphic Communications from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y., has studied at the International Center of Photography, at N.Y.U., and at the School of Visual Arts, all in Manhattan. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Art Education from Edinboro University, PA. Mary has worked as an Art Instructor in NYC Junior High Schools and as a Graphic Designer in addition to her Photographic work.

Mary has designed many book jackets for publishing companies, and also works in watercolor and pen and ink. Mary shoots in color and black and white, using digital full frame, as well as 35 mm SLR. She has photographed throughout Europe and Asia, and much of the United States.

Mary’s website is http://marymckennaridgephotography.squarespace.com

“Patterns, Textures & Forms” – October 2022 – Lillian Anna Blouin - "Disordered Mind”

“Patterns, Textures & Forms” – October 2022 – Lillian Anna Blouin - "Disordered Mind”An award-winning artist and devoted student of hyper-realism Lillian Anna Blouin’s unique style of painting seeks to bridge together the worlds of the real and the unreal. Each piece is a surreal exploration of everyday objects with multiple interpretations behind each painting. Lillian received her BA in Illustration from Laguna College of Art and Design. After showcasing in several southern California galleries she was inspired to pursue an MFA in painting at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She has been an exhibitor in the internationally acclaimed Festival of the Arts since 2013. Other exhibitions include the LAAA’s National Survey Exhibition in Los Angles and the National Juried Small Works Exhibition in Clifton Springs, NY.

Lillian’s website is www.lillianannablouin.com

 “Primary Colors” – November 2022 – Cher Pruys - "Bubble Gum Wishes”

“Primary Colors” – November 2022 – Cher Pruys - "Bubble Gum Wishes”Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs and 2 cats.

By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal and ink over the years, until, she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, water color and gouache.

Although self-taught, her dedication and talent has seen her work juried into 199 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non juried shows. She has won 224 awards for her work in the International Juried Exhibits.

To learn more about Cher or to see more of her work, please visit her website.

“Nature” – December 2022 – Lynette Orzlowski - "The Encounter”

“Nature” – December 2022 – Lynette Orzlowski - "The Encounter”Lynette Orzlowski’s artistic practice has been driven from an early age to paint, with a love of animals and a passion for horses.

The paintings are an impressionistic style, though many elements within the works hold true to subtle notations of realism, walking the line between loose movements and textures, to fine detail and anatomical correctness.

Using a wide array of different techniques, mixing the texture and variety of mediums to express an individual body of work. With the main focus of Lynette's work being to explore the different notions and relations ships between humans and animals, in particular the horse. This long standing partnership between man and animal is one of great significance, not only with the everyday but into the realm of fantasy.

With Lynette’s own understanding for this partnership, having resided in the rural outskirts of Victoria, herself being surrounded by the direct importance the roll of the horse still plays in everyday life she is able to draw first hand on this as a major source of inspiration.

Lynette’s website is www.orzlowski.com.

Congratulations to our Top Winning Artists for 2022 - Your Works are Magical and Stunning! Thank you.

2022 Year in Review – Our Top Winning Artists

 

 

Geneviève Chaussé wins the Visual Arts Prize of the 31st edition of the Grands Prix Desjardins de la culture de Lanaudière 2022

On September 30th, the 31st edition of the Grands Prix Desjardins de la culture de Lanaudière gala was held at the Alphonse-Desjardins Theater in Repentigny, Quebec. This evening made it possible to highlight the work of artists, organizations and municipalities in the region who contribute to the richness of the Lanaudière culture.

Geneviève Chaussé was declared the winner in the VISUAL ARTS category with her ongoing study “Bodies & Souls”. This body of work is created from surreal universes from an imaginary world where the mind and the heart find each other. Art that wants to be visionary and symbolic where dreams, reality and feelings combine harmoniously.

From her project “Bodies & Souls”, 4 creations are completed out of a total of 12: “Levitation”, “Connection”, “Perfect Balance” and “Bodies & Souls”, eponymous work.

“Perfect Balance” debuted at the BORDERS VENICE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2021 “Future Landscapes” exhibition, subsequently travelling to other group exhibitions in Venice and Rome. Its presence on Italian soil will open the door to a succession of awards received by Effetto Arte Fondazione of Palermo in Italy.

Her 3 other creations will respectively receive the 2021 ART OLYMPIC PRIZE with “Connection”, the 2022 INTERNATIONAL LEONARDO DA VINCI PRIZE ~ The Universal Artist with “Bodies & Souls” (eponymous work) and to conclude, the 2022 INTERNATIONAL PRIZE PARIS with “Levitation”, where it will be presented at Art Shopping Paris ~ The International Contemporary Art Fair at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France from October 21 to 23, 2022.

“Geneviève Chaussé offers moving creations that arouse contemplation, leading you into another reality. It invites us to live a patient, transformative and profound experience.”

To learn more about “Geneviève, please visit her Artwork Archive website.

To read more about our the achievements of our Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery artists, visit the Artist News page.

 

By Veronica Baxter, Guest Blogger - Visual artists must be prepared when negotiating a contract with an art gallery. This article will discuss how to prepare for the contract negotiation. Whether you are a new artist looking to get your work noticed, or an established artist trying to break into a new space, you will find valuable tips to secure a lucrative contract in an art gallery.

Have a List of Requirements and Questions Well Ahead of the Negotiation

Regardless of the industry, you should always know what you want during a negotiation. You need to confidently articulate what you want out of the business relationship to be taken seriously from a business perspective.

This means you’ll need to ask many questions.

Questions to Ask During a Contract Negotiation With an Art Gallery

The goal of asking questions is to get a concrete understanding of the business relationship from start to finish. Your questions should be designed so that the answers clearly define your responsibilities and those of the art gallery. Your questions should range across a wide variety of topics -- from marketing to logistics and beyond.

 

Marketing questions to consider:

  • What will the art gallery do to promote and market your work?
  • What do you need to do in regards to promotion and marketing?
  • Will you need to create new exclusive pieces for the gallery?
  • Do exclusive pieces need their contracts to determine the duration of exclusivity?
  • How much will be allocated for a marketing budget?

Logistical Questions to consider:

  • Will my work be exhibited elsewhere or rotated out on a tour?
  • Who pays for shipping, handling, and insurance?
  • If I make a sale instead of the gallery, do I get the commission?
  • How are the selling prices determined?
  • What are the commission fees and what goes into calculating commission fees?

Display Questions to Consider:

  • How much gallery space will you need vs. how much they are willing to give?
  • Do I have a say in how my art is displayed?
  • Do I get to restrict who I share my gallery space with?
  • How often will I need to present and discuss my work on-site?
  • Do I need to produce work on-site?

Arm Yourself With Knowledge of the Contract Negotiation Process

The artist with their head in the clouds is a frustrating yet persistent stereotype. Yet, there are plenty of successful artists who possess strong business acumen. The artist who can advocate on their own behalf during negotiations will be able to dodge this negative stereotype more easily and secure a better contract as a result.

Here are some must-know contractual tips:

Try To Get an Escape Clause

Escape clauses are essential in contracts with an art gallery. They allow either party to nullify the contract when a clearly defined term or condition is not met. Escape clauses are not to be confused with breach-of-contract clauses.

The difference is that both parties can agree to nullify a yearlong contract if, say, there are no sales after six months. In this example, neither party breached the contract; however, a specific condition was not met. Therefore, it is in the interest of both parties to nullify the agreement.

Push For an Arbitration/Mediation Clause

This clause stipulates that before either party resorts to a lawsuit, a mediator must be brought in to settle any contractual disputes. Both parties must hire a mediator. These clauses are important to bring up in negotiations because they are intended to prevent a costly lawsuit.

Make Sure the Indemnification Clause Works Both Ways

Indemnification clauses are designed so that if one party misrepresents themselves, their work, or if one party breaches part of the contract, then the offending party is responsible for the legal fees associated with any ensuing litigation. Sometimes these are one-sided and apply only when the artist breaches the contract. Negotiate so that the indemnification clause applies to both sides.

Come to the Negotiation Table Prepared

This article is far from exhaustive, but it is intended to get you thinking about the negotiation process in the way a lawyer would. You must ask questions to lay out the responsibilities of both parties clearly. The more detail, the better the deal. You also need to familiarize yourself with specific clauses and legalese that will lead to a fair and lucrative contract.

Veronica Baxter is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of the greater Philadelphia area. She writes for Yao Law, an entertainment and immigration lawyer in New Jersey.

Practicing the art of gratitude is an extremely powerful tool. After the past couple of years, it finally feels like we can see the end of the tunnel and I’m sure we are all ready for something to be grateful for.

There is an amazing power in gratitude that helps your mental well-being and emotional health.  Gratitude for a situation, an event or a person in your life sets the stage and opens the door for more good to come to you.  It is very easy in difficult and trying times to concentrate on the negative, rather than taking stock of the other good and positive things that are going on in your life.

However, the practice of gratitude can be learned. Below are 6 affirmations artists can say to themselves every day to reinforce their gratitude for all the great and wonderful things that they have in their life and art career:

  1. I am grateful for being able to be an artist, even with all of the ups and downs that the profession provides.
  2. I am grateful for the ability to express myself through my art as there are many jobs or professions that do not allow you to be creative.
  3. I am grateful for today’s technology which has brought our world much closer together and has expanded all artists’ ability to create, refine and share their art.
  4. I am grateful for my friends and family who support my work.
  5. I am grateful for my art as it is ever changing and there is always something more that I can learn to do that will help me to improve my art.
  6. I am grateful for my followers, fans, collectors and buyers as their support encourages me to continue creating my art.

In these unsettling times it is extremely easy to get swept up in the media’s constant negative bombardment to our senses.  When this is happening to you, turn off your television or computer, turn off your phone, go outside, and take several deep breaths to clear your head.

Make a mental list of all the great things and wonderful people in your life that you should be grateful for.  To cement this list in your subconscious, commit this list to paper and when something comes up in your life that’s good add it to your list. 

Over time, your list will grow and when you’re down, in a negative place or feeling uninspired go to your gratitude list and review all of the things that you are grateful and thankful for.  No matter how bad things may look or feel, there is always something that we can find in our lives for which to be grateful. Remember, the practice of gratitude is the magnet for more good things to come into our lives. 

To quote the famous German philosopher, cultural critic and philologist, Friedrich Nietzsche:

“The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.”

The New Year is a time for artists to look ahead to how they can grow and advance their art careers. Although 2020 is technically behind us, there are still some challenges to overcome as the world continues to work its way out of a terrible pandemic. This has been enormously difficult for everyone but artists and the arts community has been hit particularly hard. However, with the release of vaccines, there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel and it is time for artists to look forward.

At the beginning of every New Year, we post an article with ideas and suggestions for how artists can to make plans for how to kick-start and best to tackle your art career goals in 2020.

Have you set up your art marketing goals for the New Year? If not, the following are 5 things you can do to kick start 2021 and improve your chances of success.   

Many of these ideas have been offered up in previous “kick-start” posts but they are elementary and consistently implementing them is not.  They are critical for artists if they are to market themselves and their art successfully.

Evaluate & Update Your Website

While the past year has given some artists the time and opportunity to either create or update their websites, for many it has been difficult to concentrate amid the worry of the ongoing pandemic. However, in today’s art world, particularly with all its changes, in order to be taken seriously, it is essential for artists to have a modern, professional, up-to-date website to display their art.

The annual cost to purchase or renew a website domain is typically less than $20. The cost of basic website hosting can be as low as $3-$4 per month. A website is an investment artists need to make a priority in order to be taken seriously.

For those of you who already have websites, if you haven’t reviewed it in a while, now is the time. When was the last time that you went page by page and link by link through it? We all need to do this to find broken links, pages that do not load quickly, graphics, images and other items that have moved, along with pages with misspelled words and similar issues.

The presentation of your art is as important as creating it. Take some time to review your site and make any necessary changes and corrections. Make sure all of the images on your website are sized properly and have a low resolution (a resolution of 72 helps your site load more quickly and protects your art from being copied by unscrupulous people).  The images should also be color corrected if necessary, as some cameras and lighting do no always capture an artwork’s true colors. There are many free programs on the internet for this.

Also, do you have better images or graphics to replace what now exists on your website?  Do you have new artwork that you just have not had time to photograph and add to your website? Do it. 

While checking your images, make sure that they are labeled and tagged properly with good image descriptions.  Search engines will only index your images if they have descriptions.  By doing this, your images will show up in the image search results and when the images are viewed, viewers will be directed to your art website.

Rewrite/ Update your Artists Bio and Statement

A well-written biography and/or artist statement is also essential for artists and now is the time to review and update them.  An artist does not have to be an accomplished writer to create a well-written biography and artist statement, but it is necessary for an artist to have at least one. It is also important to know the difference between a biography and artist statement as many artists mistake one for the other. Please read our article “Comparing an Artist’s Biography to an Artist’s Statement” for clarification.

Also, update your CV by adding any exhibitions, new publications or other pertinent information that has taken place since the last time it was updated.

Use Social Media

Social media has become a part of our everyday lives and is an important platform for all artists to employ in order to help market themselves and their art. Why is this? In our opinion, it is easy to identify and connect with the art community when using social media.

It is also an effective medium because it is a visual and simple way in which to present your art. Particularly now, Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin, Instagram and even Twitter provide artists with opportunities (if targeted properly) to reach viewers who were previously unreachable.

Read our articles “Top 10 Reasons Why Artists Fail with Social Media”, “Using the 70-20-10 Rule to Succeed at Social Media Marketing” by guest blogger James Baxter, and “How to Write Social Media Posts That Sell Art” by guest blogger Frank Hamilton, along with various other social media articles on the LST website, for further advice and instruction on how best to use social media to grow your audience reach.

Press Release Marketing

Press release marketing is a low-cost way artists can market their artwork to a wider range of potential viewers. There are many “Free” press release websites, which take, publish and market an artist’s press release copy.  One such site is PRLog.org. PRLog’s free press release submission includes a PDF version to send to your mailing list, a search engine optimized page, hyperlinks in the content, and the option to select location/industry and tag listings. In addition, companies like Star One Public Relations offers press release distribution services for as low as $10.00 for distribution to 70+ press outlets.  Read our article “Successful Press Release Marketing for Artists” and 6 Benefits for Press Releases for Artists to help guide you in these efforts.  Also check out our article “5 Ways Artists Can Promote Their Art Online” for more ideas.

Start a Blog

Artists should seriously consider starting an art blog as a way to attract and direct additional interested viewers to their art websites. An art blog is a great way to expand an artist’s target audience. It is also an effective platform to help artists market their art.

Read our articles “Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Have an Art Blog” and “How Artists Can Attract Readers to an Art Blog” in order to fully understand the power of a well-executed art blog.

In 2021, we hope you will make at least some, if not all, of these suggestions part of your art marketing efforts. By implementing these recommendations, artists can experience increased traffic to their websites, find more people interested in their art and ultimately, sell more of their work. 

However, as with any marketing program, it is important to focus your efforts. All artists should view the marketing of their art to be as important as the creation of it and an art-marketing plan needs to be well planned and performed consistently in order to be successful.  Check out our article “5 Tips for Creating an Effective Art Marketing Strategy” by guest blogger Wendy Dessler, for more suggestions.

Good luck and have a creative, successful and prosperous 2021!

 

Steven Covey’s early 1990’s, best-selling book entitled “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” provided a holistic and principled approach to problem-solving, living and adapting to change by seeing opportunities rather than problems.

The book became a huge bestseller and still sells well today, even almost 30 years later. This is because the advice offered in the book still resonates. In that helpful spirit, below we have highlighted seven habits which we believe artists should follow to become highly effective and successful. Although we are detailing only seven habits, the readers of this article may have ideas on other successful “habits” as well.

The seven habits of highly effective and successful artists are:

  1.  Having a passion for your art: First, artists must have a passion for their art and everything that is associated with being an artist. Why is this? It is because there will be problems, barriers, and challenges to being an artist. However, if you are passionate about what you do, these issues will be perceived as detours to success, rather than “problems”.
  2. Being focused on your art: Successful artists will not be distracted from their art and their commitment to achieving their goals. To be successful, most things requires a focus and a “singleness of purpose”. Successful artists have this focus, as their art is a priority in their lives.
  3. Having a vision of your success: Artists who are successful had a vision and saw themselves achieving great things in their chosen profession. Despite any roadblocks, problems or defeats, their vision kept them working towards their goal. Even after artists have achieved their goals, the successful ones will create new goals and new visions to be achieved.
  4. Being persistent in the face of adversity: Most people in the face of adversity quit. People who got past the adversity did so because they persisted on towards their goal. Persistence is the difference between a successful artists and artists who quits. The quitters lose focus and their vision.
  5.  Professionalism in all dealings: Successful artists are professional in all of their dealings with the public, gallery owners, art reps and with suppliers. It is simple, if they were not professional, then they would not be successful for very long.
  6. Ready to maximize opportunities: Successful artists are prepared and ready to maximize and leverage any opportunities that come their way. Whether it is to fill in quickly for another artist at a gallery, give an interview, write an article for a blog or to give a speech to a group, successful artists see that as an opportunity to network, promote and brand their artwork. Unsuccessful artists see those not as opportunities but rather something that interrupts what they were doing! The artist who is engaged and ready to capitalize on opportunities when they come along will be or become successful.
  7. Understanding that art is a business: Successful artists see themselves as business people. They understand that other people, who they are connected to within the art world, are also business people and they conduct themselves in that manner too. Now more than ever in today’s marketplace art is a business. Art is a competitive business and artists must learn how to successfully operate it or they will eventually fail.

There are certainly other habits and traits of successful artists beyond what we have outlined above. However, if artists are talented and apply these 7 habits to their craft, they will be more likely to be successful.

After reading this article, please feel free to share with us any of your habits that you feel have made you more effective and successful in your art and career.

This article was originally posted in 2010 but has been updated and revised as of June 2020.

Feedspot white Top 50 YouTube Channels
Feedspot White Top 100 Art Blogs
Artists Down Under 250
Artwork-Archive-Logo-700
Artists-Title-Their-Art
Katie-Brennerman-article-700
previous arrow
next arrow

Join our Mailing List

Subscribe
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery 
A division of Fusion Art, LLC
© 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2nd Monthly Competition Button
Main Monthly Competition Button
2nd Monthly Competition Button
Main Monthly Exhibition Button
2nd Monthly Exhibition Slide
3rd Monthly Exhibition Button
Monthly Solo Exhibition Slide
Artist Showcase Slide
Artist Testimonials Slide
previous arrow
next arrow