Art Biz Blog

Technology advice for artists: use it first!

Patricia J. Velte, my Web guru, offers this advice for artists.

In a nutshell, artist should actually use the technology that they hear about and think they must have.
 
For example:
 
If they want a shopping cart ... they should try purchasing things online so they know what online shopping is like and try PayPal so that they can explain the purchasing process to new clients.
 
If they want a blog ... they should visit other blogs and even post comments.
 
If they want people to subscribe to their blog ... they should actually subscribe to other blogs and see what they like and don't like about how the subscription services work, etc.
 
If they want to podcast ... they should actually own an mp3 player, know how to use it, and subscribe to a few podcasts--even downloading the files and listening to them to see what the experience is like.
 
If they want the ability to track who opens their e-mail messages and know what links they use within the message ... they should sign up for mailing lists and use the links in the messages so they can find out if they find it convenient or inconvenient to receive follow-up messages.
 
If they want to have audio or video on their site ... they should visit other artists' or competitors' sites to find out what they like to experience as the visitor and what they don't.

Pat, I couldn’t agree more. I have seen so many people bumble their technology because they were told (by me?--oops) that they needed a blog or needed something else. But they haven’t the curiosity to find out what that will mean and how to do it right.

Back to the in a nutshell thing: USE technology before you commit to it. Otherwise, it becomes a frustrating diversion on your artist’s path. You’re stuck with something that doesn’t behave as you would like and wasted a lot of time.

How a major museum exhibition comes together

This New York Times article about an exhibit of Bhutanese art is a fascinating look at how museum exhibitions come together over time and with the help of many people.

As always, be sure to watch the slideshow.

Bonus Deep Thought

Why do you think only women have signed up to host me on my book blog tour???

Not making any judgments, just curious.

UPDATE: Just as I was posting this, a submission came from a kind gentleman. So, I'm having crow for breakfast. And, the blog tour has filled up! More on that in the future.

Deep Thought Thursday: Artists and the slowing economy

Today’s Deep Thought comes from Michael McCurry, who wisely asked about selling art during times of slow economic growth. I realized that I really don’t have a good answer for him and should know this. Maybe I can get some help from you. Michael wrote:

[It] is easy to see that, in many sectors, money is not flowing like it was. Given this, what new strategies, might we, as artists, consider?

For example: What, if any, kinds of art might still be showing strength in this economy? Matted prints, high end canvas originals, small inexpensive giclées. etc, etc. What kinds of venues might there be for any kind of original art, or reproductions that might work in this economy?

I am pondering this and I don't think that one has to be an economist to be an observant, adaptable marketer of one's art. Is there any way to collect  and share any brainstorming that your subscribers might be doing on this subject?

Can we help each other out here?

Image (c) Michael McCurry, Celebration

Podcast: Unite your e-marketing efforts

Let me show you how to drive traffic from your Web site to your blog (and vice versa) and from your newsletter to both.

Listen to this week's podcast.

[5 min. 36 sec.]

Check out Monday's post for more resources.

Subscribe to the Art Marketing Action podcast at iTunes.

Instructions for subscribing to this podcast.

This podcast is an audio version of the Art Marketing Action newsletter.

Give yourself credit by titling your images differently

Artist Brian Kliewer has a great post about saving your image files with your name in the titles.

I mention titling your images on page 20 of I'd Rather Be in the Studio!, but I hadn't considered adding the artist's name to the title of the JPG. Brian shows you how to do that in his post.

Image (c) Brian Kliewer

Resources for unifying your e-marketing

E-marketing is the topic of today’s Art Marketing Action newsletter. Specifically, it’s about uniting all of your e-marketing efforts so that you drive people from your Web site to your blog, and vice versa, and from your newsletter to both places. Check out today’s issue if you haven’t read it already.

I also want to share with you these additional resources to help unify your e-marketing (and uniting this blog post with my newsletter AND Web site). First, two freebies from the Art Marketing Action archives:

• Entice Me, about using enticing language instead of the same ole, lame ole stuff
• Brand Your Emails, GREAT info in it

Next, two ArtBizCoach.com products:

• Two amazing teleseminars I did with Clint Watson: How to Create an Artist Web Site that Sells & Become an Online Art Magnet (sales special through March 10)
• My book! Check out Actions 7 (Amplify Your Online Presence) 9 (Take Advantage of Basic Communication) in I’d Rather Be in the Studio!

What did I forget? How do you unify your e-marketing efforts?

To sign or not to sign (your artwork)

Question from Patrice Erickson:

Is it preferred or not preferred to sign and date paintings on the front of the canvases rather than on the backs? I have always signed and dated on the fronts. On a recent visit to a high end gallery I noticed that none of the paintings were signed this way. I asked the gallery director about this and she simply said none of these artists do, however they signed on the backs. Does this have to do with how well known the artist is?

Patrice, I think this is a question of aesthetics and preferences. If a signature on the front of a surface interferes with the artist’s intent, the artist might prefer signing on the back. As far as I know, this was the case with Mark Rothko and is the case with Ellsworth Kelly. A signature would look very much out of place in Rothko’s ethereal canvases or on Kelly’s flat, all-over colors.

At the same time, Jackson Pollock easily incorporated his signature into his webs of paint and many other contemporary artists do the same. There is nothing wrong with signing the front and many, many highly regarded artists embrace this tradition.

One thing I know for sure: Sign it somewhere! Like the gallery director mentioned--signing on the back (verso) is an option. You’ll drive future curators and historians crazy without the signature and date.

Image (c) Patrice Erickson, Behind the Trees

I selected this image of Patrice's because her signature is so large compared with the size of the canvas. And she has made it in a lighter color so that it very much stands out in the dark foreground. This is neither good nor bad, but the signature becomes a design element when you do this. It doesn't fade into the background, but stands out as part of the composition.

Where do you sign your art?

Big announcement: the blog tour begins March 25!

To help promote I'd Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion, I'm kicking off a blog tour.

Where: Your blog
When: Tuesdays and Fridays beginning March 25
Why: Because I can't be everywhere at once and because your blog is way cool
How: Read more and sign up right here

You'll get an easy day's post, a link on the blog tour stop, and can make some money if you sign up as an affiliate.

Get the details and sign up!

Your artist talk

Jennifer Falck Linssen just returned to Colorado from California, where she opened a solo exhibit at the Craft & Folk Art Museum in L.A. She wrote to me:

I used a bit of your advice for my artist talk . . . before we left for the trip, I took 2 of your book recommendations out of the library (Be Heard Now and Working the Room). The advice was helpful especially 2 pieces: audiences have an attention span of approximately 20 minutes, and find the people looking at you in the audience who are smiling and nodding at you and speak to them. These two pieces really helped. I'm fairly new to speaking in front of audiences. After all, I spend most of my time in my studio alone. :)  I just tried to be myself and tell stories. The audience had wonderful questions and I felt dynamic responding to their questions. Speaking will definitely take practice, but the future is bright! 

So glad to hear these books helped, Jennifer!  And I'm thrilled you're out there speaking up for your work. Now, go out and get Brag! from your library.

Image (c) Jennifer Falck Linssen, Sculpture of handcarved paper (katagami) with stitching. Materials include archival cotton paper, aluminum, waxed linen, indigo, paint, and varnish.