Ask An Artist

Good Bye

2009-05-07T03:24:00.000-04:00

And thanks for all the fish.

Photoshop Help

2009-04-26T09:43:00.002-04:00

If you are Photoshop-challenged, this may be the place for help.

Poppytalk Handmade

2009-04-26T08:35:00.007-04:00

Poppytalk Handmade is an online curated market for established and emerging artists.

Click HERE to check it out.

Art Mundo

2009-04-17T09:33:00.003-04:00

Announcing ART MUNDO!

This is a center located in Fort Pierce, Florida of which I'm a founding member along with

Allie Comer, Sherry Horton and Deena Wynne, three wonderful local artists. The center now has a physical location and is developing its programs, including workshop and class curriculums, studio space for rent, exhibit space, resources for artists and much more.

Art Mundo was inspired in part by other thriving Art Centers in cities throughout the country. These Centers nurture the creative needs of their respective communities and artists. If you haven't already, check to see if one of these Centers exists close to you. They are usually well worth a visit.

ART MUNDO is, of course just a baby org, so give us time

to be as cool as those that inspired us!

Click here to visit our blog.

Software For Artists

2009-04-13T08:03:00.003-04:00

A big problem I face and one that keeps me from moving forward in my true pursuit, that of being in the studio and making art, is being organized as a business person. Most businesses today employ software to keep them organized. They can check their inventory, its location, listed price, cost of materials, etc. Why not the artist?

Read the following to understand how I arrived at this blog entry (blogs are journals, after all) . . . or skip to the bottom for the chase.

Long ago, after reading several books on the "business of art", I set up this elaborate system, all in one huge 3 ring binder. Way too big for me to ever want to pull it off the shelf and use it. I did, however, use it for a while and it definitely helped. Eventually I broke it down into individual binders, but by then I was floating off to a space of ambiguity and indifference in regard to my business practices. I'd looked around. I seemed to be the only artist I knew who was concerned about all this record keeping and documentation. And, as I'd been accused on occasion of being a little compulsive, I decided "what the hey" and ditched any and all record keeping. (the all-or-nothing attitude)

Several things happened as a result. As my inventory increased and spread throughout, I had trouble remembering where everything was. As my office area became more disorganized, my studio became more disorganized. And the worst thing, I became more disorganized in my personal business. This happened over the course of several years.

The dawning realization for me is that everything is inter-related. Duh! And in the challenging economic times when artists may be impacted more than others (although I believe we, through the profession of art, have tools that may serve us well in these times), it is more important than ever to hone up on our organizational skills. This allows us to be on the top of our game, to notice small nuances, when they appear, that might direct us in our approach to the business of our art. I believe the easiest way to do this is through computer software.

I've done some quick research and the following websites are a few of what I found. These are by no means all that exist. AND I am not advocating any of these. (The last listing is from Art Biz Blog, which I have added to my blog list. It has more listed.) Check them out, draw your own conclusions. I will soon be choosing one and implementing it. I'll keep you posted.

Remember, though, nothing works if you don't work it.

Art Systems - http://www.artsystems.com/index.htm

Working Artist - http://www.workingartist.com/index.html

E Artist - http://www.artscope.net/eArtist/index.html

Archer Artist Business Software - http://www.archerartist.com/

Arawalk - http://www.arawak.com.au/

Art Biz Blog - http://www.artbizblog.com/2007/11/updated-databas.html

Wow! What a nap!

2009-04-11T16:56:00.002-04:00

I took a nap on a rainy afternoon and woke up the day before Easter!

Not really, but it sounds better than the lazy truth.

Look for a new post in the next day or two and thanks for saving my place!

A question . . .

2008-12-27T15:27:00.005-05:00

Art Fragments

2008-12-27T15:03:00.008-05:00

Sometimes when I'm stuck in my creativity,
I cut a square out of a piece of plain white paper
(can be 1", 3", whatever other size suites you best)
and place it on a piece of my art,
or favorite magazine photos, etc.

After moving it around,
finding a composition I like, I draw it, paint it, construct it.
After a few of these studies, my juices are running!

What are your methods to jump start your creativity?

There Are No Rules

2008-12-27T13:41:00.007-05:00

Are you an artist? A patron? A friend of an artist?

Do you have questions?
How do I mix purple?
Do artists accept payments or lay aways?
What is Outsider Art?

Do I need insurance for my studio if it's in my home?

Can I take an artist to lunch?
"Lunch" by Jack Biedenharn ©2000
All rights reserved.

What are the questions?
What are the answers?

Maybe we can start a dialogue on this and acquire a little wisdom along the way about what it is to be an artist, an artist's friend, or a person who buys art.
And all the processes involved.
And perhaps we can do this with grace and style.
"Three Graces" by Jack Biedenharn ©2000
All rights reserved.