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Art Calendar

Saturday, November 29th, 2008 by Alyice

This year, I decided to get serious with my art. Of course, that means that I’ll spend a lot more time perfecting techniques, learning new crafts, and creating than I will spend actually building an art business. But I didn’t want to get to a point in my art business where I was ready to sell my art on a regular basis without fully understanding how the industry works so I signed up for a one-year subscription to Art Calendar.

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While I am not sure Art Calendar would be a good fit for already successful artists, I do believe that it’s a great magazine for beginning artists or those who’ve been creating art as a hobby for a long time and are finally ready to start selling their art.

One thing Art Calendar is not is a technique magazine. If you want to learn about the techniques artists use to create certain items, you’ll need to subscribe to a different type of magazine. Art Calendar concentrates on the business side of art.

Each issue is between 40 and 50 pages with minimal advertisements to distract from the content. Each issue if sold on the newsstand at $5 per copy or a subscription can be purchased at $37 for 11 issues. (At this time, there is a special on the site: 2 years for the price of 1.) Each issue is themed and contains articles that relate to that issue’s theme. Each issue covers business essentials, gallery insights, opportunity listings, and an artist profile. There are also four regular columnists.

While you will find a few photographs of art created by artists, the magazine is low-key when it comes to imagery and very high-key when it comes to content. The articles are written to teach, not show how intellectual the writer is. In other words, it’s not a pompous magazine that talks down to its readers and I like that!

The “artist opportunity listings” are very comprehensive and are broken down into two categories: paying and non-paying. Opportunities you’ll find within each issue are: residencies, festivals, fellowships, workshops, contests, competitions, grants, juried shows, exhibitions, and publishing
opportunities.

There is only one caveat. It takes awhile to receive your first subscription—usually 2 to 3 months after payment. But once the issues start coming, they come regularly and on schedule.

Again, I’d highly recommend the magazine for artists new to the business side of art.

Order a copy of Art Calendar today!

Posted in Art Magazines | 3 Comments »

Happy Thanksgiving America

Thursday, November 27th, 2008 by Alyice

Happy Turkey Day America! I hope you’re having a fantastic holiday, surrounded by loved ones, good food, and of course, The Macy’s Day Parade!

When I was a little girl, I spent the day sitting in front of our television set watching The Macy’s Day Parade while my single mom busied herself in the kitchen. She despised help on this day because everything had to be “just right” so I spent the day watching the parade. Truthfully, I liked watching the parade. It was exciting to me. I’d watch for specific floats to appear then holler at her to come see them. She’d stop what she was doing, come into the living room, and watch the float until it passed by.

To this day, one of my “BUCKET LIST” to-dos is to attend The Macy’s Day Parade in person.

Today, on this very special day in America, I am thankful for:

the good times I had with my mother,
the relationship I share with my husband of 18 years,
the bonds I share with my children,
the freedom to choose what I do for a living,
the freedom to make bad choices,
the freedom to make good choices,
the freedom to drive the highways at all hours of the day or night,
the freedom to shop at a store that’s open 24 hours a day/7 days a week,
the freedom to attend social gathering in public,
the freedom to attend church,
the freedom of speech, and
the freedoms we all possess simply by living in THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

What are you thankful for?

Give thanks…

Posted in It's Gratitude, Dude! | No Comments »

Art Play With Backgrounds

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 by Alyice

I wasn’t always a firm believer in playing with art supplies. As a young child, my single mother worked hard to provide for us—often going without meals so that we could eat—which meant that we had to learn to stretch things and to use what we had cautiously. As I grew into an adult, I found it difficult to do anything without purpose. I was even too afraid to try new things for fear of wasting our hard-earned money.

Then I had kids and everything changed. I wanted them to try new things, I wanted them to experience life, and I was willing to do whatever it took to allow them those opportunities. If they showed interest in something I made sure they had the supplies necessary to give that hobby or that interest a real try—even if it meant I went without things.

The ironic part is that while I would allow the kids to “waste” money and supplies trying out new things, I couldn’t get myself to do the same. If I was going to create something, I had to be darn-tootin-sure that what I was about to create was something that someone I knew would want and use. I couldn’t create simply for the sake of creating. I couldn’t create because it gave me pleasure. I had to create with a purpose. And so, many of the cool crafting books I had purchased would get read, but never fully explored.

Until now…

I finally get that to become a good artist, you can’t just read the books, watch the videos, or talk art. You must get out there and get your hands dirty. You must practice techniques, try new things, and use your imagination. You must create.

And you know what the best part about playing with your art is? It’s extremely therapeutic! It feels fantastic to just immerse yourself in the moment, even if what you had in your head doesn’t quite come out that way in your art and even though you discover that you have much, much more to learn.

Keep Creating.

Posted in Artful Wednesday, Artist's Life | 9 Comments »