Artful Blogging Magazine
Thursday, November 5th, 2009 by Alyice
Although Somerset Studio® began publishing their quarterly magazine, Artful Blogging, in the spring of 2008, it wasn’t until the summer of 2008 that I discovered the magazine. Like many, I wondered if the magazine would be able to hold my interest beyond the first year—after all, the Internet is full of free and amazing blogs to explore, and I couldn’t see paying $14.99 per issue, or $59.99 per year. But here we are in year two and I can honestly say that each issue continues to hold my interest.
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I Recommend Your purchase |
In 144 pages, we are introduced to 9 or so bloggers—some of whom we’ve already had the honor of running into online and others, we’ve yet to discover. Some of whom are famous in the blogosphere, and others who—after a year or so online—are finally coming into their own. We discover artists of all genre: painters, mixed media, sculpters, jewelers, bakers, quilters, collagists, writers, photographers, and even crafters. Some blog for the pure pleasure of sharing their little worlds with the universe, others blog as a way to build an audience for their e-stores—to show a personal side to their handcrafted goods, and others blog to find purpose, but all blog because they believe blogging makes the world a better place.
While the magazine has a cohesive look and feel, each blogger is allowed the freedom to write their stories in their own words—in their natural voices. And through these stories we learn how they discovered blogging, why they began their own blogs, what lessons they’ve learned through blogging, and why they take the time each day (or week or month) to continue blogging and conversing with other bloggers through post comments and social networking sites like twitter or facebook.
Each feature story is followed up with a partial post from the blogger’s personal blog and plenty of eye candy—photos of their creations, their lives, their personas. And sprinkled within those features are one or two Q&A sections dealing with some aspect of blogging, like why an artist chose to hold a certain challenge or contest and how that affected both the blogger and her readers.
Finally, there’s a two-page spread on banners the editors like, a form letter-like segment on blogging etiquette and taking great blog photos, and a two to three page spread on blogging tools.
And while there is no outside advertising, there are approximately eight to ten pages of Somerset Studio® advertisements—which mostly go unnoticed because they blend so well with the rest of the magazine.
If there is one thing this magazine is lacking, however, it would be “how-to” articles on blogging; because of as of right now, the magazine is all fluff and no meat. And for $15 per issue, I’d like a little meat.
Look, I love the title and I really like the features on the bloggers; especially all the eye candy! But what is so wrong with expanding on the title’s concept and adding four to six pages of real meat—even if it means eliminating just one blogger’s feature in each issue?
I’m not suggesting turning this beautiful, heartfelt magazine into a hyped-out “how you can make money selling your art online” piece of crap. But I am suggesting that each issue contain one or two well-thought articles on how to create “visually inspiring online journals”—and written by everyday bloggers, not experts who tend to write dry and without personal experience.
Articles like how to find your authentic voice; how to use proper grammar without going back to English class; how to select photos that match your post’s content; how to tell a story from the heart; why it’s important to seek permission when using other people’s likeness, artwork, or writing on a blog; when is sharing too much (i.e. jeopardizes your family’s safety); what to do when a reader’s comment is hurtful; how to take better photographs at night, in the house, outside, of people, of items, etc.
That one flaw aside, I have to say that I really enjoy the magazine. With each issue I find myself inspired to continue to search for my own “true” and “authentic” artistic voice. And I enjoy getting to know the reasons behind why people blog, how an open and free forum has changed lives, and essentially, what makes them tick as artists, as mothers, as wives, as women.
If you’re ready to get to know the real people behind their blogs, if you love being visually stimulated, and if can’t wait to discover new blogs to add to your blogroll, then I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Artful Blogging
Disclosure: I purchased this item to review. This is “my opinion” of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.
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Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 by Alyice
A little over a year ago, I went to Barnes and Noble—my favorite bookstore—in search of art inspiration. I didn’t know what I was looking for as I wasn’t sure what style or genre or technique I wanted to create with. All I knew was that I wanted to be inspired. I wanted to explore various techniques so that I could play with my art and hopefully combine several techniques to come up with my own style, my own niche. And that’s when it happened…I fell in love with a wonderful magazine called Cloth Paper Scissors
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I Recommend Your purchase |
At first, I refused to subscribe. I was sure that after a couple of months the magazine would grow stale and offer up the same old stuff disguised as something new. But I was wrong. Yes, there are times that projects look similar in nature but it always has something fresh and new to add to the mix—and I like that.
So after awhile I subscribed for one year. Then my year was up and I was offered the opportunity to subscribe for three years at a substantial discount—and I took it! Why not, not only does each issue come with loads of visual stimulation but each issue is mailed in a clear plastic wrap, allowing each issue to arrive in pristine condition!
Now, one thing the magazine is not is a business magazine. It does not cover how to successfully run an art business or how to blog about your art for profit. It is also not a fine arts or craft magazine. It is a mixed media technique magazine.
Each issue is approximately 99 pages and comes filled with creative ideas for mixing media to create one-of-a-kind art. It contains artist profiles, how-to instructions, insights into the creative process of artists, materials lists, resource lists, and sometimes, patterns.
If the magazine has one downfall, it would be the fact that sometimes the instructions are too generalized and there aren’t enough photos to help explain the more complicated processes. It’s as if the artist and/or editors assume the reader has played with the materials before or has heard the term used before or has done the step before—when in fact, it may very well be the reader’s first time.
If you’re ready to mix things up a bit, to combine various styles and materials, or to begin an artistic journey of your own, then I encourage to you to pick up a copy today. Or better yet, subscribe to receive 6 issues a year.
Order your copy of Cloth Paper Scissors
Disclosure: I purchased this item to review. This is “my opinion” of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.
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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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I Recommend Your purchase |
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
Disclosure: I purchased this item to review. This is “my opinion” of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.
Posted in Art Reviews Magazines | 3 Comments »
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