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What does it mean to be the artsy friend?
The artsy friend: you might’ve seen one, you might be one. They’ve got that quirky but irresistible charm, that Pisces/Scorpio energy (even if that’s not their sign), and usually a lot of incredible ideas. The artsy friend is the creative type. You’ve got big dreams, hobbies galore and an attitude that miiiiight just tie it all together into something truly world-bending. People say you’re a little strange, but you feel like being an oddity in today’s world is a superpower. You see things from a perspective most don’t, which gives you ideas most don’t have. And you want to use that power to make life more beautiful, inspiring, and open…
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Wall calendars and your family culture
Little practices have always set the foundation for our family culture: washing your hands and feet when you come inside for dinner, adhering to the chore chart stuck to the fridge, and paying attention to the wall calendar. Family culture is often happening routinely and without thought, but it glues everyone together in a similar mindset, shared habits, and common priorities. When my mom said, “We don’t do that,” it meant it was against this culture. Relationships thrive when you remember In our house the wall calendar hung in the kitchen. Everyone’s birthday was on it, and how old they were turning, written in red. Doctors appointments, get-togethers, babysitting schedules…
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Gift guide for your artsy friends
Every year there are birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries: so what to buy an artist? We all know our artsy friends can be particular and eclectic – we don’t always know exactly what they’ve been eyeing or what tools they use. Let’s go over the best artsy gifts for any occasion in this artist gift guide. VISUAL EXPERIENCES Take them on a date! Don’t worry – platonic dates, double dates, a group hangout sesh or some one-on-one time is all welcome. Experiences are the best gifts because you create memories and make the time for an attraction or event they might not have gone to see otherwise. Here are some prime…
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Selling art at events: types of art shows
EVENT MARKETING AND COMMUNITY Selling art at events is the fastest way to advance your art business. But there are many different types of events for artists and they all seem to blend together. For every different type of artist, there’s a different type of show. So let’s get into the details of art event categories, what happens and where they take place. EXHIBITIONS Selling art at events labeled as exhibitions means it’s in a gallery setting. A nice one, usually. Typically how exhibitions work is you will not set up a table here, but your artwork will be framed and hung on the wall by a curator, whose job…
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Artist collaboration tips (for solo creatives)
ARTIST COLLABORATION TAKES PRACTICE I typically avoid any type of artist collaboration. Working together with others when I feel strongly about the results has never been my forte. In school, I was always secretly hoping the teacher would pair me with the lazy students in class, so I could complete the whole assignment by myself unbothered. They appreciated my heavy lifting and I appreciated their apathy. When it has my name on it, I want it to turn out exactly how I like it. I’ve always been picky to a fault. At the same time, I’m often too nice to speak up when I don’t like someone else’s work. Everyone…
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Michigan Parks and Places: print series with a cause
I’ve decided to start an illustration series called Michigan Parks and Places! It’ll feature outdoor destinations in my home state that are fascinating beyond measure. I plan to make prints of each piece and send 20% of sales to the Department of Natural Resources in Michigan to help protect our wild places! I hope this series will encourage people to get outside and take care of our home — the earth — right where we are. WILDERNESS: A LOVE STORY I’ve always had an acute love for the outdoors. My family owns a piece of property up north that’s entirely forest and marshland. We visit often, so many of my…
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Offensive comments about your art + how to handle them
As an artist who shares or sells your artwork, you hear a lot of feedback. Most of the time, the comments you’ll receive are appreciative and uplifting. Sometimes though, the comments are offensive — even if that person means well. In this blog post we’ll talk about a few common offensive comments about your artwork and how to handle them. I also have a video where I cover these same comments. If you’re a video person instead of a reader, feel free to watch it here 🙂 “Anyone could do that.” This comment is offensive because it undermines your skill as an artist. If you have a simplistic style, do…
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Want artist friends? Here’s how to find an art community
WHO ARE YOUR PEERS? Everyone needs somewhere to fit in. Whether your group is large and mainstream, or small and niche, it feels good to find a space to connect with others. That’s why I always recommend finding a place for yourself in an art community. NOTE: Artsy Friends, a Patreon group by Carolyn Tantanella, is open now! It’s the perfect place to find your new friend circle online. Join the group here. WHAT COMMUNITY CAN BRING An art community can give you motivation and inspiration. Seeing other people create always makes me want to pick up my pencil. Different compositions, color schemes, figure gestures, and subject matter always get…
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Start an art account on Instagram with these steps
BECOME A SOCIAL MEDIA SWEETHEART So you’re ready to begin sharing your work online. Sweet. But how do you start an art account on Instagram? Instagram is the biggest platform for artists right now. One BILLION people use Instagram each month and creatives have been using this platform to reach new people every day. There is so much potential waiting for artists on Instagram as long as you know how to utilize it, where the boundaries are, and how to grow your reach. Let’s get into it. THE VERY FIRST STEP You probably already have a personal account. That’s fine. But first and foremost you must decide on whether to…
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Build a DIY art studio without paying for space
STUDIO TIME As an artist, you begin to need your own space. Your giant jar of paintbrushes, extra canvasses and countless paints, pencils, and programs start to pile up and suddenly the “do it wherever I can fit it” approach doesn’t cut it anymore. This calls for your own art studio. And it can be easy to build your own and keep everything organized in it’s own special space. Of course on Pinterest we all gawk over vast studios and wish we had the same. I dream of them all the time. In fact, you can look at the studios I gush about right here. But the reality of our…
