Understanding Copyright Basics 

What is Copyright? 

Copyright is, literally, the right to make copies. But it is much more. Copyright grants creators certain exclusive rights to their original works. Those works can include music, audio-visual works, photography, fine art, literature, software, architecture, choreography, and more. In the U.S. and most jurisdictions, copyright protection is automatic upon the creation of an original work, as long as it is fixed in a tangible medium (like a painting affixed to canvas, a sculpture formed out of marble, or a digital file residing on your hard drive). But that protection is significantly limited without a copyright registration.   

What Does Copyright Protect? 

Copyright protects the expression of ideas, but not the ideas themselves. This means that while you may be inspired to paint the same landscape that hundreds of others have painted before you, your unique expression, style, and concept will be protected. For example, most Western movies have some of the same common ideas – people on horses in a dusty, dry land, good guys and bad guys, a disagreement at a saloon, a shootout, etc. While nobody can own the idea of a Western, each individual expression of that idea is a protectable creative work. Similarly, while Andy Warhol’s work may inspire you to create garishly colored silkscreens of consumer products, doing so is entirely legal unless you copy Warhol’s actual works of silkscreened soup cans, Coca-Cola bottles, and the like. You have simply expressed the same idea, but in your unique creative way, and you will be entitled to copyright protection.    

Copyright grants the creator of an original work a bundle of exclusive rights in that work, including the following: 

• Reproduction: The right to make copies of (reproduce) your work; 

• Distribution: The right to sell or distribute copies; 

• Public performance: The right to perform your work publicly (relevant particularly for music); 

• Public display: The right to display your work publicly (for example with fine art); and 

• Derivative works: The right to create adaptations of your work. 

Tips for Protecting Your Art 

1. Register Your Copyrights!

First and foremost, let us dispel a common myth: the so-called “Poor Man’s Copyright” – where you mail yourself a copy of your work to rely on the postage date stamp as proof that you created a work by a specific date.  In short, the Poor Man’s Copyright gets you none of the benefits of federal registration.   

Even though copyright protection is automatic once an original work is affixed to a tangible medium, registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office provides significant additional benefits crucial to any artist, including: 

• Legal proof: Registration serves as legal evidence of your ownership; 

• Ability to sue, secure a damages award, and secure an award of your attorneys’ fees: With a registration, at the time of infringement, you can sue for statutory damages and secure an award of the attorneys’ fees incurred if you are forced to bring an infringement suit.   

• For many artists, if a third party infringes your work, it can be very difficult to prove your actual monetary damages resulting from that infringement. This is particularly the case for artists without a track record of selling and licensing their work. But with a registration in hand, at the time of an infringement, the copyright owner can dispense with the effort of proving actual damages and, instead, opt for statutory damages, which are increased if the judge finds that the infringement was willful.   

• Also, with registration, at the time of infringement, a copyright owner can seek and secure an award of the attorneys’ fees incurred in bringing the legal action.  That means that the infringer, in addition to paying his/her/their attorney, may have to pay the fees of your attorney as well.   

• Bottom line, infringement of a registered copyright exposes an infringer to the obligation of paying a significant monetary award in addition to the fees generated by all attorneys in the matter. This gives the registered copyright owner significant leverage, incentivizing early settlement of the claim.   
• Public record: Registration creates a public record of your copyright, deterring potential infringers.

2. Keep Detailed Records

Rather than rely on the “Poor Man’s Copyright,” maintain documentation of your work process as well as publication of your work.  Ideally, maintain the following: 

• Sketches and drafts: Save preliminary sketches, drafts, and notes. 

• Dates of creation: Keep track of when you created each original piece, and even portions thereof. 

• Exhibition and publication records: Document where and when each of your works is displayed or published. 

These records can help establish your ownership and the timeline of your creative process. 

3. Use Watermarks

Once your work is in digital format, it is easily moved around the world in seconds. If you share your work online, consider using watermarks. A watermark is a visible overlay identifying you as the author of that work. While a watermark will not prevent someone from using your work without your authorization, it makes it clear who the copyright owner is and, especially if the infringer tries to remove it, in the context of a copyright infringement suit it can significantly bolster your assertion that the infringement was willful, perhaps leading to a higher damages award. 

4. Generate Revenues from Licensing Your Work

If you wish to allow others to use your work, enter into a written license agreement specifying how your work may be used and how you will be compensated for allowing that use. Licenses can be exclusive (only party X can sell prints bearing an image of the work) or non-exclusive (grant the same right(s) to multiple parties). A license is a legal agreement that should clearly state the license granted, how long that license lasts, the reporting and accounting obligations of the licensee, and how the copyright owner will be compensated for providing that license, in addition to numerous other provisions. When a licensing opportunity arises, engage a copyright attorney to assist you in drafting that document.   

5. Understand Fair Use

Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without the copyright owner’s permission under certain circumstances, typically for purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. As an artist, be aware of how fair use might apply to your work and to the works of others, particularly if you engage in practices like remixing or sampling.   

6. Read Online Terms of Use

There are numerous online locations, including social media sites, that provide excellent platforms to showcase your work. But be very careful before posting your work. Check the platform’s Terms of Use because some platforms’ Terms provide that when you upload your work, you grant the platform a license to use it in various ways without your prior consent.  Consider whether you want to grant this license before posting and always include a copyright notice on your image. 

7. Know Your Rights When Selling

When you sell your art, clarify what rights you are transferring. The sale of an artwork does not automatically transfer copyright unless explicitly stated, in writing. For example, you may make 100 prints of your oil painting, but you are not selling or licensing your copyright in the original painting by selling these prints. Just because someone purchases a print doesn’t mean that they can make copies of the print to sell, distribute, etc. Always be clear in a sale whether the buyer receives only the physical artwork or if they also gain certain usage rights. 

8. Consult an Intellectual Property Attorney

If you’re unsure about any aspect of copyright, consider consulting with a copyright attorney. Every situation is unique, and an experienced intellectual property attorney can tailor your licenses and other agreements to your specific situation, help you with copyright registration, and guide you through potential legal issues. 

Conclusion 

A basic understanding of copyright is essential for working artists, enabling you to protect your creative work, assert your rights as a copyright owner, and generate revenues from your work. By understanding copyright basics and registering your work soon after creation, you can safeguard your art from infringement and put yourself in the best position possible should your work be infringed. As an artist, your creativity deserves protection. By implementing these tips, you can focus on what you do best – creating – while ensuring that your work is recognized, respected, and protected. 

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Authors Bio: 

Co-founders of intellectual property law firm Crown® LLP, Elizabeth J. Rest and Owen Seitel have a passion for Advising Creativity®. Elizabeth is a brand builder and portfolio protector, focused on trademarks and copyrights, and Owen has more than 30 years of experience with commercial endeavors, transactions, and disputes involving intellectual property and broader business matters. They can be reached at elizabeth@crownllp.com and owen@crownllp.com.   

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Identifying Your Needs

The foremost aspect of organizing your artwork is to understand your specific needs. This should be determined by the nature and size of your collection, the frequency of acquiring new pieces, how often you interact with your collection, and your long-term goals for the artwork. If you own a small collection that you display in your home, you might want to organize it differently than if you are a gallery owner or a serious collector with a rotating display.

Choosing a Logical System

After identifying your needs, select a logical system that suits them. A few ways you could categorize your artwork include:

• By Medium: This is especially practical if you have a diverse collection featuring different mediums like oil paintings, watercolors, photographs, sculptures, etc. Separating by medium allows for easier access and can help ensure that each piece is stored under appropriate conditions for its specific needs.
• By Artist: If your collection features work from various artists, it might make sense to organize them by the artist’s name. This is particularly useful for art dealers or collectors who focus on works from certain artists.
• By Genre or Style: Grouping pieces by their genre or style (abstract, surrealism, impressionism, etc.) allows you to quickly navigate to pieces that share a similar aesthetic or theme. This can be useful when trying to curate a display that tells a certain story or creates a specific mood.
• By Date or Period: If your collection spans different periods or if you have artwork from the same artist that spans different stages of their career, you might want to consider organizing by date or period. This can also help in understanding the evolution of an artist or art form.

Consistency and Intuitiveness

No matter which method of categorization you choose, ensure the system is consistent. This means that every piece of art has a predetermined category where it belongs. An intuitive system will make it much easier to locate a particular piece of artwork in the future. In addition to that, consistency in labeling, whether physical labels or digital entries, is crucial to avoid confusion.

Documentation

Document each artwork in your collection. This should include all relevant information about each piece – its name, the artist’s name, the medium, the date it was created, its size, its acquisition details, etc. Also, photographs of each piece will help in tracking and identification. This could be stored in a physical file or digitally. There are even specific art management software options available for this purpose.

Physical Arrangement

If your collection is physically extensive, consider how the artwork is stored or displayed. It should reflect your categorization system. For instance, you might have separate rooms or sections dedicated to different mediums or artists. Make sure the environment is suitable for the type of art stored there – consider light exposure, temperature, and humidity.

Regular Updates and Review

As you acquire or let go of pieces, it’s crucial to keep your system updated. Regularly review and possibly revise the system as your collection changes or grows. Ensure that new acquisitions are incorporated into the system promptly and correctly.

Create Detailed Records

Cataloging artwork requires creating detailed records for each piece. Include essential information such as the artist’s name, title, year of creation, medium, dimensions, provenance, and any other relevant details. Additionally, consider adding high-resolution images of each artwork to the catalog to facilitate identification and reference.

Utilize Technology

Leveraging technology can significantly enhance your art collection management process. Numerous software options and online platforms are available specifically designed for cataloging artwork. These tools offer features such as database management, image uploading, tagging, and search capabilities, making it easier to efficiently organize and locate specific artworks.

Moreover, some of these platforms allow for augmented reality viewing, allowing you to envision how an artwork will look in a particular space before purchase or installation. Advanced features like artwork condition reporting, provenance tracking, and valuation data further enrich the utility of these tools. The integration of technology into artwork organization and cataloging reduces manual effort, increases accuracy, and provides a more comprehensive understanding of your art collection.

Implement a Barcode System

A barcode system can streamline the process of tracking and managing your artwork. Assign unique barcodes to each piece and create corresponding labels or tags to attach physically. By scanning these barcodes, you can instantly access information about the artwork, update its location, or view its history within your cataloging system.

Prioritize Conservation and Documentation

Conservation and documentation are integral aspects of organizing and cataloging artwork. Implement proper preservation techniques to safeguard your collection against damage or deterioration. Document any changes, repairs, or restorations that artworks undergo over time. This information will prove invaluable for future reference and provenance verification.

Regularly Update and Review

To ensure the accuracy and relevance of your catalog, it is essential to establish a routine for updating and reviewing your records. Make it a habit to document new acquisitions promptly, update information as needed, and remove artworks that are no longer part of your collection. Regular reviews will help maintain the integrity and efficiency of your cataloging system.

Back-Up Your Data

Lastly, always back up your cataloging data to prevent loss or damage. Store your records in multiple locations, including physical backups and secure digital storage solutions. This precaution will provide peace of mind and safeguard your hard work from potential data loss incidents.

Conclusion on the Best Practices for Organizing and Cataloging Artwork

Organizing and cataloging artwork can be time-consuming, but it is an investment that pays off in the long run. By following these best practices, you can streamline your art collection management, enhance accessibility, and ensure the longevity of your valuable assets. Embrace technology, maintain detailed records, and prioritize conservation to create a cataloging system that empowers you to enjoy and share your art collection fully. Start implementing these practices today and watch your organization skills flourish.

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Author Bio:

Marie Lawson is a seasoned art enthusiast, tech aficionado, and acclaimed blogger on the intersection of art and technology. Working at Golans Moving and Storage inspired many practical storage ideas for art collections. She believes that integrating technology into the art world preserves our artistic heritage and paves the way for unprecedented creativity.

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BECOMING AN ARTIST BASED IN NEW YORK

New York is there for you if you are a passionate art lover and have always dreamed of becoming a painter, sculptor, photographer, or any kind of artist. You don’t have to have a degree in one of these arts. New York is full of self-educated artists who are brilliant at their work. Since that is the case, you might want to be cautious of the competition. Although talent is essential, and a degree is not a requirement, remember that having a degree from one of the best art colleges in America can open many doors for you. It is more likely your degree, combined with your talent, will open the heavy doors of the Gagosian Gallery.

With its rich art history, New York draws many artists each year. Glamorous and romantic stories of Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and many more still have an impact on artists of today. What artist doesn’t dream of a spacious loft filled with natural sunlight that shines through the enormous windows? However, as mesmerizing as New York City can be, dreams are not all that it takes to live as an artist in New York City. There are numerous everyday things you need to take into consideration. You need to think about:

• Finding a place to live and work – an essential part when you want to live in New York City
• Hiring a representative – an agent might help you to launch your career in the art world much faster
• Getting inspired – New York City has many wonderful art places you can visit to get inspiration

WHAT IT TAKES TO FIND A PERFECT PLACE TO LIVE AS AN ARTIST IN NYC

When you first move to New York, to make it there as an artist, you will need to find a place for yourself to live and work in. Therefore, you might want to wait a bit with that spacious loft-like that of Andy Warhol’s. Leave that for when you become a famous artist. Most people start small when moving to NYC. That means, if you are relocating alone, it’s best to look for renting a studio since this type of apartment has the lowest rental price. And if you are not a street artist, it will serve you well for any work you must do.

Unless you already have a place to stay, for example, with family and friends, you will have to pay rent. For a beginner artist, it’s not uncommon to have a job in addition to being an artist in New York City. Until your career in the art world launches, it’s best to have a secure income. That way, you can concentrate on your art and not stress about your everyday needs.

HIRING A REPRESENTATIVE FOR ARTISTS

If you are serious about having a career as an artist, you may as well consider hiring an art agent. Without a doubt, it is the best way to help yourself. If you can afford the fees, we highly recommend you take the services of an agent. An art representative is there to find you an audience, promote your work, negotiate exhibitions, find potential buyers, and sell your work. Keep in mind that it is best to find someone with experience. Look for proof of the agent’s credibility. Research and find out who the artists that agent has previously worked with are.

NEW YORK CITY IS THE BEST PLACE FOR AN ARTIST TO GET INSPIRED

It is no secret that every artist can experience creator’s block occasionally. But the most important thing to do when this happens is not to stress about it. Leave your work, pick up your coat, and stroll through New York City’s beautiful streets. You may soon find yourself in front of one of the most incredible places for art lovers in NYC – the Metropolitan Museum of Art or popularly known as “The Met.” If you go inside, you can gaze upon some of the greatest works in art history. Is that a chance an artist would want to miss?

Besides the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with its collection of over two million works of art, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City offers plenty more places for artists and art lovers. If you feel overwhelmed by extensive art collections, you may visit some of the city’s most famous art galleries, like the Gagosian Gallery. They tend to exhibit the most popular contemporary artists. And if nothing like that interests you at this period and you just need to relax, you can visit the Columbus Circle Holiday Market and see that you don’t have to be famous to live as an artist in New York City. There you can find numerous anonymous artists selling their work. If nothing, their pure love for art will surely be an inspiration to you.

Author’s Bio: Jessica Pattison is a freelance writer who adores all forms of art. She has been engaged with many companies, and most recently she has been creating content for roadwaymoving.com. Jessica’s preferred niche is art and culture, but she also enjoys writing about interior design and landscaping. In her free time, Jessica enjoys to read and play with her two cats.

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BRIEF SUMMARY OF YOU

Every time you begin introducing your work, you need to share some information about yourself. How old are you, where you are from, where did you study — if you’ve studied somewhere and some other basic facts that are important for your work. Think of having your bio as part of your artist statement. But, there are a lot of ways you can introduce yourself, it doesn’t need to be the traditional way, you could end up matching your work with the information you’d like to share.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF YOUR BODY OF WORK

In your artist statement, it’s important to include a brief history of your body of work. When composing this paragraph, it’s difficult to keep it short, simple, and to the point. Don’t include every detail of your journey, but rather think of turning points in your path as an artist. Think of the pieces of work you created that transformed your point of view or came from a place of rethinking. Consider the situations that inspired you to create and in what way this influenced you. Last, this needs to be a brief statement, so choose what you want to include wisely.

INFLUENCES

Another subject you should consider including is your influences. When writing about influences, it’s important to not be just name-dropping. Think about how other artists inspired your work, and in what way you look up to them. When deciding what to write in this section, be sure to fact-check your information.

PREFERRED MEDIUM AND METHOD

Now, method and medium are two completely different things. Your method could be the same, while the medium may change constantly. So apart from sharing your work, you can share how you work. How do you approach a piece of art? What is it that you do first? How do you research? These are all questions that you can answer in this segment that will highlight your uniqueness.

A PARTICULAR PIECE OF YOUR WORK

In an artist statement, it’s important to focus on the present. Think of a piece of work that you have created in the past or something that is current, and it reflects on the issues and themes that are close to you right now and showcase it. Explain why it’s important to you and why you have selected the particular piece to say something more. It could be your latest piece of work or something you have created a long time ago, but it feels current to your state of mind at the moment.

IDEAS ON THE EXHIBITION OF YOUR PARTICULAR WORK

The work in itself and how it’s exhibited are different decisions that affect one another. Showcase your ability to think out of the box when exhibiting a piece. Even if you haven’t had your work in a gallery or shown to the public, you can write your ideas on how you envision it. This segment will give the reader a feeling for the final product, while it showcases your process and method as an artist.

WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH, WHAT YOU WISH TO EXPLORE IN THE FUTURE

This segment is very important because it’s referring to the direction you wish to go to, your future. How are you pushing your boundaries? What is it that you want to explore further and experiment? These are questions that should be answered in this segment. You could write about different techniques and methods that you’d like to try, different mediums, a combination of mediums, etc.

THINK OF THE WHY CONSTANTLY

A great tip that someone told me once when I was writing my own statement was to think of why you are including every piece of information. Writing an artist statement is very personal and psychoanalytic in a way. It requires you to be honest and very open with your work, your thoughts, and your intentions. The more honest you are with yourself, the more unique your work will be.

WRITE KEYWORDS THAT YOU WANT TO INCLUDE THAT SHOW THE CONNECTION TO YOUR WORK

Another trick that you could try is to jot down some keywords that you believe describe you and your work best, and then try to find a structure that makes sense to include all these pieces of information together. You can take each one of the questions you want to answer and write down five keywords for each.

INCLUDE YOUR ASPIRATIONS AS AN ARTIST; WHAT IS YOUR VISION?

This segment is closely tied with the “What would you like to explore” section, but it is a wider answer. It’s a segment where you could write how you envision yourself and your art in 10 years. You could write about your values, how you want to continue transforming, what you would like to achieve, etc. It could be something that isn’t only about you — it could be your vision for a better world and how you would or will contribute to it.

CONCLUSION

As it was stated previously, an artist’s statement is deeply personal because it showcases an artist’s connection to their work. As long as you are honest and know why you are including all these little pieces of yourself, the information you deem important, you will end up with your own unique voice and identity. Show your journey, your method, your point of view, and you’ll have an artist statement you are proud to represent you and your art!

Author Bio: Nicole Garrison is a professional writer and art enthusiast at TrustMyPaper. She loves traveling, reading books, and going to museums. Nicole writes frequently on blogs and sites to share her expertise as a writer. 

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So, to create this article, we consulted professional artists who manage to find buyers for their paintings and earn their talents. Yes, imagine, they do exist in reality. If you want to become an artist, here’s what the pros had to say.

Tip 1: Learn the Basics

All sciences and crafts begin with basic knowledge. If you attended art school, you just need to refresh the information you got there. If you just picked up a pencil for the first time, it’s a good idea to enroll in drawing and painting classes or at least finds online art classes, read textbooks, and listen to audio courses. A true artist should be able to mix paints on their own and understand what color and color scale, shadow and penumbra, proportions and perspective are. These basics are not dead theory; they are basic knowledge that makes work easier.

An artist also needs to know exactly what tools they need to best do what they love to do. Then, when you decide on your style and technique, study it more thoroughly. And not to imitate another, but solely for the sake of mastering the secrets of skill.

Tip 2: Do Not Get Hung Up Going In Only One Direction

Many experienced artists are aware of their weaknesses. For example, one painter perfectly paints landscapes, but understanding the complexities of human anatomy was something he could not master, even after years of effort.

You can learn a lot by improving your knowledge and skills to become a universal artist and a master. Try to expand your horizons, discover new directions and styles, the culture of different eras, the art of different countries. Try to apply all the findings and techniques in your practice.

A narrow vision is not good for an artist; a creator should be able to go beyond the established patterns. Try to mix different styles and techniques. Your work will immediately become more interesting.

Tip 3: Study All Kinda and Genres of Fine Art

It is said that real artists must understand all the nuances of fine art. It is necessary not only to be able to draw with pencils and paints but also to study different techniques. You will only benefit if you learn how to work with various mediums: crayons, oil, acrylics, and watercolor. In addition, at least learn the basics of graphics editors. It’s an important component for business if nothing else. You’ll be able to process photos of your work or design a brochure and invitations for an exhibition.

Tip 4: Work Every Day

If the best testament for a writer is “not a day without a line,” then for an artist, it must be “not a day without a drawing,” or better several. Experienced artists know how quickly the quality of work increases if you force yourself to do 30 sketches a day. It takes a lot of work to become a true artist, to develop your original and recognizable style, to find your “zest.” Dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to creativity. Inspiration is a capricious thing it does not always come, and often not at the moment when it is required. In rare cases, images or stories come to us almost ready-made. As a rule, everything is revealed in fragments, literally in crumbs.

So, what to do if there is no inspiration for too long? Keep working, overcome all the difficulties and build your creative life step by step, day by day. One painter I know, on occasions, when there are no new ideas and inspiration for a long time, just paints the view out the window. He lives in the center of St. Petersburg, so it’s not hard for him to find beauty.

Tip 5: Learn From The Greats

It is very useful for an artist to study in-depth the work of acknowledged masters. If you can’t see the paintings of famous artists, then study albums of fine arts, the Internet will help you! Try to look for the smallest details of the paintings of great artists of the past, who immortalized their names in art.

Do not forget that copying is welcome for educational purposes and despised for imitative purposes.

Tip 6: Try to Create Something New

An artist needs to hone his or her skills in the pursuit of perfection, such as depicting butterflies. To do this, you need to increase your skill level with daily exercises. In time, the exercises will lead to other priorities in your art. If you want to become an artist that everyone will recognize, you have to find a way to create work that hasn’t existed before you and offer the world a whole new product.

Some artists spend their entire lives painting nymphs as they were taught at art school and remain anonymous, despite their obvious talent and skill. Finding a new avenue in art is very difficult and painstaking work. Perhaps what you create today will be a total failure, or perhaps the opposite, a masterpiece. And you’ll never know until you try it.

Tip 7: Don’t Be Afraid to Show Your Paintings To the World

Artists who paint but do not show their work to the world should not hope for lifetime fame. You should not only create masterpieces but also show them to people.

Even if you create only for yourself, it never hurts to show your work to those who understand art. Many novice painters are afraid of criticism. But are you really going to let someone lower your self-esteem? You’ve put so much thought, effort and time into your work, only to have it relegated to a dark closet? That certainly doesn’t sound like a wise decision. Especially today when the Internet allows any creative person to showcase the product of their talent. You don’t have to have a one-artist exhibition right away.

Your paintings don’t have to be masterpieces or even finished works. You can simply publish a report on your blog about how a painting called “Portrait of a Lady in Blue” or “Sunrise over the Bay” is going. The more often you show your work, the easier it will be for you to deal with criticism. And, most importantly, this way you’ll be more likely to know what direction you should take.

Tip 8: Enjoy Criticism

A few more words about criticism. Artists who live around people always get comments on their work. If an artist can’t listen to criticism calmly, then what kind of an artist is he? So be happy with any comments, both positive and negative, because they are necessary for your development.

If they criticize you, take it to heart, but don’t take others’ words as an attempt to humiliate you. If you are a beginning artist, you should listen especially carefully. Suddenly, there is something you can learn. In this case, you don’t need to abandon your original style, but perhaps adjust to incorporate other valid ideas and input. 

Tip 9: Speak More With Fellow Artists

More experienced artists can give you tips, teach you something new, or give a helpful comment about your work, looking at it with a fresh professional eye.

Attend creative workshops. It’s a great way to see how contemporary art lives, in what direction it’s developing. In the end, networking with your colleagues is always useful. Thanks to professional acquaintances you will have a better chance of being invited to an exhibition or finding buyers for your paintings.

Tip 10: Don’t Paint for the Sole Purpose of Making Someone Happy

The artist’s job is to find beauty, to create and share their experiences with the world, and then to move on. You don’t have to dwell on one painting for a long time and think about how else to improve it. No need to constantly worry about how the audience will react to your work. Don’t try to create to please any audience, otherwise, it won’t be art, but a commercial enterprise.

Author Bio: Gabriella Tou leads freelance projects as a content writer. She will give you the best recommendations on how to write my college essay. Gabriella is inspired by nature and paintings.

All images: https://www.pexels.com

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“Extraordinary” in the sense that they’re outside the norm, the “ordinary” of what other people do. In fact, many artists feel called to live their Truth no matter the cost.

Some artists tell me they feel they were born to create.

It’s not unusual for artists to feel that art is their Purpose. It’s what you love doing. And, ideally, it’s how you want to make a living.

THE REALITY OF LIVING OUR TRUTH AND MAKING MONEY FROM IT CAN SEEM DAUNTING. 

Overwhelming. Impossible on some days. Despite hard work, talent, and years of experience, the path to success for many artists is not always clear. 

Success, especially financial success, can seem elusive. 

How do you honor your passion, your creativity, and your calling, when living the life of a successful artist can sometimes feel like a lost cause? 

PICTURE THIS FOR A MOMENT: 

An American woman flees a glamorous job as an art dealer. She sells all of her possessions, and she moves by herself to the middle of nowhere in the south of France. And she speaks no French. 

Eventually, she becomes a successful entrepreneur, artist, and writer. 

She creates an online business program for artists, called the Working Artist Masterclass. She teaches artists how to sell art. And she has since supported thousands of creatives in not just working as an artist but creating an artful life. 

My name is Crista Cloutier. 

I’m here to help you honor your calling. To JUMP toward your dreams. And to make money doing it. 

For me, choosing to work as an artist is “about being bold, taking risks, making work, building a career, finding inspiration, sharing your vision. It’s about owning who you are and the magic that happens when you JUMP into the unknown.”

Take that leap of faith.

LOTS OF ARTISTS ARE OVERWHELMED. 

They’re overwhelmed by ideas. Overwhelmed by options. Overwhelmed by choices. They’re so overwhelmed that they become paralyzed, unable to move or to even trust themselves to take the first step. 

They self-sabotage. 

The life of an artist is never easy. A lot of artists have confidence issues. A lot of artists have time management issues. 

Procrastination is an occupational hazard. Balancing your energy and your time is another problem.

Artists suffer from too many ideas and too many ‘shoulds’. I should be doing this, I should be doing that. I should be on Instagram… I should be having this many followers… I should be making this much money…” 

It’s a lot of comparison stuff. Money is certainly a challenge for a lot of artists too. Making authentic connections is an even big problem.”

I’ve seen it all, and I’ve helped many artists work through their challenges. I lead them to clarity.

BECAUSE BEING CLEAR, CONSCIOUS, AND INTENTIONAL GETS YOU HEARD ABOVE THE NOISE.

Distilling your message, being clear in yourself and in what you’re saying, is critical.  Whether that’s crafting a brand, finding gallery representation, formulating a social media or sales strategy, I walk artists through the dark forest of confusion and questions. 

• How do you build professional contacts?
• How do you get people to join your mailing list? 
• How do you get them to your website in the first place? 
• What do you do with them once you’ve got them? 

Once artists get clear, they feel motivated AND they start taking the right steps toward success. 

Too often artists believe they’re stopped by the world, but the truth is that they’re the ones who are stopping themselves.

DO YOU REALLY NEED WHAT YOU THINK YOU NEED?

I met someone whose lifelong desire was to be a photographer. But he won’t take pictures. Because he doesn’t have the ‘right’ camera. So, he’s still not taking pictures. That’s an artist who’s gotten in his own way. 

I see artists do this all the time. They stop themselves because they think they don’t have the money. They think they don’t have the time. They think they don’t have the talent or the right tools, or permission or credentials. These are all challenges I’ve helped people with.

I give them the map and we take the steps as they follow the road to confidence and success.

A PATH TO YOUR CALLING

My work is my Calling. I want to make the world a more beautiful place by filling it with more artists. 

The art world has opened up. It’s not what it was, even a year ago. Artists can create their own creative career path, which creates their own future.

Welcome to your future. 

The Working Artist Masterclass. And for the next few days only, available at a very special price.  Connect today! 

https://theworkingartist.com

The post How Artists Get Heard Above the Noise appeared first on Art Business News.

And there are plenty of other, even crazier examples!

Looking at these examples, it can be rather hard to believe that anyone could ever think of using these tools and materials for painting. But, how can we blame them if, as was said earlier, art knows no limits or boundaries? Besides, if it wasn’t for their odd approach to painting, many of these artists would probably remain unnoticed and, if you think of it this way, it makes pretty good sense why they decided to go far beyond traditional brushes. After all, that’s what made them stand out.

Now, guess what? You can go the same path and also make your paintings stand out if you start thinking beyond the brush. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have to use your tongue or blood to paint. You will be surprised by how many more traditional tools you can use.

So, if you are a painting enthusiast yourself, in this article, we are going to tell you about six tools that can make your paintings more fun and definitely more unusual. Let’s dive in!

Blow Torch

Let’s start with something more or less not as surprising. As some of you may already know, regular blow torches (like the ones you can easily find in a local hardware store) have long found an application in art.

If we speak about painting in particular, special art or regular chef torches are mostly used for acrylic pour painting. This form of painting, along with alcohol ink art, is trending these days as many people find it relaxing and even somewhat meditating. The torch, in this case, is needed as a heat source that helps you reduce the surface tension of the paint layers, close bubbles or air pockets, and allow colors of different weights to mix more smoothly.

Sponge

This next tool is also not as odd and most likely can be found right in your kitchen. Sponges are widely used for painting not only by kids and amateurs but also by professional artists.

If you research a bit, you can find dozens of different sponge painting techniques. This tool can be used for a variety of purposes as well. Just to give you a few examples, replacing your brush with a sponge can help you reach very different color combinations, regulate levels of transparency or sheen, and add different textures to your artworks.

Bubble Wrap

If you want to have a very relaxing art session or want to add an eye-grabbing “bubbly” print to your masterpiece, then you can simply use a bubble wrap that came along with your most recent parcel.

This tool is often used in painting to create a really fun effect with inks or acrylic paint. And it is also often being used by kids because it is extremely easy to use – all you need to do is to put paint on top of the bubble wrap, press it to a paper or canvas, and then do whatever you feel like doing to create more and more unique patterns.

Hair Comb

We bet that a hair comb is something most of you have somewhere in your house but have you ever thought about using it for creating unique artworks? Probably not. Although not many of us would think of it, you can be surprised to learn that it is a rather popular tool among artists (and not just painters).

This tool is something most of us always have at hand, and it is easy to use. And the best part of it is that using a hair comb for painting really enables you to unleash your creativity. There are hundreds of patterns you can create with a hair comb – from straight lines to circles, waves, various geometric forms, and more. It can be used for hatching, as well as for adding texture and depth to your artworks.

Scrunched Up Paper

Another interesting and unusual tool you can add to your painter’s kit is a regular scrunched-up piece of paper. It can work great for adding texture and blending colors in a more unusual way. And it is also very easy to use. You just need to scrunch up a piece of paper, put the colors of your choice on top of it, and press or drag it on your canvas to add unique effects.

Body Parts

We’ve already told you about a couple of artists who kind of went to extremes in using their bodies for painting. The good news is that you don’t have to follow their lead and paint your works with the most unexpected parts of your body, but you still can use your body as another tool for painting.

Most often, artists rely on their hands, feet, toes, and fingers to create their masterpieces. As many of you probably think now, that’s a technique used by children to make their first steps in painting. That’s true. But this doesn’t mean that professionals or adult enthusiasts can’t use the same technique to create stunning paintings – if you need proof, just check out a few works by Iris Scott, an artist who made her name specifically on finger painting.

Final Words

If you think that’s all, think again because the number of tools you can use for your artwork is truly unlimited. If you are wondering what else you can use, the answer is – pretty much anything you can find! Apart from what we’ve mentioned so far, some other tools that can come in handy include:

• Toothpicks;
• Toothbrushes;
• Forks;
• Spoons;
• Feathers;
• Fruits and vegetables;
• Plants and flowers;
• Dish scrubbers;
• Coins;
• Stones;
• And plenty of other stuff.

Hopefully, reading this article was fun and enjoyable. Now, you know that your brush set isn’t the only thing you can use to create attention-grabbing paintings and have more fun than ever in the process of creating them!

In conclusion, the only thing we’d like to advise you is to never be afraid of trying new things – experiment with tools, use various materials, don’t limit your imagination, and let it get a bit messy. When you cross this line, that’s where true art is born!

Author’s Bio: This was written by a specialist from EssayService, Julie Gunn. She is a history essay writer with many years of experience but, apart from writing, Julie finds her passion in painting. In this article, Julie shares a list of unusual tools that painters can use to create outstanding artworks.

The post Going Beyond Brushes: Top 6 Tools to Use for Making Your Paintings Stand Out appeared first on Art Business News.

Where’s the fabulous gallery opening in New York City? Where are the international collectors to lavish praise and money on you? Where’s the gallery to take care of all those pesky marketing tasks and details? Instead, you battle rejection. You wonder where the money is going to come from. You find closed doors and indifference. This isn’t what you signed up for.

Some of us are still so shaken from taking the jump that we don’t even realize that we’ve already landed. Stop. Take a breath. Look around.

You’re an artist! You’ve taken that giant step toward authenticity. Do you recognize how very blessed you are? How many people never choose to take that jump but continue to hide their light in fear? How many more never even have the opportunity?

Don’t look at your world with eyes that see lack. Instead, search for the blessings. Be grateful for all you see. Yes, there are things that need to change to get to where you want to go next. Guess what? There always will be. As soon as you get to the next level, you’ll badly want to get to the next one. And then the next, and then the next.

Art world superstar Kiki Smith once admitted to me that choosing to be an artist is like choosing to be in a free-fall for the rest of your life. And this is an artist who’s got the fabulous openings, the attentive collectors and caring galleries. Yet she still feels that way!

So instead of complaining about what you don’t have, identify what you need to do to get it. Then start taking the steps. Baby steps. Every day. Bless the fact that you’re an artist; that you’re doing what you love. Acknowledge the courage it took to take that jump.

And then enjoy the ride.

The post So You’re An Artist. Now What? appeared first on Art Business News.