Welcome to the debut of this new section designed to offer business, tech, & practical tips for the artistically-minded! While I don't expect this to be a comprehensive guide, hopefully it can provide relevant insights for artists, independent musicians, makeup artists, photographers, and other creatives in their journey!
As of September 7th, 2024, the RSS feed for this Artist Resources section is being discontinued. This doesn't signify that I intend to abandon these pages. Instead, any major additions to these articles & reviews will subsequently be posted on the CHANGE LOG page.
However, in the event that you're feeling slightly nostalgic, you may still view the timeline of the old RSS feed.
PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR ART
Not all artists have to go through the effort of creating a deliberate pictorial catalog of their work. Most musicians & vocalists are concerned with capturing sound and not necessarily visuals as the primary focus of their art. (…At least initially. Let's skip any commentary on the gyrating music videos some of them make.) Digital artists obviously have the benefit of being able to almost instantly resize & transfer their finished work anywhere with a few clicks of their mouse or tablet. And if you're a makeup artist, more often than not you're left to the mercy of the photographer to provide you with good pics after editing. But unless you're one of the previously mentioned creatives, there's a good chance you have to photograph your own paintings, sculptures, or other forms of art. You could invest in a high quality scanner, but needless to say, not all visual mediums are exactly suited for that type of image capture. Or you could call on a photographer friend to help out. (Which is another reason to always be good to photographers…) Either way, at some point you'll likely be involved in the process of taking photos of your beloved artistic creations. So to that end, I'd like to provide the following resources, geared specifically towards those DIY artists who must catalog their own work as a result of time or budget constrictions:
If you're a working artist in today's competitive environment, you already know the default standard for portfolios has long since moved to an online environment (…even though certain employers & clients still prefer the tactile qualities of a traditional image port). Yet some artists still try to avoid digital image galleries like their upcoming dentist appointment! So whether you've been postponing the inevitable or whether you're in the market for a new service provider, let's start by taking a look at a few options for showcasing your work online and some of the pros & cons of each one:
Even if you drown out or try to ignore everything being reported in the news, that doesn't mean you'll somehow be immune from the effects of potentially life-changing legislation or the latest technology. Progress (as they call it) marches on, irregardless of whether or not we pay attention. To that end, I'm introducing this new section that explores newsworthy current events, as well as typical artistic processes, relevant to creatives and their businesses. Rest assured, I have no intention of turning these pages into a polarizing political forum. I'll do my best to keep things light, while still pointing out trends or issues that could have an impact on you and your work. And when it's feasible, I'll also try to offer ideas as to how to respond to the mentioned challenges. So let's talk shop…
This second article addressing artificial intelligence turned out to be a much more comprehensive take on the subject, covering a broad spectrum of fields across various aspects of society. It includes multiple proposals for avoiding the potential dangers & pitfalls inherent in the technology, and it again concludes with recommendations for artists in dealing with AI.
