Category Archives: For Artists

What is art?

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A glass flower from the Harvard Natural History Museum

While at the Harvard’s Museum of Natural History, I visited the glass flowers and I wondered if they would be considered art. They were made for science but are beautifully crafted. This posed the question of what exactly is art? A bit of background on the flowers: they were made between 1887 and 1936, as a way to study the anatomical structure of plants. These glass plants are so exact that they look like the real deal. Because they are an exact copy of real plants, does this mean that it is not art? Or for the fact that they were made for science not make them art? But this made me wonder, what exactly art is. If you didn’t know that they were glass, you might think their real. Therefore, why bother having a copy when you can have the real thing. I’m not sure if I agree with this or not. You should be able to tell if something is real or not, or is that the genius of it all?
All in all, I’m not quite sure what the answer is. It’s really up to you guys. So let me know what you think. Do you consider these glass flowers to art? What do you consider to be art?

For more information on the glass flowers you can visit this website: http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/on_exhibit/the_glass_flowers.html

Come check out Arts in the Park – This Saturday at Washington Park, Roxbury

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Enjoy street art?  Come check out the local talent and celebrate visual artists this weekend at “Arts in the Park.”  Join the party this Saturday, July 14th at Washington Park in Roxbury to watch local artists transform the basketball court in to a vibrant art space while enjoying the sounds of local musicians.  Come check it out and bring your friends, it’s sure to be a blast.

New Show at Gateway Real Estate Group

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            ArtVenue is happy to announce a new show that went up over the weekend.  Gateway Real Estate Group has their first show under way featuring the work of artist Phil Musen.  The show will run at Gateway until July 19th.  Check out the rest of Phil’s work on display here.

 

Artist Phil Musen @ Gateway Real Estate Group

The Gateway Real Estate Group Inc.
139 Brighton Ave
Allston, MA 02134

 

How To Make An Artist Website That Doesn’t Suck

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This might be the worst website ever.

This might be the worst website ever.

Being an artist is difficult for over 9,000 reasons.
Developing a web page is one of them.

Just because you are artistic, does not mean you are graphic design savvy.

Having an idea in your head does not give you the ability to code it.

Creating a web page that represents you and your art is difficult.
Its also…dare I say it…unnecessary.

Think for a minute about your favorite websites. Most likely, they are basic…not flashy, and easy to navigate.
You want the same for your site.

But…you ask….how will people know what I’m all about if my website is boring?

They will know by clicking through and looking at the artwork you are selling, instead of being overwhelmed by background colors, multiple fonts, and links on the home page. Keep people trolling though your site, don’t send them elsewhere. Let your art sell itself.

Make sure to update your website regularly. Many artists think of the website as a tertiary way of sales…after art shows and fairs. But your website is a way to sell art with very little effort, and you should make sure that it is always up to date. If you haven’t updated since October, people won’t know if you are still painting, or if the works are still for sale.

Re-size your images so they load quickly.
There’s nothing worse than waiting for a page to load. If a prospective buyer is interested in seeing more, they can load the full-size image…but thumbnails are better for window shoppers.
The more art those shoppers see, the better chance of them making purchases.

To summarize what we’ve learned:
-Basic is better.
-Try to minimize links that take users outside of your website
-Let your artworks sell you – the web site is merely a mechanism to get those arts seen.
-Update your site regularly
-Have first views of your pictures be small, so they load faster. If people are interested, they can load a larger size image.

Good luck! And if you need some ideas on what to do and what not to do, see what some other ArtVenue artists’ pages look like.

Boston Public Art Blog

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Did you know that Boston has a blog dedicated to informing YOU the whereabouts of public art spaces in the city?

The blog – like public art spaces – is run by The Boston Art Commission. That’s the group that decides where in Boston public art will go.

Public art ranges from sculpture to mosaic, sewer caps to park tables…even new media pieces and artistic lighting.

One project currently underway is the PaintBox program, which highlights local artists within their community and, in doing so, brightens up the streets and deters vandalism of utility boxes.

The individual boxes vary greatly in theme and technique depending on the artist, but as the program is city-wide, PaintBox has become a dynamic art installation in itself.

Are you interested in creating your own PaintBox? Apply through their website.

A utility box in the Longwood area

And if PaintBox isn’t your thing, but you are still interested in getting other art considered by the city, see their section on How to Propose Public Art

Reasons to Have an Art Blog

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A bit of bloggin’ background:

Blogs are a wonderful platform that provide a public forum for people’s thoughts and commentary, and hosting-sites like Blogspot, WordPress and Tumblr don’t cost a penny to start. Today, the blogosphere (collective community of all blogs) is so vast and expansive, you could conjure the most obscure topic you’ve ever thought of and there’s bound to be a blog on the subject. If there isn’t, the freedom is yours to start one – the world is your blog-oyster!

The term “weblog” was coined by Jorn Barger on 17 December 1997, according to Wikipedia. Here are 5 of the “Top 75 Art Blogs” according to blogrank*:

As you can gather, popular blogs can generate hundreds of thousands of visitors a month. Blogs are becoming a prominent source of entertainment, escape and education, and with a little diligence you, yes you, can accumulate a colossal following of fans as well!

Reasons to have an art blog:

Similar to the “Reasons to Have an Art Newsletter,” regularly blogging your artistic endeavors is a great way to keep fans engaged in your art world.

  • Casualness & Personableness  – You can step away from the formalities of an artist statement and use a more casual tone. This gives you the opportunity for your personality to come through, allowing fans to get to know the artist they admire.
  • Intro/retrospection – Explore reasonings and inspiration behind different pieces and projects. As time progresses you’ll be able to track and evaluate your own evolution as an artist. It’s always good to understand where you came from to determine where you want to be.
  • Establish Authority - If you are a master of your medium you might become an established authority figure. Other artists could turn to your blog to learn different techniques and emulate your artistic skill.
  • Show & Tell – You can show pieces which are in artistic progress, tell fans about upcoming events and even announce contests and give-aways. You can treat parts of your blog like a newsletter that’s more verbally elaborate and detailed.
  • Subscriptions - Just as you can subscribe to printed periodicals you can also subscribe to blogs. A subscribed reader is almost the equivalent of a “Like” on a Facebook Fan Page. It’s one more step for fans to show you their genuine interest in you and your art.
  • Commentary & Feedback – There is usually the option to leave comments and feedback after each blog post. This allows readers to reach out to you and for you to engage with them.

Be sure to:

  • Stay active – Keep a consistent blog routine and get in the habit of posting regularly.
  • Practice etiquette - There is such a thing as blogging etiquette, and unless you’re not about winning friends or influencing people, you should be aware of it.
  • Stay compelling - Give readers a reason to not only read your blog but return to it over and over. Keep the spark alive between you and your fans!
  • Stay true to yourself - Wear your artistic heart on your sleeve, and let your personality flourish in each post. Being open and honest will only pay off in the long-run.

For example:

Here are a few visual examples of compelling art blogs from fantastic artists.

The Digital Playground of Sara Blake:

Michael Shapcott:

Tran Nguyen:

Take a moment to look through their blogs and see what their site and posts look like, and get started on your own!
Happy blogging and art’ing, Friends!

 *Here are the different factors that go into calculating “The Ultimate Rank,” incase you were curious.

Reasons to Visually Document Artistic Progression

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Art is the expression of human skill and imagination. It comes in many mediums, genres and dimensions. It can be just a pretty picture or a politically-charged statement; a disaster to one and a masterpiece to another. Its creator, the artist, might find inspiration from reality, or upon waking from a dream. The path from start-to-finish is never the same yet they are all equally fascinating and unique. A great way to share this artistic journey is by visually documenting yourself making your art through photos or video.

Reasons to visually document artistic progression:

  • Compelling - By letting others into your world, people are more compelled to become a true fan of you and your art. Just as a newsletter keeps people privy to your art, a video showcases an artist in their most vulnerable and volatile state. It’s knocking down the fourth wall and observing a fascinating circumstance which most of us don’t get to see.
  • Inspiration - Like watching an artist on a street corner painting the cityscape beyond their easel, it’s inspiring seeing the artist in their element.
  • Retrospection - Think of it as a visual diary where the artist’s personal evolution and growth is systematically recorded. Retrospection is always a welcomed informant, especially if the artist’s craft is seeking refinement and maturity.
  • Education - Other artists can learn a trick or two from watching a master at work. If you’re the master, sharing tips with others will establish trusting relationships in the art community.

Examples of [extraordinary] visual documentation:

The following videos/images are from Colossal, a fantastic art and design site. Here is Chris Sauter‘s work and process he took from start to finish. He speaks about concepts, materials and the process he takes.

Colossal’s post also includes photographs of Chris working with the materials of his installation. The video typically comes after the photos:

Another artist featured on Colossal is Amy Shackleton, who paints brushless paintings. Her time-lapse video is strictly of her progression and music is all you hear:

One of my personal favorite portrait painters is Jason Rudolph Pena. By watching his videos I learned how to shade and highlight noses better.

Here is one last example of beautiful and captivating visual documentation. This was taken from blog Honestly WTF and it highlights Supakitch + Koralie’s mural collaboration with two still-shots and a video:

 

To sum things up:

An artist’s portfolio showcases a select body of work and their artist statement supplements it with written explanation – most artists have a website and provide both online. Without meeting the artist and speaking to them you can piece together their intentions and what came of their artistic musings, but sometimes the magic is just in the making. There is nothing more awe-inspiring than witnessing an artist bringing blank media to life.

Happy documenting and art’ing, Friends!

November Lectures at the MFA Boston

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The Museum of Fine Arts Boston has always been a fantastic place to enrich your life with global art, both historical and, just recently, contemporary. There are wings devoted to different cultures, movements and genres which contain works and pieces of varied mediums; no matter the artistic personality of the visitor, there is sure to be a piece at the MFA they’ll deem as their “favorite.”

The MFA always offers daily tours but beyond that are family activities, educational programs and lectures that change with the seasons – there is always a new lecture topic to look forward to. Three November lectures promise to give you insight and enrichment, so consider clearing out your Wednesday evenings!

November 9th, 2011:

"Celebration" (1960)

Behind every great man, there is a great woman. Jackson Pollock, as we know, was an incredibly famous abstract expressionist painter. Lee Krasner was an influential abstract expressionist painter and Pollock’s wife. Her colorful abstractions and the current impact they both have on artists today will be discussed.

Rediscovering Lee Krasner: Beyond Jackson Pollock
Wednesday, 11/9
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Remis Auditorium
$15 – MFA Members, Seniors & Students; $18 – Non-Members (ticket purchase required)
Ticket Info 

November 16th, 2011:

Carlos Fuentes is an award-winning author and an incredibly notable novelist and essayists in the Spanish-speaking world. You will have the honor to meet him and listen to him speak about “literature, politics and the human creative spirit.”

Carlos Fuentes: The Creative Spirit as a Force for Humanism
Wednesday, 11/16
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Remis Auditorium
$30 – MFA Members, Seniors & Students; $37 – Non-Members (ticket purchase required)
Ticket Info

November 30th, 2011:

An Evening in Greece with the exhibit “Aphrodite and the Gods of Love”

There are two events in the same night! Enjoy a collaborative presentation from Whistler in the Dark Theatre and Huntington Theatre Company.

“Ovid’s writings express the power of gods to shape the lives of mortals with dangerous and complex results; be seduced by Ovid’s words in this evocative dramatic evening. Experience the power of transformation expressed through love letters, poetry, and stories.”

Desire and Transformation: Inspired by Ovid
Wednesday,11/30
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Remis Auditorium
$18 – MFA Members, Seniors & Students; $22 – Non-Members (ticket purchase required)
Ticket Info
Come view the exhibit with musical accompaniment by guitarist Stelios Karaminas. 
Music in “Aphrodite and the Gods of Love”
Wednesday, 11/30
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Torf Gallery
Free admission! No ticket purchase is required.

 

Happy lecturing and art’ing, friends!

 

‘The Ars Moriendi Project’ Art Reception

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-by, Lex McDermott

“The Ars Moriendi, or ‘art of dying,’ is a body of Christian literature that provided practical guidance for the dying and those attending them. These manuals informed the dying about what to expect, and prescribed prayers, actions, and attitudes that would lead to a “good death” and salvation.”[1]

ArtVenue and Dustri.al present ‘The Ars Moriendi Project‘ Art Reception at Middlesex Lounge in Cambridge, MA. The are over a dozen plastic resin skulls that have been at the mercy of very talented local artists, each of whom was given full artistic freedom to do with theirs anything they wanted. Come to the opening reception to see each spectacular outcome – the skulls will be on full display for admiring and purchase.

The Ars Moriendi Project
Middlesex Lounge
315 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139

November 7, 2011
8pm-10pm
21+

Artists: Bethany Shorb (CyberOptix), Matt Walker (Dead Presidents), Lex McDermott, Kyle Brandse, Halley Jaye, Ryan Denman, Citris, Casey Desmond, Aaron White, Paloma Cabrera-Lustig, Dan Vidal and more!

Stay for ‘CULT’ and dance the night away!

Click on the following press-release and, if you please, note the interactive option you’ll need to snip away and bring to the event:

Happy reception and art’ing, friends!

1. DuClow, F. Donald.  ”Ars Moriendi.” Encylopedia of Death and Dying. Retrieved November 3, 2011, from http://www.deathreference.com/A-Bi/Ars-Moriendi.html.
 

 

Reasons to Have a Facebook Fan Page

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It is safe to say everyone and their mum is on Facebook. The site has been thoroughly integrated into our lives.  Facebook started as a collection of private profiles, but with Facebook ‘Pages’, it now also acts as a public face for celebrities, products, and brands. If it’s a proper noun, it can have a Facebook profile. It’s becoming harder and harder to find businesses that aren’t including the option to “Facebook” them in their advertising. Even ArtVenue lets you link your artist profile to a Facebook one. Love it or loathe it, get used to it – Facebook is stickin’ around for a while.

As an artist, you can take advantage of Facebook as a place to communicate with your fans. If you could benefit from art-related self-promotion, it is wise to have a Fan Page separate that is from your personal page*. And, it is incredibly simple to set up a Page!

Reasons to have a Facebook Fan Page:

  • Free-of-charge - A Page is free to start up and maintain!
  • Professionalism - A Page is where you can showcase your professional side and keep things strictly business. Potential art buyers don‘t ever need to see those photos of you from Spring Break ’04. You stay classy, San Diego.
  • Limitless – A personal page is limited to 5,000 friends whereas a Fan Page is limitless. One day you, yes you, could have a million fans!
  • Statistics - You can keep track of site statistics (Page activity, traffic, photo views, etc…).
  • Discussion - Create events and discussion boards. Send updates to fans. This is a great way to interact with your fans.
  • Multiplicity - While you can only have one personal page you can create multiple Fan Pages.
  • Advertisement - Facebook offers the option of paying for advertising.
  • Public vs Private – A Page is public to all! Someone doesn’t need to log-in to view a Page. If you have artwork on your personal profile, people out-of-network who are trying to view your art might not be able to depending on your privacy settings. This makes your art less reachable, something which could hinder your promotion.

How to use your Fan Page:

  • Professionally - Remember to keep things strictly art-related! Anything that falls outside the lines of art, making art or being an artist, keep it off your Page. If a real or metaphorical boss would disapprove of something on your Facebook page if he/she were to “stumble” across it, keep it off your Page.
  • Thoroughly - Take time and effort into the content of your Page. Edit your text and upload quality photos of your work. Make sure your information is accurate. Quality-controlled self-promotion is never a bad thing.
  • Consistently - Just like a newsletter, if you post regular updates, your fans will have something to look forward to. They will take you and your artistic career more seriously, which could only lead to more opportunities down the road.

Before you create a Fan Page:

*There are some terms of service you need to know before creating a Facebook profile – if you don’t abide by them it could lead to a violation.

All personal site features, such as friending and messaging, are also for personal use only and may not be used for professional promotion. If you add a user as a friend, for example, this person will be invited to be a friend of your profile and not your Page. Using personal site features for professional promotion, or creating unauthorized Pages, may result in your account being warned or disabled.

If there are any opportunities for selling your work, do not use your personal profile in any way that will lead to a transaction. Always read the fine print!

What are different some ways you use your Page?

Good luck and happy Fan Page‘ing, friends!