20 DecSwiftly Black and White

Night Ride by Ingrid Art Studio. Mixed Media.

There’s a sense of movement in these black and white pieces that captivates. I’m actually struggling for words to quite describe the way these fit together so delightfully. Perhaps I’ll just let the photos speak for themselves.

Ceramic Necklace by RossLab.

Eye of the Storm by Kelly Angard. Photograph.

iPhone Case by Patkas.

Wooden Mini Bowl Set by Wind and Willow Home.

25 AugTen Pinterest Tips for Artists

This is a guest post from Andreea Ayers. Read more about her at the end of the post.

Shard by Greg Lamarche. Paper Collage. Via Emily Bird’s Pinterest.

Ten Pinterest Tips for Artists

There’s no better social media platform for artists today than Pinterest. This visually saturated site prides itself on being a “place to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web,” making it a perfect spot for creatives to share their projects, inspirations and achievements. Here are some tips for artists to make the best use of Pinterest.

1. Start with you.

Take some time to think about what you want to show people other than your work. Think about the kinds of images that tell your story by representing your hobbies, favorite books, records and films, and your passions. When your boards reflect who you are as a person, and not just an artist, you’ll be surprised at how many people stumble on your art because of your other interests.

2. Be choosy.

Pinterest is all about sharing the beautiful things on the web, not everything on the web.

Posting a pinboard containing every piece you’ve ever produced can seem a little egotistical. That’s why you need to pick your favorites to share. Add a note on each about what inspired you or how you felt when you completed it. And don’t forget to link back to your website so those who are interested can dig deeper into your body of work.

3. Build your following.

Before you go out looking for followers, start with the ones you already have. Link your Pinterest account to your Twitter and Facebook to make cross-sharing easy. Invite your real-life friends and family to follow you on Pinterest, and ask them to share your Pinterest URL with their followers too.

Now that you have a basic start on Pinterest, let’s delve deeper:

One of These Days I’m Going to Get Organized by Greg Lamarche. Paper Collage.

4. Share your inspiration.

A great way many creative souls use Pinterest is as a reminder to themselves of websites they want to revisit. Not only will this virtual pinboard keep track of all of those great art websites you want to remember, but it will also provide a place for Pinterest users to find new artists they’ll want to follow too.

5. Tear down the curtain.

People love to see how things are made. When you start a new project, post images from major landmarks in the evolution of your piece. Invite your followers to come on a journey with you from blank canvas to completed project.

This can also be a great way to get interactive with your followers. Ask for their input and welcome them to help you shape your project.

6. Make friends.

Pinterest is a hub of creativity and a great place to find likeminded people. Search for users who share your interests, and connect with them by following their boards, commenting on their pins, and repinning. This will help you get to know the community and be more social on the platform.

7. Add video.

You can also share videos on Pinterest, which gives artists a chance to introduce their followers to their studio space, their process, or show off their favorite local galleries.

8. Teach.

Many users look to Pinterest for new ideas and as an artist you have the ability to use it to share your skills. Post a DIY project as a pinboard of photos outlining the steps, or in a video. This helps build your credibility and shareability.

9. Make some sales.

If you’re selling your art on Etsy, it’s easy to share your work on Pinterest with a Pin It button on each item you post. The pin will include the item name from Etsy, the price, and offers space to let you share a description. Pinterest users respond best to emotion, so share your inspiration rather than your sales goals.

If you’re not on Etsy, you can add a Pin It button wherever you can place html code on your own site. Just head to Pinterest’s Goodies page, scroll down and grab the code.

10. Showcase your accomplishments.

One way to highlight your art without going overboard is to build a pin board that displays your accomplishments. If your photo appeared in a magazine, your painting on a website, or one of your sculptures is displayed publicly, post it to your achievement page.

Don’t forget to link back to any reference material you have on your website, like your blog post about the installation or a link to your piece on an external website.

These are only a few of the many ways artists like you can use Pinterest to build a following and become a part of the conversation. I’d love to hear how you’re using Pinterest, so please share your thoughts in the comments.

Andreea Ayers is serial entrepreneur who has sold two businesses. She currently works with entrepreneurs to help them grow their business by getting their products into stores and in the media. Get more great tips for product based businesses at her site LaunchGrowJoy.com.

10 MayCrushing On: Printmaker Karin Bruckner

Road to Marrakesh (Arab Spring) by Karin Bruckner. Monoprint.

I ran across Karin Bruckner, a printmaker in NYC, on Etsy a couple weeks ago. Her monoprints are amazingly energized and colorful. Your eye plays across them, darting around, helping your brain make sense of the images, shapes, and colors.

Hostile Takeover by Karin Bruckner. Monoprint.

It’s clear Karin enjoys working with the wild chance of the artistic process. She utilizes many materials, colors, and ink viscosities to produce  layered, textured, and active pieces that are rife with excitement. If you love them as much as me, go pick up your favorites in Karin’s shop where pieces range from $25-$750.

Fish Out Of Water (Poolside) by Karin Bruckner. Monotype and collage.

Inspiring thoughts,
Laura

12 AprCrushing On: Collage Artist Erin McGuire

Jump by Erin McGuire. Collage.

Lately, Erin McGuire has caught my attention. She is a collage artist in Chicago who makes beautiful use of white space. I love when a work of art directs my eye so purposefully and clearly that I can’t ignore it.

Yellow Jail by Erin McGuire. Collage.

One of the best things about her work is that it has whimsy, but also a little sadness. I think it’s the loneliness of the figures and the lack of completion of each human figure that creates this. But the dichotomy between playfulness and sadness is particularly intriguing in all of Erin’s work.

Marilyn Monroe’s Skirt Feet by Erin McGuire. Collage.

One of my favorite things about Erin herself, though, falls solidly on the whimsy side. She says her inspiration comes from her imagination, which she affectionately refers to as ErinLand. An artist with a pet-name for her imagination is one completely in touch with her mind, the only place an artist absolutely must know intimately to create beautiful art.

If you like Erin’s work as much as I do, be sure to head over to her Etsy shop for some really affordable original collages and drawings. She’s top of my list right now for people looking to start an art collection on a budget.

Inspiring thoughts,
Laura