Drawing on a Graphite Ground
Nov 29, 2009 Drawing
Today we’re going to look at something a little bit different: drawing on a graphite ground. This involves creating a graphite background on a piece of paper, adding to it to create shadows, and taking away from it to create highlights. You are essentially drawing on a light grey paper, erasing to create lighter areas. This is a great exercise for beginners because new drawers have a tendency to draw very light. This process forces you to identify and pick out the highlights, rather than drawing around them.
To start, use a graphite stick if you have one. This is a big chunk of graphite (pencil guts) that you can buy for a dollar or two. They are great for filling in large areas, and for expressive drawings without much detail. If you don’t have one,
use the edge of your pencil.
Throughout most of the drawing, you are going to use the side of the stick to draw. This makes you look for large areas of value and develops your eye for identifying shapes. When drawing like this, think of a pyramid. You start out broad and undefined, and as you progress you get more detailed and focused.
Choose your subject matter. Try to find something that has a strong light source with bright highlights and dark shadows. I’m going to draw my trusty old wing back chair as an example.
For the first step, use the edge of your graphite stick (or pencil) shade in your entire page.
Next, use a tissue to blend the whole surface. You could use a blending stick, but it will go a lot quicker with a tissue.
Now you’re ready to draw. Using the edge of your graphite stick, block in the shadows and the darker midtones of your subject. You can try to capture some of the subtle nuances for now, but concentrate on looking for the large shapes.
Next, use your kneaded eraser to lift out the highlights. Look for the lightest areas where the light hits the subject directly. These should be the only places that are actually white.
As a last step, you can use the end of the graphite stick to add a bit more detail and dimension. Here I’m adding the very darkest shadows.
There it is! This is a quick and easy process that’s a little bit different from a straightforward sketch. Changing the process like this makes you think and look in different ways. It’s a great exercise to train your brain to identify large shapes rather than focusing on details right away.
Tags: drawing tips, Tutorials
The Art of the Cover Letter: Tips and an Example
Nov 26, 2009 Promotion and Exhibition
When you apply for art shows, there will be a few things that the gallery will ask you to submit: a statement, a CV and examples of your work. Galleries won’t ask for them, but there are also a few other must-have elements of your exhibition proposal. One of these is a cover letter.
A well-crafted cover letter shows a certain amount of professionalism. It tells the gallery curator that you take yourself seriously.
Think of your cover letter as your introduction. It lets the gallery know who you are, what you do, and most importantly, why they should exhibit your work.
Some tips for writing your exhibition proposal cover letter are…
- Use a formal letter format that includes the addresses of both parties and the date.
- Try to find out who the curator or exhibition coordinator is and address the letter specifically to that person. Use Mr. or Ms. to show respect. If you don’t know who the curator is, use a greeting like “To the Selection Committee,” or “To the Curator.”
- Briefly describe your artwork: its physical appearance as well as your artistic approach.
- Describe what it is about your work that makes it unique. This is the most important part because it’s your chance to snag your reader’s attention and make them want to look at your images!
- Keep it simple and to the point. Remember, anyone wanting more information can read the rest of your proposal.
- Let your reader know what documents they can expect to find within the proposal.
- Include all of your contact information, including mailing address, phone number, and email address.
- Don’t forget to sign it!
Unless a gallery spefically asks you for only certain documents (and nothing more), it’s a good idea to include a cover letter with your proposal. It may not be read, but at least it’s there if someone wants to! Sometimes, when you have an exhibit, galleries will use words or phrases from your cover letter in their promotional material.
Here is an example of a cover letter based on the one from my first exhibition proposal. You, of course, would use information specific to your art!
Jane Doe
55555 ABC Road,
Somewhere, CA
G3B 6L7
(555) 555-5555
Janedoe@email.comNovember, 26, 2009
John Smith, Executive Director
Really Cool Gallery
555 XYZ St
Somewhere Else, CA
H3S 7J8Dear Mr. Smith,
Please accept this proposal as submission for an exhibition at Really Cool Gallery.
As a formalist, my work is about space and the relationship between shapes. However, the work itself is a unique hybrid of painting and sculpture. It is made up of layers of thin door skin, and there is a contradiction between the flatness of the door skin and the three-dimensionality the layering produces.
My work also takes a form that challenges accepted ideas of what art should look like. It appears deceptively random, but the balanced composition is obviously intentional. There is a strange beauty in these objects, although they seem like they could have been made out of scraps from the garbage.
Please find the following enclosed: an artist statement, an artist CV, an exhibition proposal, a CD with fifteen digital images, an image list, a print of my work, and a press clipping.
Thank you for your consideration of my proposal.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
This article is part of my ongoing series on how to get your art into galleries. Next, I’ll focus on the artists’ CV, or curriculum vitae, perhaps one of the most important elements of your proposal. Subscribe via email to get the latest articles in your inbox!
Tags: exhibitions, galleries, promotion
My Favorite Birthday Present
Nov 24, 2009 Art General, Special Bulletins
As some of you know, it was my birthday this weekend. I turned the ‘big’ two-five! I had a wonderful weekend including a surprise dinner with my parents and an overnight stay at a lakeside bed and breakfast. In short, I was spoiled!
And what birthday is complete without gifts? I was also spoiled in that department, receiving snazzy purple earphones for my ipod, a few of my favorite books, some driving gloves and comfy, fuzzy slippers! But my most favorite gift of all this year? An ancient tool box!
This relic had been in my parents’ garage for nearly ten years. Before that, it belonged to my uncle, who passed away when I was in high school. Who knows how long he had it, but this baby was definitely made back when things were built to last!
My dad recently hauled it out and asked me if I wanted it. It was covered in rust and full of junk, but how could I resist?
On my birthday, my dad presented it to me. He had lovingly cleaned it out, scrubbed it free of rust, and painted the bottom jet black and the insides fire engine red. Still smelling of fresh paint, it was a thing of beauty!
You may be wondering what in the world this has to do with art. Well, my constructed paintings are made with traditional carpentry tools: hammer and nails, wood glue, skill saw, screws and screw driver. These are the tools of my trade, and I consider them to be as important as my paint and brushes. Also, being a female and wielding these ‘masculine’ tools makes me feel special!
This empty tool box is full of promise and potential. I am very much looking forward to filling it up with all my bits and pieces. I love its family connection, and the fact that it’s old. There’s not a single one like it in the whole world!
Tags: tools
10 Tips for Writing Your Artist Statement
Nov 22, 2009 Promotion and Exhibition
Want to get your art into galleries? An artist statement is an essential part of that process. In a previous post, I did an introduction on how to write an artist statement. Now, here are ten tips to help you get started, find ideas, clarify your message, and polish your presentation!
1. Get a Head Start
Don’t think you can whip up a statement the night before it’s due! Because writing an artist statement is so distasteful, we sometimes tend to put it off until the last minute. You should be thinking about your statement long before it’s due. Give yourself time to craft a statement that is well thought out and well put together. You will need that extra time for rewriting and editing.
2. Generate Ideas with Freewriting
This is a great way to start generating ideas when you just can’t get started. Start with something simple like “My art is…” or “I paint…” and describe the physical aspects of your work. Let your mind wander and write down whatever you think of. Don’t worry about structure or grammar, just write. You might be surprised at where your mind goes, but you’ll definitely get a good start on putting to paper what you think about your work.
3. Try A Reflective Statement
A reflective statement is a quick piece of writing that you can do after completing a piece or a body of work. It gives you an opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings while they are still fresh in your mind and can lead to some interesting epiphanies when it comes to your work.
4. Go For Clarity
Keep in mind that your statement is meant to compliment and clarify your artwork. The people who read it are looking for more insight into what you’re doing. A concise, straight-forward writing style will help get your ideas across. Try to avoid a lot of that vague art jargon that the average person won’t understand. You want this to appeal to curators, but also to regular gallery visitors.
5. Find Examples
An excellent way to get an idea of how to write your statement is to look at other artists’. The internet makes this much easier than it might have been before. Most artists post their statements somewhere on their website, so find artists that work with similar media or ideas as you do and see how they express themselves.
6. Read, Read, Read
A similar idea is to get your hands on some art magazines and read about art of your genre. Or if you have a few artists that you admire, find some interviews. This is a good way to clarify your ideas, because you can see what other people say about similar work and decide whether you agree or disagree.
7. Get a Second Opinion
Getting a friend to look over your writing can be very helpful to determine if you’re communicating your ideas effectively. Try this with both artsy people and non-artsy people to get different view points.
8. Re-read and Re-write
Editing is a huge part of this process. This is why it’s a good idea to start early; you will need time to go over everything. Every time you re-read your statement, focus on refining your ideas and communicating in a clear and effective way. Often, your thoughts will be clearer after taking a short break from writing.
9. Do Regular Check-Ups
Don’t assume that once your statement is written, you’re set for life! It’s a good idea to re-visit your statement on a regular basis to make sure it reflects your current work. The Art Biz Blog has some good tips for how to hone your artist statement.
10. Don’t Forget Grammar!
For some, this goes without saying, but for others it can be a struggle. Good grammar demonstrates care and professionalism, all very important for getting an art show. Spellcheck is good, but don’t rely on it completely! Having someone else edit your work can really help with this.
Don’t forget to sign up for your email description to get the latest articles in your inbox! Coming up are explanations of the other elements of the exhibition proposal.
Tags: artist statement, exhibitions, promotion
5 MORE Subscribe-Worthy Artist Blogs
Nov 19, 2009 Art General
A couple of months ago, when I was still very new to blogging, I shared with you a couple of excellent artist blogs that I had discovered. Since then, I have found even more great artists who blog!
Most of these were discovered through Twitter, either by the authors themselves or through links. I never thought I’d love Twitter as much as I do, but it’s an excellent way to share information!
One of the most unexpected and most rewarding parts of blogging is the people you meet and the connections you make, so get ready to be introduced to some amazing artists bloggers!
This blog is an absolute wealth of information on painting tips and techniques as well as self promotion. Lori is an artist who paints realistic images of landscapes, wildlife and still life compositions, and she shares her years of expertise with her audience.
Dirty Footprints Studio by Connie Hozvicka
The Dirty Footprints Studio is a wonderful place to have fun and get messy! This blog chronicles Connie’s journey to the “Creative Juicy Life,” and offers lots of little “creative juicy” tid bits along the way. If you’re looking for ideas, inspiration and creativity, this is the place to go!
Self vs. Self by Hazel Dooney
In a slightly different vein, Hazel Dooney is a well known Australian artist who shares her art, her experiences, and her struggles through her blog. Although her art may not be to your tastes, her articles are widely relevant and offer an incredible insight to the art business. Hazel is wonderfully eloquent and sometimes painfully honest. This is a great blog about an artist finding success on her own terms in what is very much a man’s world.
The Soon-to-be-More Famoust Artist Named Nemo
And if you’re looking for some man-power amongst all these women, check out Nemo’s blog! Nemo does some amazing things with spirals and concentric circles and is becoming a successful commercial artist through determination, hardwork and persistence. He shares his experiences and his work in this blog.
Jennifer King’s Blog for Artists
Last, but certainly not least is Jennifer’s blog. I have only recently discovered this one and haven’t had the chance to dig through the archives yet, but from the articles I’ve read, this is a jem! Jennifer is an artist and former editor of several art magazines and shares her marketing and promotion experiences. Full of useful information and helpful tips, this blog is another must-read!
Don’t just read, subscribe! You won’t regret it!
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