Artist Fan Pages on Facebook: Re-visited
Feb 10, 2010 Art General, Promotion and Exhibition
About four months ago I started my fan page on Facebook, and wrote about the who, what, where, and why of fan pages for artists. I also promised an update on the progress of my fan page.
Well, I can’t say that my fans have sky rocketed, sales have taken off and I’m now a famous, world-class artist.
I can say that I currently have 86 fans. Most of these are my friends and family, who are also my Facebook friends. A lot of them, though, are people I don’t know. People who have found me through their friends, through Twitter, or through this blog.
This is cool becuase it gives me access to people that I wouldn’t know otherwise.
I use my fan page as sort of a catch-all for my art related activities. I post my best blog articles on there, my latest portrait commissions, my recent abstract paintings, deals and promotions, art classes, workshops… anything I think people might be interested in.
The beauty of this type of marketing is that you never have to feel bad about promoting yourself; your audience has already expressed their interest in what you’re doing and given you permission to include them in your marketing efforts. The only people who are fans are those who want to be fans.
Also, while my fan page hasn’t generated a huge amount of sales, it has facilitated a few commissions that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
One of my worries about starting a fan page was the amount of time it would take to manage it. So far, this has been a non-issue. Because I share most of my work and news on this blog and my other websites already, all I need to do is “share” the link on Facebook. A fan page actually requires very little work.
Benefits of Facebook Fan Pages
- easy way to reach lots of people
- not a huge time commitment
- exposure to people you don’t know
- free marketing to an already interested audience
- opportunities for new clients/commissions
- networking
- keeping in touch with clients
Still on the fence? If you’re already active on Facebook, a fan page is definitely worth the small amount of effort. Try it out and see what happens. If you want more info, read Fan Pages for Artists.
And if you’re on Facebook, come join me at my fan page!
Learn to… Art! Has a Newsletter!
Feb 7, 2010 Special Bulletins
Cast your eyes to the right of the screen and scroll down below the Popular Posts section and you’ll see it: the newsletter!
All you need to do is enter your e-mail, then check your inbox for the confirmation link (don’t forget to check your junk folder just in case!).
What’s in it for me?
Well, you’ll get updates about the best and latest info on the blog, you’ll get juicy tid-bits from the rest of the web that you won’t see on the blog, you’ll also be the first to know about upcoming promotions and/or giveaways, as well as you will recieve info about my work and exhibitions.
What if I already subscribe to the RSS Feed?
These are two totally different things! The RSS feed lets you see the blog content (the articles, etc) without actually visiting the blog site. The newsletter will be entirely separate of the blog and contain information and resources that you won’t find on Learn to… Art!
What do I do now?
Use the form to the right or click here to subscribe to the newsletter!
Disclaimer: I will not send you spam, I will not sell or distribute your address, I will not send you copious amounts of e-mails, and you are able to unsubscribe at any time!
Tags: messages, newsletter
To Grid or Not To Grid
Feb 4, 2010 Drawing
From time to time I get e-mails from viewers asking for help or advice on certain topics. It occurred to me that other people might be wondering about these things as well. The folowing letter came from someone torn about whether or not to use a grid:
Hi. I was just wondering about using a grid.
What do you think about it?
I mean, for me I think it’s kinda cheating. I’ts a great way to help yourself so you can see were you should put everything but it feels like cheating.
Do you think it’s okay to use grids everytime you are doing a portrait?
And here was my response:
This is a great question, and one that I have also struggled with. You will always find people with different opinions when it comes to using a grid. Some people feel that it’s “cheating” and that it’s not art. Then again, some people believe that simply recreatinga photo (realism) is not art. Everyone has a different idea and at the end of the day, you will have to decide what you’re comfortable with.
Personally, I don’t have a problem with using a grid. I see it as another tool available to the artist, and why shouldn’t we use all the tools at our disposal?
One of the reasons I use it is time. I could draw a portrait without a grid, but it would take more time. When I’m doing commissions, I have to consider the amount of time it’s going to take versus the amount a person will be willing to pay. Anything that can help cut down on time is good!
Another reason why I don’t have a problem with a grid is that it still requires an “artistic eye.” Making a grid doesn’t guarantee a successful, or even a realistic drawing. The artist still needs to edit, make changes and measure relationships. When we draw, we look at how the different parts of the subject relate to eachother. When we use a grid, we are simply adding another element to measure those relationships.
You’re right, a grid can really help you to see where things should go. It’s a great tool for learning, but as you say, it may not be the best method every time. It’s really up to you whether or not you want to use it. Personally, if a recognizable likeness is your main goal, then I would not shy at using a grid!
What are your thoughts on using a grid? Cheating? Tool? Something else?
Tags: drawing tips, grid
Harder Better Faster Stronger - Words of Wisdom from Daft Punk
Feb 2, 2010 Art General
I love a groovy dance tune as much as the next girl, but I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never been a huge fan of techno music.
Last night I was doing some painting. Vince was watching wrestling in the next room, so I plugged into my iPod to drown on the angry sounds of men yelling at eachother. By chance, Daft Punk’s Harder Better Faster Stronger came on. I don’t even know how it got on there; to be honest, it’s usually a song I skip past.
But for some reason, the heavy beat resonated with me and I listened to it all the way through. Then again. And again.
I never put songs on repeat!
As I listened, I started to pay attention to the lyrics, and realized how relevant they are to the life of the artist. Consider this:
Work It Harder Make It Better
Do It Faster, Makes Us stronger
More Than Ever Hour After
Our Work Is Never Over
Sound familiar?
As artists, we’re constantly pushing ourselves to the next level.
I’m slowly beginning to realize that success as an artist doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of tireless work both inside and outside the studio. We need to be disciplined and structured in our approach to our art and business.
Go download this song and let me know what you think! The rhythm is awesome to paint to and the repetetive words are like a mantra every artist should live by!
Tags: art tips, inspiration
Subscribe to RSS Feed
Subscribe by Email