June 20, 2024 | General

Reconnect To Your Job [An Artist’s Perspective]

More and more people are joining the gig economy. That means developing a creative practice, marketing art, and working a regular job. 70% of the US population feel disengaged at work or they hate their jobs. If you’re part of this 70%, try this exercise. Reconnect to your job. Learn why you started working where you work in the first place. This exercise will completely change the way you view your job and the career path that you’re on. Give it a go!

Write A Letter To Your Employer

Tell them why you love them and why you’re grateful for having them in your life. This exercise might sound like a combination of cringe-worthy craziness, but it is highly effective in reminding you why you took the job in the first place. You don’t have to give the letter to your employer, unless you want to. Ultimately this exercise is for you! Here’s a suggestion on how to start your letter:

‘Dear [insert organization], I am so so grateful that day in and day out you pay for my bills…

At the end of the day this job, that you might currently loathe, is part of your journey. By writing this letter you are partaking in a gesture of acknowledging this in a way other than complaining about how much you hate your job.

When you first start a job, you may feel a sense of excitement, like you’re falling in love. It’s easy to see why you’re destined for this job in the bigger scheme of things. It might be a stepping stone for you to save more money or go back to school. It might be an entry level position for you to work your way up the ladder. Yet, as time goes by, it’s easy to see less and less of the bigger picture that you had envisioned for yourself.

Shift Your Perspective

What this exercise does is shift your perspective of where you’re at right now in your job. It can be written as a farewell letter. It can be written as a way to renew your commitment with your employer and/or the company you work for. It’s an effective way to gain resilience and get perspective on what your next move is.

—

Carlee Myers is the Founder of the Stress Less Company. She is an expert at helping people use art and creativity in order to find their passion again. As a firm believer in creativity, Carlee helps people find their purpose in life through a combination of coaching, creative expression, and experiential activities.

...

June 10, 2024 | General

Be More Productive: Two Tools You Can Use

Productivity is activity that positively influences the trajectory of your life whether at home, work, or with personal projects like marketing art. Here are two tools you can use to be more productive, especially considering the many conversations that begin with, “Why don’t I ever get anything done?” or “How the hell did I even get here (without achieving what I set out to achieve)?”

5 Second Rule

The first tool was developed by Mel Robbins: The ‘5 Second Rule.’ This rule helps you launch into whatever task you need to get done and prevent procrastination. The idea is to count backwards from 5 and move yourself physically towards achieving the task. For example, if you’re struggling to get out of bed, count down from 5 to 1 and physically get yourself out of bed. Or, if you remember something that needs to be done, count down from 5 to 1 and write that task down on your to-do list. The ‘5 Second Rule’ is about helping you make that first move towards being more productive. It creates that forward momentum for yourself.

The Tomato Timer

‘The Tomato Timer’ is another great tool to help you be your most productive self. Traditionally, this tool is about setting a 20 minute timer where zero distractions are allowed. Yep, this means no phone, no Facebook, no cat videos. This means no distractions until you’ve completed the task at hand or the timer has hit 20 minutes. At the end of the 20 minutes, you get a 5 minute break to do whatever you want or need to do and then you go back to 20 minutes of focused work.

I suggest that you get a little more creative with your tomato timer. For example, I had a really long spreadsheet to update – something like 300 rows! So I made an internal agreement with myself. Do 20 lines at a time and take a short break to look at my phone, 20 lines, short break, 20 lines, SHORT break … you get the idea.

For those of you who have lunch breaks, the tomato timer is perfect for you. One day I dedicated 40 minutes of my lunch break to my own personal tasks. The agreement that I created with myself was that if I completed these 40 minutes, I get to take a 20 minute walk.

The tomato timer helps you manage your time because you know you need to complete something within the time allocated. The breaks give you space to fill your time with a sense of reward for your focus. There are even Tomato Timer Apps out there that you can use to assist you! This tool is really helpful during afternoon sluggishness where you end up mindlessly scrolling through Facebook (or mindlessly clicking through windows).

—

Carlee Myers is the Founder of the Stress Less Company. She is an expert at helping people use art and creativity in order to find their passion again. As a firm believer in creativity, Carlee helps people find their purpose in life through a combination of coaching, creative expression, and experiential activities.

...

May 16, 2024 | General

Researching Calls For Artists

Researching calls for artists is an important component of your strategy for marketing your artwork. It is challenging to figure out where to start. Sometimes this can feel overwhelming. To help build your confidence, break down your research into small actionable steps.

Bring The Opportunities To You

Set up Google Alerts for your location. Use this search string: “call for artists” + location. You may include “+ medium” to narrow the search if you for your specialty.

For example: “call for artists” + Cleveland + painting

Sign up for niche call for artists platforms. Find them by searching for: “calls for artists” + medium or + style or + relevant topic. Most niche platforms will allow you to narrow your search results to your preferred locations once you sign up.

For example: “calls for artists” + sculpture + “public art” = Americans for the Arts Public Arts Listings

Sign up for newsletters from your local Arts Council and state Arts Commission. These will include calls for artists collected from local non-profits.

Dig Deeper For Hidden Gems

Sometimes, when you find a call for artists posted publicly, it has already been filled. It’s important to try to get in front of the process not only to make sure you have time to apply, but also in order to have enough time to create the work or have enough inventory available.

Whenever you find a recurring opportunity, add the name and deadline date to a spreadsheet. Include the columns: Opportunity, location, deadline, contact information / URL, and a short description. Start checking for the yearly deadline and new information at least six months ahead. You could also create a calendar alert by adding the event deadline to your calendar and setting reminders in advance (3 months/ 6 months) which give you enough time to plan and apply for the opportunity.

Review call for artists content marketing platforms which offer a range of opportunities, such as Side Arts (our specialty is vetted and trusted call for artists with significant track records of success for artists), Zapplication (juried calls), and Art Fair Insiders (art fair specialists).

Check out their archives and forum sections for information and reviews of calls for artists which align with your goals and interests.

Side Arts only promotes new, active calls for artists – no duplicates.

Use the Active category to see current listings.
Use the Expired category to see listings which have passed their deadline. Find organizations which offer calls for artists in your area. They may be offering an opportunity, but not promoting it broadly.
Use the other categories to refine your search by location, type of call, award amount, and so on.

Conclusion

When researching calls for artists, use free resources to bring the opportunities to your inbox. Join local arts listservs. Create a spreadsheet. Dedicate time once every three months (set up a calendar alert) to do original research. Make it a goal to add at least three opportunities to your list every month.

Next Step

Are you ready to invest in yourself and showcase your artwork? Apply to become represented by Side Arts, a leading agency connecting artists with exhibition opportunities. With limited capacity and a rigorous jury review, Side Arts ensures that your work gets the attention it deserves. Click here to learn more about how Side Arts can elevate your art career and provide you with exciting opportunities to display your talent to a wider audience.

Take the leap and step into a world of endless possibilities for your artistic journey with Side Arts. Don’t miss out on this incredible chance to share your passion and creativity with the world. Apply now and open doors to a bright future as a recognized visual artist. Click here to apply.

...

May 15, 2024 | General

John Edwe [Certified Visual Artist – Philadelphia, PA]

John Edwe is a Side Arts Certified Visual Artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Group Exhibitions

Hamilton Street Gallery, Bound Brook, New Jersey (2022)
Luxembourg Art Prize, Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2021)
Pleiades Gallery, New York, New York (2020)
Gallery Zero, Milan, Italy (2017)
Hamilton Street Gallery, Bound Brook, New Jersey, Curated by Brian McCormack (2016)
Galerie Metanoia, Paris, France, Curated by Marc Hinnonet (2015)
Hamilton Street Gallery, Bound Brook, New Jersey, Curated by Brian McCormack (2015)
Second Saturday Gallery, York, Pennsylvania, Curated by Ken Husband (2015)
Gallery La La Artisan Market, New York, New York (2015)
Institut Francais, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (2010)
Sande Webster Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2004)
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (2004)
Gallery One, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2003)
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York (2001)

Solo Exhibitions

Haitian Embassy Brussel, Belgium (2018)
Liberty Shop, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2013)
Academy Art University, San Francisco, California (2009)
University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2005)

Commission

Fresco, Ambassador of Jesus Christ (Church), Brooklyn New York (2002)

Education

MFA Academy Art University, San Francisco, California (2009)
BFA University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2005)

See more work by John Edwe, visit johnedwe.com.

...

May 9, 2024 | General

Call For Artists Providers

Side Arts provides public relations services for a range of call for artists providers and businesses. The most common clients include art organizations, galleries, event promoters, private businesses, local governments, educational institutes, and museums.

Call For Artists Providers

In order of frequency, these are the types of organizations which provide opportunities for visual artists:

Brick and mortar galleries – Offer 4-10 exhibition opportunities per year. These themed calls can have topics such as colors, shapes, social issues, medium, and styles. The benefit of showing with a gallery is being able to take advantage of their relationships with collectors.
Non-profit art organizations – Offer 2-3 exhibition or competitions per year. The non-profits are typically local arts councils and focused on a specific medium, such as wood, ceramics, or fabric. Exhibition themes revolve around local history, public figures, and community affairs.
Online galleries – Private websites offering online only competitions. No mailing of artwork is necessary.Often pay-to-participate and offer small cash awards.
Event promoters – Manage annual art fairs. These pay-to-participate vendor events usually include the opportunity for juried prizes. Participation to be juried often costs extra.
Residencies – Destinations for inspired art making which may include travel expenses, room and board, studio space, and guided support and experiences. Residencies may be juried or paid. 1) Juried: There are no costs except application fees. 2) Paid: The participant assumes all costs. These provide different levels of services on a fee-based and availability basis.
Government institutions – Opportunities provided by city government or state arts commissions. These occur irregularly and are dependent on funding. Funding may come from the city, state, federal, or percent-for-art (one-half of one percent of construction cost for art projects) programs. These are requests for proposals for public works – murals, sculptures, traffic box wraps, storm drain painting, bus stop installations, bicycle rack artwork, public bench artwork, and other short-term and permanent installations.
Publications – Magazines, both online and in print. Usually pay-to-participate and ongoing based on publication frequency.
Studio tours – Community events where artist studios are open to the public. Run by a local arts council or an independent non-profit organization. Pay-to-participate. Although traffic is not guaranteed, online and print promotion may be offered. The primary benefit is having a reason to clean up and organize the studio annually.

Writing A Call For Artists

Be deliberate and thoughtful whenever you are writing a call for artists. Make sure the artist benefits, fee structure, terms of commissions, timeline, and engagement process are clearly defined. Know your legal rights and be clear about the artist’s legal rights. Give quantitative and qualitative data to back up why an artist should participate.

Learn more at our top-performing guide: How To Write A Call For Artists

...

May 4, 2024 | General

Carlos Alves [Certified Visual Artist – Miami, FL]

Carlos Alves is a Side Arts Certified Visual Artist from Miami, Florida.

Carlos Alves has been serious about art since he was a child. It shows in his passion for making things out of clay, glass, metal, salvaged artifacts, and recycled objects. His mission to make art from anything is encapsulated in his motto, “Chip it, crack it, smash it. Put it back together and give it whole new life.” He draws from his Cuban / Puerto Rican roots and South Florida upbringing, communicating the themes that encompass love, hope, history, culture, politics, nature, and a kinship with the sea.

Education

Carlos graduated with a Masters in Fine Art from Illinois State University, Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Miami, and scholarship to Scuola Lorenzo Di Medici in Florence, Italy. He started his post-college career with a free-flowing tile installation located on the floor and walls of the Art Center South Florida. The project eventually led to commissions by several public and private clients in the United States, London, and Hong Kong. He is excited by making artwork that is seen in large public art settings such as airports, parks, fountains, courthouses, libraries, restaurants, galleries, and private residences.

Public Art

Recently, Carlos designed and completed a courtyard featuring a sculpture fountain, garden benches, planters, seating rocks, and bamboo railing at a rehabilitation facility in Fort Lauderdale; mosaic sidewalk “Save Our Water” for Miami-Dade Water/Sewer Department; and entrance / ticketing area for the Port Everglades’ Holland America Terminal.

He often enjoys projects with local youth and has accomplished many public artworks working with them including “The River Poetry Project”, “The Miami Children’s Museum”, and a 186-foot mural at the entrance of the new Miami-Dade County Children’s Court House. Carlos works closely with his wife and partner of over twenty years, JC Carroll, in all aspects of public art from concept, design, and manufacturing, to completion.

Private Work

As much as Carlos enjoys the public art arena, he loves creating pieces for private clients, museums, and gallery exhibitions. He is currently working on a series, “Animal Instincts”, creating large, animal shaped clay bodies filled with recycled figurines and glass. The final piece in the series is a globe that will show the animals and sea life of each region and the fragile ecosystems of the world with emphasis on showing the planet’s need for our protection.

See more work, visit carlosalvesmosaics.com

...

April 24, 2024 | General

Call For Artists Point Of Contact [Write A Call For Artists]

Providing a point of contact is important when writing a call for artists. Transparency is important to visual artists and crafters. They trust that we hold our clients accountable for their listings. Providing the relevant information helps establish that the client is not a faceless organization or phishing exercise and, in turn, increases response rates.

Calls For Artists Point Of Contact Information

Most promotion content marketing platforms require three point of contact pieces of information:

Public point of contact email
Email for administrative use
Name for administrative use

Public Point Of Contact

Where the applicant may ask additional questions about the listing.
May be general (art@yourbusiness.com) or specific (jdoe@yourbusiness.com).
Avoid generic or non-domain specific email addresses such as artshow@gmail.com.

Email For Administrative Use

Where the promotion content marketing platform can contact the listing’s administrator for questions or concerns about the listing.
May be general (art@yourbusiness.com) or specific (jdoe@yourbusiness.com), but preferably specific.
The person that manages this email address is often both the person that publishes and promotes the listing, although in the case of some larger organizations, there may be two individuals that divide these responsibilities.
Promotion content marketing platforms will send this email address information about their account, listing updates, and information on best practices for marketing the listing.

Name For Administrative Use

This is the person that is most responsible for posting listings and managing the promotion content marketing platform’s account.
A full name (first and last) is required for account set up and maintenance.
Although not shown to the public, providing a contact name helps establish transparency and allows to quickly address account issues.

...

April 22, 2024 | General

Listing Content Changes [Write A Call For Artists]

It is challenging to write an effective call for artists. There are many details to think through. Side Arts promotion service provides copywriters and content marketers who help you frame listings and promotions in order to attract the most qualified participants.

Once a call for artists is published to the site, only Side Arts staff can make listing content changes. This is to ensure that the quality assurance process is not compromised.

Obviously, small changes and misunderstandings may occur as clients start to receive responses. Therefore, listing content changes may be requested for incidental updates; i.e. given the wrong link, change of date/location, or point of contact.

Side Arts’ policy is to have our copywriters format the listings in the best possible way in terms of grammar, online searchability, and current content marketing best practices. We update our Style Guide frequently.

Social promotions are scheduled when the listing is posted. Changing your content may mean proofing and editing social content, as well.

We want your call for artist to succeed! If you have any questions about your promotions, reach out to us at mail@sidearts.com.

...

March 17, 2024 | General

Roy Wronker [Certified Visual Artist – Johns Creek, GA]

Roy Wronker is a new Side Arts Certified Visual Artist from Johns Creek, Georgia.

Roy Wronker was raised in Miami, Florida, and presently resides in Johns Creek, Georgia, located just north of Atlanta. Having had the opportunity to travel extensively, he draws inspiration from the colors and patterns reminiscent of sunsets and natural scenes observed from boats, beaches, and strolls through various locales across Europe, the Caribbean, North and Central America, as well as from the vibrant individuals encountered along the way.

Each of these experiences serves as a guiding influence in his artistic endeavors. Roy’s aim is to craft artwork that not only enriches your environment but also captivates you in a manner that entices repeated viewing in a fresh perspective.

See more artwork, wronker.art.

...

March 16, 2024 | General

Linda Fitzgerald [Certified Visual Artist – Fort Collins, CO]

Linda Fitzgerald is a Side Arts Certified Visual Artist from Fort Collins, Colorado.

Linda Fitzgerald was born in the Hudson Valley area of New York State and has been a Fort Collins resident since 1988. Before settling in Colorado, Linda’s path took her to San Francisco and Santa Fe where her passion for both visual and culinary art began to blossom.

In San Francisco, Linda befriended nationally acclaimed sculptress Ruth Cravath Wakefield and fine art painter Charles Farr. Both inspired and influenced Linda on her creative journey. In 1978, Linda moved to New Mexico where she had the honor of working as a Companion/Chef for Georgia O’Keeffe at Ms. O’Keeffe’s Abiquiu home. There were many conversations about creativity. Linda took to heart the advice Ms. O’Keeffe gave her, “Paint the way you paint! Don’t allow others to tell you how your painting should look. Instructors want you to paint like them, but then it’s not your work, it’s theirs’.”

Awards and Exhibitions

World Art Awards (2023): 6th Place
American Arts Awards (2022): 6th Place
Side Arts (May 2022): 1st Place – Monthly Online Competition
City of Lafayette Group Show (January – March 2020): Lafayette, CO
Jones Gallery Group Show (February 2020): Kansas City, MO
Public Art Program reproduction and installation of “Flamingos” utility box wraps (January 2020): Pompano Beach, FL
R Gallery Group Show (October – November 2019): Boulder, CO
R Gallery Group Show (September – October 2019): Boulder, CO
Gateway To the Rockies National Art Show (October 2019): Aurora, CO
Art Santa Fe International Art Show (2019): Santa Fe, NM
Gateway To the Rockies National Art Show (October 2018): Aurora, CO
Art in Public Places reproduction and installation of “Spirit Buffalo” at the Phillip S. Miller Regional Park (August 2018): Castle Rock, CO

See more work, visit lindafitzgeraldgalleryandgifts.com