Never Have I Ever...
Never Have I Ever...Been in an art show, or joined an art group, or led an art show or done any of this artsy stuff. This blog post looks at and brings together many of the previous posts and pages that cover subjects giving tips and suggestions for not only the new, inexperienced artists, but perhaps as a reminder too for others.
The Game 'Never Have I Ever'
The game called "Never Have I Ever" is known as an adult drinking game... which we are not doing here. I'm just compiling various art topics that perhaps artists often have questions about.
The Artistry Spin Blog was started on August 29, 2021 with it's very first post on the history of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS). Since then, I am up to 460 posts (at the time of this writing) - so that's a lot of info about PWAS, our art shows, our artists, and a whole lot of art topics in between.
You could look at some of these topics as an "art refresher" even if you've been a long time artist. There could be blog posts that you had no idea were even in the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog.
My format here is to give you the Never Have I Ever - topic, some notes and then give you the related/previous blog posts about the subject. Often, I've had artists ask me about an art subject or if I have a blog post about "XYZ. I've said, "It's in there!" If you are of a certain age, you may remember the old commercials on Ragu Spaghetti Sauce where they said about all the good ingredients, "It's in there!" Remember that? Anyway, have you ever...?
1. Never Have I Ever - Joined an Art Group
My suggestion is to do so! Depending on where you live and how the art culture runs in your community, do the research and see what types of art group options you have near you. Research words like art group, art society, art guild, art collective, art council, art community, art league, artisans, nonprofit art groups, and art alliance.
Find out when they meet and go to a meeting (or check out if there is a zoom option) and see how they function and if its a good fit for what you do or want to do as an artist, if it has the energy level you seek, and how serious and/or how fun they are. And possibly, depending on funds, you could join more than one.
Post 57: Getting Involved in Your Local Art Group
Prince William Art Society Membership - the link to the PWAS website to learn more about PWAS. In 2024, we now have the ability to join (or rejoin) PWAS by paying online which is quite helpful.
Or perhaps YOU need to start a local art group! I've heard of friends that just generically started their art groups from a monthly or weekly get together and just wanted to paint. Sometimes it does involve sipping the wine too! And then it evolved into an art group for their community over time.
Granted, if you want to make your art group a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, there are many documents and regulations in setup and maintaining that status. Do the research.
2. Never Have I Ever - Been in an Art Show
As PWAS grows, we get people that might be new to art, new to the area, want to make friends with like minded art folks, or are retiring from their job in an alternative field and want to start enjoying their retirement with an art hobby. They may wonder what all is involved in entering their first art show.
When PWAS announces an art show (or a call for art), in the original email announcement are the basics that should always be stated (granted, some info will be in followup emails):
- Name of the Show, is there a theme or art requirement?
- Date(s), Times, Location, Deadline to apply
- What is the setup time?
- Is there an Entry Fee?
- How long will the show last?
- Is it indoor, outdoor, rain or shine? Is there a Rain Date?
- Is there a flyer for distribution? (There should be)
- Will this show be juried, judged, or is it first come, first served, anything goes?
- Will I need to volunteer for a shift?
- Will the show be under a tent?
- Are tables and chairs provided or do I need to bring my own?
- Will there be print stands or do I need to bring my own?
- Will we be using the PWAS gridwall panels?
- How much space will each artist be allowed? How many art pieces?
- Is there a limit to size?
- What is the info on drop-off and pick-up?
- What is the commission?
- How will the artist get paid if artwork sells and when?
- Will there be an art reception?
Post 29: Lessons Learned at an Outdoor Art Show Exhibit
How to Art Show - A page on the Artistry Spin
3. Never Have I Ever - Submitted Art for a Juried Show
Typically a juried art show falls under the announcement for a Call for Art, or a Call for Artists. Honestly, Calls for Art are everywhere when you really start looking. Art galleries, art shows, exhibitions, etc - need artists, often, a lot of them. Some churches or communities have an annual art show that helps raise income for their cause(s) and a fee for entering.
A local art group may limit their art calls to their membership according to their gallery or art display space.
Many of the same bullet points above will be in your Call for Art too, but the HUGE thing with official Calls for Art is to FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS EXACTLY. You'll see me emphasize that over and over again.
Post 119: What is a Jotform? What is a Call for Art?
Call for Art - A page on Artistry Spin
Post 246: Learn to Take a Better Photo When Submitting to Calls for Art
Post 302: Tips to Photograph Your Art for Jury Submission by Leah Boynton
Post 247: Cropping a Photo Made Easy
Post 428: The Art of Artist Etiquette
Post 225: Artwork Rejection - a necessary job post because we have ALL had our artwork not accepted not just once, and not necessarily in the past. Not being accepted into an art show is often what has to happen. Really. I'd read this one, it's important.
4. Never Have I Ever - Sold My Art
Are you a new artist just starting out? Many artists have been giving away their artwork to family and friends for the fun of it and perhaps not taking the business of art seriously. Or have you been joining art shows, setting up an online store and you're still not selling? These posts look at selling art, pricing art, what sells, etc.
Post 390: Why Is Art So Expensive?
Post 102: Painting What Sells?
Post 115: Pricing Your Artwork
Post 189: The Fear of Putting a Price on Your Art
So the artist may want to look at if their art is priced too high, are they putting it in front of the right audience and many other points to consider.
Pricing is a tough decision and there are various schools of thought about it. This is one important art topic so again, I'd put research into it.
5. Never Have I Ever - Led an Art Group Show
Isn't this where the saying "herding kittens" came from? Slightly kidding here but there is no rule that says one person must do ALL the work when leading an art group show. Recruit, delegate, and BE PREPARED. Oh so many of the suggestions here are because of living the experience.
Post 438: Managing an Art Show for an Art Group
I also consider this blog post as a must read for all the artists participating in an art show because sometimes you just have to step up and help.
6. Never Have I Ever - Had a Solo Art Show
I could basically say that doing your own solo show means taking Items 2, 4, 5, 10, and pretty much all of 14 and doing it all on your own.
An
artist having a solo art show has a lot of pros and definitely some
cons too. The burden of ALL the work, the equipment, setup and takedown,
fees and sales, ALL of it is on that solo artist's head.
7. Never Have I Ever - Joined an Art Committee
We suggest you ask your art group where you would fit in and be put to best use. The group needs to know something about you and your talents for the best fit. It takes a lot of good people to make an art group successful.
Post 425: Nonprofit Art Group Committees - typical art group committees
Post 436: PWAS Feb Meeting and "Job Fair"
And an important thing to consistently remind everyone of is that you cannot expect the same few people to do all of the work. Everyone in a group should step up and help serve in some capacity - new blood and ideas can really help a group to grow.
8. Never Have I Ever - Gone Plein Air Painting
PWAS now has the Plein Air Posse as a subgroup of PWAS. But what is it? What do you need to take with you? These posts should help you get out there in the open air.
Post 441: PWAS Plein Air Posse
Post 452: Bluebells and the Plein Air Posse by Tom Payne
9. Never Have I Ever - Taught an Art Class
Nether have I. I need to write a post on this topic. Or you do.
10. Never Have I Ever - Had Prints Made of My Art
Prints are often the lifeblood for many an artist. You may not sell a $1000 painting every day (if you do, come talk to me), but you may sell a $45 print of it more often.
Post 386: Art Tips, Tricks, and More...10 - by Mark Murphy
And say that $1000 painting has sold and gone to a new home. Great! You can still keep making money on that painting by selling prints of it.
11. Never Have I Ever - Commissioned Artwork
Someone that loves your art will one day ask you to create something for them. Oh wow and oh happy day! After doing that little happy dance, your thoughts may run to, "Oh no. What do I do now? How do I get paid? Do I need a contract? Do I need to ship it? Is this a scam? Can this be real?..." You get the picture (pun intended).
12. Never Have I Ever - Volunteering at a Gallery
While many art galleries and studio spaces have huge staffs and big budgets, some art display spaces may have much smaller budgets or be run by a nonprofit group that depends on their staff of volunteers and docents to "work the gallery".
Art Group, Volunteering and Gallery Worker Training - A page on Artistry Spin with the benefits of an art group, Board info, volunteers in a not-for-profit art group, committees, the benefits to volunteering, working at an art gallery, and art receptions.
Post 220: An Art Gallery Reception List
Art Reception Check and Suggestion List - A page on Artistry Spin to copy with the tasks and resources needed
13. Never Have I Ever - Learned the History of PWAS
The history of PWAS was in the very first PWAS Artistry Spin Blog Post. And considering this blog post was from August 2021, it could almost be considered PWAS History Part 1 - the Early Years. It may be time to look at a blog post for PWAS History Part 2 on what has happened since then! 14. Never Have I Ever - Art Blog Posts You May Have Missed
Another subtitle for this one could be "I forgot this was in there!"
Sure, I have plenty of art topics not covered in the Artistry Spin Blog YET. And I don't know it all either, to attempt many subjects. Other writers would be awesome to have to cover special tips on working with different mediums. Or how-to articles would be great. I'm up for suggestions and help, definitely.
Nonetheless, when I see the need because of a question asked, I try to find the info needed and present it in a blog post. Here are a few of the go to art topics you need to know:
Display - A page on Artistry Spin with the basic rules, the requirements on artwork Display when hanging art. This includes not only PWAS expectations, but are used by most art galleries and exhibitions too. This one is a MUST READ for everyone.
Art Need to Know (NTK)
- A page on Artistry Spin, is list of what an artist needs to know as soon as they know that art
is something they want to do as a career, a side hustle, or as a hobby. You know the saying, "If I knew then what I know now..." And wouldn't it have been nice to not have made so many of those mistakes learning on your own? As a blog post is created referencing an item on the list, I link it to the topic there as well.
Post 16: How Do You Sign Your Artwork? - Your Artist Signature
Post 44: Give Your Artwork a Name And Don't Call It Untitled
Post 294: Great Find - Varnishing Artwork Videos - About Varnishing your art
Post 440: To Gesso or Not to Gesso, That is the Question - Do you Gesso your canvas?
Post 39: Watermark Your Artwork Online - Using a watermark on your images
Post 274: Art Scammers are Everywhere - Art Scams, they happen
Post 405: Great Find Video - Body of Work - Do you have a Body of Work?
Post 285: Not Necessarily Art Notes, but... - Email Artiquette (Etiquette), Social Media, Showing Artwork, Volunteering, Rewards (doesn't this sound important too?)
Post 437 : Tips to Organize Your Art, Art Group, Art Business Emails - Emails, emails, emails
Post 406: Art Tips 15 - Computers - For the artists that need help with computer stuff
Amazing or not, many of these mentioned blog posts are some of our most viewed.
Sometimes subjects get rehashed over time on a blog and details are updated, refreshed, or referenced from previous posts but my hope is that they add more depth to that topic over time.
I still suggest to search the blog to find topics of interest to you, as been said before and quite often, the answer is usually that, "It's in there!"
See also:
ART Posts to Artistry Spin on Specific Art Topics Series - A page on Artistry Spin to my Composition Series Posts, Art Tips Series Posts, and Art Etiquette Posts.
Artistry Spin Blogmaster and an artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.
Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
