Websites for Artists: web design for artists and the art community
 

Artist Resources

Website For Artists is based in Brooklyn, NY... so this section tends to be a bit New York-centric. If you know of a resource that will help artists nationwide or worldwide, please e-mail me your suggestions at: isabelle@websiteforartists.com

Click on the different categories for a complete list of resources.

Website & Online

Marketing

Fine Art

Social Issues

Website For Artists Articles

Artists opportunities

Artists supplies

Legal help

Website for Artists Newsletter

Grants and Funding

Books

Health

Online tools

Residencies & Space

Art related sites

 

Photoshop tricks

Artist registries

Drawing in NYC

 

Web Design Schools

Art forums and Art blogs

   
 

Submitting articles online

 

 

 

Mailing list management

 

 

 

Writing Services

   

 

Career consultants

 

 

 

Web directories

 

 

 

Printing and Scanning

 

 

 

Art Photography

   

 

Website For Artists Articles

Notes from DAC: Survivor, an artist's opportunity workshop
I attended the Survivor workshop this weekend (May 30-June 1 2008) offered through the Dumbo Arts Center, and wanted to share my notes.

Make your site work for you
Information on how search engines work and what you can do to increase traffic to your site and promote your work.

Protecting yourself against Phishing
Very short article outlining the most common phishing techniques and how to avoid falling victim.

20 tips for a good website design
Designing a good website seems to require an endless checklist of chores: organize and select the materials, photograph the artwork, write a bio, an artist statement and an updated resume, etc. Don't give up! I have compiled 20 important points that Artists should keep in mind when designing their website.

Copyrighting infringement: is the threat real for Artists?
Many artists have asked me recently about protecting their images from online theft. Learn what can you do to protect your work, and more importantly, if you should be worried about it.

Getting ready for a website
This article gives basic information about how websites are made to help you make an informed decision about what is right for you. Should you use HTML, Flash or a combination of both?

Preparing your images for the web
Definition of common graphics terms and how images should be prepared for a website.

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Website For Artists Newsletter

Click on the links below to download the pdf documents:

January 2011

If you would like to receive the websiteforartists.com newsletter, please send an e-mail to: isabelle@websiteforartists.com

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Online Tools

sendthisfile.com: free service to send large files that email cannot handle.

Useful tips for website promotion: tips to promote your website, and increase web presence

www.techsoup.org: offers nonprofits a one-stop resource for technology needs by providing free information, resources, and support.

www.webmonkey.com: html libraries, javascript libraries, authoring help, tips and tricks for online jobs.

www.dynamicdrive.com: free, original DHTML & Javascripts to enhance your web site

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Photoshop Tricks

Sharpen Filter: this filter can turn blurry photos into focused ones. It has some limitations so if a photo is a blurry mess, it might have to be re-shot!

Levels: If you are unhappy with the contrast of a photo, use the levels tools instead of the Brightness/Contrast tool. Under the menu "Image", go to "Adjust", "Levels". The levels are the basic distribution of the light to dark in any image. Use the sliding scales to make the darks darker or the lights lighter or use the automatic feature

Clone tool: this can help eliminate small scratches especially in old photos. The clone tool takes a starting point in any image, and start to paint the image again using that starting point, in essence, reproducing the image. Holding the "Alt" key will select the area the tool will use, releasing the key with paint with that area. For small scratches, select the area right above or right below and use a soft brush to blend the image. It is best to select a cloning area several times so you don't have any visible patterns

Perspective tool/Skew tool: if your photo was taken at a slight angle, you can adjust it to make it look like it was taken straight on with the perspective tool, or the skew tool. Under "Edit", "Transform", select "Skew" which let you manipulate each corner of the image independently, or use "Perspective" which is a one point perspective tool

Color Balance: if you are unhappy with your photo's overall color balance, go under "Image", "Adjust" and choose "Color Balance". You can re-balance the photo with more red, blue, green, cyan, magenta or yellow...

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Artist Opportunities

NYFA: Probably the best site for New York Artists. You will find lists of jobs, opportunities, grants and residencies, and useful articles for working artists.

Art in Embassies program: promotes the cultural identity of America's art and artists by borrowing original works of art by US citizens.

BRIC Rotunda Gallery: aim to increase visibility and accessibility of contemporary art (Brooklyn).

Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition. BWAC is the largest artist run, not for profit art organization in Brooklyn. The exhibition space is located at 499 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook, Brooklyn.

CUE Art Foundation: non profit forum for contemporary artists.

Drawing Center: focuses on the exhibition of drawings.

Dumbo Arts Center: non-profit contemporary arts organization, located in Dumbo, Brooklyn, New York.

Eyebeam: technology center providing tools for digital research and experimentation (NYC).

FIGMENT: an annual arts event on Governors Island, with artwork in every medium, from installation to performance to music to games and many things in between

Islip Art Museum / Carriage House: project space for contemporary exhibits.

Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning: offers diverse programs to artists of Queens and greater metropolitan area.

LMCC: lower Manhattan Cutltural Council.

nysca.org: NY State Council on the Arts. Offers grants to organizations, and a great resources section with lists of very useful websites.

Artcalendar.com: business magazine for visual artists. Also see their webinar listed below.

The Art List- Monthly e-Newsletter and searchable database listing upcoming Art Contests, Art Competitions, and Opportunites for visual artists and photographers.

ArtDeadlines.Com
A searchable database and magazine that lists local and national juried artist competitions, grants, call for submissions, art jobs, art festivals, residencies, fellowships, & more.

Artdeadlineslist.com: A monthly newsletter (via email or paper) with several hundred announcements every month.

Festivals.com: information about community festivals, including film, visual arts, music, and other cultural events

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Grants and Funding

American Academy in Rome: 11 month prize fellowships in visual arts.

Creative Capital Foundation: acts as a catalyst for the development of adventurous and imaginative ideas.

Experimental Television Center: provides completion awards to NY state artists.

Franklin Furnace: privides awards grants to emerging artists to produce major works.

Harvestworks: 2 internships to young digital media artists at the post-graduate level in NYC.

Jerome Foundation: grants to support new works for artists living in Minnesota and NYC.

Pollack-Krasner: grants to visual artists.

Queens Arts Council: grants to support cultural activities in Queens.

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Residencies and Work Space

Art OMI: 3 week residency in upstate NY.

Artist Alliance: affordable working space for professional artists, focus is on downtown NYC.

Center for Photography at Woodstock: residency program to support artists of color working in photography.

Dieu Donne Papermill. offers 6 annual residencies to emerging artists to create work in handmade paper.

ISPC: visual arts residency that aims to connect its resident artists and curators to local institutions.

Location One: not-for-profit art center devoted to the convergence of visual, performing and digital arts.

Lower East Side Printshop: studio space, career services for printmakers.

Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation: studio space and financial assistance for visual artists.

Sculpture Space: 20 artists awarded residencies each year.

Skowhegan: nine week summer residency in Maine.

Smack Mellon: free studio space for 1 year in Brooklyn.

Socrates Sculpture Park: six month residency in outdoor studio in Queens.

Studio Museum Harlem: 12 month residency for 3 emerging artists.

Triangle Arts Association: free studio space for six months in NYC.

Whitney Independent Study Program: variety of art practices with emphasis on installation, film and video.

Women's Studio Workshop: specialized studios in printmaking, ceramics, photography and book arts.

Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild: Founded in 1903, Byrdcliffe is one of the older artists colonies in the country. It is home to a national Artist-in-Residence program.

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Art Registries

 

Absolutearts.com: the largest site for contemporary art, art news, art history, contemporary artist and gallery portfolios, online since 1995.


Arkansas Arts Council
:
this online Artists Registry is a free service provided to the Arkansas arts community. Registry members have the opportunity to post contact information, a link to their website and display up to 10 images of their work.

Artistsspace
One of the first alternative spaces in New York, Artists Space was founded in 1972 to support contemporary artists working in the visual arts, including video, electronic media, performance, architecture and design. The mission of Artists Space is to encourage experimentation, diversity and dialogue in contemporary arts practice, provide an exhibition space for new art and artists, and foster an appreciation for the vital role that artists play in our community.

Barebrush.com: Art is listed in a blog format, latest listing first. The artwork must represent art of the nude

Brooklyn Arts Council: Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC), an arts and services organization founded in 1966, is the umbrella for Brooklyn’s range of cultural groups and individual artists working in the visual, performing, media, and literary arts.

Buffalo & Erie County Arts council: online directory is for members of the Arts Council

Chashama.org: chashama has become a major force in the NYC arts community by supporting the work and ideas of an increasing number of emerging artists every year.

City of Las Vegas Arts Commission National Registry: the Artist Registry was established in 1988 to act as a resource for local and national artists who wish to be included in any notifications of opportunities released by the Las Vegas Arts Commission in conjunction with the Office of Cultural Affairs. The Artist Registry is open to the public and may be viewed upon appointment by contacting the Arts Commission office at 702-229-6844

Connecticut Visual Arts Slide Bank: Artists residing in Connecticut who wish to register in the Slide Bank should complete a simple registration form accompanied by 10 to 19 slides of their work.

Delaware visual Images registry: The Visual Images Registry, located in the Division's office in Wilmington, contains digital images and information about Delaware visual artists. Download the application form from the website.

Eureka Springs Artists Registry: The Eureka Springs Artists Registry is a full service artist registry, dedicated to increasing opportunities for the visual artists of Arkansas.

Handpapermaking.org. $25 fee for 3 slides. Hand Papermaking's artist registry serves the papermaking community as a means for artists to have their work available for critical review; for archivists and historians to see artworks from any particular time period; and for scholars, publicists, curators, and others to view current handmade paper art.

LIC Artists, Inc: founded in 1986 and incorporated in 1989 with a mission to increase the visibility of professional visual artists working in the Long Island City area

MSAC: Maryland State Arts Council Visual Artists' Registry.

The Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program: unique organization that is run by and for Minnesota artists.

Minnesota Percent for Art in Public Places: The Minnesota Percent for Art in Public Places program acquires works of art to be exhibited in and around state buildings in areas regularly accessible to the general public.

NJ State Council on the Arts: Created as an agency of state government, the NJSCA operates as a division within the Department of State. Its purpose is to encourage and give financial support to artists, arts organizations and projects throughout New Jersey.

NurtureArt.org: All emerging visual artists committed to developing their professional careers are invited and encouraged to join our Artists Registry. There are no fees to participate and all complete submissions following the guidelines will be accepted. Only artists with exclusive commercial gallery representation are ineligible. While NURTUREart cannot guarantee inclusion in future exhibitions, the Registry is in constant use, providing excellent exposure for participating artists.

Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition: The Virtual Gallery is a dynamic, non-juried resource of work by Oklahoma visual artists working in all media, which is the only statewide resource of this type. OVAC member artists may submit up to 20 images and their biography.

Pittsburg Artist Registry: The Pittsburgh Artist Registry is a resource for promoting visual, literary, performing and multi-disciplinary artists living in southwestern PA.

Rhode Island State Council for the Arts: submit a listing to their directory for Rhode Island artist, group, or arts venue

Saatchi online: innovative forum for contemporary art, presenting work by largely unseen young artists or by established international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK.

Sculpture Center: image library for sculptors.

Siskiyou Artists' Registry: registry for the Visual, Literary and Performing Arts in Siskiyou County

VSA Artist Registry: free and open to all artists with disabilities, ages 18 and above, who are committed to their artistic progress. Registration is free and entitles artists to numerous resources and exposure.

Women Art Registry of Minnesota: Current WARM members are invited to become a part of WARM's Online Registry. (You can become a member for as little as $1). WARM appreciates a reciprocal link to our website for those of you who have a website

Women and their Work: a collection of images from artists who are supporters of Women & Their Work. Email wtw@texas.net for information on support and participation.

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Art Forums and Art Blogs

artstomarket: Sharing news and tips about bringing arts to market

painterskeys.com: Robert Genn Twice-Weekly Letter. These are great newsletters about anything related to art: inspiration, other great artists, art education, you name it. They're short and quite fun to read, and best of all, it's free to subscribe!

www.artbizblog.com: Art marketing secrets, resources, and motivation from Alyson B. Stanfield.

www.lynndunham.blogspot.com: Lynn Dunham' s blog on blogspot.

artscuttlebutt.com: online art community for Art Calendar magazine.

www.wetcanvas.com: one of the largest artists forum, with over 100, 000 members! Great place to share ideas or ask for technical advise on projects.

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Submitting Articles Online

ideamarketers.com

ezinearticles.com

searchwarp.com

goarticles.com

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Mailing List Management

IndieBandManager
This software is intended to help bands manage their fan base and book gigs. I found it extremely useful for an artist: you can send personalized emails to a larger group of people, and no one will see the other people's e-mails: no more mailing list theft! It also has a "to do" list where you can plan all your grant and residency applications.

GYST: database program to help artists keep track of their artwork, business aspects, proposals, mailing lists, etc.

Constant Contact: an alternative to IndieBandManager. This e-mail service lets you send html e-mail to your mailing list.

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Writing Services

WRITING SERVICES FOR ARTISTS

The passion and creativity you bring to your art should be reflected in the language you use to represent it. Let an experienced writer help you create powerful written communications that will advance your work: Artist Statements, Bios, Catalog/Grant Essays, PR (press releases, pitch letters), etc.

Contact:
Adam Eisenstat
E-mail: ajeisenstat@gmail.com
Online portfolio: www.AdamEisenstat.com (see "Art Writing")


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Career Consultants

Artsmarketing.org: web portal for practical marketing information in a format that is easily accessible to novice, intermediate and expert marketers, and is targeted towards arts administrators at small to mid-sized not-for-profit arts organizations in the U.S

The Field: membership organization offering programs that help independent artists create new artwork, manage their careers, and develop long-range strategies for sustaining a life in the art

Artist Help Network: from the author of "How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist". Links to resources helpful in an Art career.

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Web Directories

onewaytextlink: list of hundreds of web directories that will give you a one way text link Increase your site's ranking by adding your link to web directories.

www.artsearch.us: search for your favorite art, rate listed websites, submit your site, show your artwork!

www.theartlist.com

Web Designers Directory

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Web Design Schools

Web Design Colleges: one of the most extensive listings of web design degree programs being offered across the country.

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Printing and Scanning

Cestrian - UK Digital Printing Company. Cestrian, the digital printing company. UK's leading large format digital printing company offering a comprehensive range of digital printing services.

Cushing: printing services based in Chicago. City of Chicago-certified Women's Business Enterprise

Gamma Tech: transfer digital files to slides or slides to digital slides

Moo: Business Cards, Postcards and MiniCards

UPrinting: online printing services. Pretty affordable, and has a greater choice of sizes than Vista Print.

Vistaprint: an online printing service that is very affordable for postcards and business cards. The printing results are a good quality for the price.

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Art Photography

Katrin Grotepass is now offering high resolution digital photography of artwork in the New York City/Tri State area.

Katrin is an artist, and was Tom Otterness's main assistant for eight years. She photographed and documented all of the artwork in his studio, and designed catalogues, brochures, cards, full page ads in collaboration with Marlborough Gallery

Visit: www.studio15photography.com for complete details

 

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Artists Supplies

Materials for the Arts: for non-for-profit arts groups only. Materials are gathered from companies and individuals that no longer need them and redistributed to the artists and educators that do

Build it Green! sells salvaged and surplus building materials. (NYC)

Metal Source
(in Brooklyn, Rochester NY and Woburn, Massachusetts):
A division of Admirals Metals, Metal Source sells pretty much anything in small quantity:

• Rod • Bar • Tube • Sheet • Plate • Full Lengths & Randoms
• Aluminum • Brass • Copper • Bronze • Stainless Steel...

Website: www.admiralmetals.com

In Brooklyn:
270 Nevins St (R train to Union St or F/G to Bergen St)
(718) 858-2808

In Woburn:
11 Forbes road
(781) 932-0482

In Rochester:
1046 University Avenue
(585) 271-1098

SoHo Art Materials
127 Grand St
New York, NY 10013
(212) 431-3938

DaVinci Artist Supply
132 West 21st St
New York NY 10011
(212) 871-0220

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Books

Taking the Leap by Cay Lang
This book got me through the first year post graduate school. It takes a step by step approach to launching your art career. Click on the icon to get it directly from amazon.com

How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist by Caroll Michels
Great marketing ideas, and full of resources at the end of the book, such as finding interior designers and architects, useful art organizations, how to find affordable health care, how to write a press release. A must in your library! Click on the icon to get it directly from amazon.com

Fine Art Publicity, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide for Artists, Galleries, and Museums (Business and Legal Forms) by Susan Abbott
This resource helps artists generate the publicity that keeps their artwork in the public spotlight. Provided are practical tools for attracting the media's attention and building bridges between artists, their galleries, and collectors, and between museums and their audiences.

Artistic Anatomy (Practical Art Books) (Paperback) by Dr. Paul Richer
This book was actually required when I attended the New York Academy of Art. This is one of the best anatomy books for the price.

Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form by Eliot Goldfinger
A great anatomical reference books for figurative artists.

Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet
Another fantastic anatomy reference, Sarah Simblet shows photos, and the skeletal structure underneath, which is an amazing tool to understanding the human figure.

Modelling and Sculpting the Human Figure by Edouard Lanteri
A must-have reference for figurative sculptor!

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Art Related Sites

Fractured Atlas: membership organization providing services, resources and support to artists and arts organizations nationwide, including health care, publicity, fiscal sponsorship, legal assistance, and grants for creative and organizational development.

ArtsLynx: a massive, largely non-annotated International links database for dance, theater, music, visual arts, film, writing and poetry, arts advocacy, arts therapy/empowerment, arts education, arts administration, and arts employment

Urban Glass: UrbanGlass offers a comprehensive education program of classes, workshops and intensives at every skill level - from novice to professional - in a wide variety of glassworking techniques, including glassblowing, hot casting, kiln casting, lampworking, fusing, slumping, neon, mosaics, stained glass and coldworking.

3rdward: 3rd Ward is a 20,000 sq. ft. workspace and studio facility for artists & creative professionals, located in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The Free Expression Policy Project (FEPP) provides research and analysis on difficult censorship issues, and seeks free speech-friendly solutions to the concerns that drive censorship campaigns

Galleryguide: lists all the openings in several different cities, and is a great resource to plan your gallery-hopping night

Art-Collecting.com: links to galleries, appraisers, dealers, blogs, etc...

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Drawing Sessions in NYC

Chelsea School of Fine Art: David Klass holds a drawing workshop in his studio every Wednesday night, long pose, alternating male - female models each week, $10.
Chelsea School of Fine Art, 136 W 24 th Street, between 6 & 7 aves, 212 243 7633.

Drink-n-Draw: at 3rd Ward in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Every Wednesday. 3rd Ward provides the beer and the model.

Greenspace: Cross Pollination, Long Island City, Queens. A monthly event for sketch artists to draw dancers as models-in-motion and for dancers to improvise with one another, while being inspired to move by the art in the making! Check their site for the schedule.

Michael Alan's drawathon: started as an alternative to conventional figure drawing in 2005, the Drawathon Troupe is a collective of art models, artists, musicians, performers and poets who collaborate through improv, open ended narrative, hand crafted props and live music. Every Saturday in the East Village in Manhattan.

New York Academy of Art: one of the only schools left in the country for figurative training. They have a great continuing education program for those who want to keep up or improve their skills, as well as regular open drawing sessions on the weekend. In Tribeca.

Society of Illustrators: 2 on 2 Jazz & Sketch. Every Tuesday Of The Month. The Society of Illustrators is located at 128 East 63rd Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues). New York, NY 10021-7303

Spring Studio: Spring Studio is a professional art studio offering ongoing life drawing sessions 7 days a week. Located in downtown Manhattan. Check the site for the schedule.

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Legal Information for Artists

www.copyright.gov: Government site with all the information necessary for copyright issues, forms, FAQs, etc. Click here for the answers to the most common copyright questions.

StarvingArtistsLaw.com: self help legal information.

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts: pro bono and low cost legal services and information for the arts community

Clancco: Great blog about art and law by artist and lawyer Sergio Muñoz Sarmiento

Article in smashingmagazine.com: this is a great compilation of facts and articles about copyright, especially online content

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Health

Smithfarm.com: non-profit gallery dedicated to promoting the arts as a tool for healing

Freelancers union: national nonprofit organization that represents the needs and concerns of independent workers through advocacy, information and service.

Artists Health Insurance Resource Center: provides the arts community with the information necessary to make informed choices about individual and small business group health insurance options available in each state

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© 2006 by Isabelle Garbani/Websiteforartists.com
The entire content of this website is protected under US and international copyright laws.