How to Paint Iridescent Bird Feathers & Make Them Glow

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Often, I get asked how I make my paintings and birds seem to glow. A few months ago, I made a video while painting this still life painting, "Jeweled Visitors" and decided to edit it down into a short clip to illustrate how I paint iridescent bird feathers. This is a quick little flick, but I hope it helps you understand how to make your bird feathers look iridescent and make them glow!   Here are a few tips to remember: To … [Read more...]

Is a WordPress Blog Platform Right for You?

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Are you an artist or creative person who wants a blog? After reading, 5 Simple Steps to Start a Blog, you are now ready to begin. But, there are so many blogging platforms out there...so, how do you decide which one is right for you? Below is a quick overview to help you decide... Before we get started, I just want to say that I wish I understood the following information before I started blogging about 1 1/2 years ago! I didn't know that … [Read more...]

5 Simple Steps to Start Your First Blog

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Guest author: John Paul Aguiar There are many benefits to you as an artist to start a blog. A blog is a great way to promote your art and you, to sell your art and to offer customer service. There is no better place to connect with a potential customer then on your blog. Your goal as an artist online:  *To make your customer feel as comfortable with the process of getting to know you the artist, learning about your art and hopefully … [Read more...]

What is a Blog and How to Become an Art Blogger

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Like I've said before, artists have been on the forefront of every great era - even blogging, lol! Nowadays, most professional artists have blogs or websites. Artists should consider blogging because it is far more versatile than a website. Today kicks off a helpful series of articles about blogging and how to become a blogger. Tomorrow, professional blogger and blogging coach, John Paul Aguiar shares his guest post, "5 Simple Steps to Start … [Read more...]

How One Artist Created a Successful Art Campaign

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Giving back to the community with the gift of art is a great way to benefit others as well as yourself. My good friend, abstract artist Matt LeBlanc, has shared some great articles with us in the past. However, this post is different and very inspiring. On his own, Matt has created a successful art campaign to raise money for a charity he believes in, the fight against cancer... Matt lost his sister to this heartless disease when she was … [Read more...]

The Color Purple: Understand Its Hidden Meaning for Art & Design

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Research shows that color can play a major role in our overall state of well-being and creativity. The colors we surround ourselves with on a daily basis influence the way we feel and relax. Over the few months we have been learning about each primary and secondary color and its hidden meaning. This week is purple... Interestingly enough, the symbolism of color is not universal, but cultural. Generally, the more rare the colored pigment, the … [Read more...]

Straight Talk about Social Media with Lori McNee

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The other day I spoke about the benefits of and how to use social media, including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for the artist. I addressed over 200 people attending the Western States Arts Federation ZAPP Conference which was help in St. Louis, Missouri. Because of modern conveniences, I was able to address this crowd from the comfort of my own home via Skype! I recorded this 9 minute interview and thought it might be of interest to my … [Read more...]

Inbound or Outbound: Which Direction is Your Art Marketing Going?

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So . . . you are an artist, craftsperson or creative entrepreneur with work that you’d like to sell. OK, that’s great. Now you want to do some marketing. But which direction is your marketing going, inbound or outbound, and how do you know the difference? Inbound vs. Outbound Outbound Marketing: Interrupts people during their lives and says “look at me, listen to me”. Outbound marketing is old school (think advertising in … [Read more...]

Top 10 Up and Coming Women Bloggers

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As a blogger you will begin to find and connect with some great people. Some will help you in a direct way, and some will have an impact on you and your blogging in an indirect way. I am happy to say I have connected with some great women bloggers in the past 6 months that have shown support for me and my blog in one way or another. I been following some from early on and some I have found more recently, mainly thru Twitter and have followed … [Read more...]

Amazing History Facts You Never Learned in School!

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At times, I like to share interesting stories or facts outside of the 'art realm'. I am a big history buff, so when I received an email with these fun and unusual historical facts that I never learned in school, I just had to post them... Today, in honor of Labor Day - a well deserved, American'day of rest' - I thought you'd find this article even more interesting. After reading, I am sure you will be even more grateful for our modern … [Read more...]


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