Sketchbooks

Sketchbooks are a quintessential tool for artists. They are vital for jotting down ideas, inspirations, and projects. They are also handy for helping new people discover your work. Why? Well, when I’ve been out sketching, I often get people to stop and look at what I’m doing; this may be a momentary glance in the passing, but it can also be more. One time, while I was sitting sketching in Princes Street Gardens, a tourist came across, then called over to her travelling companions from a coach tour. Suddenly, a crowd of tourists were surrounding me and taking pictures of me sketching on their DSLRs. If it had not been for the language barrier, I’d have loved to have spoken to them. Frustratingly enough, I had neglected to have any business cards on me on that day either…

Social media accounts

Recently I went to an art school degree show as I do every year, and when at degree shows I am always keen to find new artists to follow (their careers, not in a stalker way!) When I see art I like, I’ll sometimes search their name online then and there to see if I can find their website / social media channels, but if I don’t, or nothing comes of the search, I’ll look for a business card. From the business card, I hope to get details of an artist’s social media channels as I feel that is the best way of staying informed about their practice. If there is no business card or information gained from searching their name online, then the artist has just lost a potential fan.

Having social media accounts which are easily found, used, and updated, are important for artists at the current time. They can be a great way to not only publicise upcoming exhibitions and new artwork but also a way of conveying your personality, the real you, behind your art. It gives collectors and potential buyers, something more than just your artwork but also a means to find out more about you as a person.

Here’s a shameless plug of my social channels while you’re here: Instagram // Twitter // Facebook

Business Cards

Whenever going to art exhibitions, fairs, or networking events, it is a good idea to take business cards with you as they are the quickest and easiest way to give your details to someone. Forget raking around in your handbag for a bit of paper and a pen to scrawl your contact details on, instead just present the person with a business card. It looks so much more professional and organised. If you take your art seriously, others are more likely to.

Opportunities, where business cards come in handy, can also arise at odd times. The other week I was in an art supply shop with a friend when an international student came in and asked the person serving whether she could commission art there. She was wanting a portrait for a gift. If I was a portrait artist, that would have been a great, unexpected opportunity for perhaps getting a commission.

Artist website

Having a website is like having a digital home. If someone sees your art somewhere and looks you up online, it is your website which they should see first. (Well, it should be the first thing they see but it depends on your SEO ranking in search engines. I’ll do a post on that in future but it’s too much to go into on this one.) Websites are a great way to showcase your portfolio, artist statement, and contact details.

I’m very much into technology so for me, designing the layout, colour scheme, and content of my website is great fun. I have a self-hosted website I created using WordPress.org but, thanks to technology, even if the idea of creating a website makes you want to run for the hills, creating one has never been so easy. Multiple websites exist which let you create a website in a drag-and-drop manner using pre-designed templates (e.g. Weebly, Wix, and Squarespace.) You can get free options as well as paid on some of these “build your own website” sites but if you want your own domain name like www.hcrart.com, as opposed to one which has the name of the builder’s name stuck in somewhere, you’ll definitely have to pay.

Planner

Keeping track of deadlines can be tricky and for artists, they can come from all angles: deadlines for exhibitions, proposals, clients, as well as, expenditures like when payment for your website is due, or studio rent. Having a planner makes it all easier. It’s such a useful tool to store all the deadlines you have coming up. Ensuring that all deadlines are remembered and met allows you to be confident that you are sharing your work with as many people as possible.

Disclaimer: None of the websites mentioned on this page are affiliate links. I am mentioning them because I have used or heard of them.

@HelenCRedman

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Copyright 2018 Helen C Redman | HCRart.