Free Photoshop

March 28th, 2008 Daryle Dickens

Photoshop is a tool. A tool that can be useful for more than just photographers. Artist can use it to edit photos of their work to use in promotion efforts. I  know what your thinking, Photoshop is expensive. Even Photoshop Elements, the lighter consumer friendly version, will set you back about $100. Which for a lot of people is money that could be better spent elsewhere.

Adobe just released a web based version of Photoshop called Photoshop Express. The site will allow you to do basic photo editing right on the web in your browser. It also offers 2GB of storage and an online gallery. You can find it right here.

I have not had a chance to kick the tires yet to tell you if it works or not. But it seemed like it had potential and could be a useful tool for the thrifty artist.

http://www.photoshop.com/express/ is that web site again.

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The War Of Art

February 20th, 2008 admin

“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.”- Steven Pressfield

I am sure you know the feeling. The feeling of satisfaction after a productive day. After a full day spent creating. That feeling of knowing you showed up and answered the muse and did your job as an artist. Do you know that feeling? Do you experience it often? I don’t experience it nearly enough. You will often hear me say that “life gets in the way.”

But why is that? I like to create. I like when my camera is in my hand or the brush is being dipped in fresh paint. I have more ideas than days in my life, even if I live to be 200. Being productive in the studio makes me truly happy. Seems like it would be easy. But it is not easy is it? Why? Because of Resistance, with a capitol R. That is what Steven Pressfield argues in the War of Art. (Warner Book 2003)

The War of Art is 165 page manual full of strategies for identifying and overcoming resistance in your creative life. I’ve read a lot of books on productivity, most in relation to business, this is by far the best one I have read for helping an artist be productive.

The book is divided into three books. Book one defines the enemy and is quite an eye opener. The author points out, “Resistance kicked my ass from East Coast to West and back again thirteen times and I never even knew it existed.” Resistance is in your life, it is everywhere. Inside you, outside you, everywhere. The first step to fighting it is identifying it.

And it can be fought, that is what book two of the War of Art tackles. To fight and beat Resistance the artist must become a professional. (in contrast to the amateur.) Somerset Maugham was asked if he wrote on a schedule or when inspiration struck. “I write only when inspiration strikes,” he replied, “Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.” That my friend is a professional.

The final part of the book deals with moving beyond Resistance. The author firmly puts his boot on your boat and pushes you away. Away to sail newly discovered seas as an artist who has overcome Resistance and is ready to live the unlived life within us. Moving away from Resistance and closer to the Muse.

This book is easy to recommend. It is small and paperback and can be found for under $10. It is full of practical advice and inspiration. Well worth the read.

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Artist Looking To Form A Painting Group

January 10th, 2008 admin

Came across this in the artist section of Craigslist, so I thought I would pass it along…

I am a developing artist in the community, however I am no longer able to take classes at the university due to my other requirements. I miss being able to have constructive critique sessions on my works in progress/finished materials. I am wanting to get a group of people together with the same interest and willing to expand and learn from one another. I was thinking along the lines of having two meetings per month, one being a formal critique on work that we are working on/finished. This can be a very exciting opportunity to grow as an artist as well as meet some creative individuals. If you are interested please contact me. Thanks and looking forward to it!

Chelsea Miller
970-581-8829
chelseamiller24@gmail.com

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Success Course of the Arts

September 28th, 2007 admin

Painter Robert Genn says he often gets asked to be a personal art coach for people. Instead he offers, “A sort of Jenny Craig Success Course of the Arts.”

Here it is:

Find a sanctuary where you can comfortably work.
Dedicate at least two hours a day to your art.
Have more than enough equipment and supplies.
Set short- and long-term goals and keep track of progress.
Think of your work as exercise, not championship play.
Explore series development and exhaust personal themes.
Work alone with the benefit of books and perhaps tapes.
Replace passive consumption with creative production.
Use your own intuition and master your technology.
Feel the joy of personal, self-generated sweat.
Fall in love with your own working processes.
Be forever on the lookout for the advent of style.
Try to be your own person and claim your rights.
Don’t bother setting yourself up for rejection.
Don’t swing too wildly and damage the well-being of others.
Don’t jump into the ring until you’re feeling fit.

What works for you? What advice would you offer to other artists?

Click here to check out more words on art from Robert Genn at the Painter’s Keys Community.

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Space

May 30th, 2007 Daryle Dickens

I have written about the challenge of time an artist faces. I believe space is up near the top of the list of challenges for many artists. Spaces shares the top three with time and money. (I’ll get to money later.)
Space does depend on the type of artist for sure. But don’t think just because a writer only needs a piece of paper and a pencil space is not an issue. And an oil painter can tell you the challenges of trying to paint at home. Paint gets everywhere no matter how careful one is. No matter your medium there is some level of space challenge.
I have been one to always wish for a space that was reserved exclusively for my creative process. A few square feet on planet earth reserved for the creative works of Daryle and only for the creative works of Daryle. Thus far it is something I have not been able to make happen. In a perfect world I would have a room with a door that locked. A place I could go and know it is 100% mine. But right now it is not to be. So I do what many have to do, and that is make do.
I try hard not to let lack of my own space be an excuse for not creating. It may not be ideal and it may be more work but I use what space and what resources I can. I have a hunch I will spend my lifetime seeking the perfect creative zone but never find it. I also have a hunch that struggle adds to my creative work.
What about you? Do you struggle to find the perfect creative space?

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5 AM

April 6th, 2007 Daryle Dickens

Jobs are great for paying the bills, keeping us fed, and making sure we have a roof over our heads. But they can really get in the way of getting to the things we want to do. Especially art. After spending all day on the clock doing what ever it is we do it can be quite a challenge to come home and find the energy to get in the studio and start creating. I know this is a common struggle for many artists. And a common solution offered in the area of productivity is to simply start your day earlier. So that is what I have been attempting to do.

For about six weeks now I have been waking up at 4:55AM. This has been quite a challenge for me. I am about the farthest from a morning person you will find. In a perfect world I would stay up until 2AM-ish and wake up around 10 or 11AM. That seems to be how I was built.  It has been tough to say the least. The real question though is has it been more productive? I think that it is starting to be.

The thinking behind getting up so early has to do with control. Typically we all start off with more control of our day and gradually as the day goes on we lose that control. By waking up earlier we have more hours that we are in control of. And those hours can be used to get the things done that we really want to get done. Before people and distractions invade our day.

I admit that even after 6 weeks I am still adjusting to waking up at 5AM. And some days I am not able to function when I wake up so not much gets done. But most days I am able to get a lot of things done before the world hits me at about 6:45. For me I have found it a good time to get writing done. As well as planning and putting thought into my day. That alone has helped me be more productive.

So as hard as it may be I am finding that waking at 5AM is worth it.

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