I use FASO for my website, and although I may post work on Facebook occasionally, I do not use social media. I live in a secluded cabin (with a large studio) in the hills of WV, where internet and cell phone service is very spotty. I hope to find gallery representation somewhat locally (Baltimore, DC, maybe Philadelphia) but I am 2.5-3 hours from any major city. I will be exploring ways to contact galleries, but they are too far for just a casual visit. Painting and sculpture are a part of what I do, but so is writing haiku, working on wooden boats, and meditation. I hope that you will address non-internet ways to work with art galleries.
Wow! Your life sounds downright magical to me!! Honestly Douglas, there are so many art show opportunities on sites like FASO’s contest, ShowSubmit, CallForEntry, Entrythingy, Online Juried Services. Those are a few you could start with where you mail your work to places. Of course if you work big that gets cost prohibitive. I belong to several societies like Salmagundi Club in NYC and Copley Society in Boston and others. I ship work to their venues regularly. And depending on how you run your business, if you take commissions you could build that income stream to where you don’t even create unless it is paid for. There are so many possibilities, but it all comes down to getting your work in front of the eyeballs that love it the most. Unfortunately there is no one formula for making that happen. I wish there was!
Thank you, thank you, thank You!!! I thought I was the only artist who viewed AI as a tool, not a threat. I have used it a few times to work out issues with some paintings I’ve been considering. My time is very limited as I work a ‘regular job’, LOL, and also I’m an artist. So having a tool to speed up and clarify my thoughts has been amazing for me. You have put into words everything I’ve been trying to explain to people for a few years. I always get side-eyed glances when I propose that artists embrace AI, find ways to use it, and not be so freaking afraid of it!
This morning, I asked ChatGPT to compare Procreate and Photoshop Elements and let me know the similarities and differences in their commands. I got an amazing document explaining how similar they are, and in which ways they are somewhat different. I do a lot of preliminary sketching in Procreate, and recently found that I have a Photoshop elements for dummies’s book. I was about to throw out the book when I realized I may be able to translate some of the commands into Procreate. Now I know that I can absolutely do that. Thanks to ChatGPT.
AI does not do my painting for me, and I will never let it. However, as a tool, it helps me clarify my ideas and process them much faster.
I love how you think!! I have not used procreate or chat gpt or photoshop, but I have affinity photo and do google searches regularly and I think AI is being used for so much now… many people who don’t realize that they are using it - they likely are!
Like you said, it’s all about taking what’s useful and ignoring the rest!
Here, Here, Debra!!! I use anything that helps me create my works, including Q-tips and printer enlargements, as well as manipulating my references in Photoshop. I have enough confidence in my skills to know that I can draw when I need to without the tools, but I love what I'm able to create by using the tools that get the results I'm looking for in my designs. I appreciate the artists who spend hours developing their precise works in realism - but that's not me! I'm having too much fun expressing my style for the modern buyer! Thank you for saying what many of us are thinking!
Thank YOU! I love it when we find what we are called to create. I feel like that is 90% of the work and much of the rest happens organically if we allow it!
First of all, I’ve been with FASO for years. It’s inexpensive, easy to use, multi-purpose-useful, has beautiful and multiple templates that plug and play, shared marketing expertise from the FASO team and other artists, and a great service team. What’s keeping you from signing up? I think you’ll like it! And as for the "tools," I use photos, projector, paper towels, used Kleenex, a hairdryer, and paint my own way, making things up as I go along. My wife is my team. She does it all - except the painting part! - Chuck
Way to go, Deb Kierce! I recently discovered the painting app Color Study. At $25 a year, it's a surprisingly sophisticated tool for color diagnostics — breaking images down into Notan, grayscale, and color maps of varying complexity. It even generates color recipes based on pigments, using traditional or custom-programmed palettes. I worked through a few paintings with it just to uncover the full range of benefits, and I'll keep using it for support. Ultimately, I still rely on intuition and instinct — this app just helps me sharpen them.
E before i Paul! Lol. I am the exception to the rule.
Thanks for reading and commenting my friend! For anyone reading this, Paul is an amazing artist friend of mine who paints realistic still life like nobody’s business!
I am a painter in Southern California, am in a small commercial gallery and have been in shows all over the world. All of that said, I am completely shut out of one of the oldest artist organizations in the US, and I didn't realize until I joined as an Associate Artist. Their guiding preference is that they only show, or value, art done from life or plein air. I am a stylized realist and thought it would be so cool to be a part of such an established and prestigious organization. It was gut punch to realize that they wouldn't even view my portfolio because of my practice. Somebody tell me how I am supposed to create a realistic painting of 30 or more people without using reference, or capture those moments in life that only happen in a fraction of a second... Sorry about whining but this really felt like a gut punch and makes me devalue my practice.
I can relate! I actually left several societies that lean into types of art I am not working to create. On the bright side, that’s one less place you have to worry about wasting resources! Benjamin Franklin is quoted saying something like embrace the failures - they put you one step closer to the success!!
Hi Debra - Thank you so much for a great article. I will save and reread. I used photographs, usually my own, but not always easy for me to get out to get landscape photos I like. Have several photographer friends who give permission for me to use their work as reference. I also have avoided AI and don't even know where to start. It is everywhere and interferes a lot with regular computer activities. It is a nuisance but I will try to adjust. I do like the idea of help with titling my art and writing some things. Thanks again.
I use FASO for my website, and although I may post work on Facebook occasionally, I do not use social media. I live in a secluded cabin (with a large studio) in the hills of WV, where internet and cell phone service is very spotty. I hope to find gallery representation somewhat locally (Baltimore, DC, maybe Philadelphia) but I am 2.5-3 hours from any major city. I will be exploring ways to contact galleries, but they are too far for just a casual visit. Painting and sculpture are a part of what I do, but so is writing haiku, working on wooden boats, and meditation. I hope that you will address non-internet ways to work with art galleries.
Wow! Your life sounds downright magical to me!! Honestly Douglas, there are so many art show opportunities on sites like FASO’s contest, ShowSubmit, CallForEntry, Entrythingy, Online Juried Services. Those are a few you could start with where you mail your work to places. Of course if you work big that gets cost prohibitive. I belong to several societies like Salmagundi Club in NYC and Copley Society in Boston and others. I ship work to their venues regularly. And depending on how you run your business, if you take commissions you could build that income stream to where you don’t even create unless it is paid for. There are so many possibilities, but it all comes down to getting your work in front of the eyeballs that love it the most. Unfortunately there is no one formula for making that happen. I wish there was!
Thank you, thank you, thank You!!! I thought I was the only artist who viewed AI as a tool, not a threat. I have used it a few times to work out issues with some paintings I’ve been considering. My time is very limited as I work a ‘regular job’, LOL, and also I’m an artist. So having a tool to speed up and clarify my thoughts has been amazing for me. You have put into words everything I’ve been trying to explain to people for a few years. I always get side-eyed glances when I propose that artists embrace AI, find ways to use it, and not be so freaking afraid of it!
This morning, I asked ChatGPT to compare Procreate and Photoshop Elements and let me know the similarities and differences in their commands. I got an amazing document explaining how similar they are, and in which ways they are somewhat different. I do a lot of preliminary sketching in Procreate, and recently found that I have a Photoshop elements for dummies’s book. I was about to throw out the book when I realized I may be able to translate some of the commands into Procreate. Now I know that I can absolutely do that. Thanks to ChatGPT.
AI does not do my painting for me, and I will never let it. However, as a tool, it helps me clarify my ideas and process them much faster.
I love how you think!! I have not used procreate or chat gpt or photoshop, but I have affinity photo and do google searches regularly and I think AI is being used for so much now… many people who don’t realize that they are using it - they likely are!
Like you said, it’s all about taking what’s useful and ignoring the rest!
Here, Here, Debra!!! I use anything that helps me create my works, including Q-tips and printer enlargements, as well as manipulating my references in Photoshop. I have enough confidence in my skills to know that I can draw when I need to without the tools, but I love what I'm able to create by using the tools that get the results I'm looking for in my designs. I appreciate the artists who spend hours developing their precise works in realism - but that's not me! I'm having too much fun expressing my style for the modern buyer! Thank you for saying what many of us are thinking!
Thank YOU! I love it when we find what we are called to create. I feel like that is 90% of the work and much of the rest happens organically if we allow it!
Absolutely! 💯
First of all, I’ve been with FASO for years. It’s inexpensive, easy to use, multi-purpose-useful, has beautiful and multiple templates that plug and play, shared marketing expertise from the FASO team and other artists, and a great service team. What’s keeping you from signing up? I think you’ll like it! And as for the "tools," I use photos, projector, paper towels, used Kleenex, a hairdryer, and paint my own way, making things up as I go along. My wife is my team. She does it all - except the painting part! - Chuck
Thx for reading and commenting! I couldn’t agree with you more!
Good food for thought!!
Thank you David! Bon appetit!
Way to go, Deb Kierce! I recently discovered the painting app Color Study. At $25 a year, it's a surprisingly sophisticated tool for color diagnostics — breaking images down into Notan, grayscale, and color maps of varying complexity. It even generates color recipes based on pigments, using traditional or custom-programmed palettes. I worked through a few paintings with it just to uncover the full range of benefits, and I'll keep using it for support. Ultimately, I still rely on intuition and instinct — this app just helps me sharpen them.
E before i Paul! Lol. I am the exception to the rule.
Thanks for reading and commenting my friend! For anyone reading this, Paul is an amazing artist friend of mine who paints realistic still life like nobody’s business!
I am a painter in Southern California, am in a small commercial gallery and have been in shows all over the world. All of that said, I am completely shut out of one of the oldest artist organizations in the US, and I didn't realize until I joined as an Associate Artist. Their guiding preference is that they only show, or value, art done from life or plein air. I am a stylized realist and thought it would be so cool to be a part of such an established and prestigious organization. It was gut punch to realize that they wouldn't even view my portfolio because of my practice. Somebody tell me how I am supposed to create a realistic painting of 30 or more people without using reference, or capture those moments in life that only happen in a fraction of a second... Sorry about whining but this really felt like a gut punch and makes me devalue my practice.
I can relate! I actually left several societies that lean into types of art I am not working to create. On the bright side, that’s one less place you have to worry about wasting resources! Benjamin Franklin is quoted saying something like embrace the failures - they put you one step closer to the success!!
Hi Debra - Thank you so much for a great article. I will save and reread. I used photographs, usually my own, but not always easy for me to get out to get landscape photos I like. Have several photographer friends who give permission for me to use their work as reference. I also have avoided AI and don't even know where to start. It is everywhere and interferes a lot with regular computer activities. It is a nuisance but I will try to adjust. I do like the idea of help with titling my art and writing some things. Thanks again.
Thank you for such kind words Becki!