Kristen Stein is an award-winning Contemporary Artist living in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Region. Kristen’s works are currently available on a variety of online venues, or through her websites StudioArtworks.com and KristensCreations.com. Kristen’s paintings are in public and private collections within Australia, Canada, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Japan, Philippines, the United Kingdom, and throughout the continental United States. Her art has appeared in numerous printed media including posters, book cover, CD Covers, calendars and program covers.

Where were you born, where do you live now, any other background info?

I was born in Ohio and grew up in California. I went to graduate school in Virginia and then spent about a decade in Colorado. A few years ago we made a big move to the East Coast and I now reside near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

How would you describe your work?

Some of my works start with detailed sketches while others are created from a blank canvas layer by layer until the final painting is achieved. I like to work in a wide range of styles and materials as this allows me to keep my art fresh and new. I would describe my landscapes as moody, mysterious and atmospheric in nature. They allow me to experiment with color and texture while capturing the beauty of a wide open meadow, field, ocean, or impending storm, etc. Many of these pieces are directly influenced by my time spent in Colorado, California and Spain. My enchanted garden series allows me to capture a world of my imagination where birds, snakes, plants, flowers, trees, butterflies, etc. can be expressed in a wild whimsical way. They are bold, bright and wonderfully fun to create. My art-deco cubist paintings are my story-telling paintings. This style allows me to capture a certain sentiment or tell a story in the painting. Paintings influenced by September 11th, Hurricane Katrina and the deaths of my grandmothers are among the works in the art deco cubist collection.

What processes and techniques do you use to create your work?

My landscapes are created with many layers of contrasting colors working up to the final imagery that I am trying to create with the mood and feel of the particular landscape. I love creating a canvas that looks weathered and worn even though it is brand new. I achieve this through a variety of layers…..sometimes with molding paste, string, tissue, newsprint, sand, grit, flower petals, and a variety of other products added to the canvas (or removed from the canvas) during the painting process.

I daydream a lot! I often close my eyes and picture the painting before it is created. I rarely try to replicate a photograph, but instead use the colors and shapes as a guideline for what I want to create.

Are you a full time artist?

Yes. I am a full-time artist. I feel fortunate to be able to spend my days doing something that I love. I am pleased that my customers, friends and family have been so supportive and have allowed me to pursue my dreams as an artist on a daily basis.

How did you get started?

I remember being passionate about art from a very young age. I started by creating art as gifts for friends and family. Then when I was in graduate school studying for my Ph.D. in Economics, I started painting again as a hobby and as a way to focus my mind on something other than exams. I purchased website domains and listed several of my pieces on major auction sites like EBay. Over time, my hobby grew into a full-time business. I still use a lot of my economics background for the business side of things, but I clearly allowed the artistic side to take over and I haven’t looked back.

Any notable accomplishments?

I have been lucky to have some great exposure for my work recently.

A set designer for Warehouse 13 saw a collaborative work “Spirit of Autumn Fire” that artist Lyse Marion and I did together. This set designer chose the work to be displayed prominently on the Warehouse 13 set.

In addition to the exposure on Warehouse 13, several pieces will appear in an upcoming movie called “The Roommate” due in theaters in 2010, and a new TV show on FOX called “Past Life” airing in January.

A new book “Spirituality of Sex” features my “Shakti: Energy Goddess Design”

The Jazz Club and Angels of September were used as the cover art for the Allied Social Science Associations Annual Meetings.

Here Comes the Sun has been selected for the cover of a Jazz CD due out in 2010.

Mother Nature and Child was used in a logo for a Los Angeles based SIDS foundation:

Lastly, my children’s book “The Vegetarian Lion” was picked up by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for sale in the Children’s section of their website (also available through Amazon).

Where can we find more info and keep up with your work?

You can learn more about me on my website:  StudioArtworks.com
You can follow my blog: kristensteinfineart.blogspot.com
You can stay up to date on Twitter: twitter.com/kristensteinart
Or become a Fan on Facebook : http://artist.to/kristensteinfineart
I have an etsy boutique that offers originals paintings, handcrafted artisan jewelry and gifts featuring my artwork : http://kristensteinfineart.etsy.com
And, of course, you can find a large number of my prints on Imagekind: http://kristensteinfineart.imagekind.com

What artists inspire you?

I truly am inspired by everything that I see, read and hear. I try to watch and listen to everything in the world around me and incorporate this into my work in some way. There are so many artists whose work I enjoy. It would be hard to choose only a few and I would be certain to leave someone unmentioned. So, I will say that from the many forums in which I have participated, each artist whom I have met over the past 10 years has inspired me and motivated me in one way or the other. As for as the masters, I’d say that artists like Picasso and Gris have influenced my cubist works as well as the fabrics, advertising and illustrators from the art deco period. I have been greatly influenced by the colors and patterns used by Matisse and the geometric works of Rothko and Frank Llyod Wright.

With the Imagekind Portfolio Manager it is now easier than ever to edit your images for sale on Imagekind. The Portfolio Manger allows you to batch-edit your images’ titles, tags, descriptions, categorization, default frame and more. Login to your account to start utilizing the Portfolio Manger right away!

Get Recognized!

It is essential to add titles, tags, descriptions and categorization to your images. Adding these will not only allow shoppers to  find your work easier, but Imagekind team members as well. Our internal search engine, as well as big ones like Google, take all of these into account. So, it is imperative that you heed this advice if you are selling your artwork on Imagekind, and want your images to be found!

1. Title your Work

Descriptive titles will not only help your buyers connect with a piece, but will help your images come up in searches. If you do not have a title for a piece, putting a descriptive term in the title box is adequate. Having a more personal title than “DSC1937” will let your buyers know that you spent the time to think about and present your work.

2. Write a description

Adding a short description will also help buyers to connect with your pieces. A couple of lines will do. Some artists include a little snippet about how they created the piece, or what inspired it. Others will add a small detail shot of the image. If your description is too long, it will be truncated, but you can view it in its entirety by clicking the “View More” link.

3. Tag It!

What are tags?
The Imagekind search engine uses several methods to find your work, one of them being your tags. Tags are descriptive keywords that you assign to your images to identify major elements and details featured in your work.

Be Specific…
Specific, accurate tags are essential. Tag your images with all the specifics of your image. If you have taken photograph of a sunset over the ocean, don’t stop tagging at “photograph” and “sunset.” You might want to include water, pink, sun, ocean, seascape, pacific… Be precise and detailed, and use terms that a customer would search for. If your images convey a certain emotion, such as “Happy” or “peaceful,” feel free to include them, but keep in mind a buyer may not search for terms such as these.

Be accurate!
Inaccurate tagging leads to bad search results. If a customer is looking for a sunset, and you have tagged your nature photograph of a tiger with “sunset,” then you will not change the customers mind – in fact, you make your customers frustrated. Inaccurate tags may be removed at the discretion of Imagekind.

Not enough tags? Upgrade your account
Free accounts can tag their images with up to 10 tags. Pro members get 50 tags, and Platinum members can use 100 tags to classify their work. If you need to add more information, consider upgrading your account.

4. Utilize Taxonomy

What is Taxonomy?
“Taxonomy” means the science of classification. Our taxonomy system allows you to group similar images together based on broad categories such as subject, genre, medium. Users can then drill down their search results based on the classifications you have assigned each image. One of the best ways to think about taxonomy is as a categorization method that allows shoppers to easily find particular images, based on their broad preferences.

Subjects, Genres, Mediumsand Decor

Categorizing your images is one of the best ways to be found on Imagekind. Directly after the general search (based on titles and tags), is categorization. Let’s go through some of the options individually.

Subject – Subject is the content found within your image.  Let’s say you have a photograph of cows in a large field, with flowers. You’d want to find subjects that relate to what is actually in the image. If there is not a direct subject available, tags are the next best option.

Genre – Genre is the general style of art that your image might fit into. For example, if your image is more conceptual in nature, you’d want to categorize it in that genre. If you are still stuck on this, here is something that might help. Consider your artwork were going to be hung in a museum, or gallery, or heck, they were selling it at an art supermarket (if such a thing exists). Before you go to drop it off, the owner calls you up and asks what section of the gallery or museum it would fit best. If the supermarket were split into various genres, which isle would your image fit best in?

Medium – Medium is the method you used to create your image.

Decor - Decor is what style of home you think your art would look best in.

Remember, you can feel free to leave any of these blank if you’d like. However, categorizing your images appropriately is one of the best ways to be found on Imagekind.

Need to classify further? Upgrade your account
Free accounts can add 2 subjects, Pro members can add up to 4, and Platinum accounts are allowed up to 8. If you need to add more information, consider upgrading your account.

Following these tips will ensure that your work gets more recognition when shoppers search for artwork on Imagekind. However, that’s not it. Imagekind team members are always looking for art to showcase as well. We constantly utilize all of these options to find artwork on Imagekind. Whether it’s through tags, titles or taxonomy, make sure to use all of the above options to make sure you get found on Imagekind.

It’s Friday! And with Friday comes my Friday Favorites. There have been some very exciting things going on this week. Not only was Imagekind included in a local news story about one of our member artists, Imagekind frames were also included on national news! Additionally, some member artists are really stepping up to help fight cancer with their art. Lastly we have released some new features that are sure to help with member reporting.

Imagekind Frames on ABC’s Good Morning America

Look mom, we’re on TV! On June 6, ABC aired a segment on Good Morning America Weekend titled “Picture Perfect: Spring Clean Your Digital Life.” Becky Worley, a technology contributor for the show, walked viewers through a “day in the life” of the De Lauzon family as they struggled to keep their large (over 20,000!) collection of digital photos organized.

At the end of the segment, the host surprised the family by unveiling a wall full of Imagekind products including Story Frames, framed photos, and a canvas print, noting, “Snapfish helped us with all of this.”

Yeah, those are Imagekind frames! Make sure to check out the video and get inspired how you can transform your digital photos into framed works of art.

Imagekind Member in the Seattle PI

Imagekind member Liz Moody is showcasing her work at the inaugural exhibit at the newly opened Shooting Gallery in Seattle. She got a great feature in the Seattle PI Blog about her upcoming gallery show.  Her work utilizes a medley of collage and paint to create playful and highly decorative pieces.

One of the coolest things about this is that her Imagekind gallery is mentioned right in the post as well. Fellow artists should take note. Directing fans of your work to Imagekind where they can easily buy your prints with a simple click is sure to help increase the awareness of your art, which in turn will help increase sales.

Help Fight Cancer with Art

The Art for Cancer group put out some really cool videos of member images participating in the group. Members of the group of have each offered to donate a percentage of their proceeds on selected prints to their cancer charity of choice. You can see all the images included in the group to shop artwork that helps fight cancer.

What is especially cool about the Art for Cancer group is how they are utilizing YouTube and other social media sites to get their message – and it’s member’s artwork – out in front of more people!

New Features in Artist Reports

We are constantly looking for ways to improve the Imagekind service for both our shoppers and artists. Better sales reporting has been something many of our artists have requested for some time now. That’s why we are excited to announce that this week we launched even more features in the advanced reporting for our members. Now you can get the stats for each of your images and find out who favorited your work . You can see an example of just some of the new features below, but do make sure and check it out for yourself in your Imagekind admin.

We are sure these updates will provide a better sense of how people are viewing and interacting with your art prints for sale.

So, you want to sell more art, but you’re not sure how or where to begin?

One of the most important aspects of selling your artwork online, is having an audience. Imagekind is doing this. We are creating an audience of art lovers to buy, sell and create art.

However, cultivating your own audience is extremely beneficial.

And, it’s not even as hard as you might think. In fact, one of the best ways to create an audience, is to find people who already love your style of work. For example, member artist James Provost has been getting some nice recognition lately in the interior design community with his Imagekind prints. Why? It’s because he has a style of art that already matches an audience: mid-century furniture design and decorating.

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Now, here’s the tip: find online audiences who already love your style and ask them if they are willing to help promote your artwork.

Have a niche? That’s often the best place to start.

Blogs are perfect for this. And getting this kind of recognition is not always as hard as you might think. But, before you start trying to submit your art to blogs, it might be helpful to read these dos and don’ts first.

Need more help? What about this:

Love dog art? Well, I know for sure there are more than just a few dog blogs out there…

Nate

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Spring has officially arrived. And with spring comes the inspiration for change and newness. Now’s the time to freshen up your interior design. It’s not too hard to have a completely new look and feel with just a few framed art pieces. Artwork has the ability to liven up a space to make your home or office feel like a completely new place!

Below are 5 of the top decorating trends for this spring. Find framed artwork that features natural subjects, colorful and patterned prints, along with images that inspire you to refresh and renew, but most importantly, make you feel comfortable.

Nature

Nature and the outdoors are still very popular decorating trends for spring 2009. With the continued emphasis on being green and going organic, you’re sure to see an emphasis on trends surrounding nature. With artwork, this means bringing the outdoors in. Find artwork that focuses on nature: trees, flowers, rural and natural landscapes. All of these make nature and the outdoors the shining star.

Color

Spring brings more daylight and brighter colors. This means color is back and one of the top trends for interior decorating. Designs are sure to feature high levels of color. Bold uses of the primary and other bright colors are sure to make your interior design really stand out. Shop artwork by color; reds, greens, yellows, blues. Look for colors to brighten up your home or office decor.

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Patterns

Patterns and symmetry can bring balance to distressful situations. That’s why patterns are making a huge impact on the 2009 interior design trends. With bad news seemingly all around, more and more people are looking for familiarity. And, though it will not cure everything, familiarity can help quell the feelings of anxiety. Find artwork on Imagekind that features pleasant patterns and comforting symmetry.

RE-

2009 is shaping up to truly be the year of RE; refresh, redesign, renew. A hot trend that caught fire throughout 2008, the ideas of RE are staying strong in 2009. Refresh your interior design by starting with the walls. Find framed artwork that opens a new world of possibilities and brings both the freshness and newness of Spring indoors. Rearrange the furniture and accent the room with art that’s sure to refresh your space.

Comfort

With more and more people staying home in an effort to weather the econmic climate, they need an interior decor that’s comftorable. Look for ways to showcase your personality with your art. Framed pictures of family, friends, pets and past vacations are all fantastic ways to make your interior both comftorable and personal. Being surrounded by the things you care about most, really helps to remind us of what is most important in life. Frame your own favorite photos at Imagekind.com/create. Or, print them on canvas!

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One of our member artists, Markus Linke, recently wrote up a very helpful guide for photographing in HDR. His tutorial gives in-depth, step-by-step instructions on how to create high dynamic range (HDR) pictures using your digital camera, photomatix and photoshop.

Read Markus’ tutorial on his blog, which includes before and after pictures of the process as well.

Markus also cites Trey Ratcliff, one of our other members’ tutorial, as helping him through the process as well. Markus’ process is slightly different than Trey’s so they are both worth the read.

HDR is one of the most rapidly growing photography trends. Do a search for HDR photography on Imagekind and you’ll find nearly 6,000 images available.

When done correctly, it gives the photograph a lifelike quality unmatched by most other processes. The lighting, shadows and reflections all look sharper and more realistic.

Shop HDR photos on Imagekind.

Featured HDR Artwork:
Tone Mapped by Markus Linke
The Calm After the Storm by Trey Ratcliff
Welcome to the 21st Century by Mr Vedd

Today is Jackson Pollock’s birthday. Google has a special logo for the day that features his iconic style, reminiscent of his Convergence painting.

Shop Jackson Pollock framed prints on Imagekind

Jackson Pollock Biography

Nicknamed “Jack the Dripper,” Pollock would literally drip paint (of the most toxic variety) on his canvases in order to create his paintings. He was the first action painter, meaning that he would drip, pour, throw and splash his paint onto very large canvases which were often laid flat on the floor of his New York studio. Many say he would dance, as though in a trance, as he created his masterpieces.

Number 18 by Jackson Pollock

Born in 1912, Pollock was one of the most influential American Abstract Expressionist painters. By the time of his death on August 11, 1956, his work and example were exerting an enormous influence on his contemporaries both in the United States and western Europe. He was one of the few American painters to be recognized during his lifetime and afterward as the peer of 20th-century European masters of modern art.

Shop Jackson Pollock framed prints on Imagekind

Create your own Jackson Pollock painting

Visit jacksonpollock.org

Here are some Emily and I made!

Pollock by Nate

Emily Loves Jackson by Emily

Whether you recently received a framed art print for Christmas or other holiday celebration, or just want to infuse some change for the coming New Year, deciding how to decorate with artwork can be a stressful process.

The constant second guessing of what will look good on the wall, where things should go, what art should be paired together, can often lead to an overwhelming sense of confusion. However, displaying and decorating with artwork doesn’t need to be that difficult. In fact, it can be quite fun and rewarding.

Natasha Wescoat, one of our member artists, has five tips for displaying artwork on her blog that I found particularly insightful.

Here’s what Natasha has to say about Rotating and Displaying Art:

1. Create a group of art/photos on the wall to create an interesting focal point and eclectic feel. Plan the way you want to hang them by doing placement on the floor, and then map out where they will go. Having prints, originals, or sculpture together in a group looks beautiful and complex.
2. Use an easel to display paintings. This adds interest and dimension as well as provides for ease of change. And no need for tools! (unless you intend to BUILD an easel.)
3. Set art on the floor. With the right structure, sturdy paintings as well as framed prints can be displayed separately or in clusters under tables, against walls, or in corners. It adds depth and energy to the area. Be sure you don’t do this with LARGE pieces, or they may warp.
4. Display art inside glass door cabinets or standing on shelves along with other artifacts, such as books or collectibles. It’s modern and exciting!
5. Rotate your art collection! Another great refreshing splash to any room is to switch out artwork for other ones. Display a new set of works each week, month, season, or special occasion. It’s nice to have a huge art collection to be able to do this. Rotating your art collection freshens up a room and makes everything feel new. People will ask if you renovated your living room!

If you are looking for more design tips, make sure to check out Imagekind where you can find all kinds of great resources and ideas.