Imagekind Blog | Buy, Sell, Create and Discuss Art

While other sites have chosen to limit artist’s control, Imagekind continues to keep control in its proper place…with the artist.

Giving control to the artist is just one of the reasons artists prefer buying and selling their artwork at Imagekind, over other art print sites. Some other reasons include:

• All artists (paid or not) can purchase their own work at base price.
• Our base prices are low.
• We give our artists control of how they price their artwork; we never determine the price for them.
• Artists keep their markup; we never profit from an artist’s markup.
• Our frame and giclee print quality is superior.

For the level of quality and choices Imagekind offers, our base prices are an excellent option for those looking to buy their own work. Whether you want to buy your art prints for an upcoming art show, have us drop ship your artwork to your customers or just want to own or give one of your works as a gift, Imagekind really is your best option.

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Pat Graham, the official photographer for Modest Mouse, recently signed up with Imagekind to start selling his photographs of the band on the site. Being a Modest Mouse fan myself and thinking this is a great way to utilize Imagekind to help sell your artwork, I got in touch with Pat to give us some insight into what he does. Pat was cool enough to take some time out of the current Modest Mouse tour and answer some questions about the tour and his photography.

You can purchase exclusive limited edition photos from the Modest Mouse concerts from his collection, Limited Editions from Last Nights Gig.

Got a question for Pat yourself?

- Nate

So, you’re the official photographer for Modest Mouse. How did you get hooked up in that role?

I have been very close with Isaac and Modest Mouse since the band started. Isaac and I were roommates in Arlington/DC area before Modest Mouse was around. We hit it off with our love for music, and photography. Isaac started Modest Mouse and then asked me to go along on the first tour as a roadie/driver/merch guy and photographer.

Isaac, Eric, Jeremiah and I hit the road in April of 1997. After thousands of miles covered and thousands of photos taken, the band has grown in popularity and creativity.

Now, I have the privilege of being the bands only photographer and web blogger.

You are currently just finishing up the tour with Modest Mouse. What, in your opinion, was the coolest show? What was your favorite venue?

I photograph Modest Mouse every night. All the shows have a different element. The band takes around 2 hours a night just to decide on the set list!

The show that really stands out the most this tour would be the one in Council Bluffs Iowa. A storm was headed towards the outdoor venue so we had to wait around to get the all clear.

We were waiting on stage and talking with the fans, and all of sudden the sky started to heave down ice cube sized hail stones…followed by buckets of rain. The fans stuck it out though.

Issac, Joe, and Jeremiah got some buckets for drums and an acoustic guitar then headed out into the center of the crowd and downpour to play a song. The rain stopped after a percussion only jam and MM kept playing while lightning was flashing in the sky. The fans, band, and Mother Nature were all amazing that night.

My favorite venue this tour would have to be either Red Rocks or the Gorge.

What is your favorite photo from your current collection of the Modest Mouse tour?

As for the live stuff, my favorite is probably the shot of Isaac in Brooklyn with his guitar spinning at him. This was a great show; Modest Mouse went on at 2:30 am. This shot was in the second song. The hours of this show are truly Isaacs’s peak hours. The band was on it from the first note.

You have been photographing Modest Mouse since the beginning right? What’s it been like to progress with them?

Yeah, I’ve been photographing them since 1996. The settings and some people are a little different but the whole attitude and way things are done remain pretty much the same. Things in general are more positive overall.

Your work has a very intimate feel. When lining up a shot, what do you try and focus on and what do you hope to convey through your photographs?

I try to be as subtle as possible. I don’t want myself or the camera to change the way things are unfolding.

I try and focus on eyes or light, hopefully conveying a sense of space and time of the event.

What’s your favorite location or angle to shoot from - the crowd’s POV, the band’s, both? How do you determine which one throughout the show?

All spots, really. I go where I can fit without getting in the way, and where the light looks good. Lately I have been crawling around on stage behind Isaac and Johnny’s amps, wearing earplugs of course.

Do you get a chance to just enjoy the show much or are you constantly looking for the next shot?

I get enjoyment from looking for that shot and listening to what’s happening. It’s a full on visual sound experience.

There must be thousands of great opportunities throughout the course of a concert. How much do you shoot versus waiting for a great shot? What type of signs do you look for before capturing such fantastic shots?

It’s all about patience and timing things with what Steven the lighting guy does…and of course the actions of what the band and crowd do.

The signs are in the crowd, band members’ faces, and certain songs tend to bring out a lot in both band and crowd.

Have you worked with any other bands?

Yes I work with a lot of bands; I have been shooting musicians for almost 20 years. I have a book of photos called Silent Pictures that just came out last year on Akashic Books. Check out the Pat Graham Imagekind galleries as well as my web site www.patgraham.org.

Before I met Isaac in Arlington/Washington DC at the time I was photographing bands like Bikini Kill, Fugazi, etc.

Bands I have toured with include: Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, Make Up, June of 44, Shins, and more.

What did you like the most/least about being on tour? Any particularly favorite/bad experiences?

I like being able to live with my camera and document everything. Also be able to spend time with close friends who I don’t get to see much otherwise.

This tour we have had a lot of great times. Mostly on the bus; The Brockies film festival, human bowling, walking through the Florida woods at night, just being with friends.

I hate being away from my family, that’s very hard. Also trying to communicate with home can be difficult which gets frustrating…looking for a good internet connection, etc. and catching up with time zones.

Anything else you are currently working on or have planned in the near future we can let your fans know about? What should we be looking out for?

Definitely check out my current book Silent Pictures, it covers a lot of my work going all the way back to that first Modest Mouse tour and farther.

I also have done a limited edition photo poster with Modest Mouse and Raen optics.

Another book is in the talk about stage and my photos can also be seen in the Raen optics Through the Eyes Of… series.

This year looks to be busy with various commercial projects coming together with my personal work. I have a mailing list on patgraham.org that will keep people up to date on my whereabouts and the projects.

Cheers,

Pat

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Scott Neste has one of the most captivating artistic styles. His mixed media collages contain a perfect balance of emotional and decorative appeal. Neste’s ability to combine contrasting colors, shapes, styles, shades and mediums into complimentary artistic expressions sets his work apart.

Some works contain upwards of 40 different layers in order to capture the desired effect.

Artwork: Privacy 11

Neste was featured recently on the front page of his local newspaper for his art exhibition, My Little Adventure, displayed in conjunction with the opening of his friends’ coffee shop.

All of the framed art prints displayed for this exhibit were produced by Imagekind, printed straight from his gallery. He also created brochures and flyers to hand out to visitors of the exhibit directing people back to his art prints for sale on Imagekind.

Artwork: Memory Book 5

One of his most stunning collections, Vintage Memories, is a compilation of old and forgotten memories recreated into a contemporary work of art. Using a combination of journal entries dating back to 1909, vintage photographs, corroded paint, fall leaves and other such discarded items, Neste created a powerful statement on the value of remembrance. Exhibit visitors would approach Neste with tears in their eyes as they share how his artwork reminds them of their often forgotten family members of the past.

Read the full story on Scott Neste’s recent feature in his local newspaper, and find out more about his unique artistic style here.

- Nate

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Have you ever seen an artist’s website that features a slide show movie of their work? They’re pretty simple to add and a great way to promote your artwork for sale.

There are a few different services out there but I think (at the moment) I prefer slideroll the most. It’s free, easy to use, simple and effective. Compared to some other slide show creators, there are no flashy branding that can distract the viewer from your work.

Plus, slideroll offers a sweet program that lets you easily create your slideshow into a video that you can add music to and put on YouTube. I’ll go over some of that later though.

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Compiled below is a list of the top five networking sites Imagekind artists can utilize to help promote their art prints for sale on Imagekind.

I have broken each of the five sites down by:

1. giving a brief explanation of what the site is and how it functions
2. how the site is helpful for artists
3. a list of some of the Imagekind artists who currently use the site to help promote their work

If your name is not under one of the sites, it’s probably just because I don’t know you use it. So, feel free to paste your respective site URL in the comment section and I will be happy to check it out.

Every artist who wants to increase their sales should have a few different ways they go about promoting their work. What other sites should be added to this list?

1. Flickr

About Flickr: It’s hard to say anything new about Flickr that most of you don’t already know. So, this is for the few who don’t. Flickr is by far one of the largest photo management and sharing sites online. Flickr members can upload, manage, organize and share their digital images with a worldwide audience. Members range from professional photographers and artists, to amateurs, to casual photo takers sharing personal pictures between select groups of people.

What this means: The Flickr community is one of the largest and most knowledgeable photo communities online. When people look for images online, Flickr is often one of the first sites they check. This provides a great opportunity for artists selling their artwork. Through a strategic partnership, Flickr members can easily upload and sell their Flickr images through Imagekind. With a few simple clicks, visitors to Flickr can click over to Imagekind where they can purchase an Imagekind member’s art prints.

Imagekind artists using Flickr successfully:
Notley Hawkins (on Flickr) | Trey Ratcliff (on Flickr) | Irene L (on Flickr) | Roger Butterfield (on Flickr) | Mr. Vedd (on Flickr)

2. MySpace

About MySpace: To many, MySpace might seem like nothing more than a paradise for socially awkward and confused teenagers. However, MySpace has proved to be one of the best places an artist can use to help promote and sell their work. In short, MySpace claims to be “a place for friends.” In other words, it’s one site, where millions of people congregate to meet and interact with others. Think having the opportunity to network with more people than are in Time Square. You are given a personal page that is almost limitlessly customizable.

What this means: Artists have the opportunity to engage with one of the largest clusters of people ever developed online. The potential is enormous. Artists can connect with new and existing fans of their artwork. Music groups (bands) are almost required these days to setup a page on MySpace to connect with their existing fans, and provide a way for new fans to quickly and easily find their music. This same principle applies to artists. Setup a MySpace profile and start connecting with people who love your art. Include your unique Imagekind URL on your page to connect people directly to your art prints for sale.

Imagekind artists using MySpace successfully:
Rob Dobi (on MySpace) | Natasha Newton (on MySpace) | Porter McKnight (on MySpace) | Metrofader (on MySpace) | Mike Cressy (on MySpace)

3. Facebook

About Facebook: Facebook is like a cleaned up version of MySpace. Not only is it more polished looking, it is also more family friendly. Similar to MySpace, Facebook “connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them.” Facebook is less customizable than MySpace, but provides ways for members to share and interact with each other in ways that MySpace does not. Facebook members can easily create and join groups that inspire them, encourage them, they are passionate about, or just make them laugh.

What this means: Similar to MySpace, artists can use Facebook to connect with people who love their art. Facebook members can setup groups for just about anything to collaborate and share ideas. Artists can create their own personal groups for people to join who love their work, or join other groups for particular styles of art. With Facebook, it is easy to connect and share ideas to help promote your art prints for sale on Imagekind.

Imagekind artists using Facebook successfully:
Scott Anderson (on Facebook) | Rich Collins (on Facebook) | Edward Kinnally (on Facebook)

4. Youtube

About YouTube: YouTube is “…the premier destination to watch and share original videos worldwide…” YouTube allows people to upload and share their personally created videos with an audience around the world. There are videos on YouTube for almost everything.

What this means: Artists use YouTube in several different ways. I have seen everything from artists who create instructional videos on painting, to an artist sharing their unique style when creating art, to artists who create video advertisements of their work. Once you have a video created and ready to upload, add an interesting title and appropriate tags for people to find your videos easily. Imagekind artists can include their unique Imagekind URL directly to the video and also make it a link in the info box on the right hand side. That way, when viewers see an artist’s work on YouTube, they can find out how to buy their art prints for sale easily.

Imagekind artists using YouTube successfully:
Natasha Wescoat (on YouTube) | Hall Groat II (on YouTube)

5. Squidoo

About Squidoo: When trying to understand Squidoo (though we may never understand the name) it’s often best to think of a blog that mated with Wikipedia. With Squidoo, anyone can setup a free, single page of whatever it is they care about most. There are Squidoo pages (lenses ala Squidoo) on nearly everything. Squidoo members can then interact with, discuss, and meet others who care about what they care about. Even Martha Stewart and Jane Goodall have lenses sharing what they’re passionate about.

What this means: Artists can use Squidoo to create lenses about their passions and interests: namely, their artwork. It’s quite simple for an artist to setup a lens and start connecting with others who love their art. They can easily add images and videos on their Squidoo lens to showcase their work. It is easy to direct people who find your artwork on Squidoo over to your artwork for sale on Imagekind.

Imagekind artists using Squidoo successfully:
Anne Vis (on Squidoo) | Andrew Gibson (on Squidoo)

Remember these are only five of the sites artists can use to help promote their art prints for sale on Imagekind. I am sure there are several more. How do you use these sites in different ways? What other sites have you found successful for promoting your art prints?

- Nate

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It’s really cool to see how artists are seizing opportunities to help promote their artwork for sale. Two of our Imagekind artists got some great press this last week in their local newspaper and I wanted to pass it on. In the article titled Connecting with Cameras, Notley Hawkins and Chris Wolters share some helpful tips on how to use Flickr to promote their art print sales on Imagekind.

How do you use Flickr to help promote your artwork?

Checkout the article below to read how some artists on Imagekind use Flickr to help promote their artwork. Not only are they seeing an increase in art print sales, but they also share some helpful tips and advice on how they get their work published and recognized. Imagekind’s strategic partnership with Flickr not only gives artists a great way to help promote their work, it’s really just as easy as a few simple clicks to get started.

Read the full article here.

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Awhile ago, Travis shared some helpful ways artists can use YouTube to sell their artwork. I wanted to point out one such artist in particular he mentioned. Hall Groat II has put together a series of instructional video clips on oil painting that are great for learning some of the fundamental oil painting techniques.

If this is a medium you currently work with, or want to start working with, take a look at all of his instructional videos:

Sargent’s Pear
Candied Apple
Derringer Pistol

Hal Groat also gives an example of how artists can use YouTube to help sell their artwork. In addition to his oil painting tips, he also promotes his Imagekind gallery right from YouTube. This is a great way for artists to help increase their art print sales.

Making instructional or other videos of your work is an excellent way for people to find and buy your art. Just make sure to include your unique Imagekind URL in the info box (and better, in the video itself) so people can easily find your artwork for sale.

What other ways have you found success marketing your art on YouTube?

- Nate

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If you are a lover of Polaroid photos, then you have probably heard the sad, awful news: Polaroid has decided to discontinue the production of all its instant films to make room for new technologies. I am an artist of many mediums, and one of my favorites is Polaroid. Amateurs and professional photographers alike have embraced the instant gratification that a Polaroid gives us. Some well known artists who loved the medium include such names as Ansel Adams, Chuck Close, Walker Evans, Andy Warhol… the list goes on and on.

(more…)

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“Squidoo is the world’s most popular site for building free, single pages about your passions.”

If you haven’t heard of Squidoo yet, listen up because it could help you increase your art print sales. One of the best ways to understand Squidoo is as DailyCandy advises: “Think Friendster meets Wikipedia.” It is essentially a network of pages (lenses, ala Squidoo) about specific topics that users who love those topics create.

So, how can using Squidoo help you sell? Well, what is it you’re passionate about? Several Imagekind artists have already tapped into this excellent resource. Check these out to get some ideas on how you can utilize Squidoo:

Edition Handruck (on Squdioo)
Andrew Gibson (on Squidoo)
Natasha Wescoat (on Squidoo)

If you have yet to create a lens about your artwork, I would encourage you to check it out and start one. If you have started one, I’d love to see it. Throw a link in the comment section and I’d be happy to take a look.

If you have any questions or further ideas on how to use Squidoo more effectively, share them.

Nate

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“One publisher I was with sold tens of thousands of prints of one of my images. If that image had been limited to just 1,000 prints, how many people would have missed out? And if more than 1,000 people wanted it, why should I make it so they can’t have it?”
– Crista Forest

Browsing EmptyEasel.com recently, I discovered an intriguing article written by one of Imagekind’s member artists awhile back that I found particularly interesting. In her article, Why Sell Limited Edition Prints? Art Should be for Everyone! Crista Forest asks, “why do limited edition prints even exist?” Her opinions are very insightful and worth reading through.

Image: Surprise by Crista Forest
http://csforest.imagekind.com

One of the most compelling reasons Crista Forest shares for why she doesn’t want her art published as limited editions is for reasons similar to what we here at Imagekind believe deeply; the democratization of art and that art should be available for everyone.

I have seen many fantastic artists on both sides of this topic and I would love to know what you think. Do you think that “printing open editions or posters will cheapen your art, or reduce your respectability as an artist in the art world”? Or do you find yourself coming to similar conclusions as Crista Forest does and want to “keep [your] images affordable and available for as long as people want to buy them”?

Read the entire article and feel free to add your thoughts below.

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