Friday Favorites are my weekly wrap-up of the cool happenings going on around Imagekind over the past week. This week saw some very exciting things including the addition of one of the most prolific American turn-of-the-century cartoonists, Zim Zimmerman. Also, one of our member artists posted a great review about Imagekind on our blog that I have to share! Lastly, make sure to check out the latest updates to Imagekind.

Zim Zimmerman Cartoons on Imagekind

Eugene “Zim” Zimmerman was one of the most prolific turn-of-the-century American cartoonists. Who has, however, been since largely forgotten. Founder of what is known as the “grotesque” style of caricature for his use of overly exaggerated facial and bodily characteristics in his subjects.

A Truce, or How Two Wrongs Made A Right by ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive

With over 40,000 illustrations published in his lifetime, Zim’s body of work were often political in nature, highlighting the “melting pot” of American culture and ethnic minorities in the early part of the century. Though many might appear as politically incorrect in our time, the cartoons provide a historical look and critique of American culture during his. Immigrating to the US from Switzerland in 1869 at the age of seven, you can imagine Zim was all too familiar with the struggles immigrants and minorities often faced at the turn of the century.

Good Poker Hands, or Fooling the Talent by ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive

Most prints were originally featured in the two top humor magazines of their day: Puck and Judge magazines. Now, in conjunction with Imagekind, ASIF-Hollywood Animation Archive has provided a collection of Zim’s cartoons for sale as high-quality framed art prints.

Presence of Mind by ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive

Imagekind Review

After ordering one of his prints one of our member artists, Rubens LP, provided a fantastic review of Imagekind on his blog. He even includes pictures! You can see the full review on his blog here. Rubens LP’s conclusion? “WOW!!! Nice surprise… Very impressive.”

Thanks Rubens! I am a total fan of his work so it was especially great to hear he is a fan of Imagekind!

Imagekind Review Print: Smoke by Rubens LP

We love hearing reviews about Imagekind. If you have one yourself on your own blog, send it along! It’s like my birthday when I hear how excited people are to receive their artwork.

More Updates

We’re always updating. This week brings two! First, we released an oft-requested feature: the ability to add images in forum posts. Second, we’ve included the “AddThis” button in Imagekind Storefronts to easily share images found in an artists Storefront with your community around the web. This way, visitors can share artwork for sale on Imagekind to sites like DIGG, Facebook, Twitter and more.  It’s an opt-in feature so you can control if you want your images shared or not.

You can read all the details on the updates in the forum, here.

We’ve all come across art that inspires us. Finding it is usually not difficult. However, if you’re an artist, knowing how to emulate similar techniques takes learning, practice and patience. Below, I have compiled some of the top photography and art tutorials online. This list is in no way exhaustive, as I know there are many more out there.

Most of these were shared with me from our member artists via Facebook and Twitter. If you have a favorite online tutorial site not listed, be sure to drop me the URL! You can leave it in the comments, or share it on Facebook or Twitter. I will try and get it added as they come.

Quick note: Though many of the blogs below contain tutorials on several different techniques, I have tried to point directly to a post that corresponds to the particular technique listed.

Photo Manipulation

abduzeedo.com – Manipulation Basics: Illumination and Coloration

psd.tutsplus.com – All about PhotoShop tutorials

HDR Photography

stuckincustoms.com – Imagekind artist Trey Ratcliff, one of the premier HDR photographers, breaks down the technique on his blog

gizmodo.com

hdrcreme.com – The reference website for HDR photos

Macro Photography

On YouTube – Macro Photography Video Tutorial

photo.net – How To: Create Stunningly Realistic High Dynamic Range Photographs

Oil Painting

Hal Groat on YouTube – Imagekind artist shares tips to oil painting on YouTube

Panorama Photography

yanikphotoschool.com – How to Create a Panorama in Photoshop – Video Tutorial

earthseaimagery.wordpress.com – Imagekind artist shares several tips and tutorials on his blog

Illustration

noupe.com – 60+ Vector Illustration Tutorials

smashingmagazine.com – 40+ Cartoon Character Illustration Tutorials

It is great to hear what others are saying about Imagekind. Occasionally I’ll see someone on Twitter inquiring about Imagekind and I’ll often RT (re-tweet) their question to see what they think.  Check out some of their responses below!

What do you think of Imagekind? Send a reply to us @Imagekind!

@Alex Woolfson:
“Imagekind offers the best paper, good framing, responsive customer service. For prints, they offer best value for clients.

“Done a lot a research and they offer best value & product. Ordered 4 prints & the framing beats local SF experience.”

@Chris Leavens:
“The quality is superb and the staff is very friendly and responsive. They’re great.”

@Tex Smock:
“I’ve been happy with Imagekind; nice prints, good service. I reviewed a print last year at http://tinyurl.com/57xyur”

Friday Favorites is a weekly feature on the Imagekind blog where I share some of my favorite things found on – or related to – Imagekind over the past week. Sometimes there may be many, others, perhaps a few. It might be a single print, an artist, a group of artists, an article, different art styles; who knows! In any case, check out some of the cool happenings around Imagekind every Friday on the blog.

I love the style of vintage-looking photography. So naturally I was thrilled when I saw this post on Twitter the other day: 13 beautiful examples of vintage 1970s photography.

I thought I’d share some of the photographs I’ve found on Imagekind that have a similar style. It’s becoming a common technique in photography to manipulate photos to have this same kind of vintage and retro feel to them. Some artists use antique cameras to achieve this look, while others utilize digital techniques to pictures they have already taken. Check out this tutorial if you are interested in how to give your photographs that weathered, vignette effect.

The desaturated colors and grainy textures are what really make these photographs appealing. Whether framed or on canvas, they really help set a room apart; great for conversation starters!

Seagull in Winter by FA Photography

apple for the day by Vanessa Ho

Atmospheric by Nancy Coyle

Gold Rush by Linda Plaisted

Do you believe in fairies? by Irene L

bird convention by Julie Kruger

Succulants by Vincent-Field Photography

Everything has been figured out. by Damien Rudd

Swing by Emily Baier

365-18-Motel-04-05Small by casey365

You can find more vintage style photography through the various Groups in the Imagekind Community

We often get amazing feedback from very happy customers about Imagekind. It’s truly humbling but also very exciting to see how people are responding to our products and services. This is the reason we do what we do! To innovate the way people buy, sell and create art online.

Have something to share? Leave a comment below, send an email to care@imagekind.com, or connect in the Imagekind forums.

Read on to see just a few of the Imagekind customer reviews we receive.

“Couldn’t have done it without Imagekind”

We have been installing our project the last three days and everything looks wonderful. Couldn’t have done it without Imagekind.

Brandi Cassis – art consultant

“I love your interactive website”

I just wanted to say how incredibly impressed I am with your product. I am a debut author–my first novel hits shelves this June. I always knew when I finally succeeded that I would want a framed poster-size print of my cover. It took some googling, but I found Imagekind.com. I love your interactive website– I was able to see just what my frame,  matte, and print would look like together, which was wonderful. The box arrived via fed-ex on Friday. It was well-packaged to ensure that it wouldn’t break. The print is beautiful–crystal clear–and the matte and frame are top-notch. You even included everything I needed to hang it! It was up on the wall within five minutes of unpacking it.

I’m an Imagekind customer from now on! And I’ll recommend you to all of my author-friends who want prints of THEIR cover. In fact, I blogged about it–with pictures.

Mandy Hubbard – Author

“Really a 1st class site”

Let me tell you how impressed I have been regarding all the prompt & careful follow up I have gotten regarding sale negotiations and arrangements.

Imagekind is really a 1st class site and I’m so proud to be a member.

Jon Blumenaus – Artist