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The polls may be closing soon for the Unity event, but we are well on our way to our next big event. Now it’s time for you to vote on Pushing the Limits!

Once again I am floored by all the amazing submissions we received. Below are the ten nominees selected by our esteemed judges. Choosing only 10 was, to say the least, quite an arduous task for them. They strove, the struggled, they perspired profusely, but in the end were able to push through the pain and achieve the goal.

Now, it’s up to you to vote for the top three that you think represents the theme best. Vote soon because the polls close Monday, August 18 at 10pm PDT.

The third and final event just opened for submissions today and the competition is already revving up. Submit your favorite images that depict how you conceive Speed. But hurry, event closes on Tuesday, August 19 at 10pm PDT.

Anyone can vote, so make sure to include your friends, family and anyone else in on the action!

To join in the fun and find out more about the contest, visit the Imagekind Summer Games information page.

Artwork 1: Silence !!! Artist Working by Dragos Prioteasa

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: I consider this artwork the embodiment of theme “Pushing the Limits”. After all this is the most important feature of human kind. People always wanted to know more, to discover more, to be explorers. People always pushed the limit to discover new frontiers(material or spiritual). That’s what we do in this community. We explore new frontiers. The only limit we have is the one we set our self.

Artwork 2: Hang On! by Jennifer Manganello

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: This is a twist on pushing the limits. It does appear to be a very precarious position and he is displaying determination and a little bit of fear.

Artwork 3: This Wonderfully Wicked Little Town by Jeff Adkins

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: I feel this image pushes the limits of perspective and also the limits as to what is scary and what is beautiful.

Artwork 4: We Three Kings Part II - Lion by Michelle Wrighton

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: This image is a good fit for the “Pushing the Limits” theme as this is exactly what I did while creating this. Using artists color pencils I wanted to push to the absolute limit what could be achieved in this medium, to prove that color pencil as a medium can stand alongside acrylic or oils in Fine Art.

Artwork 5: Peeking Through by Sondra Sula

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: This tiny squill has pushed through the limits of several layers of tough oak leaves to kiss the life-giving sun.

Artwork 6: Pushing the Limits by Donna Corless

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: This shows a hiker who is pushing on to reach the destination.

Artwork 7: Shoes by Rebekah McGrady

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: The idea behind this piece is that achieving beauty and skill often costs some blisters, blood, and callouses.

Artwork 8: Javelin by Greg Simanso

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: The grace of the athlete in this image I created shows the form and strength it takes to perform.

Artwork 9: Bridge by Regina Lafay

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: Still holding on…

Artwork 10: Dear God, Please Don’t Let them Find Me… by tanyabond

How it Represents Pushing the Limits: This little hamster is definitely pushing the limits - hiding on a cheese shelf in the kitchen!

Polls have closed, thanks for participating!

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The submissions are in, the nominees have been chosen, now it’s time for you YOU to vote for your top three favorites!

Here are the top 10 nominees that our esteemed judges thought best represented unity for the Imagekind Summer Games! We received a ton of amazing submissions and narrowing it down to these ten was by no means an easy task. The judges argued, they debated, they thought long and hard about which images should be chosen, and by the end of it, they were able to come together, reconcile and compromise. I think they all learned a lesson in the importance of unity from this event!

Here are the 10 nominees. Now, YOU get to vote for which THREE you think are best suited to represent the theme of unity. Vote at the bottom of the post and we will then take the top three images with the most votes and award them with their respective prizes.

Vote soon because the polls are closed on Friday, August 15 at 10pm PDT.

If you don’t see the image you submitted below, know that the competition was fierce. Also, don’t give up! Our Pushing the Limits event is well underway and you have up until 10pm PDT tomorrow, Thursday, August 14 to submit your favorite images that best represent the theme.

Anyone can vote, so make sure to include your friends, family or even the stranger on the corner in on the action!

To join in the fun and find out more about the contest, visit the Imagekind Summer Games information page.

Artwork 1: Tomato Clownfish Tropical Fish Pet by Sally Kuyper

How it Represents Unity: This clown fish and anemone are a cool example of unity. The anemone’s tentacles protect the Clown fish from predators and the clown fish helps the anemone by cleaning it.

Artwork 2: After School by Kate Wilhelm

How it Represents Unity: Visually, this photo shows four boys unified by their focus on a single book. As well, mosaics are made of disparate fragments unified by art. The photo was made in the courtyard of the Gugu S’thebe Arts and Culture Centre in South Africa, 13 years after the end of apartheid. These boys are younger than the country’s new democracy, the product of years of united, hard work.

Artwork 3: Circle of Souls by Ken Zen

How it Represents Unity: Art inspired by a traditional Tohono O’odham weaving design. This composition depicts a person entering a pathway that has only one outcome. Symbolically, this is the maze of life that we all travel through from birth to death. The outer ring of linked figures represents the circle of souls who unite to assist in the dramatic process of lowering spirit into the realm of land dwellers.

Artwork 4: Unity by Holly Kempe

How it Represents Unity: Lessons from Nature - stay close and help each other ‘Unity’

Artwork 5: Generations by Brae Oktober

How it Represents Unity: This is a photo of my great-grandmother, my grandmother, my mother and me. I believe we all build on what the previous generations taught us, and even though my great-grandmother and grandmother are no longer living, I still feel their presence and know they guide me through life.

Artwork 6: Sky Heart by BuffaloWorks Photography

How it Represents Unity: It takes 4 planes working together to create the almost perfect heart in the sky that you see here.

Artwork 7: A Magical Walk by Juli Ryan

How it Represents Unity: What greater unity is there than the bond between sisters? Sisters share hopes, dreams and secrets. “A Magical Walk” was created from the fond memories I have of being the big sister watching over my little sister.

Artwork 8: Crew Hike by Terra Fondriest

How it Represents Unity: This is a picture of a forest fire fighting crew hiking into work for the day. They have to work as one in order to survive the day, and to help others. Without unity, they would be unsuccessful.

Artwork 9: Síocháin (Peace) by Pegeen Shean

How it Represents Unity: Peace is the ultimate unifier! Síocháin is the Irish word for peace and this painting was conceived while Senator George Mitchell was negotiating and ultimately achieved a peace accord, between Northern and the Republic of Ireland in 1998. Green, white and orange are the colors of the Irish Flag, green represents the Irish Catholics, the orange represents Northern Ireland and Irish Protestants.

Artwork 10: Reflection of a Shell by Jennifer Manganello

How it Represents Unity: A shell and its reflection become one, symbolizing unity.

Polls have closed for the Unity Event. Thanks for participating.

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In conjunction with the much publicized summer games being held in China this year, we thought we’d participate in the spirit of competition and test the creative endurance of the Imagekind community. Over the next two weeks, we will be holding three separate events for you to participate in and win. Introducing the:

Imagekind Summer Games - Can your art stand up to the challenge?

All Winners will be featured on our homepage, in an upcoming email newsletter and will win other great prizes! In addition, a gold, silver and bronze medal will be awarded for each event. Gold medalists will each get a $50 gift card and Silver and Bronze winners will receive a small print of their work. Each event will have one Gold medal winner, one Silver medal winner and one Bronze medal winner. That’s a total of 9 winners!

Plus, just by entering the competition, your image is eligible to be featured in our soon-to-be-released Sample Kit

The three events are as follows and are all intentionally a bit obscure. We want to see your creative minds at work and see how your favorite artwork fits into these categories.

1. Event one: Unity
2. Event two: Pushing the Limits
3. Event three: Speed

The day each event opens, I will be posting a reminder of the event on the blog and what kind of artwork the judges will be looking for. Then, once the event closes, I will post the judges’ nominated images here on the blog for all of the Imagekind community to vote on. The winners will be selected based on what YOU, the Imagekind community, see as the artwork with the most stamina and endurance to stand up to the challenge.

So, how do you enter?

It’s easy. Submit your images by using the “Email a Friend” option in the “Share” function. Email them to contests@imagekind.com. In the description please write why you feel it would be a good fit for the theme. Check here for more details.

You need more information?

Check out the Imagekind Summer Games event page to learn about all the details. Find more answers in the Summer Games’ FAQ’s, Summer Games’ Rules, and check here to learn how to enter the Summer Games.

Have more questions, don’t hesitate to leave it in the comment section here on the blog. I will do my best to get them all answered.

Good luck!

Nate

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A few weeks ago, I asked you all to share your favorite images on Imagekind with me. And really, I am impressed by what I have seen. Take a look below to see just some of the amazing artwork people have shared with me.

I have gotten artwork by artists from around the world, of all different artistic mediums, styles, genres and subjects. However, through all the varying differences, one thing remains constant: the amount of skill our artists’ have. And that is what makes Imagekind so great.

Personally, this is what excites me the most; to see how Imagekind is changing the way people think about, experience and shop for artwork.

Now, I hope you go share your favorite artwork with your favorite people, and invite them to participate in this community to buy, sell and create art.

Nate

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Wow, we are totally blown away! We just heard we were named one of the 50 most innovative companies by the editors of FastCompany.com. A few weeks ago we told you about our nomination, and now, the results are in. There are some fantastic entries on the list and we are thrilled that this artist community has been recognized as a leader in innovation through the democratization of art; revolutionizing the way people experience, interact with and enjoy art.

We are extremely excited by such an honor. Imagekind took number 34 on the list of the Fast 50 most innovative reader favorites based on overall user feedback and rating.

A huge thanks to everyone who helped earn us this amazing recognition. There is no way we could have got to where we have without the help of our fantastic member community. We truly appreciate everyone’s participation and feedback as we continue to make this the best site for buying, selling and creating art.

You can check out all of the reader favorites on the Fast 50 list for 2008.

Sweet!

Nate

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I want to feature your favorite art on the blog.

We recently told you about one of the cool new features we added in our big site change that lets you easily share your favorite art. Now, I want you to share your favorite images with me. Share your art, and it could get featured.

Under every image on the showartwork page (the page that shows the image with comments), we added a new tool. Now, in addition to having the option of adding a comment, emailing the artist and becoming a fan, you can now share the image. When you click the share button, a box will appear that gives you the option to email the image to a friend, or post it to various online social sites.

So, I want to see the art you love.

1. Search the site or select one of your own images
2. Click the share button
3. Select the email option and send it to me, nathan@imagekind.com
4. Check the blog and see what others love

Who knows, you might end up seeing the art you love right here on the Imagekind blog.

- Nate

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Want to connect with Imagekind and stay up to date? You can find us on the following:

Click on the logos and come join us! If you’re an artist, share your unique Imagekind URL so we can enjoy your work.

- Nate

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Trolling through Digg today I came across these two awesome lists for graphic designers. We have a ton of amazing graphic design artists on Imagekind and maybe these will help inspire their creativity.

80 Graphic Design Links You Can’t Live Without

…Inspirations From 16 Designer’s Community Website

Great resources. Thought I’d share them.

Where’s colourlovers?

Have another site not listed? Let’s see it.

- Nate

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We heard some fantastic news the other day.

Imagekind was recently nominated as one of the most innovative companies in the world by FastCompany.com. Now, we need your help to get us in the top 50!

On July 15, the editors of FastCompany.com will select the 50 most innovative companies worldwide based on participants’ overall feedback and rating.

You can read the submission, vote and comment about why you think Imagekind is innovative at FastCompany.com.

Every year Fast Company magazine highlights the most innovative companies around the world that take business to new creative heights. Imagekind was nominated as one of those companies because of how Imagekind is revolutionizing the way people experience, interact with and enjoy art.

The more comments we get and the higher the votes we receive, the better our chances are of getting into the top 50 most innovative companies worldwide. Read, vote and comment and show why Imagekind is the best community for buying, selling and creating art.

- Nate

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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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