With Imagekind Create you can print and frame your photos – a perfect gift for Mother’s Day! And, with our current free shipping* offer, you can find framed gifts for well under $15.

Send mom your favorite picture framed (or on canvas!) and if you order before May 4, we’ll cover the shipping for you! Just enter promo code MDAY09 at checkout.

Also, don’t forget to visit our special Mother’s Day art collection. We’ve compiled some of our most popular art that is sure to inspire any mom this Mother’s day!

*Type promo code MDAY09 in the promotion box at checkout. Promotion expires May 4, 2009 at 11:59pm PT and cannot be combined with any other promotion code. Limit one order per person. Promotion code must be used at time of checkout to apply. Your order must be placed during the promotional period to qualify for this special pricing offer. Free shipping promo applies to US ground shipping only. Not valid on greeting cards.

Want to sell your artwork on Imagekind, but not sure how to get it into a digital format for uploading?

Lar Matre, wrote a very helpful blog post recently on how to properly photograph your artwork to create digital files for reproduction. I first read his post in one of our groups.

Lar breaks down the process into two main tasks:

1. The capture – actually taking the photo of your work
2. Post processing – cleaning up your digital image for print

Photographing your artwork for the purpose of creating digital images can be a difficult process if you are not familiar with what’s involved. However, one of the most important things to remember is your setup. Below is a good example of how to correctly setup your equipment to photograph your artwork.

Here is what Lar suggests:

You should be able to set your camera about 15-20-feet away from your painting — as the painting gets larger, so does the distance required. You use the zoom lens to fill almost the entire frame with your painting. The edges of your painting should be parallel to the viewfinder. If the edge of the painting looks curved, you need to move back.

Lar goes into great detail about all the recommended equipment you’ll need, processes and procedures. His suggestions are worth a read if you are at all wondering how to photograph your artwork for digital reproduction.

You can read his full post here: Digitizing Original Paintings for Giclee-type Prints.

Also, make sure to read other printing tips in our Printing Basics section on Imagekind.

EmptyEasel published a very interesting article today about discovering your artistic niche and style. Emily referenced it in one of our forum discussions. I found it particularly insightful for all artists to consider.

It got me thinking, do most artists even consider having a particular niche or style? How do these two ideas correlate with an artistic brand?

The author, Aggie Villanueva, defines them in a very concise way. She mentions how finding her niche was relatively easy but that finding her style was a bit more challenging. However, as she contemplated her photos one day, a moment of inspiration struck her and she was able to discover her own particular style as well. With that she concludes:

Your niche is what you know

but…

Your style is what you love

With your artwork, what’s been easier for you to discover, your niche or your style?

Happy Independence Day!

Remember you can receive Sparkling Savings for July 4th and get 25% off Frames* by entering promo code July42008 in the promo box at checkout. Hurry, offer expires July 7th, just in time to get all your Fourth of July photo memories framed.

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Shop Artwork: 4th on Lake Austin by Trey Ratcliff

Shop Artwork: Fireworks by Tommi Arina

Shop Artwork: American Flag at Train Station by James Crotty

Shop Artwork: Fireworks 7.3.2007 by Notley Hawkins

Shop Artwork: USA Flag by Lenora De Lude

*Discount applies to custom frames only.

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.

Read more…