How to Store my Art Supplies?

How to store my art supplies? You have spent all this money on art supplies, it would be a waste to have to throw away those art supplies because they haven’t been stored properly. Let me help so you know how to store your art supplies. Read more about how to store my art supplies below.

How to store my art supplies:

Having proper storage of art supplies is important so that you don’t damage your art supplies -having them be wasted and so that your art supplies stay organized and you know where everything is. 

Keep Your Studio Space Clean

• Make sure the storage area is clean and free from dust, moisture, and direct sunlight

• This will prevent art and art supplies from becoming damaged.

Categorize and Sort Your Art Supplies

• Group similar items together. For example, keep paints with paints, brushes with brushes, and sketching tools with sketching tools.

• This will help keep your art supplies organized and so that you know where to put things when you are done. This prevents your art studio from becoming a dumping ground and cluttered. Now you will know that everything has a “home” and a special spot to go! 

Use Containers to Store Art Supplies

• Invest in containers or boxes to keep your supplies organized. Clear containers can help you see what's inside without opening them. You could also use boxes with labels, baskets or jars. I like plastic containers because it keeps art and supplies dry and protected.

Consider Accessibility:

• Store frequently used items in easily accessible places like on your desk or workstation. Less frequently used items can be stored in less accessible areas like in a box or closet. 

Protect from Light and Moisture:

• Some art supplies, such as paints and paper, can be sensitive to light and moisture. Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

• This keeps the art supplies in good condition and lasting longer! 

Make Use of Shelves:

• Shelving can save space and make it easier to see and access your supplies.

Purge and Declutter:

• Regularly go through your art supplies and get rid of items that are no longer in good condition or that you no longer use. This keeps your art studio organized and it will be easier to find the art supplies you are looking for! 

Rolling Carts or Drawers:

• Rolling carts or drawers can be a convenient solution, especially if you like to move your art supplies from one place to another.

Protective Cases for Fragile Items:

• For delicate items like pastels or graphite sticks, consider using protective cases to prevent breakage.

Store Canvases and Papers Flat:

• If possible, store canvases and papers flat to prevent warping or damage.

Temperature Consideration:

• Some art supplies may have specific temperature requirements. Check the product labels for any special instructions and store accordingly.

Create a Dedicated Workspace:

• If you have the space, create a dedicated art workspace where you can store and access your supplies easily.

Do you have any tips for how you like to store your art supplies? Let me know in the comments below! 

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Art Scams to Watch out for

Here are some common art scams to watch out for. Being an artist there are a lot of art scams to watch out for. Some are really realistic but usually if it seems too good to be true it probably is. Below is a list of common art scams to look out for! 

Common Art Scams to Watch Out For: 

Make sure you always trust your gut! If something doesn’t feel right, look right (like lots of spelling and grammar mistakes) then be careful. Be careful giving personal information and credit card or banking information always! 

Artists should be vigilant when it comes to potential scams in the art world. While there are many legitimate opportunities for artists to sell their work and gain recognition, there are also scams and fraudulent schemes to be aware of. Here are some common art scams that artists should watch out for:

• Fake Art Buyers: Be cautious of individuals claiming to be interested in purchasing your artwork but require you to send them money upfront for shipping, insurance, or other fees. Legitimate buyers typically cover these costs themselves. Also if they want to purchase your art outside of your website it is a red flag. 

• Art Competition Scams: Some art competitions may require an entry fee and if there are prizes or a juried competition it is normal for fees to apply, but be wary of those with high fees and no reputable judges or organizations behind them. Research the competition thoroughly before participating.

• Fake Galleries: Scammers may create fake art galleries or online platforms that promise to showcase your work but require upfront fees for representation. Legitimate galleries typically earn a commission from sales, not fees from artists. This can also happen with social media accounts that have high followers which are often fake followers like bots where you need to pay to post to “gain exposure” from a wrong audience. 

• Unauthorized Print Sales: Ensure that any company or individual selling prints or reproductions of your work has your explicit permission. Unauthorized printing and selling of your art can lead to copyright infringement issues.

• Phishing Scams: Be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages requesting personal information or payment for supposed art opportunities. Verify the legitimacy of the sender before responding or sharing any information. This also happens in the private messages of your social media. 

• Overpayment Scams: Scammers may send a counterfeit check or money order for an artwork, claiming it includes extra funds for shipping or other expenses. They then ask you to refund the excess money before the initial payment clears, leaving you with a worthless check. This is why it is best for people to pay for your art securely like through your website or PayPal versus an e-transfer. 

• Art Authentication Scams: Beware of individuals or companies offering art authentication services for a fee. Seek out established and respected experts for authentication instead.

• Art Investment Schemes: Avoid art investment opportunities that promise guaranteed returns or excessive profits. These may turn out to be Ponzi schemes or scams.

• Copyright and Licensing Scams: Watch out for companies that claim to want to license your artwork for various products but require a substantial upfront fee. Legitimate licensing agreements usually involve negotiation and contracts.

• Fake Giveaway accounts- if you run a giveaway on social media it is very common for a fake account to be created that impersonates your account and messages your followers telling them they have won and to click a link that could give them a virus or take their credit card information for “shipping.”

• An NFT (Non-Fungible Token) scam targeting artists typically involves fraudulent schemes or deceptive practices related to the creation, sale, or representation of NFTs based on an artist's work. Here are some common NFT scams artists should be aware of:

• Unauthorized Minting: Scammers may create NFTs of an artist's work without their permission. They essentially steal the digital art and tokenize it, profiting from sales without the artist's knowledge or consent.

• Impersonation: Some fraudsters might impersonate artists on NFT marketplaces, claiming to sell NFTs of their work. Unsuspecting buyers may pay for what they believe is authentic art but receive nothing in

• Lastly people through social media often will try to convince you as an artist to purchase an NFT to protect your work. You don’t need that there are already copyright laws in place.  Digital Art: NFTs are primarily associated with digital art, as they provide a way to prove ownership and authenticity in the digital realm. If you create digital art, NFTs can be a valuable tool for protecting your work and potentially monetizing it.

To protect yourself from art scams, it's essential to conduct thorough research, ask for references, and consult with trusted peers or industry professionals when in doubt. Trust your instincts and be cautious when dealing with unfamiliar parties or offers that seem too good to be true.

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How Do I Promote my Art?

How do I promote my art? As an artist it is very important to not only make art but to promote it. Otherwise people will not know that you have art to offer. To learn how do I promote my art, keep reading! 

7 Ways for How Do I Promote my Art 

Here are 7 ways to help you answer - How do I promote my art?

Pinterest 

Pinterest isn’t just social media, it is a search engine. Pinterest is actually the number one way I drive traffic to my website. I have pins that are three years old and are still getting lots of views and clicks to my website. Pinterest helps people to sign up to mailing list and to purchase art from me. 

Social Media -Instagram, Facebook and TikTok

Social media is important in growing your audience, but it is not a place I actively spend a lot of time to promote my art. I use social media as a way to connect with my audience and to encourage people to sign up for my mailing list. 80% of the time I post about me, about inspiration or about the process or other free content I have like painting tips and tutorials. The other 20% and sometimes less I will directly tell people that I sell things and they should buy them. 

Email List 

I send emails to my list consistently and this is where I then share helpful tips like on social media but I share what I sell and promote my art occasionally like when I offer a sale or I have new art collections. 

You can join my mailing list below by filling out the the form to see how I promote my art first hand you can join my mailing list by filling out your information below to save 15% off artwork. 

Content -Blogs + YouTube

In blog posts and YouTube videos I share helpful content most of the time but I am able to link to art or art teaching resources that I sell. Sometimes I will create a blog post or a video specifically on something I sell. 

SEO

SEO stands for search engine optimization and it basically means that when someone is searching for something on Google, they can type in a keyword and websites appear. By adding keywords and content your website can be found easier. Having a website appear at the top of someone’s search results means that more people will click on your website and potentially purchase the art you are selling. 

Selling on Multiple Platforms 

If you only sell on your website or one place you have less chances of being found and making a sale. Whereas if you sell on different platforms like a website, Etsy, Amazon etc. there are more people or a specific audience of people that are visiting certain websites. Therefore you have more chances of being found and a wider audience of people who can connect to your work and see the art you are promoting.

In Person Events 

In person events like markets or exhibitions are a great way for people to get to know you and your art. You can leave business cards or encourage people to sign up for your mailing list. I have had lots of people purchase from me after an event because they took a business card and remember meeting me in person and seeing my art at an event. 

Art Promotion Tips

• Be careful with paid opportunities to promote your artwork there are a lot of scams

• You don’t need to pay for promotion wait until you are making significant money before spending money on ads or promoting a post on social media

Those are 7 simple ways to help you with the question of how do I promote my art?

Click the button below to check out my art shop! 

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How to Be an Artist

Learn how to be an artist. It is a lot simpler than you might think. Being an artist is fun to be able to make your own art and make money off your art but there are some business and administrative tasks involved. Keep reading, to learn more about how to be an artist.

How to Be an Artist 

Make art and sell it. I wish it were that simple but it doesn’t need to be overly complicated. Often artists, including myself, get caught up with the never ending to-do list and forget to focus on the basics of making art and selling it. The number one focus for artists should be to make art and to sell art. 

Make Art

No famous artist made a masterpiece the first time they made art. It takes time and practice like any new skill. It also takes awhile to define what you want to make art about. What do you want to be known for? What art do you like making? In order to answer those questions you have to make a lot of art and focus on that daily if not weekly. 

Market Art/Sell Art  

When you aren’t making art it is important to share about your art while growing a community of fans. Build your social media platforms by posting consistently, grow your email list by offering a freebie or discount like free shipping on artwork and share about what you are making. 

It’s important to share about your art and process 80% of the time and then sell to your audience for the other 20%. 

Decide where you want to sell your art. Start small and simple first. You can sell on your website, Etsy, Amazon or a print on demand website like Society6. You can also try selling at local art markets. 

Once you have established an email list, one social media platform and making and selling art you can begin to add other elements to extend your business as an artist. Here are some ideas below:

How to Be an Artist - Ideas 

• Affiliate marketing 

• YouTube or Podcast

• A blog 

• Selling art on another platform

• Adding another social media platform 

• Apply to artist awards/grants 

• Apply to artist residencies 

• Apply to art exhibitions

• Reach out to stores to pitch your artwork 

• Teach a course or a workshop on an art technique you use

As you can see there are lots of possibilities for how to be an artist. There is also no right way to become an artist. 

If you want to get into art school and need help with you art portfolio application click on the links below:

Art portfolio prompts to help you with ideas of what to include

Art portfolio coaching to answer questions and help you prepare your portfolio

Join the waitlist for my art portfolio course - helping you to submit a portfolio confidently and without stress!

Click here to download my FREE guide with 10 tips for creating your art portfolio for school applications!

Connect with me on social media by clicking on one of the icons below! Best of luck with your journey to becoming an artist! 

Related Articles:

Check out my YouTube channel and subscribe 

Check out my art shop

Check out my art prints

Get on the —> Art Portfolio Course Waitlist

Microgrant

I was awarded a microgrant of $1000 from Pat the Dog Theatre Company in January 2022. The microgrant was awarded to 35 emerging artists in Waterloo Region. For the grant I proposed to make a series of cyanotype prints of different wildflowers in Waterloo Region. I also proposed completing cyanotypes on different surfaces like canvas, fabric and wood. 

Information about the Microgrant from Pat the Dog Theatre Company:

Pat the Dog Theatre Creation is delighted to announce the 2022 program of Micro-grants for Waterloo Region artists: 35 micro-grants of $1,000 each ($35,000 total) with each micro-grant representing the equivalent of 1-week paid work. This program is a continuation of the 2021 pilot for Waterloo Region and is made possible through the support of the City of Waterloo and the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation.

The micro-grant will instigate and spark the first idea of a new artwork. This ‘kick-start’ is essential more than ever during the pause this pandemic has created for our local artists who depend on live gatherings to exhibit and perform their work.  These grants will aide professional artists in investigation of their practice, with a focus on process, iterative learning, collaboration, and deep thinking. This program is a response to the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity for artists to continue to delve into and develop their practice in imaginative and innovative ways.

To see all the artists who were awarded the grant - . https://patthedog.org/microgrants-waterloo-region-2022-results/ 

Here are the names of the jury members that decided who would receive the grants: 

Tara Butler, Artistic Director, Dust and Soul Dance

Denis Longchamps, Executive Director, Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery

Shirley Madill, Executive Director, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery

Lisa O’Connell, Artistic Director, Pat the Dog Theatre Creation

Vanessa Spence, Artistic Director, Virtu Arts

I started the microgrant project by ordering some books on wildflowers in South-Western Ontario so that I could identify the wildflowers that grow in the Waterloo Region. 

In June, I began harvesting the various wildflowers and making the cyanotypes of the wildflower designs. 

In July, I experimented with the cyanotype process by printing on different surfaces. I completed the wildflower series. 

In August, I will photograph the cyanotypes and adding the collection to website where they can be sold. 

You can now see the cyanotypes made with wildflowers from this project. Click the button below!

Be sure to join my mailing list to stay connected on new projects I am working on and to see when new collections of art are released. 

Related Articles:

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Cyanotype Shop

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How to get art published

If you want to get art published then keep reading. I have some tips for you! Learn how to get art published and places that you can get your art published for free.

What You Need to Get Your Art Published

You will need an artist biography. Usually different journals and magazines want your bio to be between 50-150 words. I have different formats saved with different word counts so it makes applying to different publishing calls easy. 

You will also need an artist statement about your artwork and high quality photographs of your art. 

I also have a Word document with a table where I list the places my art has been published with the name and photo of the artwork. A lot of places want first exclusive right to your art meaning that they want to be the first ones to publish your art. You can publish your art in other places after them but you will have to mention the places it has been published. This is why keeping a record comes in handy to keep track of when and where your work has been published 

How to Get Art Published the Steps

Step 1:

Start by looking at art calls - you can find them by checking an artist’s CV - like mine to see where they have had their work published. I like to follow different art journals and magazines on social media because they will advertise when you should apply and when their call of entry is happening. 

Next, I like to join different Facebook groups and Facebook pages that advertise free calls for art or poetry and this also lets me know when to apply.

You can of course pay to apply but I don’t like to do this as there is no guarantee that paying for entry will let your work be published. 

Step 2:

Read and follow requirements carefully. You want to make sure you have the right files, you have labelled files correctly and you have sent the right documents to the correct email address. It helps to keep your applications in files and have everything labelled on your computer so it is easy to find.  

Step 3: 

Submit your application and keep track of where your work gets published. Like I mentioned before it is important to record where your art is published so that you can show new work and are following the terms of your publishing contract correctly. 

How to Get Art Published

Last but not least you can self-publish your work. This is more time consuming and costly but it is very fulfilling. I self published my book Patched and used a grant from the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund to help with the costs to publish the books. I published 50 copies of my book. 

If you wanted to lower the costs to self-publish you can apply to different art grants you could also host your own artist call and artists could divide the final payment of what it costs to have their work published and create the book. 

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For more tips click on one of the icons to follow me on social media! 

Where to Buy Frames for Art

Where to buy frames for art? There are lots of stores that sell frames. You can check well known stores or look for a local framing store in your area. You can experiment by seeing what frame will work best by looking for frames at garage sales or thrift stores. 

You can buy frames for art pretty much anywhere. It all depends on your budget. You can consider getting frames with glass or plexiglass. Glass is better quality and tends not to scratch and lasts longer but a lot of plexiglass is made to look like glass. 

When getting art framed it is good to get a UV protection added into the glass to prevent the artwork from fading over time especially if you are framing original artwork. 

Other Considerations for Buying Frames

• What other art/photographs are you framing and do you want the frames to match?

• What size of frames do you want?

• Do you need matting for around the artwork or photograph?

• Do you want wooden frames or plastic?

• Glass or plexiglass?

• Do you need an UV coating on the glass for the artwork?

• Where will you hang the art and will the frames be close together like on a gallery wall? 

Stores that Sell Frames

• Michaels - often has deals and a great time to stock up on frames. They also offer a discount to get artwork professionally framed. 

• Ikea 

• Walmart 

• Don’t forget to check your local framing store 

Good luck with framing art in your home. Make sure to read some of my other articles linked below! Remember you can always upgrade your frames as you go. 

Related Articles:

How to Choose the Right Frame 

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How to Frame Cyanotypes 

Click one of the icons below to follow me on social media for more tips and to stay connected. Be sure to follow me on Pinterest to see my board all about framing ideas and inspiration.

How does an Artist Residency Work?

How does an artist resident work? Is something you might be asking yourself if you have never been to an artist residency before. Artist residencies work by giving you uninterrupted time as an artist to make your art. So how does an artist residency work and where can you apply? What are the benefits of participating in an artist residency? I will let you know and share my experiences of the artist residencies I have been to below! 

I have been to two artist residencies

A paper making artist residency at the Women’s Studio Workshop - click to read more

And an artist residency at Vermont Studio Center -click to read more.

How does an artist residency work?

Each experience was different and you can read more about the individual experiences by clicking the links above. Generally, an artist residency is for 1 week - 12 weeks long (sometimes longer). Artist residencies are in a new place which is great inspiration especially if the place, landscape or the environment inspires your work like it does mine. Usually, your accommodation is covered in the residency, sometimes it’s a private or shared room. Usually the bathroom is shared with others but sometimes it’s not. Sometimes your meals are included and other times you have access to a kitchen where you can make your own meals. You can apply to residencies in places like Akimbo and ResArtis. Some residencies are paid where you pay to attend and other times you can win grants or scholarships to help reduce the cost or to be able to attend for free! Usually there is a time and price commitment to think about before applying. Only apply if you have the time and the money to go.

What are the benefits of an artist residency?

• Private time to work no distractions

• A new location to inspire your work

• 24 access to a studio, tools and equipment

• Space to hang and present your work

• Other opportunities like presenting an artist talk or participating in an exhibition while you are there

• A chance to network and meet other artists and arts professionals

• Since usually you are paying to attend you are focused and produce a lot of work! 

Other types of artist residencies

Recently, with Covid-19 some residencies have moved online. Some have virtual meetings on Zoom to share your work and get feedback. Some residencies are transitioning to online exhibitions or galleries on their websites. There are different types of artist residencies including: writing, music, performative arts, drama, textiles, papermaking, painting and more! 

How to Find the Perfect Artist Residency for you

• Plan when you have time off to do it 

• Plan a budget on how much you would like to spend or ways to fundraise/apply for grants

• Make a list of places you would be interested in travelling to 

• Search for opportunities based on your criteria 

• Pick one that speaks to you and is best suited for the type of art you make 

Good luck with your applications. I am definitely interested in doing another artist residency soon! Check out some of the helpful links below! 

Related Articles

Read my interview about my residency here! 

Here is another great website to help you find the right artist residency for you! https://resartis.org/covid-19-updates/

Akimbo

How to get artist grants 

Vermont Studio Center Residency

Women’s Studio Workshop Residency

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How to use layers in a sketchbook

Learn how to use layers in a sketchbook by having the permission to make art in the sketchbook. Adding layers in a sketchbook is a great way to add texture and have fun testing and experimenting with new materials and techniques.  I have three ways for how to use layers in a sketchbook. Read more to discover how to use layers in a sketchbook. 

how to use layers in a sketchbook

Layer in Materials 

Start by pushing yourself to add layers of different media in your sketchbook. You can start with pencil then add pen, then marker, then water colour paint, then acrylic paint, then sharpie etc. Each layer you can challenge yourself to add a new medium.

Layer in Textures

Begin to play and experiment with your sketchbook through the layers. You can add collage elements to bring in different textures. Here are some great collage elements to try:

• Magazines

• Fabric

• Scrap paper 

• Paper with writing or text like book pages or handwritten letters

• Tissue paper 

• Ribbon

• Scrapbooking materials 

• Stickers 

• Buttons 

• Anything that interests or speaks to you

Adjust your mindset 

Sketchbooks can have multiple purposes. You can plan out artwork and do a rough sketch, you can create a full artwork or a finished piece. Or you can use your sketchbook to create layers and to test and experiment with new supplies or techniques. You can give yourself permission to let go and to just have fun and play since a sketchbook is usually cheaper than watercolour paper or canvas. 

Tips for using your sketchbook more

• Have it readily available in a place you see daily

• Give yourself time in your schedule to sketch, doodle (make it part of your morning or evening routine)

• Create a challenge where you are going to make a small artwork in your sketchbook either daily or weekly

Benefits of keeping a sketchbook

A sketchbook is a great place to test out new materials and techniques. It is a great tool to record ideas, inspiration and research. It can be used as a log to record what worked and what didn’t. Lastly, a sketchbook can be used as a test to create a mock up or mini work before committing to a larger or final piece. 

If you have enjoyed how to use layers in a sketchbook feel free to try any painting tutorials on YouTube or learn about some of my art resources on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Check out my drawing prompts for high school students. I have over 30 pages of drawing prompts, ideas, checklists and drawing practice pages that use the elements of design!

Click here to shop!

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My Art Goals Examples

Here are some tangible art goals examples to feel inspired when it comes to making your own art goals. You can change and adjust your art goals through out the year. You don’t need to wait for January 1st to make your art goals happen! Check out my art goals examples below! 

My Art Goals Examples 

Post consistently to social media (5x a week to instagram, 3-4x to facebook, every day to Pinterest, twice a month to my email list, blog post 3-4x a month, YouTube 2x a month), TikTok weekly 

Social media takes time. I recently started a tiktok - Jackie Partridge Art.  I would like to try paid ads this year 

Apply to art calls twice a month - I want to have more exhibitions this year!

I have been getting more exhibitions and artist grants since I have been consistently applying to art application calls. 

Spend time in nature for inspiration- I find this really helps with my art practice.

Once a month Gordie and I made it a habit of hiking, campinging or walking outside. I’ve taken lots of photos that I have shared on Instagram

Make consistent art sales- I would love my art to be my main source of income. I would like to match my current teaching income before the end of 2022. These are my current streams of revenue:

1. Art grants/awards and artist fees

2. Art workshops and coaching 

3. Selling art teaching resources on Teachers Pay Teachers

4. Selling my original art 

5. Selling my cyanotype prints on Society6

Set boundaries for teaching for more work life balance- no work on Friday nights and Saturdays, no emails past 5pm, no marking on the weekend. No working camps.

This past summer I worked the month of July at a day camp at my school. I was very intentional not to start working on school stuff until the end of August so that I could have a break from school. Make art during school breaks- I plan on not working at camps this year so that I have more time to focus on my art and business. 

Make art each month- I want to get back to making art each month. It is something that I put off like exercising. I want to be able to prioritize both. 

2022 Goals 

• Exercise 2x a week

• Match my teaching salary in my art income

• Purchase a Home 

• Have 5 exhibitions or publications 

• Grow my mailing list by 500 people 

• Grow my YouTube to 500 subscribers 

• Have 200 products in my TPT store

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If you found these art goals examples helpful please leave a comment below. Be sure to follow me on social media by clicking one of the icons below! 

How to Make Time for Art

How to make time for art is an ongoing question I ask myself. I’m sure other artists ask themselves how to make time for art and maybe you do too. I want to share my tips with you for how I have time to make art and how I find pockets of time in my busy schedule to get creative. Learn how to make time for art below!

How to Make Time for Art- tip #1 

Track Your Time:

In order to have more time to make your artwork it is important that you understand how you spend your time. You can do this by tracking your time. Create an Excel sheet or grab a pen and some paper and start making note of how much time you spend on typical tasks. Once you have totalled how you spend your time you will be able to assess if there is any room for improvements that could give you more time to make art. 

For example, check your screen time usage on your smartphone. It is amazing to see that we spend hours (2-3) even more scrolling on our phone. Ask yourself how you can reduce it. Maybe set a timer. Check your email only once or twice a day, have an intention before going on social media so you avoid mindless scrolling. 

Another time waster is mindless tasks like folding laundry, or doing the dishes. I try to listen to a podcast or audiobook during this time or I give someone a phone call. 

A big culprit is watching TV. Again, it’s important to have an intention and limit your TV time. What could you be doing instead? Working out, painting, reading, making art?

How to Make Time for Art- tip #2 

Make a Plan

Now that you have tracked your time and have a better understanding of how you are spending your time you can begin to make a plan. Your goal is to make more time for your art. So ask yourself what can you give up or shorten the time to give you more time to make art.

You could agree to have a night with no TV and this day of the week could be a painting day. You could reduce your screen time by an hour a day. You could leave work earlier instead of staying late all of the time. You could wake up an hour earlier than normal. 

See how much time you can give yourself to make art. Start small with 30min. to an hour and see if you can add more time to make art later on.

How to Make Time for Art- tip #3

Make a Habit 

If possible try to block off time in your online or paper planner to schedule yourself time to make art. When making art make sure to limit your distractions. Put your phone on airplane mode. Tell your loved ones this is your uninterrupted time and they should respect that if this is something you truly care about and value!

Bonus Tip:

Habits help to stick when they are goals. Make sure you are clear about why you want to make art and why it is important to you. Does it bring you joy? Is it stress relief? Once you have established why making art is important to you -you should continue to want to strive to make time for it. Realizing why art is important and giving myself art goals has helped me to stay motivated in making art. For me the process of making art calms me down and makes me feel more relaxed so I try to fit it into my schedule whenever possible. You can check out my article about tips for achieving your art related goals - here! 

There will be days or weeks that you don’t make art and that is okay. Give yourself some grace and know that you will make art again! You can read this post about tips for adding freshness to a stale art practice here! 

Need some accountability to make art for your portfolio application - try my art portfolio coaching so you can create an application that stands out and gets accepted without the stress and overwhelm!

Related Articles:

6 Tips for Hitting Your Art Goals

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How to Stay Motivated as an Artist 

Sleeping Tips for Artists

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21 Books for Artists to Read

Here is a list of books for artists to read. These books for artists to read will help artists improve their art practice, artwork and art entrepreneur skills. Oftentimes, in art school you are taught how to make art but not the business side of things. You aren’t really taught how to market your art, price your art, create a mailing list, an Instagram page etc. These recommended books will help you expand your art business and take it to the next level! You will love these books for artists to read. These books are all books artists should read as they will help with your professional development as an artist!  

Money Mindset Books for Artists to Read

Think and Grow Rich By Napoleon Hill

You are a Badass at Making Money By Jen Sincero 

Real Artists Don’t Starve By Jeff Goins

Art Money & Success By Maria Trophy

Productivity Books for Artists to Read

Chillpreneur By Denise Duffield-Thomas

Everything is Figureoutable By Marie Forleo

12 Week Year By Brian P. Moran 

Free to Focus By Michael Hyatt

Business Books for Artists to Read

The Artist’s Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love By Jackie Battenfield

Art, Inc.: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist By Lisa Congdon

Design as Art By Bruno Munari

Mind Your Business: A Workbook to Grow Your Creative Passion into a Full-time Gig By Ilana Griffo

How to Build Your Art Business with Limited Time or Energy By Corinna Thurston

Art-Write: The Writing Guide for Visual Artists By Vicki Krohn Amorose

How to Sell Your Art Online By Cory Huff

Don’t Panic: A Legal Guide ( In Plain English) For Small Businesses & Creative Professionals By Art Neill & Terri Karobonik

Steal like an Artist By Austin Kleon

Show Your Work By Austin Kleon

Keep Going By Austin Kleon

Find Your Artistic Voice By Lisa Congdon

The Business of Being an Artist by Daniel Grant

If you are thinking of applying to art school or an arts-based program -click here to download my FREE guide of 10 Tips to Create an Art Portfolio that Stands Out!

Related Articles:

Patched Ebook

Tips for Pricing Your Art

6 Tips for Hitting Your Goal as an Artist

As I come across new books to read I will add these to this blog post. Have you read any of these artist books? Let me know in the comments! Or if you have any book recommendations be sure to comment below or send me a DM on Instagram @jackiepartridge_ 

What it’s Like to Be Vermont Studio Center Alumni

Being a Vermont Studio Center Alumni is a part of joining an online community. I attended the Vermont Studio Center art residency in Johnson, Vermont in November, 2017. I stayed at the artist residency for two weeks. I follow them on instagram and I am a part of a private Facebook group similar to the Women’s Studio Workshop residency -which you can read about here! Vermont Studio Center Alumni have been recognized for tons of achievements as the Vermont Studio Center is a top residency known globally.

Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont

Although I am grateful for the experience at Vermont Studio Center and to be a Vermont Studio Center Alumni I don’t think I would go back to this artist residency. As an artist, I like to travel to new places to see how place impacts my work. Vermont Studio Center is a more pricey artist residency as the fee does include your food. Since I am a paper maker the Vermont Studio Center is less appealing as they do not have a paper making studio.

For anyone who has not been or is needing a quiet space to work I would recommend this residency as I was very productive and got a lot done. Everyone is friendly and there are options to sing karaoke or enjoy a campfire while you are there too! 

While I was there, I worked on some projects for my thesis exhibition that happened in February, 2018 at Concordia University. I had a large studio with a window and a couple of tables. I worked on pieces that later became projects in my exhibition including:

• Patched

• Piled Up

• What is and What Was

• Precariously Perched

What I Worked on at Vermont Studio Center

Piled Up installation tested out at the Vermont Studio Center

While being at the Vermont Studio Center residency I worked on altering books for my project What is and What Was. I used the leftover cut-outs to make Piled Up. I tested out the installation for Piled Up on a shelf that was in my studio. I later built a shelf for my exhibition display in my thesis show at Concordia University. 

With my series Patched that is still an ongoing series I arranged photographs of Patched into patched quilt formations. After the residency, I sewed them on my sewing machine. I worked with plaster casts of leaves during my Vermont Studio Center residency. I took advantage of the beautiful scenery in Vermont (it is very easy to be inspired) and I took more photos for my series Patched. 

I enjoyed having a lot of wall space so that I could test out Precariously Perched. In this piece I balance twisted thin strands of maps on straight pins and nails. You can see more of Precariously Perched here! 

Accommodations at Vermont Studio Center

I stayed in a room by myself and had a shared bathroom. There was a few other people living in the house I was staying at. I had a separate key to my bedroom so I felt very secure while living there. At the residency all of your meals are provided in the dining hall. The food is really good and there are a lot of options. All of the food is made by the chef. Having your meals provided is nice during an artist residency because then you don’t lose time cooking, getting groceries or doing dishes and you can have more time devoted to making art. 

Again, I don’t think I would go back to this artist residency although I am grateful for the experience at Vermont Studio Center and to be a Vermont Studio Center Alumni. Experiencing new places to make art is important for me and having access to materials like a paper making studio is also extremely important.

Winter view out my studio window at the Vermont Studio Center

With that being said Vermont Studio Center is a great relaxing and quiet place to work. The beauty of Vermont is incredible and I had such a productive two weeks! 

Patched installation I worked at while at the Vermont Studio Center

Patched installation for my thesis exhibition at Concordia University inspired by being at the Vermont Studio Center

How to Become a Vermont Studio Center Alumni

Here is more information about how to apply to Vermont Studio Center so you can become a Vermont Studio Center Alumni - one day too! 

https://vermontstudiocenter.org 

https://vermontstudiocenter.org/residenciesinfo 

Precariously Perched installation tested out at the Vermont Studio Center

Related Articles 

Women’s Studio Workshop -artist residency

If you are mom you can check out this motherhood residency: http://www.artistresidencyinmotherhood.com/how-it-started 

Here is another great website to help you find the right artist residency for you! https://resartis.org/covid-19-updates/

Stay connected with me by following along on social media -click on one of the icons below!

Precariously Perched installation part of my thesis exhibition at Concordia University inspired by my work at Vermont Studio Center

Trusting Your Gut Feeling

Trusting your gut feeling when it comes to making art can be difficult. I get that you don’t have time and there are other things on your to-do list. As an artist trusting your gut is an important step in the art making process. Without following your intuition you might not be making enough art or the best art. You have to trust your gut and listen to your art intuition. 

If your art intuition is telling you to try something to add a different colour, to try a new technique, to make something- you should follow that. Just like any other form of intuition like a red flag warning sign in a bad relationship your art intuition usually isn’t wrong. If the art you are making looks off or doesn’t feel right make sure you are trusting your gut feeling. 

For awhile and I mean awhile, I have struggled with finding time to paint and make art. When I was living in Montreal doing my MFA it was easy because I had multiple studio spaces and designated time to make art. I was only working part-time and my main job was being a great art student.

Fast forward a few years, I had a mountain of student loans and was working multiple jobs to pay off the debt quickly. I didn’t have time to make art and was feeling tired, frustrated and unhappy.

Now, my student loans are paid and although I am teaching full-time I have been making more art. 

THIS IS A RECENT CHANGE...

Trust your gut when you are playing with new materials like this clay!

I started to make art a priority and stopped saying, “I’ll make art when I have time.” Or, “When I have finished my to-do list.” 

I have realized that if you don’t make time for your priorities or what you value most that you won’t magically gain more time later.

There might not ever be a great time to do something.

I’ve made it my goal to make art everyday. Even if it’s something small or just for 10 minutes. I have been doing this for two weeks now and recording the days that I have made art and how I feel versus the days that I haven’t.

I have seen a HUGE difference in how I feel! I have more energy in my day because I have prioritized doing something that makes me happy and provides stress relief. 

I encourage you to do the same. Start making time for you and what you enjoy most! 

How Trusting Your Gut Feeling in Art Can Be Helpful

• You will make better art 

• You will be making art you are passionate about and not listening to other outside forces like society, family, or the art world pressure

• You will feel happier and more proud of your art

• You will want to make art more and naturally feel like you have more time to make it 

• You will feel in align that you are doing what is right

• You will feel more confident in your art and naturally in yourself

How to Trust Your Gut in Your Art

• Start making it a habit - part of a morning or evening ritual to make art 

• Schedule a time to make art daily/weekly

• Record in a journal how making art makes you feel and on days when you don’t make art how you feel 

• Try rewarding yourself to establish your art making goals

• Lay out your art supplies so they are visible and ready to be used

• Write art goals and give yourself deadlines for what you are making

• Set reminders/alarms on your phone for when to make art 

• Remove distractions that might prevent you from making art like leaving your phone in another room or putting it on airplane mode

Once you start making art consistently by blocking out time to make art you will be trusting your gut feeling while you are making art.

Part of my goals that I made in January were related to wanting to make more art.

Here are the goals I made in January-let’s review them and see how I did: 

I have written in italics how I have been doing on these goals in the last 6 months.

Post consistently to social media (5x a week to instagram, 1-2x to facebook, every day to Pinterest, twice a month to my email list, blog post 3-4x a month, YouTube 2x a month)

I have posted consistently to instagram usually about 4-5x a week, I have done 2-3 posts on Facebook per week, emailed my list 2x a month and YouTube. I have been blogging 4x a month. 

Apply to art calls twice a month - I want to have more exhibitions this year!

I have been applying to 2-4 exhibitions or art calls a month. I have gotten a couple of new art exhibitions and grants this year!

Spend time in nature for inspiration- I find this really helps with my art practice.

I try to walk every day and plan a hike on the weekend. Although this doesn’t always happen I feel a lot better when it does. 

Make consistent art sales- I would love my art to be my main source of income.

I started a Teachers Pay Teachers store a couple of months ago to help add consistent art income. I am continuing to grow my business.

Keep my website updated monthly- I like reviewing my website at the end of each month to make sure everything is current.

I usually update my website every couple of months and I know I can get better at this.

Set boundaries for teaching for more work life balance- no work on Friday nights and Saturdays, no emails past 7pm, no marking on the weekend.

I have done really well with this goal which has helped me to have more time to make art.

Make art during school breaks- Teaching full time has made me really miss having time to make my art.  

I have been doing this and recently started to make art everyday even if it is something small like a quick sketch or taking a photo.

Related Articles You Might Love:

You can read more about the 6 tips for achieving your goals here!

How to stay motivated as an artist

You might enjoy adding freshness to a stale art practice

Biggest secret for a struggling artist

Trusting your gut feeling will really make a difference with your art and in your life. I have found that when I make art more often I feel happier and when I am listening to my intuition and making the art I want to make I am also happier.

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10 Skills You Need to Become a Better Artist

10 skills you need to become a better artist - here they are -ready for you to put them into action! As an artist you are constantly balancing producing art and running a business. There are a lot of skills you need to be a successful artist. Here are my list of 10 skills to become a better artist below!

Skill #1 Confidence 

It is easy to think that everything has been done before, that you will never “make it” as an artist and that you are just wasting your time and money. You might even feel like you are not qualified enough or that you shouldn’t even apply to an exhibition because you probably won’t get in. It’s important to have confidence and faith in your artwork and in yourself as an artist. If you aren’t confident you will not want to put your art out there. You will not want to share it and you won’t receive art opportunities or money for your art.

Skill# 2 Time Management 

You need to be able to balance your time with making art and completing admin tasks like updating your website and social media, answering emails, updating photos, buying supplies, applying to artist calls and more. If you aren’t making art then you are not enjoying the reason why you wanted to become an artist in the first place. It is also hard to grow as an artist if you aren’t making any new work!

Skill #3 Patience 

I don’t think it’s possible to wake up one morning and all of a sudden you’re a famous artist and making money without having to do anything. It takes time and it takes work to happen!  Artists face a lot of rejections and disappointments in the art world. Just remember that your time will come! 

10 Skills You Need to Become a Better Artist - pin this image to save it for later!

Skill #4 Consistency 

In order to be good at anything it takes consistency. Consistent applications, social media posts, art making, etc. If you aren’t putting in the time and the consistent effort it will take longer to become a successful artist! 

Skill# 5 Ongoing Learning 

I am a teacher and I love learning. You can learn through YouTube (check out my painting channel), through books, courses and more. Brush up on learning new art techniques or business strategies to make your art business more successful! 

Skill# 6 Risk Taking 

You have to be able to fail and to learn from it. Try new materials, take a chance and step outside of your comfort zone. If you always do the same thing you can become stuck or bored and that’s not good either.

Skill #7 Writing and Communication

You have to be able to talk and write about your art. When you apply for grants or exhibitions often you need to write about your art clearly and concisely. When talking to people it could always lead into a networking opportunity further down the line. It’s important to know what to say when speaking about your art and share it proudly.

Skill #8 Money Mindset 

This relates to confidence but if you have issues with money it will be hard to make money as an artist. If you believe in the starving artist narrative then good luck trying to make consistent sales with your art! You need to start believing that you can make money with your art and that you can make as much as you want! 

Skill #9 Creativity 

You need creative ideas to be able to make something exciting and something that stands out. In the world of social media going viral can help your art. But if you are making art that looks like everyone else’s you won’t stand out. Be creative and do something different that is unique to you! 

Skill #10 Marketing and Business Strategy

In order to make sales you need to share what you are doing. You need to have a plan if you are launching a new piece of art or an art collection. You can’t just post about it once. It’s good to learn more about marketing and business if you are new to it! 

Related Articles

10 Lessons I Learned in Art School

Why I Became an Artist

How to Hit Your Goals as an Artist - 6 Tips
Download my FREE Guide for How to Create an Art Portfolio for School Applications

I hope you found these skills to be helpful! Connect with me on social media for more great tips! 

5 Sleeping Tips for Artists

Here are my 5 sleeping tips for artists to help my fellow artist friends turn off the brain filled with a million ideas and finally catch some zzzzzzzzzs. Having a creative mind is often wonderful but it can be tiring. I find I often have my best ideas laying down in my bed before I am about to fall asleep. I have come up with a list of 5 sleeping tips for artists that have really helped me to fall sleep when I struggle. Read my 5 sleeping tips for artists below!

Don’t worry if you aren’t an artist I’m sure these sleeping tips will be helpful too! 

Tips for Helping Artists Sleep

Tip #1 Brain Dump

If you haven’t tried brain dumping you need to! It is life changing! Brain dumping is where you make a list and free-write whatever is on your mind. I often make a to-do list for the next day, write down any ideas or any goals I have. I keep a notebook, a pen and a sketchbook beside my bed. If I am thinking about something it’s better for me to just write it down and then that way I don’t forget it and I can fall asleep with ease!

Tip #2 Stretching

As an artist I often have a very sore neck and shoulders. It doesn’t help that I have awful posture on top of that. If I am feeling very sore I will stretch my back with a foam roller or do some yoga poses for my back like child’s pose. In addition, I see a massage therapist and chiropractor regularly. I also apply heat cream if i’m in a lot of pain!

Tip #3 Scents 

I sleep with dried lavender beside me and often use our diffuser to put something with lavender, tea tree or eucalyptus to help me fall asleep quickly. I have a sleep mask from Saje that is weighted and has dried lavender too - that always works for me! 

Tip #4 Meditate/Deep Breathing 

Times when I am particularly stressed I listen to recorded meditations on YouTube. It’s something I know I should do nightly and when I meditate I sleep better and faster. I also take a few deep breaths and really focus on my breath to help me unwind after a long day! 

Tip #5 Reading 

Reading like mediating and is something that really helps to calm me down. Again, it’s something I know I should do every night but realistically it doesn’t end up happening. I often read books on business, marketing, money mindset or professional development. I like reading these kinds of books because it makes me feel empowered about my art, making me feel positive and falling asleep happy is always the best feeling.

Other Helpful Posts

What to do if you are feeling uninspired

The biggest secret for the struggling artist

Why I became an artist

Quit feeling like a starving artist

I hope you have found these tips helpful! Be sure to connect with me on social media to learn more tips for artists just click one of the icons below! 

The Biggest Secret for a Struggling Artist

The biggest secret for a struggling artist is more common than your think! Being an artist is a difficult job. It's a journey and very much a marathon.

There are a lot of barriers to becoming a successful artist like; self doubt, your ego talking, imposter syndrome just to name a few. I’ll share the biggest secret for a struggling artist below! Read on!

Before you read on...I think some perspective is needed.

Images from Styled Stock Society

It is important to define what success looks like for you.  This is the BIGGEST secret for a struggling artist.

Do you want a new exhibition every week or one a month? Do you want an art sale every day or are you fine to have a couple a month or a year just as extra income?

Only you know what success means to you. Because it’s different for everyone! In order to stop feeling like a struggling artist you really need to define what success is going to look like for you! 

Here is my letter to the struggling artist  - you could even try writing a letter to yourself - it might be helpful.

Dear Struggling Artist,

I know things are hard right now. And you may be beating yourself up. Wondering when is it going to be your big break? When can you finally pursue your art full-time?

And your time will come.

You might be scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram and thinking wow, they have a TON of followers. They must have a TON of sales! They are so lucky! I wish I could have that… I wish it was easier for me..

And your time will come.

You might spend your days daydreaming or hoping that things might turn around. 

And your time will come.

But in this stage you are in now, just know that it is not permanent. It can and it will get better. If you give up now you’re abandoning your passion, your true calling, your talent and gifts for the world to see. I know this has been a big dream for you for a while now. Trust your gut and follow your own path. Don’t follow someone’s else’s path or their definition of success. What’s the point of that really?

I want you to become crystal clear about what you want...

I want for you to have the life of your dreams.

Deep down, only you really know what that looks like... So take a moment and write it ALL down. 

Start dreaming your biggest goals and wildest dreams (even the ones that scare you or the ones you are doubting will come true). Pursue them anyways and pursue them especially. 

What do you want more of in your life? What do you want less of?

Start Brainstorming now! Take out that old journal or sketchbook...seriously.

Sincerely,

Every Struggling Artist

Related Articles

Why I became an artist

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Let me know if this exercise was helpful for you - message me on social media so we can connect more. I would love to hear from you!

You Got This - it will get easier!

Why I Became an Artist...

Why I became an artist…..I became an artist because I always loved creating things but more importantly I found art gave me freedom. Freedom to express myself - thoughts, ideas, interests and perspective on larger topics like the environment. And of course, freedom to do what I love. I like doing something I love each day and I feel so lucky to be given that opportunity.

Teacher's college was something I did because I knew I loved helping people from volunteering teaching figure skating to spending my summers working at camps. Art teaching, both in the classroom, my Teachers Pay Teachers store where I sell art teaching resources and on YouTube has been a way for me to combine both of my passions of teaching and art.

Teaching allows me to bring in a consistent income and it allows me to focus on my art and not have to worry about money but instead make the art that I want to make. 

There are a lot of stereotypes about artists not making money. As an artist I want to break those stereotypes and prove that I can make consistent money on my art alone.

There are many different paths an artist can take and I like being in charge of that and choosing what applications or opportunities I want to take. Not every opportunity or decision is going to be the best for me or my art.  There is a lot of possibility in store for me and that is exciting! I enjoy being able to teach art in the classroom and online through my YouTube channel.

I have found with consistent work and effort it has been easier to make money as an artist and I know it will get easier and easier in the future. I continue to create more established systems like templates and ways to automate which will save me time and allow me to truly focus on art making.

There are many roles an artist takes on including being a writer, photographer, advertiser, marketer, promoter, teacher etc. I enjoy all the different roles of an artist and being able to do different things each day whether it is making art, writing blog posts, editing photos, updating my website, planning my Instagram posts or applying to art exhibitions. Read the 8 reasons of why I love art here!

With all the areas of my art business to focus on - I need to constantly remind myself that I must continue to make art and apply for opportunities to show my art and reach new people. 

I am lucky to be able to do what I love each day and get paid for it! 

Each day is different, challenging and exciting!

If you would like to support my art practice - You can check out my art for sale here!

If you're an artist I would like to know more about why you became an artist and what you love about it. Let me know on social media so we can continue this conversation! Just click the buttons below ⬇️

6 Tips for Hitting Your Art Goals

6 tips for hitting your art goals this year! This year you can make your goals come true! How did you do sticking to the goals you made last year? Do you even remember them? Here are some tips about sticking to your goals, so you don’t lose track of them this year! 

I love planning, making lists and achieving my goals. It does take work though..

Here is a list of my 6 tips to help you hit your art goals this year!

# 1 Sticking to Your Goals - check on them

In order to keep my goals I need to review them and to check in on them.

I plan my goals near the end of December a year in advance and I review my goals every four months to adjust them accordingly.

Each month, I check on my monthly goals and put a check mark beside the completed ones. I have a new agenda this year that has a section for goals at the start of each month which really helps! If you don't have this you can always set up reminders on your phone, write on a calendar or create to-do/goals lists.

It's important to check on a goal's progress because if you have many goals you can easily forget.

Pro Tip: If you are working on a larger goal you can break it into smaller chunks that are easier to manage!

#2 Your Goals Aren't Permanent!

Life happens... Before you know it you meet your goal or you decide the timing isn't right. You are allowed to change your mind - because they are your goals! I like to give myself some grace and I'm not hard on myself when I am no longer aiming for a goal. I'm still figuring out what kind of artist I want to become and what I want my life to look like in the future.

#3 You Need to be Invested and Know Why

You have to want your goals- and not believe you should make them because what society is telling you. Part of sticking to goals is figuring out why you want them in the first place. This drive keeps you motivated. So, if you don't know why you want something, think deeper or even try journalling.

A goal needs intention behind it. It helps when a goal has clarity too because it will be something that you can easily visualize.

#4 Does Your Goal Inspire You and Excite You?

Like Marie Kondo says "does it spark joy" if it does, it's something you will treasure something you will continue to work on. If it doesn't you won't - it's that simple! The more excited you are, the more urgency there is to finish it.

A goal should be exciting but still believable to you.

#5 Give Yourself Deadlines for Your Art Goals

I was always an achiever in school and I've found to still be successful out of school it helps to have deadlines. Give yourself a realistic time frame while keeping yourself challenged and accountable! Sometimes, I will make a firm deadline with myself like "If you don't finish this by the end of the day then you can't ..."

The nice thing about applying to different art calls and grants is that they have deadlines associated with them. These deadlines can really help you stay organized.

#6 Reward Yourself for Meeting Your Goals - Make the Process Fun!

Some goals are going to take longer to complete because they require more work and they are bigger goals. I find it helpful to remember to enjoy the journey (although I struggle with this). Don't be afraid to celebrate milestones or to reward yourself with something you want. If the process of goal setting isn't enjoyable you aren't going to be excited about it and it will be harder to stick to your goals.

Here are my art goals for 2021

Now that I am teaching full time I have to consider what goals are realistic for me and my schedule:

1. Post consistently to social media (5x a week to instagram, 1-2x to facebook, every day to Pinterest, twice a month to my email list, blog post 3-4x a month, YouTube 2x a month)

2. Apply to art calls twice a month - I want to have more exhibitions this year!

3. Spend time in nature for inspiration- I find this really helps with my art practice.

4. Make consistent art sales- I would love my art to be my main source of income.

5. Keep my website updated monthly- I like reviewing my website at the end of each month to make sure everything is current.

6. Set boundaries for teaching for more work life balance- no work on Friday nights and Saturdays, no emails past 7pm, no marking on the weekend.

7. Make art during school breaks- Teaching full time has made me really miss having time to make my art.  

Your Art Goals Might Be…

Working on an Art Portfolio

Check out this post on how to prepare an art portfolio for college or university!

Starting a YouTube Channel for Your Art

Check mine out here for acrylic painting!

Improving Your Acrylic Painting

If one of your goals is getting better at acrylic painting - I can help with that! Download my FREE guide where I show you the 10 common mistakes beginner painters make and how you can avoid them!

If you have a goal this year to get into art school and become an artist or an arts-related career- download my FREE guide with 10 Tips to Make Your Art Portfolio Application Stand Out!

Follow me on Social Media for more ideas! And let me know your goals this year in the comments or the DMs!

How to Create an Art Portfolio: 7 Tips!

How to create an art portfolio with 7 tips from artist Jackie Partridge. I have been exhibiting my artwork since 2012. I have received artist grants and awards and I have attended artist residencies. With this experience I have done my share in submitting my portfolio for numerous applications. As a teacher, I have worked with grade 12 students to help them with their art portfolio applications. See my 7 tips for your college/university art portfolio application below!

After receiving my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from Lakehead University I also completed teacher’s college. I graduated being able to teach grades 4-12 in Ontario before taking my Master of Fine Arts at Concordia University.

During my time in teacher’s college part of my placement included teaching art to grade 12 students. In the first term I helped students with their portfolios as they were in the midst of applying for university and college arts programs. I volunteered my time to help these students during my lunch break by giving them tips and ways to improve what they had selected to be in their portfolios.

I have worked as an art instructor for a private boarding school where I helped international high school students with their portfolio applications in art, graphic design, illustration and architecture programs.

If you need ideas for what to put into your art portfolio application you can click here!

7 Tips to Make Your University/College Portfolio Stand Out

Tip #1

READ THE REQUIREMENTS -AND FOLLOW THEM

You need to know what they want and usually they tell you specifics!

Every university and college or even programs within the same school have different application requirements when it comes to their portfolios. Some schools are very specific asking for a certain number of pieces, certain media used or certain sizes of work. Some schools want original work, some/most don't-- they want photographs uploaded on programs like SlideRoom.  Some schools even have specific themes like "Make a work that is finished yet unfinished." This can make the process more difficult and leave students feeling overwhelmed and unsure -often overthinking their decisions and ideas.

Want to go to art school but unsure how to create an art portfolio that stands out and gets accepted? Click on the button below to get on the waitlist for my art portfolio course!

Tip #2

Show Your Creative Process

Most schools want to see your process work - they want to see how you think about your art and why you made the choices you did.

Tip #3

Show Your Personality

The purpose of the portfolio is an introduction and a chance for your chosen school to get to know you and see if you would be a good fit there.  You want to show your interests and possibilities you might want to continue to explore while in post-secondary education. You should include materials you like working with and show your artistic style that is unique to you!

Tip #4

Show Variety

You want the professors reviewing your portfolio to be impressed by your skills and see you as an artist who is versatile. Therefore, it is important to show that you can do more.

By showing variety you are showing that you aren't afraid to try new things and experiment with your artwork. It shows that you are open to growing and learning which is the whole point of college and university programs. Check out my YouTube channel for tips to make your acrylic paintings stronger! You can also improve your painting with FREE12 page Guide!

Tip #5

Show Program Specific Techniques 

If you are applying to specific programs like architecture or illustration you want to think about possible projects that might be studied in those programs. Once you have thought of those ideas you could try to include relevant pieces in your portfolio.

If you are applying to a non-specific program like a Bachelor of Fine Arts for example- then again you want to show variety. You need to show your range, talents and abilities.

How to make a strong portfolio - show your diversity of skills like ceramics

Tip #6

Details are Important 

You need to remember that review panels are looking at portfolio after portfolio for hours on end. You need to stand out and be memorable. Make sure you consider details to set you apart.

Edit your photos, think about your layout, come up with clever titles for your work. All these details are important!

Tip #7

Show Your Thinking, Your Writing and Research

Usually you will be asked to submit written descriptions about your work- make sure they are detailed and informative.

List your inspiration- if you did a drawing based off a building or place -state that research. You want to show your intelligence and critical thinking abilities in these descriptions.

Make sure you edit your writing, stick to the word count and choose a consistent and legible font.

Take time to plan your written descriptions and do not leave them to the last minute!

I wish you good luck with your portfolio applications and the BIGGEST tip I can give you is to start early and trust your gut!

What People are Saying

I was excited for the opportunity to work with Jackie!

The presentation from Jackie was very specific relevant information to prepare my students for applying to art schools. It gave us a checklist to follow and ideas we had not yet considered.

This presentation is a MUST for anyone needing information to better prepare students to apply to art schools. Not having gone that route myself, it was invaluable!

Jackie was not only knowledgeable, but easy to work with and super accommodating. I would highly recommend her!!

Britt, High School Art Teacher, California, U.S.

Here are my art portfolio ideas. These ideas are great if you are struggling with what to include in your art portfolio.

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All the best with your art portfolio applications- You got this!