Great Art Supplies to Try!

I wanted to share some great art supplies with you. I am a mixed media artist so there are a lot of art supplies that I use in my art practice. Here is a list of great art supplies that I love. Be sure to check out these great art supplies!


Some of the links are affiliate links meaning I get a very small commission each time someone purchases from my link. This helps to support my business- thank you! 

Great Art Supplies 

Great Art Supplies -Painting

I love Golden Acrylic Paints and Golden acrylic fluids. The fluids are like an ink/dye and very nice for painting on fabric! 

Posca Pens - I have made lots of painting tutorials with Posca Pens. They are paint markers that can paint on a variety of surfaces. The pens come in different size tips and are great for adding writing, detail and outlines to a painting easily. 


Princeton brushes are the brushes I use most often. I also like Artist Loft brushes that are a bit cheaper but still a pretty good quality. 


Great Art Supplies- Paper making

I like moulds and deckles from the Papertrail they are based out of New Dundee. I also get most of my paper making supplies from there including different types of pulp. 


Great Art Supplies -Software

I love Canva Pro - you can read more about it in this article. It is a great computer program and mobile app to create marketing materials and designs. It is easy to use and organize files. You can try the 30 day FREE trial here! 


Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom- I love Lightroom for editing photos. It is so easy and fast. I love Photoshop to edit more details in photos or create patterns and designs with photos I have taken. 




Great Art Supplies -Books

These books have really helped my business by taking it to the next level. 


Storybrand by Donald Miller

Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill 


I hope you love these great art supplies as much as I do. Let me know which one is your favourite in the comments below! Happy shopping! 


Related Articles: 

21 Books for Artists to Read
10 of my Favourite Painting Supplies

great art supplies for artists

How to use Canva Pro as an Artist 

Canva Pro is a great online tool to use if you are a content creator, small business owner or artist. I will share how to use Canva Pro as an artist and why Canva Pro is great for artists to use. You will also learn about the differences between Canva Pro and Canva’s free version. Find out why I love using Canva Pro as an artist below!


The Difference Between Canva Pro and Free Canva 

The biggest difference between free Canva and Canva Pro is the range of features and templates that are available. Canva Pro users have access to over 60 million high-quality stock photos, illustrations, and vectors, while free users are limited to just over 1 million. In Canva Pro, you can also better organize your digital files because you have more storage space and more compatibility to have unlimited folders. 


How to use Canva Pro 

There are lots of free Canva Pro tutorials online and on YouTube. I encourage you to download the free version of Canva first or use my affiliate link to try a 30 day Free Trial of Canva Pro to see if you like it first. Canva Pro is a great investment in my business. It is a yearly subscription that costs about $150 dollars a year. This isn’t much for the amount of time it saves in my business. I create a lot on Canva Pro so the subscription pays for itself! 



How to Use Canva Pro As An Artist

There are lots of features of Canva Pro that are helpful to artists. Here are some ideas.

  • Use Canva Pro to make Pinterest Pins to promote your artwork - choose from Canva’s templates 

  • Make instagram stories or reel covers to advertise your artwork - again Canva Pro has lots and lots of templates to choose from which will save you time.

  • Save your brand colours and logo in Canva Pro to easily add them into a design 

  • Create graphics for your blog

  • Design a logo for your business

  • Create YouTube thumbnails

  • Design instagram or Facebook posts 

  • Create designs to print on mugs, cards, stickers, t-shirts and more! 

  • Create and store branding images for your website

  • Create videos and animations for your website or social media 

  • Create digital downloads or prints to sell

  • Create Freebies for people to opt-in on your email list. 


There are so many possibilities with Canva Pro the possibilities are truly endless! Here is the link to try Canva Pro for 30 Days for free! (It is an affiliate link meaning I get a small commission each time someone uses my link)


Related Articles: 

Try Canva Pro

10 of my favourite painting products

Tips on How to be Organized 


Here are some tips on how to be organized as an artist. I will share some resources and supplies I used to stay organized in my business as an artist.


Tips On How To Be Organized As An Artist 

Tips On How To Be Organized - the Studio 


Whatever size your studio is, it is important to make use of the space and keep the studio as organized as possible. I have had small studios in the past and larger studios and if they are not set up properly with a place for everything they will easily become a dumping ground. 


Once you have a studio space whether it is at home or somewhere else, you want to start by planning out your space. I like to use a page in my sketchbook to map out the floor plan of the studio and decide where the furniture will be and where different zones of my studio will take place.

Depending on the type of art you do your studio may be different and have different zones. Here are some studio zones you might want to consider in your studio. 


A space to make art

 (If you do mixed media art like myself you might need different zones) For example, I do some sewing so, I will need a desk with my sewing machine and a cart or shelves with supplies like fabric, thread, bobbins, needles etc. I also do acrylic painting so I will need an easel or a table to paint on and a spot in my studio to store painting supplies like canvases, paint and brushes. I also like working on the floor sometimes, so it’s important that furniture is on wheels so I can move it easily or something like an easel can be folded up when it is not in use, so I have more floor space. 





A space to store finished art 

As a fine artist, I need a place to store finished artwork that I plan on showing in future exhibitions. I have a lot of art that I have made over the years. A place like a walk in closet or shelf space with waterproof and UV protected (dark) storage containers works best. I like to label my artwork bins so I can easily see the art that is in that box and so that it is easy to find when needed. 





A space to market art/work on the computer 

I have a desk in studio in which I have created an office space. This has my computer, printer and office supplies. I also hang some inspiration on a bulletin board with some motivational quotes to keep me inspired as I work. I have also added a diffuser that I use with essential oils as I work to help me concentrate. 





A space to film/photograph art 

I have a YouTube channel - Jackie Partridge Art and a social media presence. Video content is important on all social media sites. I keep an area of the studio clean and often keep my filming equipment set up with lights so I am ready to film when I need to. I also have some white wall space where I can easily photograph art that I am working on both in-progress and completed work. 





A space to package and ship art 

I have an online business where I sell original artwork and stickers. I have some shelves where I store all of the art that I have listed on my website for sale, so it can be easily found. I also have some shelf space where I store shipping supplies like tape and scissors.





Spaces to Store Art Supplies 

In each zone of making different types of art there are different supplies I need. I store those needed supplies in their designated zone. I use some rolling carts to store these supplies as well as some shelves. I also use various containers, jars and baskets I have collected from the thrift store over the years. I like to have my supplies visible so that I know where everything is but it also serves as a visual reminder to make more artwork. I like using clear containers so I can easily find what I am looking for.




Tips On How To Be Organized- the To-Do List 

As an artist and owner of a business there is always a never-ending to-do list. I try my best to keep track of it. 


Here are some basic tips on how to be organized:

  • I use a lot of list and have different sized sticky notes in my studio 

  • I will often email myself reminders of things to print or websites to check out later when I am on the computer 

  • I use the reminders app on my phone frequently

  • I keep a notebook by my bed for ideas


A Paper Planner 

I have a paper planner that I carry with me at all times. I like using the Clever Fox Planner. I have also really liked planners from Indigo in the past. What I love about the Clever Fox Planner is that there is a spot to write down goals, a vision board and monthly and weekly planning. There is also a spot to write and record daily habits. You can check out the planner here.  


A Calendar 

I have a calendar hanging in my studio that shares important dates like when I am having an art sale or need to install art at a gallery. I use different colours and stickers to highlight different things. I also have my goals posted and break my goals down into quarters of the year and have those posted so I can assign myself deadlines and check in on my progress during the year. 

tips on how to stay organized


An Online Tool - I Use Asana 

Asana is a website and a free phone app that you can use to keep track of your goals and to-do list. I like Asana because it stores my lists digitally. I can organize my lists into different categories or boards and I can check off when I have completed a task which is extremely helpful. 


Tips On How To Be Organized- the Computer 

Google Drive 

I use Google Drive to store all of my files and pictures. I use a couple of backup drives to store digital art designs, digital products and videos. I back up my computer regularly just in case. I organize my files in folders on Google Drive and colour code the folders so they are easily accessible. I also keep track of links I refer to regularly on a Google Sheet. 


Canva Pro

Canva Pro is where I create my digital products and my graphics like Pinterest pins or Instagram posts. All of my files are sorted and stored in folders so they can easily be found.

I hope these tips on how to be organized can help you with being a more organized artist!  Be sure to click on any of the links in this post to check out some of the organizational products I mentioned. 



Related Articles: 

Free 30 Day Canva Pro Trial 

6 Tips for Hitting Your Art Goals

5 Tips to Stay Motivated as an Artist

Download my FREE guide if you are applying to art school






Goals for 2023


I always like to make goals for myself each year. Here are my goals for 2023! I have divided my goals for 2023 into different categories. When I am making goals I try to be as specific as possible to help make the goals attainable. I want to be realistic with my goals so I know I can achieve them but I think there needs to be a stretch or a reach goal so you have to work for it. If a goal is too easy you won’t work for it and put the effort in. Below are my goals for 2023!

goals for 2023


Goals for 2023

Below are the different categories of goals for 2023! 




Business Goals for 2023

I want to have 500 email subscribers on my email list.



I want to try running ads on social media to help me grow my list.



I want to create 150 products on my TPT store - Jackie Partridge Art. 



I want to create 10 new designs on Society6 - Jackie Partridge.





Art Goals for 2023

I want to have 2-5 new art grants this year to fund my artwork. 

I want to have 5-10 art exhibitions this year. 

I want to set up a new studio in my new house.


I want to make cyanotypes and paper this year. 



Social Media Goals for 2023

I want to have over 1000 followers on Instagram on both of my accounts - @jackiepartridge_ and @jackiepartridgeart




I want to have over 500 subscribers on YouTube - Jackie Partridge Art 





Revenue Goals for 2023

I want to have consistent 3-4 figure months of sales on TPT.

I want to be able to make my salary through my art business this year. 

I want to do 2 art markets.

I want to get my artwork into a local shop. 





Personal Goals for 2023

I want to make healthy food choices. 

I want to go for a walk daily. 





Family Goals for 2023

I want to go on a hike monthly and enjoy time in nature with my family a couple of times a month. I want to visit with family or friends once a month. I want to plan a family vacation or a couple of small getaways. I want to have a date night once a month when the baby is old enough. 


I hope you enjoyed my goals for 2023. I would love to know your goals for 2023! Let me know in the comments!



Related Articles:

Check out my goals from last year

Visit my YouTube Channel 

Visit my Society6 Store for art prints 

Visit my TPT store



2022 Year in Review


2022 is coming to end and it is time to look back and reflect on the year. Here is my 2022 year in review for my art! A lot has happened this year and I want to share it with you. This is a great time for you to reflect on your favourite memories of 2022 too! 



My Art Goals for 2022

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.


I decided to switch to posting to YouTube once a month this year as it is a ton of work and I am working full time as a teacher. I am still starting with tiktok -you can find me on -Jackie Partridge Art. I would like to do more next year.


Update: I did pretty well with this. Lots of life changes prevented me from posting as consistent as I would have liked to.

Excited to announce we are expecting our first child in May 2023!

2022 year in review Jackie Partridge


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.

I did well at applying to exhibitions and art calls and usually applied to 4 or so per month. As a result I had a lot more exhibitions this year! 

I had a few big exhibitions this year and a couple of grants from Pat the Dog Theatre Company and Ontario Arts Council.

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

We didn’t go outside hiking or camping as much as I wanted to but when we did we had a lot of fun. 


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:

  • Art grants/awards and artist fees

  • Art workshops and coaching 

  • Selling art teaching resources on Teachers Pay Teachers

  • Selling my original art 

  • Selling my cyanotype prints on Society6

 

I did a lot better at making consistent sales with my art. I still have a ways to go but I am getting there and enjoying the journey! 

My sales on my Teachers Pay Teachers have really improved. I did two holiday art markets that were successful and sold more art online this year!

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. 


I did well not working at camps this year which gave me more time to work on my art and I’m so happy with the progress I have made! I also did well not working on school stuff outside of school hours.


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.  - I have done better at this!

2022 Goals 

  • Exercise 2x a week - rough in the winter but got better in the spring and for the rest of the year 

  • Match my teaching salary in my art income

  • Purchase a Home 

  • ✅Have 5 exhibitions or publications - Kitchener Public Library two person exhibition, Cambridge Art Gallery Show.21, Art Comp in London, ON, Forest Spaces- Contact Photo Festival in Toronto, Moving Forward, Three Sisters Cultural Centre, St. Jacob’s, ON, INPRINT Exhibition, Button Factory Arts, Waterloo, ON.


  • Grow my mailing list by 500 people 

  • Grow my YouTube to 500 subscribers 

  • Have 200 products in my TPT store  - this was a hard goal - I later changed it to 100 because that was more realistic - haha ✅


2022 Year in Review 

Overall, 2022 was a great year. I worked as a teacher teaching my grade 5s who I had in Grade 4 and then I had some of them in my grade 4,5,6 class. I learned a lot about Montessori education from work. I took business courses and read a lot of business books.



Thank you so much for following on this journey. I appreciate you being here and supporting me along the way.



Here Are Some FREE Ways To Support Me (If You Aren’t Doing Them Already)



Lastly, I would appreciate it if you like something I post to like, comment or share to help me to reach more people! 


Related Articles:

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Shop Botanical Prints 

Art Goals for 2022


I Want to Be an Artist

I want to be an artist and I have wanted to be an artist ever since I was in Kindergarten. I came home with piles of crafts and colouring sheets that were plastered on my bedroom door as a kid. Wanting to be an artist doesn’t just have to be a dream!



If you want to go to art school - check out my art portfolio coaching -to help you make an art portfolio application that stands out and gets accepted!

I have always loved creating. I have always felt a spark while creating and known I wanted to be an artist. 

Jackie Partridge I want to be an artist

I know I am an artist. I went to school and did my undergrad in painting and drawing at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay - you can read about that here. 


I also did my Master of Fine Arts at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. I am educated and trained to be an artist. When I make art I feel like I am an artist. 




Right now, I am not doing art on a full time basis. It’s hard because I love teaching and I enjoy it and I’m a great teacher and love my students. Most days I don’t feel fulfilled. 




But when I’m making art, writing about art or posting my art on social media, I feel so much happier. I am in a transition where my husband and I are trying to buy a house, to decide where we want to live and find work that we enjoy and that is meaningful to us. 

jackie partridge - i want to be an artist

As a teacher and artist I know I can work anywhere. That’s one of the reasons I want to be an artist.


As we prepare for this transition of me working as a teacher to switching to teaching part time after I have a baby - here is how I am preparing:


  • I am drafting and planning content. In the summer I filmed and my husband edited 12 youtube painting tutorials that could be released on my YouTube painting channel one per month- so that I have consistent content coming out. 

  • I also do this with the blogs that I have created so that I write 4-5 months of blogs and schedule them out ahead of time.

  • I started creating items that were easy to sell online and that are digital items that don’t need to be shipped like art teaching resources on Teachers Pay Teachers or my prints that are printed and shipped by Society6

  • I have spent a lot of time reading business books and taking courses to prepare myself for running a business on a full time basis

  • Lastly, I have spent a lot of time thinking and journaling about what I want my life to look like. Which is why I know I want to be an artist full time and not just on the evenings and weekends! 


How can you help me with this hopeful transition? You can share my work to your friends - here is the link to my shop you can share.


Download my FREE guide for preparing an art portfolio for school

 On the top of the page there is a form for people to join my mailing list. I would love for you to encourage people to sign up for that. As a treat they will receive a 15% discount code and lots of helpful and inspiring tips! 

OAC Grants


Early this year I was given one of the OAC grants for emerging artists. This OAC grant is a $2000 grant that gives funding to purchase art supplies and to participate in educational skill development. 


I started applying for OAC grants this past fall and I was excited to have received one. OAC stands for Ontario Arts Council. The OAC grants are a lengthy process to set up an account and submit your application online but they are worth it. 


By receiving OAC grants or other grants, artists can receive funding to make projects possible. $2000 is a lot of money and I am grateful to have received this grant as this project would not be financially possible without it. 


There are many different OAC grants available. You can learn more by clicking here!


It’s important to note that OAC grants are only for residents in Ontario. However, depending on where you live, the province or state, try Googling grants with your location to find other grants to apply to. 


handmade map paper part of oac grants

OAC Grants- the OAC Grant Proposal

I will be using the money from the OAC grant to purchase paper making supplies including different types of pulp, mould and deckles and other paper making supplies. I will also be registering for some paper making and letterpress classes to be able to enhance my skills as a paper maker. Lastly, I will use some of the money to rent out a paper making studio place near where I live. I have until 2023 to complete this project. I started purchasing supplies and signing up for workshops this summer of 2022. 




I plan on making sheets of map paper using recycled maps and using the letter press to write some of my poems on the paper. I also want to make more large sheets of the map paper to be able to do large installations of my work Patched. You can read more about the Patched project here! 

Jackie Partridge Patched Project

Jackie Partridge, Patched Project


If you are interested in applying to OAC grants you can click here to check their deadlines. 

I appreciate the financial support of OAC grants for funding my art practice! 


To find out more about the project check out my instagram @jackiepartridge_    and search the #patchedproject





Related Articles: 

10 Lessons I Learned in Art School

How to Get an Artist Grant

OAC Website 

OAC Grant Deadlines 

Patched Project



How to Find Art Inspiration


Feeling stuck? It is time to find art inspiration. You might be asking how to find art inspiration? Where do you find art inspiration? Keep reading because I want to help you feel unstuck and feel inspired again. When you have art inspiration you have an urge to create and are able to develop new and creative ideas easier and faster!


How to Find Art Inspiration

There are many ideas for how to find art inspiration. Art inspiration can be anywhere. It is easiest to find inspiration when you are open. If you are feeling stressed, sick, sad, mad it’s going to be harder to find inspiration because you are not in the right headspace. 


How to Find Art Inspiration/Where to Find Art Inspiration

  • Taking a walk or spending time in nature like hiking, camping, gardening or being at the beach 

  • Listening to music - you can try listening to classical music or calming music like acoustic or nature sounds 

  • Traveling and going somewhere new - ideally for a week or two if possible so you can really immerse yourself and live in that place 

  • Going to an art gallery or museum

  • Flipping through magazines or going to a library 

  • Looking for art supplies- you might be drawn to different colours or textures 

  • Journaling, doodling or sketching - keep a book to contain your ideas 

  • Make art to lead to other ideas, even if the art you make is bad

being outside is how to find art inspiration


How to Find Art Inspiration - Step 1: Follow Your Intuition 

Part of the creative process is making many decisions. Some decisions are small and some are larger. As an artist it is important to be intune with your intuition. You have to be able to trust your gut to know what decisions to make in the process. 



Start paying attention to how you are thinking and feeling. If you feel like painting- do it. If you want to use a certain colour- do it. Keep listening to yourself and trust that your intuition is guiding you! 


How to Find Art Inspiration-Step 2:  Keep Your Body/Mind Strong 

Make sure you are staying rested and keeping healthy. Get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, eat healthy and move your body. Make sure you are stretching and walking around.



If you are staying healthy you are going to have more energy and when you feel energized you will want to create more! 



It’s also important to keep your mind healthy. Having a healthy mindset is important for artists. You need to believe that you will make good art. If you have a positive mindset, you will make good art. If you are thinking negatively then that will affect the process. 

how to find art inspiration -just create a cyanotype



How to Find Art Inspiration- Step 3: Just Create 

The best way to find art inspiration is to just start creating. You need to make work because it will lead to other things and ideas. It’s okay to mess up that is part of the art process. Even if art is “bad” you need to trust the process that you will make good art again soon! 




If you found this helpful for how to find art inspiration. Send me a DM on Instagram and let me know! @jackiepartridge_  



If you paint you can check out my YouTube channel on acrylic painting to keep you inspired. Click the button below! 

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

cyanotype microgant



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:

How to get an art grant 

My CV

Cyanotype Shop





Follow me on social media to stay connected by clicking on one of the icons below. 





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. 

how to get art published




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 your art published - remnants by Jackie Partridge



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. 



Related Articles:

Patched Book

How to get an artist grant 

My CV







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. 

where to buy frames for art

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 

Best Tips for Framing and Displaying Art 

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.


stores that sell frames

Concordia University mfa 



I completed my Concordia University mfa in 2018. I really enjoyed the Concordia University Fine Arts program in Montreal. Read more to see what the program was like. If you would like to learn more about preparing an art application for college or university - click here.


Concordia University mfa 

The Concordia University MFA program I was in was the Fibres and Material Practices Program. I was there from September 2015- to February 2018. On average, it is a 3 year Master of Fine Arts Program with the first two years having classes and critiques to present your artwork and the final year you build your end of year exhibition and write your thesis paper about your art and research. 

concordia university mfa


Concordia University mfa - Montreal

Montreal is the second largest city in Canada. It is a large city with French culture. Oftentimes, it feels like you are in another country. There are lots of great restaurants, art galleries and architecture. I loved spending time in Old Montreal and seeing the architecture there. 

Montreal

Montreal -image from Unsplash



Concordia University mfa -Where to live 

I lived near the university as I didn’t want to take the subway (metro) or commute. I wanted to be able to walk to school and not rely on transportation. We lived in a rented apartment, a 3 ½, meaning it had one bedroom, a small kitchen and living room and a small bathroom. Our building backed onto Mont Royal Parc, a large green space. We spent a lot of time in the park and it led me to starting my work Patched. 




Concordia University mfa -about the program.

I had about 7 other people in my year of my program. It was nice because we all became close friends. I worked as a teaching assistant to learn about making paper. I also worked as a tutor as well for extra income. I loved the professors at the school and really learned a lot. The Concordia University MFA program is a strong and notable program. In the first and second year you are given a studio space on campus and in the final year you can find your own studio space. I chose to use my living room to save money. 




Overall, I loved my time at Concordia University mfa program. I am so happy with my decision to go there. It was a great time with lots of wonderful memories. 



Click here to download my FREE guide for making an art portfolio for school

Related Articles:

Art Portfolio - how to make one for College/University

How to get an artist grant

Patched
Click here to download my FREE guide for making an art portfolio for school
Art portfolio coaching -make an art portfolio that stands out!


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About the Campus Lakehead University



I completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts and Teachers College at the Lakehead University Campus in Thunder Bay in 2015. I will share about the campus Lakehead University in this blog post. If you have any questions about my time on the campus of Lakehead University don’t hesitate to reach out! 


Campus Lakehead University

I really liked the campus Lakehead University. It is a small campus and there is a large pond on campus and lots of trees and trails. Although winters are cold, the landscape of Thunder Bay is really quite beautiful.  Since I was a fine art major most of my classes were in one building. When I was in teachers college again, all of my classes were in one building, which was really nice. 



Campus Lakehead University- class sizes

Since it is a small campus the classes were also small. I usually had around 30 students in my class with maybe 100 in larger classes like first year sociology or first year art history.

campus lakehead university

This is the picture of the Visual Arts Building where I spent most of my time.


About the Campus Lakehead University

In my first year on campus at Lakehead University I was living in residence. I met my husband who was my next door neighbour in residence. We started out as friends in the first semester and grew into more after Christmas break. My roommate also married her neighbour in residence too. 

campus lakehead university

Here is a picture of my shared residence room. We had an internet cable for steady connection my first year.



At the campus of Lakehead University in Fine Arts you could choose to specialize in Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking or Ceramics. I chose painting and drawing. Meaning in your third and fourth year you would only take the courses you specialized in. You start taking all the courses in your first and second year to know what you will like. 

I liked the professors that I had and they really challenged us to question what is painting and what is drawing. They encouraged us not to paint on canvas or draw on paper. Which was really fun and freeing. They also really pushed us to try mixed media and abstract art which I fell in love with. I started integrating sewing and fibre art with my painting and drawing and created large works on fabric that were suspended. 



Since I enjoyed my Bachelor of Fine Arts so much I knew I wanted to do my Master of Fine Arts. I chose to apply to Concordia University  and NASCAD in Nova Scotia. Both schools I applied to had Fibre art programs that I really wanted to explore more including learning about how to make paper. 




Overall, I really enjoyed my time on the campus of Lakehead University. If you have any questions please reach out to me. If you would like to learn about how to prepare an art portfolio for college and university art applications - click here.


Click here to download my FREE guide of 10 Tips for creating an art portfolio for school!


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How to make an art portfolio for college/university 

How to get an artist grant

10 lessons I learned in art school

Art portfolio coaching - make a portfolio application that stands out!




Art Journal Inspo


How do you keep track of your art inspiration? I record my inspiration in an art journal or sketchbook. I like looking back at my art journal inspo over the years to see all of the ideas I have had. Some are ideas I have completed and some are still ideas I wish to complete. Art journal inspo tracking is a great way to organize your thoughts and keep track of your brilliant ideas. I like to completely fill an art journal and then I will move onto a new sketchbook to fill. 

So, you might be asking yourself -what do you record as art journal inspo? Keep reading and I will let you know! 




Art Journal Inspo Ideas

1. Sketches

As your art journal inspo you get to decide what you want to fill your sketchbook with. But an obvious choice is sketching. You can complete daily drawings, weekly drawings, doodles, quick sketches or gestural drawings. There are no rules for a sketchbook. You can use any material, any style or technique. You can decide if you want to spend 5 minutes or 5 hours on a page. Which makes working in an art journal very freeing and exciting because you are in control. 




In my own sketchbook, the sketches are not detailed and sometimes are just an outline with some words. As long as I know what it means that’s all that matters for me. Your approach can be different and that is completely up to you. It is your art journal inspo. 

art journal inspo




2. Titles, Words or Poetry 

Sometimes, I am reading something, watching something or listening to something and I hear a word that inspires an artwork. I keep my art journal by bed and write down the words that come to mind. My artwork is often very poetic and some art like my series Patched, involve poetry. Anytime, I am inspired by words or phrases I will write the poem or title for an artwork in my art journal to refer to later. 




3. Installation methods 

With my artwork, I like to test out new installation methods in my art journal by seeing what they will look like on paper. Again, I usually start with a simple sketch and add some written notes. I like to test suspending an artwork, presenting an artwork on a plinth, hanging the artwork on a wall and any other ideas I have in my art journal. 




4. Art to sell

If I have an idea for an artwork to sell I also record that in my art journal as inspiration. Then when I am feeling inspired and creative, I can come back and create that artwork. When I sell art, I create a series. I will use the pages of my art journal to sketch out and plan the series and make note of any colours or ideas I want to try in this series. 




 

5. Techniques and experiments 

An art journal is a great place to record techniques and experiment with new materials. You can use your art journal inspo to log new techniques you have tried and to make note of what works and what doesn’t. It’s nice to use your art journal as a place to practice where it is okay to make mistakes. A sketchbook is a great place to learn and to practice trial and error. Not everything you create will be wonderful. That is part of the process! 




Click here to download my FREE guide if you are thinking of applying to an art school or arts-based program!

Related Articles:

Why I became an artist

Drawing Prompts for High School

10 Skills to Become a Better Artist





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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! 

Jackie Partridge working at the Women’s Studio Workshop Artist Residency

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



Be sure to follow me on social media by clicking on one of the icons below!

how does an artist residency work

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.

pile of sketchbooks on the floor with layers in them

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. 

stack of sketchbooks



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!

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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! 

Jackie partridge outside in nature as her art goal example

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

you got this sign for your art goals


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

Related Articles

6 Tips for Hitting Your Art Goals

5 Tips to Stay Motivated as an Artist 

5 Tips to Sleep Better as an Artist


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! 

2021 in Review

Happy Holidays to all of you! Wishing you all the best during this holiday season. Here is to a happy and healthy 2022! Here is a look at 2021 in review for me and my art business. Here are the goals I made for 2021- you can read about how I maintain my goals here!



2021 in Review - my goals

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 did well with these goals and was able to really grow my following. I was more intentional this year with planning what I wanted to post and doing it ahead of time and not last minute. I took the summer off from posting on YouTube to allow me to focus on other projects and relax after a stressful year of teaching during the pandemic. 

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

With Covid there are still less available exhibitions but I did participate in a few exhibitions including Landscape Transformed in Orillia, a paid opportunity with Create Waterloo to do my Patched installation in Regency Park during the month of July. I had a grant project from the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund for a series of acrylic painting tutorials - link to playlist and link to blog. I also participated in the Mask Required exhibition at Gallery Stratford. I have a current exhibition for SHOW. 21 which is a juried group exhibition of emerging artists -with 10 other artworks present. My work Precariously Perched is on display until February! My solo Patched exhibition at the Kitchener Public Library has been tentatively rescheduled for next year. 

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 have started to make more consistent sales with my art and in April I started a Teachers Pay Teachers Store and in October I started a print shop for my cyanotype art with Society6 . Having these extra sources to sell my art and art teaching resources has allowed me to have more consistent income and I am excited to watch it grow next year! 

2021 in review - goals sheet

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

In August, I created my www.jackiepartridgeart.com website where it focuses more on acrylic painting, YouTube channel, my TPT store, art teaching articles and tips. My www.jackiepartridge.com website now focuses on my contemporary art, my paper art in my shop and blog posts related to my art news and contemporary art practice/what I am working on in the studio. I have liked keeping these areas separate but I have definitely doubled my workload! 

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.

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. I did well not responding to emails after 7pm and will continue to do that this year as it gives me more time to relax. 

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

During school breaks I started working on cyanotypes and creating print designs - you can see them here! I also worked on my painting tutorials from a grant from the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund- you can watch them- here.  I also installed Remnants outside and photographed it this year. I finished my Patched installation video. 

2021 in Review - 

Overall, 2021 was a great year for me. It was my first year teaching full time in the classroom. I had a lovely small class of 12 grade 4 students. We had a fun time going to the park, learning together and seeing them grow. This year with Covid was challenging! We were online twice. We wore masks and it was hard to not see each other smile. 

I made it a habit of going outside more. It was hard to see people less and not being able to hug people especially when I’m not really a hugger. 

I worked on starting to new streams in my art to continue to grow my business. I read a lot of books this year including: Everything is Figureoutable, You are a Badass at Making Money, 

My friends are having babies. My sister-in-law got married.


2022 Goals 

  1. Exercise 2x a week

  2. Purchase a Home 

  3. Have 5 exhibitions or publications 

  4. Grow my mailing list by 200 people 

  5. Grow my YouTube to 500 subscribers 

  6. Have 200 products in my TPT store



Thank you so much for following on this journey. I appreciate you being here and supporting me along the way.



Here are some FREE Ways to Support me (if you aren’t doing them already)

  1. Join my mailing list ( I send lots of tips, free products and painting tutorials) -join the box below

  2. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel

  3. Follow me on Pintrest 

  4. Like my Facebook Page

  5. Follow me on my instagram

  6. Follow my TPT store if you are a teacher

  7. Follow my Cyanotype Print Shop



Lastly, I would appreciate it if you like something I post to like, comment or share to help me to reach more people! 







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

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 by writing it down on paper

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

How to Add Freshness to a Stale Art Practice

How to Stay Motivated as an Artist 

Sleeping Tips for Artists



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You Got this sign for how to make time for your art
how to make time for art

What to Buy Someone Who Likes Art

What to buy someone who likes art? This may be hard if you don’t like art yourself but as an artist and someone who loves art. I want to help you out! Below is a list of ideas for what to buy someone who likes art! Feel confident in buying the right gift for someone who likes art.


What to Buy Someone Who Likes Art - for the Walls


Rainbow Field 4
Rainbow Field 4
CA$110.00
Add To Cart

What to Buy Someone Who Likes Art - for the artist or aspiring artist

  • A great sketchbook

  • A fancy paint brush

  • Golden acrylic paint - a great company with luxurious paint and rich colours!

  • Easel 

  • A nice journal and pen from Indigo or Staples

What to Buy Someone Who Likes Art - for the reader



What to Buy Someone Who Likes Art - for the viewer 

  • A camera or nice camera bag 

  • Camera cleaning kit 

  • Tripod 

  • A book of art from their favourite artist 

  • A calendar made by their favourite artist


Some of My Favourite Cyanotype Print Designs

These links are affiliate links meaning I get a small commission when you purchase through the links below! Thank you!



I hope you like these ideas of what to buy someone who loves art. Leave a comment below if you have other ideas of what to buy someone who loves art. For more ideas connect with me on social media by clicking on one of the icons below! Check out my shop for original -handmade art here!