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! 









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

want to be an artist

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

how to be an artist









How to Use a Sketchbook


Learn how to use a sketchbook and the various purposes of a sketchbook in this post. There are many ways to use a sketchbook and I want to share how I use a sketchbook as an artist. To learn how to use a sketchbook, keep reading! 


How to Use a Sketchbook

There are a number of ways to use a sketchbook. A sketchbook can hold many different purposes for an artist. Here are some of the ways a sketchbook can be used below! 


As a Journal 

You can use a sketchbook as a journal by recording ideas, notes, thoughts, plans etc. This is often how I use a sketchbook in my art practice so that I don’t forget ideas. 


As a Logbook

You can record dates and times you worked on a project to keep track of the hours you worked. You can treat your sketchbook as a scientist and record findings of what worked, what didn’t work and what you want to try next time. For example, you can keep track of colours of paint and ratios you used to mix a specific colour of paint for a painting. You could also record how long something took to dry or about an installation that didn’t go well and what you might do differently next time.  



As a Place to Brainstorm

You can use your sketchbook as a place to brainstorm ideas by making lists or mind maps to come up with ideas of what to create, what materials to use or what the title of an artwork should be. I often use my sketchbook in this way. 


As a Place to Plan

I will also use my sketchbook to create small thumbnail rough sketches of ideas for a final piece or how a project might be displayed. Often I will plan out a couple of ideas to see what I prefer in case something doesn’t turn out as planned. 



As a Place to Experiment 

You can use the pages of your sketchbook as a place to experiment and test out new ideas, materials or techniques. You could even label or record your different tests, so you remember what you did in the future. 


As a Place to Practice 

You can use it to practice drawing, composition, ideas, installation plans etc. 



A Place for Sketching/Drawing 

You can use it to practice sketching or drawing by drawing daily. You can carry your sketchbook with you in a bag to sketch what you see while you are waiting in a doctor’s office or waiting for the bus. You can draw what you see outside when you stop in the park during a walk. Or you can follow drawing prompts to help keep yourself inspired while practicing your drawing. 



A Place for Painting or Mixed Media 

Just like how you practice drawing or sketching you can practice painting or mixed media. There are sketchbooks you can buy specifically for painting or mixed media that have thicker paper and are able to hold paint or liquids without warping or wrecking the paper. 


As a Place for Research

You can record research, notes, inspiration, artists and artwork you admire etc. If your artwork is on a specific theme you might want to research that topic to inspire other ideas or to plan the title of the artwork.




These are some of the ways to use a sketchbook. As you can see you might choose multiple ways for how to use a sketchbook. There is no right or wrong way, you get to decide! 



Ways to Use Your Sketchbook More

To keep you inspired and use your sketchbook more, try to keep it in a place where you can see it daily or have multiple sketchbooks like one by your bed, one in the studio and one in your bag. 


You can also try my drawing prompts to keep you inspired and to practice your drawing skills. Click here to check them out! 




Related Articles:

How to Use Layers in a Sketchbook

Drawing Prompts for High School 

Art Journal Inspiration

How to Make Time for Art

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





Where to Find Art Inspiration

Where to find art inspiration? It’s not a hard question because inspiration can literally be anything that captures your eye and sparks an idea. Art inspiration is all around, looking to be found. Keep reading to discover where to find art inspiration. 



Where to Find Art Inspiration


Here is a list of places and ideas that might help you in finding art inspiration. You can also read about how to find inspiration here!

  • Go for a walk

  • Go on a hike 

  • Walk by the water 

  • Drive somewhere new 

  • Travel somewhere 

  • Go on a walk and see where it takes you don’t plan a destination

  • Go through an art supply store and see what you are gravitated towards

  • Watch a different type of video or listen to a different type of music than you normally wouldn’t watch or listen to

  • Walk in a local farmer’s market to be inspired by new scents and new food 

  • Read a different type of book or magazine 

  • Take a look at a garden centre or nursery 

  • Take a walk through a forest 

  • Take time to meditate or day dream and see what you think of 

  • Set a timer and begin writing non-stop for 20 minutes to see what you write about

  • Go to a thrift store and see where you are gravitated to

  • Read some poetry 

  • Spend some time gardening 

  • Go to the beach 

  • Learn a new skill or technique on YouTube

  • Explore on Pinterest - you can follow me here 



Trying something new and outside of your comfort zone or routine can help you see a new experience and gain inspiration. It is important to keep an open mind and allow yourself to be present in the moment so that you can really experience art inspiration when it comes to you. 

where to find art inspiration


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

Be sure to let me know where you found inspiration. Click on one of the icons below to connect with me on social media. 
where to find art inspiration




What Does Canva Pro Do?

What does Canva Pro do? What are some of the benefits of Canva Pro versus the free-trial? There is a lot that Canva Pro can do. If you want to learn more about what does Canva Pro do, keep reading.


What Does Canva Pro Do?

what does canva pro do


Canva Pro Benefits 

  • Has more storage of designs 

  • Has more design elements to choose from

  • Able to organize in unlimited folders

  • More design templates to choose from

  • Able to add brand colours and logos easily

  • Resize designs 

  • Background remover in photos

  • Social media scheduler

  • More customer support 


What I Use Canva Pro For as an Artist

Here are some of the ways I use Canva Pro as an artist most commonly in my business:

  • Make Pinterest pins

  • Social media posts for sales 

  • Email freebies 

  • Facebook posts 

  • YouTube covers 

  • Digital products to sell

  • List of art materials for workshops 

  • Graphics for ads

  • Certificates of authenticity for artwork

  • Staging artwork in photographs 


What I Like About Canva Pro as an Artist

The following are Canva Pro features that I use most frequently in my Canva designs as an artist.


Organization with Unlimited Folders

Once you begin to use Canva Pro you will begin to see all the uses you can use it for. It is handy to be able to organize your designs in different categories like a folder just for Instagram posts, so that you can easily find your designs. 


Background Remover 

I like the feature of the background remover. You can literally press one button and it will remove the background. This can be handy to make your designs look more interesting and professional! 



Brand Colours and Logo

With the brand kit feature you can easily add in your logo on your designs and change colours in a template or a design with just one click. By setting up your brand colours you will have a consistent and professional look to all the designs you create! 

Resizing Designs

If you create an instagram post design you can click the resize button and easily size it to a Facebook post, Instagram story post etc. 



As you can see Canva Pro has a lot of great perks for a very affordable price. To try Canva Pro for free for 30 days you can click on the button below.

what does canva pro do






Advice for First Year Students in Art Programs

Attending an art university or college program can be a difficult transition from high school. Here is my advice as someone who went to a university art program. Below is some advice for first year students in art programs!


You can read about my undergraduate experience at Lakehead University here and my Master of Fine Arts at Concordia University here.


Advice for First Year Students in Art Programs

advice for first year students

Art Projects 

My advice for first year students is to try your best. You don’t want to leave your art projects for the last minute. Oftentimes, art projects are worth a large percentage of your overall grade. You want to make sure that you have enough time to follow the creative process. Time to plan your project, brainstorm ideas, test and experiment with materials and techniques, complete the design, add finishing touches and think about how you want to present your work. 


Balancing Time 

Living on your own comes with a lot of excitement. There are new friends, parties and more. You want to make sure you are balancing your time so that you are still having fun but also getting your school work done. If you have a part-time job or are in a relationship with someone you are going to have more to balance. Make sure you are thinking about what your priorities are and planning accordingly. 

advice for first year-students

Managing Time 

Once you have figured out how to balance your time and what your priorities are, you want to begin to manage your time. Maybe you have to say no to a party to get your work done. Maybe you need to get up earlier on the weekend. Begin to use a planner and plan out how you are spending your time in between classes, in the evenings and on the weekend.


Studying 

In art school there are still tests and exams to study for like art history and the elective classes you are taking. Just like with the art projects make sure you are not leaving studying until the last minute especially during exam time. You also want to think about what you need to study and do what works for you. Don’t be tempted to join a study group in a noisy cafe if you prefer to study by yourself somewhere quiet. 


Advice for First Year Students- Art Critiques 

My advice for first year students is to try your best for art critiques but don’t take what your professors are taking literally. They are saying things to make you a better artist. They are not saying things because they don’t like you. As long as you are showing artwork you are proud of, you will do great. 


This is my advice for first year students. I wish you the best of luck during your time in art school. It is such a fun time to be able to experiment with your artwork and to have so much time to focus on your artwork! If you haven’t gotten into art school yet -check out my tips for creating an art portfolio for school! 



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! 


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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! 

OAC grants


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





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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! 

free guide for how to create an art portfolio

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. 



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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. 

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. 



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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. 

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. 



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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

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

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how to make an art portfolio