A Photographer with no garden to take flower photographs? No Problem!

Dahlia by Carol Eliassen

If someone loves to photograph flowers but doesn't have access to a garden or lives in an apartment, there are several great options to consider:

1. Public Parks: Many cities have parks with beautiful flower gardens. These are often well-maintained and provide a variety of flowers to photograph.

2. Botanical Gardens: Visiting a local botanical garden can be a fantastic option. These gardens typically feature a wide range of plant species, including many types of flowers, and are designed for public enjoyment.

3. Flower Markets: Local flower markets or farmers' markets often have vibrant displays of flowers. These can provide excellent opportunities for close-up photography.

4. Nature Reserves: Many nature reserves have wildflowers and native plants. These areas can offer a more natural setting for flower photography.

5. Community Gardens: Some neighborhoods have community gardens where residents grow flowers and vegetables. These can be great places to take photos and often welcome visitors.

6. Urban Areas: Look for flower beds in urban settings, such as along sidewalks, in plazas, or on rooftops. Many cities plant flowers in public spaces to enhance the environment.

7. Flower Festivals: Check for local flower festivals or events, which often showcase a variety of flowers and provide a festive atmosphere for photography.

8. Friends' or Family Gardens: If you know someone with a garden, ask if you can come over to take some photos. This can also be a nice way to spend time with loved ones.

By exploring these options, a flower photography enthusiast can find plenty of beautiful subjects to capture, even without a personal garden.

What can I do with all my Artwork and Photographs?

Shilshole Bay Marina - Seattle, Washington

Using your artwork and photographs for a worthy cause or even creating merchandise would be a wonderful way to use them! Here are several suggestions on how you can do this:

1. Charity Auctions: Organize an art and photography auction, with the proceeds going to a charity of your choice. This can be done in person or online through eBay for Charity or Charity Auctions Today.

2. Art Shows for Charity: Host an art and photography exhibition where you display your artwork/photographs and charge an entry fee or sell pieces with proceeds benefiting a nonprofit organization.

3. Collaborate with Local Organizations: Partner with local charities, schools, or community centers to create art and photography workshops or classes. You can donate some of the fees or sell your artwork to support their programs.

4. Create Merchandise: Turn your artwork and photographs into merchandise (like prints, greeting cards, or apparel) and sell them, donating a percentage of the sales to a cause you care about.

5. Online Fundraising Campaigns: Use crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe or Kickstarter to raise money for a specific cause, offering your artwork and photographs as rewards for donations.

6. Art for Awareness: Create pieces that raise awareness about specific issues (like mental health, environmental concerns, etc.) and share them on social media to promote the cause.

7. Community Projects: Be involved in community art projects with the purpose of beautifying public spaces, supporting local initiatives, donating your artwork, photographs, or time.

8. Art Therapy Programs: Collaborate with organizations that use art for therapy, donating your artwork and photographs, or even leading sessions to help others express themselves through art.

Choose a cause that resonates with you and consider how your artwork can best contribute to that mission.

Selling Artwork as a New Independent Artist with No Following

Pink Salmon by Carol

Selling artwork as an independent artist without an established following can be challenging, but there are several effective avenues to explore in the United States. Here are some of the best places to consider:

1. Online Marketplaces

- Etsy: A popular platform for handmade and unique items, including artwork. It's user-friendly and has a large audience.

- Saatchi Art: An online gallery that allows artists to sell original artwork and prints. They handle shipping and customer service.

- Artfinder: A marketplace specifically for original art, connecting artists directly with buyers.

- Redbubble: Allows artists to upload designs that can be printed on various products, from clothing to home decor.

 2. Social Media Platforms

- Instagram: Use it to showcase your artwork and connect with potential buyers. Utilize hashtags and engage with art communities.

- Facebook: Join art groups or create a page to promote your work. Facebook Marketplace can also be used for local sales.

- Pinterest: Share your artwork and link back to your online store or website.

 3. Local Art Shows and Fairs

- Art Fairs: Participate in local art fairs or craft shows. These events provide exposure and the opportunity to sell directly to customers.

- Farmers Markets: Many local markets allow artists to set up booths. This can be a great way to reach a local audience.

 4. Galleries and Co-ops

- Local Galleries: Approach local galleries to see if they accept submissions from independent artists. Some may have specific days for new artists.

- Artist Co-ops: Join a cooperative gallery where multiple artists share space and costs, making it easier to showcase work.

 5. Art Classes and Workshops

- Offer classes or workshops in your area. This not only generates income but also helps build a local following.

 6. Networking and Community Engagement

- Attend local art events, join art organizations, and network with other artists. Building relationships can lead to opportunities for collaboration and sales.

 7. Print-on-Demand Services

- Use services like Printful or Society6 to create prints of your artwork. They handle production and shipping, allowing you to focus on creating.

8. Personal Website

- Create a professional website to showcase your portfolio and sell your artwork directly. Use SEO strategies to attract visitors.

Tips for Success

- Quality Presentation: Ensure your artwork is well-photographed and presented.

- Engagement: Engage with your audience through storytelling about your art and creative process.

- Marketing: Utilize email newsletters and social media ads to reach a broader audience.

By exploring these avenues, you can increase your chances of successfully selling your artwork, even without an established following.

After You Convert Your Artwork - Part 2: What Next?

Now that you have converted your artwork to a digital format, it is time to find out what you can do with it! 

I like using my digital art and photography to design products, sell prints, and add to my stories and articles that I like to write and post.

Some of my artworks can be found on Etsy. I use the company Printify to upload the artwork and attach it to products that I can sell, from cups to clothing. This company interfaces with Etsy, so once I design something, I upload it to Printify, which is easy to link with my Etsy and Pattern (full website that they offer) store. I normally use Photoshop 2023 for my designs as well as utilizing some options available through Printify.

I sell prints and products on the Fine Art America website too. This really started out for my photography, then morphed into my experience learning how to paint. Some of the paintings, well, they leave a lot to be desired, but it is really for me to show my progression. I come from a family of artists and somehow the natural talent skipped me. When time permits, I will paint something, scan it, and then post it to my galleries, be it good or bad. They (whoever they are) say beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Now, that being said, let's move on to the next one...

Vocal-Media is a writer's website that not only promotes one's writing but also challenges writers to write about topics and compete for prize money. You might be wondering if I have won any prize money, unfortunately, not! It wasn't as though I didn't try, there are just so many great writers on that platform that it is incredibly competitive yet surprisingly rewarding. The website gives me motivation to write, even though lately I have not been able to sit at my desk and spend much time doing it. I hope to dedicate myself to writing in the next few months. Wish me luck, life just seems to get in the way! You can find my stories on Vocal-Media.

There are so many avenues for using your digital artwork and photography. You may or may not make money, but the satisfaction of creating something is extremely rewarding, at least for me it is. Check out my website and subscribe to follow. I will be posting updated content soon, and you won't want to miss out!

Stay Artsy!

How to Reproduce Your Art & Make it Digital - Part I: Scanning

Flatbed scanning of artwork

Need more room for all those paintings to hang on your wall? I'm in the same boat, so when I finish a painting, I do a 300-dpi scan of it to create a digital file. Home scanners are typically good at doing this, but if your artwork is large, you must find someone with a large-format flatbed scanner or take a high-resolution photograph that isn't blurry or doesn't bow on the sides. Practice makes perfect!

I try to stick with painting on canvas, boards, wood, and paper in 12x12 or smaller, and if your flatbed on your copier/scanner doesn't fit the entire artwork, you will need a program where you have several scans showing all the painting and then merge it. I use Photoshop, and it works great! 

If your artwork is larger and you can't make scans of all the artwork on your home printer/scanner, then there are alternative ways to do it. First, I would advise finding someone who has a business doing large format art scanning. They usually turn out great with the details of the colors in your painting. Normally, they will give you a digital copy of it by downloading it from their site or giving you some type of electronic copy. Sometimes they will make a small print so you can see how it looks printed on paper or canvas. I suggest contacting a local art club in the area for recommendations. If it can be done locally, they would know.

If you find no one locally or fail at getting a recommendation for someone who offers the above service, why not go to a company that offers printing services. They will have scanners and charge you for the scans. Ask if they have scanners that have good color profiles for artwork.

Last, if you have a good camera or cellular phone that takes high resolution photographs you can take a picture of your artwork. I would try and lay it flat with a tripod that holds your camera straight down and take the picture. Make sure there is no light glare on it. If you don't have a tripod, then put the picture facing you at your height, straight up, taking the picture making sure you get all sides in. Do not take the photograph where you will have to crop out a lot of the background around it because you will lose resolution and you don't want to do that!  When you go to reproduce it, it is better to have a high-resolution image that will reproduce a large, clear image, than one that is a low resolution and not clear. The more cropping you must do, the lower the resolution.

If you have a cellular phone with the most awesome picture capabilities that are being offered now, well, you can use it instead of a professional camera. I prefer a 35 mm camera, but that is me. If you are using your artwork for small projects, a cell phone would work just fine.

These are some things that I do for my artwork. Next in Part 2 we will discuss things you can do with your digital artwork once you have converted your artwork.

My New Artwork

Eli the Crow

Okay, I'm not a multi-talented artist. I just like to dabble with acrylics, watercolors, and photography. I have also been totally enthralled by the Heirloom Traditional Paint Company out of  Kentucky, so much so, that I painted my kitchen cabinets myself. I have now bought enough paint to redo every piece of furniture I have. Why? It is because I love playing with colors. Maybe I never really grew up! Coloring books even made a comeback for adults in recent years. I should have thought of that idea first! 

I usually digitize my art and then throw it onto my gallery. I am not concerned about sales as much as having a place to put my art. I enjoy viewing it and seeing if I am making any progress in my skill set. I don't always sit and do art, or take my camera everywhere I go, so my progression is really, really slow, but then again, that really isn't my goal in my hobbies and crafts. I just like doing them. I don't need to be the best, or the greatest, or have so many thousands of followers that I spend all my time on it to keep people updated. 

I do it because it helps me relax and escape this world for a few minutes or a few hours. I'm just in another zone and I feel refreshed when I'm done for that time, until the next session. 

Dreaming of Norway

Viking Ship

I took this photograph when we were in Norway back in 2014. I have made my grandkids a large poster with it and a canvas for my Norwegian Aunt on my husband's side. She loves it except it would be nice if she could see the buildings on the dock too. They were obscured by the beautiful ships but overall she was very pleased with it.

Waterfalls galore! I saw so many and each one was unique. The beauty of the landscape was incredible. If you have never ventured to this historic and rich culture you should! Adventure awaits you.

This is the Church on the Island where my Mother-in-law and Aunt were born and raised. It is in the village of Gursken, on the western fjords.

The beauty of the rocks of Norway

The beauty of the landscape was around every turn and place. The rocks were amazing, a work of art in nature. 

Ulriken Cable Car 

The cable car was pretty scary for me, considering I am afraid of heights, but I did it! It was well worth it for the views and awesome photographs I took while at the top. I can't recommend enough the many adventures and things to do not only in Bergen but within the whole country of Norway. It was a lifetime adventure and I hope to return again one day.

At the top of Mount Ulriken overlooking the City of Bergen

Scenic view of Bergen Norway