The Show Your Paintings/Drawings/Images Thread

**S.A.M.** · 10-10-06, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Pete

Hi Mr A,
I have a special request. Knock me back at your pleasure.
I'd like to hang the wisdom-whiskered cat on my door (to annoy the students).

Would you be willing to make it available in something suitable for printing? Say A5 at 600dpi?

Thanks,
Pete

Can I have a copy too?

Mr Anonymous · 10-10-06, 08:10 PM

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Mr Anonymous · 10-10-06, 08:18 PM

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Mr Anonymous · 10-10-06, 08:44 PM

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**Pete** · 10-10-06, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Anonymous

Funny, I was just answering that very question...

Jeez, where did you people suddenly come from.....?!

Pete: I'm kind of stuck with a 56k modem out here old man, and hosting a file that big problematic. Offered sam a full sized, full resolution version on CD if she's interested - same deal applies if you've a fancy. You'll have to PM where to send the thing of course, but shouldn't be a problem. What are you talking about here - running it off on your PC printer or taking it to a print shop?

Thank you sir! PMing you now.
I'll be printing with the office colour laser, for attaching to my noticeboard where the kitty will rub shoulders with Foxtrot, Dilbert, Calvin, The Fifth Wave, Tom the Dancing Bug, various optical illusions, personal photographs, thoughts for the day, and whatnot.

I'll be happy to host a CD full of image/s if you like.

Mr Anonymous · 10-10-06, 10:06 PM

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**~~Roman~~** · 10-10-06, 10:27 PM

You could cut out the whole art gallery scene and take your stuff straight to the WWW.

I'm sure it's crossed your mind a few times.

Mr Anonymous · 10-10-06, 10:47 PM

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**Pete** · 10-11-06, 08:12 PM

My first charcoal sketch:

Mr Anonymous · 10-11-06, 08:21 PM

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**Pete** · 10-11-06, 08:27 PM

Ta! I've scribbled with pencils a fair bit, and have just begun dabbling in other drawing media. Bought a wider range of pencils, a few charcoal twigs and a charcoal pencil, and some conte sticks.
Also bought some fixative spray. I didn't think of hairspray. Probably a good thing - the wife might have objected to me pinching it!

Mr Anonymous · 10-11-06, 08:33 PM

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**Jenyar** · 10-25-06, 11:53 AM

Portrait of a Friend in a Pensive Mood... (picture taken under poor lighting conditions with a cheap digital camera and without a flash, since it reflected on the graphite, contrast adjusted digitally).

**~~Theoryofrelativity~~** · 10-25-06, 01:02 PM

I hope you guys who are asking for copies of great and original art consider making a 'donation' to the artist.

original art like this shouldn't be free, though I know it's none of my business

Mr Anonymous · 10-28-06, 11:03 AM

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**Jenyar** · 10-29-06, 11:59 AM

Mr Anonymous - Why would I mind a compliment? Thank you very much!

PS. How would I get started as a copywriter? I'd love to start doing something that could become freelance in the future...

Meanwhile, I did another one...

Mr Anonymous · 10-29-06, 07:33 PM

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**Pete** · 10-29-06, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Jenyar

Portrait of a Friend in a Pensive Mood... (picture taken under poor lighting conditions with a cheap digital camera and without a flash, since it reflected on the graphite, contrast adjusted digitally).

Hi Jenyar,
Are these pencil on cartridge paper?
How do you do your shading?
It looks like it's mainly hatching, but do you also use a smudge stick or something?
I'm a beginner, and experimenting with shading techniques without much satisfaction so far. My best to date is probably the charcoal sketch I posted a little earlier.
Here's a pencil self portrait where I tried to focus mainly on shade and texture rather than lines (except for the shirt, obviously

):

**Fafnir665** · 10-30-06, 08:40 AM

You all lose. Except SargentLardAss

**Jenyar** · 10-31-06, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Anonymous

Y'know, to be perfectly honest I have no idea - but, always polite to ask I always think. And, please, thank you. Both that first and these latest really are terribly good. Always a pleasure someone sharing their work.

At the risk of overdoing the politeness factor - no, thank you. Right now you represent everything I'm aiming at. Drawing or writing freelance, preferably both. That's the stuff my dreams are made of.

Do y'mean in the advertising sense or freelance feature writing for magazines? Forms pretty much the same in either regard.

I was thinking of getting into the spam market. Looks pretty lucrative, and the people doing it can't write worth a lark. Sure. they're very inventive with names, but that's where it stops. I didn't know you could spell Viagra in so many different ways. I am, of course, talking about the blue pill...

Ad copywriting is all about selling - package yourself and sell your ability, treat yourself as the product. Also produce a slim but stylish folio set of re-works for existing products. Dig up as much as you can on whichever ad-agency your interested in, establish which sorts of commodities they specialise in and get in contact with one or the art directors, see if they'll consider giving your work a look over, take it from there.

Y'should find a pretty comprehensive list of places to try and people to contact listed in The Writers & Artists Yearbook - It features some very good advice sections, you'll usually find a reasonably up to date copy in the reference section of your local library. Think it's about £15.00 to buy from a book shop.

Features is pretty similar - magazines are interested in features of a given length and type of subjects - The Writers & Artists Yearbook keeps a comprehensive list off all dailies and periodicals running in the US, Canada, UK and Europe, as well as contact details and advice for making your approaches as well as tips. Research your target market and publication, make sure your writing the right stuff for the right publication. Most adopt a given house style to convey the impression of there being a large body of staff. Equally, some don't and instead prefer contrast. Make sure your style matches whatever publication you try.

Generally it's a good idea to produce a thing called a Sub's List - it's basically a list of, say, 10 particular idea's you have for feature pieces: write a brief synopsis of what they are about for each. Give then good tag lines, make the editor want to read more. Supply also a page of an actual article or feature in final so as they can judge your actual writing style. Doesn't have to be the whole thing, but make it interesting, always make sure where your cut off point leaves the reader wanting to finish the rest.

Package the lot with an index page at the front also containing your contact details, include also a covering letter. either phone or write to the editor first, check it's okay to send stuff in. Break the ice as it were.

Basically, the more you get into the habit of talking to people, the easier and less daunting the prospect becomes...

Hope that's of some use,

A

That was exactly the kind of insider's info I needed. Thanks for the head's up! I'll probably try to break into the magazine arena, since I'm tcoming from the book industry, but I'll try to work some diversity into the portfolio. I just have to get busy on it. At the moment I'm spending (wasting?) a lot of time on portraits, and I'm afraid I'll have to show more variety if I want anyone to take me seriously (unless they happen to strike an unlikely nerve somewhere). I didn't study fine art, and talent only gets you so far towards professionalism.

I'm sure there's something similar to the Writers and Artists Yearbook here in South Africa, but I haven't come across it. I get Publisher's Weekly and so on, but in terms of finding actual, paying jobs locally, I'm at a bit of a loss. Apart from magazines flooding the market, the industry here seems to be on a strict diet. All the jobs I would love getting my hands on are abroad.