Petra Lange
Kelly Benefield
Gabriela Riva
Marilyn Bowsfield
Pam Van Londen
Janet Whitehead
Photo for Week 12 & 13 - Buddha & Hydrangeas
I don't have the patience of a saint. If I did, I would continue to spend several hours every week editing about half the images that come to me for this blog. I'm not gonna do it anymore. We're talking about the image file here, not the artwork. So my weekly pep talk, or call it a lecture, is about getting it done right.
Think of it this way - you're invited to a pot-luck party at my house. You show up with the ingredients but not the prepared dish. Be a better guest to my blog. You need to send me an image that is ready to post. Please, send your submission when you're sure it's perfect. Or it won't go up. And thank you to all who do it right.
Okay. enough with busting your balls. I'll give you some additional advice on this subject. Top on the list - Read or reread my instructions on the right column. Second on the list - Read and print out Charley Parker's posting 'Preparing Images for the Web'. It is a wealth of information. He also wrote brilliant articles 'How NOT to Display your Artwork on the Web' and 'How to Display Your Artwork on the Web'. READ IT and live by it. Preparing your image is the second most important job if you're presenting yourself on the internet.
In addition to Charley Parker's helpful tips, here are a few of my suggestions:
-Devote hours to learning how to use an editing program. Preparing your images can take 15 - 45 minutes. If you're a beginner, it'll take longer. However long it takes, do it. The buyer of that artwork should open up the package and not be surprised or disappointed that your image didn't look anything like the original piece.
- I strongly suggest you make two folders on your desktop for your artwork. One folder should hold high-resolution files, around 300 dpi and 8-12 inches in size, in the event you need to submit your images to a competition, a magazine, a catalog, a gallery - or make a print or create a book of your artwork, etc. The second file should have duplicates of your image files, but saved as a web-ready file. I suggest you size at 300 dpi and around 450K in pixel dimensions - then 'save for web' as a high-quality jpg. Those files are for emailing, posting on your own sites or blogs as well as this blog, and for online galleries and auction pages. Remember - you can't go backwards. Try as you might, a saved, low-rez file can never be modified to a quality high-rez image file.
Now - onto this week's challenge - which will extend into two weeks because of Thanksgiving. Call it your Zen project. This photo shows you the first thing I see every morning when I open my eyes - a grouping of my favorite things, reminding me that beauty is found in the simple moments, where light and color make edges sparkle and glow. The photo is a good example of making choices on elimination - ignoring the dust, the knobs - things that don't matter. Making decisions on the things that do.
Have a great two weeks of painting and enjoy your holiday time.
18 comments:
I knew you were my hero for a reason. Not only are you hosting a great blog for us "newbies" out there, but you are sharing resources to help us get it right. It's kind of like superman revealing the secret to the speeding bullet thing! Many thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
I don't think everyone is doing it wrong on purpose, and there is no ultimate instruction booklet out there, so thank you, Karin, for writing these guidelines and resources up for others. It helps everyone to know the size and shape that a jpeg file must take for proper posting, for any blog.
Karin, I really enjoy the assignments that last for two weeks. This is just an idea but perhaps you might think of turning this into a biweekly challenge and post work only on certain days like the half way mark. It may produce higher quality submissions from everyone and could relieve the work load that you are placing on yourself.
Folks: Please realize that Karin is becoming a nationally-recognized artist. She has huge demands from galleries, her own framing business, marketing, and who-knows-what-else. Please follow her rules so we don’t loose a fabulous opportunity to grow from this very generous artist.
Karen: Alice might have a good idea. Twice a month would be great, especially if it helps you manage this blob. Have a great Thanksgiving and, again, thanks for all you do.
No matter how many times you proof it, it always shows up after you've posted it. Sorry, "Karin" ---- love your "blog".
Know this folks - I love doing this blog - I am thrilled to see what you all come up with. As new people jump in every week, it gets more and more interesting. I just need less time spent on doctoring those images.
I may change it to a bi-weekly project, especially during the holidays - nevertheless I appreciate the hard work. Paint on and thank you all.
Yes thanks for posting the link to Charlie Parker's site about file prep. I would recommend a specific, shortened version of it to be placed under your How to Submit Your Artwork since "Create a professional, sharp and accurate jpg file of your art" wasn't cutting it (understandably). Tell people exactly what you want and hopefully you'll be happier with the results.
First Thank you Karin, how ever you want to do it and how often is great and appreciated.
Sorry I was one of those that did not know about the size and such.
But because of it I just found some great classes for free in photoshop and such at continuing Ed community college check them out. Now I realize this is in my area but maybe there are some in your neck of the woods and some are online.
I'm talking about pictures here !!!!
Happy Thanks and all the givings back to you.
Ya know, years back, I made a living doing photo restorations - scanning & photoshopping to create a repaired duplicate. I got a crash course on editing. And thank God I learned all that back then - who knew I would need that skill years later with painting. I promise anyone who takes classes in this - you'll love it.
This info is for the ones that takes a class, which I am one.
Adobe Creative suite - CS4 just came out . It has Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver and more.... The apple store has it for example at $1800 approx.
with the student id you get at the continuing ed for
$ 2 you can buy that suite for $ 315
How cool is that !
Now I have to learn all that which will take me years but I'm having fun with it.
Thanks Karin
About a year ago or so Serif Software was giving away their software "PhotoPlus". I had downloaded it for a friend....it does what PhotoShop does. They have since started selling it for %79.99. A lot cheaper.
http://www.serif.com/photoplus/photoplusx2
This is for PC users. I'm on a MAC and can not use it. I do have the users's manual (PDF).
I agree with Alice that maybe bi-weekly would be less of a burden on Karin... Wednesday comes around very fast for me. I'm trying to keep the palette wet.
I truly love all the different versions that are presented and might not want to wait 2 weeks to see them all--Happy Thanksgiving!
i'm one of the offenders i'll admit, and had to resend one. but now i'm scared to participate for fear of offending again. glare from very shiny oil paint and thick strokes make photographing almost impossible. i want to participate more but not if i'm making someone mad. ive already got too many people unhappy with me for various reasons. some i understand why. others.,,, not so much! LOL
i want to see this thing fly and dont want to see submissions drop off with people afraid to send you anything.
here's an idea maybe.... just dont post the ones you dont like. no email back.... nothing.
its either right and gets posted or its wrong and goes in your delete trash can. no muss. no fuss.
keep up the good work karin! it was a very cool idea
Bill, you have a good point about 2 weeks being a long time. Maybe a 10 Day challenge could keep it fresh, and make it easier.
Mike, Artist are the most sensitive people in the spectrum. "it" still is a very cool idea and fear is natural, but you can't let it win in this instance. I'm positive that you can make those photos clean, you just need to get informed on how it's done. I am going to email you through your blog to see if I can help.
thanks alice
you're a dear
Thanks Karin, wonderful subject, I like it to much!
I'm with Mike on this one, I think Karen is clear enough with what she needs for posting our submissions. If the submission is not posted, you got something to work on for next week. No fuss, no muss and nothing personal, just try again next time.
Thanks for your ongoing encouragement and the opportunity to participate DSDF. I really liked having two weeks to do this painting. If anyone asks me, I'd vote to have all of your DSDF challenges be two weeks.
BRAVO Karin and everybody, excellent show, truly well done! I think the 2-week spread yielded some outstanding pieces! I really like this 2-week window of opportunity because I am busy with other projects and it was no fun to miss out a couple times. I vote you allot 2 weeks for each challenge :)
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