It might be a long title for a blog, but it’s to the point.  Before getting out your armful of scarves and taking 100 photos, a little pre-planning may help.  First look at other web sites to see what works and what doesn’t.  Some sites are well done with clear images that show the colors and designs.  However, I have seen a few that actually had blurry images!  This is a definite no-no!  Please retake them until you get it right.  I hate to see lovely works not presented in the best light.

Here are some simple steps:

1. Take your photos using natural light as much as possible.  This will save time when it comes to color-correcting your images.
2. Use a neutral background for your works.
3. Buy a simple, inexpensive digital camera and put it on auto. You can immediately tell if the photo worked by enlarging it on your view finder.
4. If your scarf has designs on it—show them!  People want to see the flowers, dogs, fruit, abstract patterns, or whatever the subject matter is. You are selling your works over the web.  People can’t touch, unfold, see the shimmer, or the subtle characteristics of the silk.  Your photo needs to tell the story for you.  For oblong scarves, I lay both ends side by side and gently twist it at the back. This shows as much detail as possible while still giving the silk some gentle folds.
5. Make a copy of your original high-resolution images before you reconfigure them to web images.  You may want to use them for posters, postcards, or to send to a potential customer who’s asking to see a higher resolution image before they buy.  This is part of your portfolio.  Once you sell your work—you can’t take another photo.
6. Take some close-ups or detail photos of your work.  You can always use them as accent images for your website or on your business card.

That’s all for now.  Cheers!
Diane

Valentine’s Day is on the way.  Everywhere you go there are red and pink hearts as well as other tokens of affection to present to your loved ones.  It is also a time when people are gearing up for fundraisers later in the year.  A friend had sent me an email asking for a donation so that she can take part in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  It occurred to me to design a work just for the Avon Walk and to raffle it off.  I used pinks, reds, and purples with an overall heart design.  I had Valentine’s Day in mind as well as the idea that the people who sign up for the Avon Walk do so not only because they want to wipe out cancer, but also because they do it out of the love for those around them who have been afflicted by it.

As artists, we have the ability to create objects that can be donated for raffles or auctions for different charities and organizations. It’s still early in the year.  Look around you.  Is there someone or a group in your community that you can help?  You will not only be endorsing a good cause but making something that someone will love as well as bring attention to that cause.  Art can be about helping others.  If you’re an emerging artist, it can also help you connect with your community. 

I don’t know what the end amount for the ticket sales from the raffle will be.  It won’t end until next week.  I am certain that there will be at least four winners—my friend will be closer to her goal; someone will win a nice prize; the charity will receive more funds; and I was able to help someone doing what I do best—making art.

Cheers and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Diane

Seasons greetings to all of my readers!  During this season, I haven’t had much time to make any more scarves to upload because I’ve been in the seasonal rush like everyone else. 

I learned last week that you should always follow your own directions.  If you’ve read the steps for silk painting, you’ll see that step one is wash the silk before stretching to remove any leftover silk deposits.  For the most part, I’ve been lucky in that I’ve only had issues a couple of times in small areas of the scarves.  This last time it was the whole thing!  It was as if it were coated in water repellent.  Water just beaded on top.  I really had to saturate it with water and work it in with my brush to get the color to set into the silk.  Color would not flow to the edge of the resist like normal.  I had to take a flat edged brush to scrub it in.  Why, you might be wondering didn’t I just take it off the stretcher and wash it?  Because I had spent three hours drawing the designs!  Note:  Do not use a sumi brush to scrub color into silk—use a nylon (watercolor) brush instead because it’s stronger.  It will do the job and hold its shape.

If there’s a lesson to be learned it’s this: wash your silk before beginning your project.  Each batch you receive might be slightly different from the previous.  If you’ve been lucky and had perfect silk, there may come a time when you might not be so lucky—like when you have a short deadline for instance.  With that in mind, I wish you smooth painting and success in all your artistic endeavors in the coming 2011.

Cheers,
Diane