When we first started we had a section on the site where we featured artists we had come across.
What with one thing and another (mainly trying to get the rest of the site in good shape), we let that rest for a while.
Well - we are now back with our Featured Artists Feature and this month it is London based painter Andy Wicks who has just completed a year-long residency at the Florence Trust in London.
Artists always need to contact the press at some point - perhaps to inform them about an exhibition or try and get publicity for an event.
We just published a new article by artist and writer Becky Hunter. She gives you clear professional advice about just how to get reviewed and some of the steps you need to consider so that it works for you, and them!
We liked the item so much that we made a downlodable e-article and gave it to our newsletter subscribers before anyone else. It was so popular that we may just do that again with another item. If you fancy getting your hands on topical information before the main site visitors just pop over to: www.welikeartists.com/join
Everyone needs business cards - no really they do - even in this digital age.
We list a few places where you can 1, get them for free or 2, pay a little and get extra flexibility.
One of our visitors, digital artist Conal Flaherty, took our advice and had some cards made to show off his work. See what he had to say here - he really loved them!
OK, Ok, we have not been very active since November last year, but we are back!!
We have been doing a lot of 'tinkering' in the background which has resulted in a significant blog 'silence'.
That said - lots of new items have been added to the site over the past few days and here is a good one:
MyIdeasBook - is a sort-of online 'sketchbook' and space to bring together your images, words, links, notes and musings, accesible from any connected computer.
Just the type of workspace you, as a connected artist, might find brilliantly practical. We have had a play with it and found it a great way of gathering information when we are online.
Have a look at our item about it here.
And, if you sign up with MyIdeasBook they are offering a special deal for WeLikeArtist readers! Full details on the site!
We know.... we have been a little 'quiet' of late. Partly summer break, partly doing research and partly being overwhelmed by the new academic year (many of us at WeLikeArtists teach at universities here and there!).
So back on track and we are delighted to announce our new funding section which takes a look at Crowdfunding. A simple but very clever idea where you take the money you need for a particular project, promote it online, and via social media, then get lots and lots of people (the crowd), to give you little bits of cash.Take a look at the new section here: www.welikeartists.com/resources/funding.html
© Andres Rodriguez | Dreamstime.com
It seems to work. We found out about a film being made by a local filmmaker, Jeanie Finlay, here in the UK via a post on Twitter and pledged a small amount of our hard earned cash to help out. Now when we say small, we mean small , but that it the point. Thousands of people each giving a painlessly (small) amount, all adds up and Jeanie Finlay was able to fund the shoot.
She is now looking to raise $5,000.00 for post production so, rather than buying a tall, caramel macchiato, pledge the cash to an independent film!! They will love you for it and a documentary about the last remaining vinyl record shop in Teesside, UK, will be made with your help.
Help Sound it Out here: www.indiegogo.com/sound-it-out
We have been keeping our light under a bushel of late - the quiet approach you understand. But last week our lovely PR agency www.perfect10pr.co.uk, sent out the first press releases about WeLikeArtists.
The BBC picked it up and invited Andy Pepper, our founding editor, to pop in for a chat along with Clare Janes, arts development manager for the Eastwood arts festival.
A bit of an arty afternoon with extra talk of holograms (which Andy works with), light, colour, buying original art from artists and, and, and.
Richard Spurr was a charming and welcoming host. Hats off to these guys who have to interview people day in - day out and try and make it interesting.....
The entire program is available on the BBC iPlayer for 6 days so jump to 1 min 25 secs: http://bit.ly/cCYiuz
There is mention of melons as well. Don’t ask!
Image credit: © Aron Hsiao | Dreamstime.com
We just contributed to Enterprise Nation, a website and community for homeworkers, with a short piece about collaborative working online. Naturally, all our suggestions are free and very effective!
See what we think here:
It has been a remarkable week.
Our visitor numbers have rocketed - quite why, we have no idea but we had our highest number of hits on Wednesday and almost the same yesterday.
Seems someone is interested in what artists do.
There have been heaps of updates on the site over the past few days and today, our very first newsletter went out with the help of our friends at Mailchimp.
If you want to receive the next one sign up here.
If you are going to give money to the arts (and don't they need it at the moment!), then you might like to have a look at a helpful guide produced by Arts & Business, in association with Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) and Deloitte.
It seems that the UK has one of the best systems for tax-efficient giving in the world.
Yes, we were surprised as well.
Have a look, and download the guide at: ww.artsandbusiness.org.uk
What a remarkable day!
As we approach the end of our own working day, here in the UK, we have had MASSES of visitors today.
We have no idea why. We haven't done any promotion, sent any e-mails out or twisted any arms.
For some reason people are flocking to visit us. Our statistics package shows that we have surpassed our best day (which was the day we switched the site on).
So, thank you lovely visitors. We are delighted you are having a look round.
As other time zones wake up, we are wondering what the end figure will be at midnight our time when our counters start a new day.
We Like Artists and it seems thousands of people like us today!
Image © Raja Rc | Dreamstime.com
