The Artrillium House Blog

100 BEST FREE ART E-BOOKS

2011-08-07T16:13:00.000+10:00

Artrillium House's art school "Gold Coast Art Classes" has created a comprehensive list of the many free instructional and other art related e-books.

A wonderful collection of modern and classical art books either domain free or courtesy offered publications and magazines.

Classical books tent to teach skills by keen observation and attention to detail, often missed in modern publications. And although recent books are often easier to read, they often fail to provide some profound details offered within those good old classical books.

And there are some real gems to find in this collection. We tried to make it easy on the eye and have included with each link a short description about the content of the book.

So check our new listing out at http://www.goldcoastartclasses.com/100-best-free-art-e-books.html

Have fun...

Martina
Director

2010-02-05T14:38:00.000+10:00

Most Inspiring Interview with Eric Booth

The Australia Council for the Arts featured Eric Booth, one of America's leading key note speaker and expert on arts learning and creativity in an interview.

A Podcast of the interview can be viewed at the Australia Council for the Arts Arts Research Hub.

I've had the honour and absolute joy listening and speaking with Eric twice when he visited Australia.

The first time I saw Eric was at the "ArtSpeak" Conference, and again for a one day seminar "Brokering Artists in Communities" in Brisbane.

He was the most inspiring speaker imaginable. His words resonated still a long time after. Rarely have I heard so relevant ideas and such a passionate, and open-minded person, willing to admit his own shortcomings and that of the arts industry.

He has written, "The Music Teaching Bible" brilliant for any art teacher, and "The Everyday Work of Art: How Artistic Experience Can Transform Your Life", bot available at Amazon.

He speaks about the irrelevance between artists and the community, a gap emerged more than 50 years ago and getting bigger and bigger.

Eric Booth has a way of making aware how important it is to bring relevance back between the artists and their community.

Realizing that it is not just enough to use means of increasing clever marketing methods, when the art as such,in fact has no relevance to the community. Virtually trying to suck as many people into the arts, just for the arts sake. And he opened ways of how one can connect with the community to bring this relevance back.

Giving an example he told us that he will speak a Shakespeare Sonnet in 3 minutes. After a short moment of silence he asked "What did you just thought when I said this...., no I am mean what you really thought." He suggested that we probably would not jump up in utter joy to welcome such offer.

He then went on asking to answer some questions first before his demonstration of the sonnet. I cannot recall all of them, but the first was, to remember a time in our lives when you were really deeply down. So down, that it can't go any lower than that. We were to remember those moments and to write down in one word how we would describe this.

One of the following questions were to think about two very typical reactions we usually have in those situations, such as withdrawal, wanting to be alone etc.

And last he asked, if we had any means at our disposal, what could make us come out of this situation?

He then spoke the Sheakspheare sonnet. I have never in my live, heard Sheakespheare like this before. A 400 year old text became utter relvant to myself, so deeply resonating became those words.

I was astonished and stunned by the fact how littel personal involvement and input is needed to give personal relevance to an art form, I usually would not be interested in.

And there was so much more to digest. His ideas were fresh, new and totally inspiring.

But you just listen for yourself.

Eric Booths Interview

http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/research/community_arts/reports_and_publication /eric_booth_in_conversation

Martina Pook

Co-Director

Artrillium House

National Mentoring Program for Young and Emerging Artists

2010-01-24T21:56:00.000+10:00

The Australia Council for the Arts launched on the 18th of January 2010 JUMP – Australia’s largest national mentoring program for young and emerging artists.

JUMP is the first program of its kind to support young artists anywhere in Australia to work with industry leaders across a wide range of artforms.

36 mentorship places of up to 10 months each are available this year for artists aged 18 – 30 and in the first five years of their career. More mentorships are available in 2011 and 2012.

Full JUMP details, including information session dates and grant application details can be found at www.jumpmentoring.com.au. Applications close Friday, 26 February 2010.

Know a young and emerging artist poised for an opportunity like JUMP? Or an established professional artist who'd be an ideal mentor? JUMP would love for you to Refer an Artist to JUMP now.

Martina Pook

Co-Director

Artrillium House

Art Competition Tips for Artists & Organisers

2010-01-15T16:31:00.000+10:00

For an artist, entering an art competition for the first time can be quite daunting. Organising an art competition can seem equally complex.

However resources are available to assist both artists and organizers in their approach.

For the artist – it is important to consider the entry process in a logical, step by step manner.

Karen Leland’s article: Five Tips for Getting into Juried Art Shows discusses aspects such as the importance of applying for the show that fits your work, considering the hire of a professional photographer to assist in entry presentation, ensuring the application is exactly followed, crafting the order and the importance of framing if entries are accepted.

For organizers – the article Tips for Running Artistic Competitions encourages viewing the organization of art competitons as a marketing opportunity. Matters to be considered for successful art competitions include initial logo development, a two stage competition structure and the provision of runner up prizes as incentives.

In future blogs, we will discuss some of the many other issues affecting artists and organizers of art competitions. These include the respective Codes of Practice and for artists, Tips for Grant Writing.

What are some of your key concerns as an artist or an organizer? We’d love to hear.

Until next time, Take care

Pic Credit: Simon Howden

Art Connecting with Business

2010-01-10T23:43:00.000+10:00

In June 2008, Jane Haley, CEO of The Australian Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) reported:

“Artists don’t need to be business people – they need time to be artists.”

This was the strong view expressed by representatives of artist-run initiatives, public and commercial galleries at a meeting some months ago to discuss what skills development professional visual artists might benefit. The artists, several of whom were represented by major galleries, immediately identified a number of issues they wished they had understood better as they were developing their careers: superannuation, taxation, copyright, contract negotiation, documentation and marketing of their work, building relationships with collectors, managing relationships with dealers and agents. One of them commented: “We are not children, we just need to know where to get the most appropriate information so we can make an informed decision”.

Since that meeting AbaF has provided business skills development to more than 1000 visual artists throughout Australia.

“Those artists told us that these skills are exactly what they were looking for. They have learned the kind of business basics that sole traders in any industry need to know. They have grabbed the knowledge and are using it.” Haley writes.

AbaF is an organisation focused upon making connections. Working with large and small businesses, all types of arts organisations, individual artists, trusts and foundations, the AbaF promotes private sector support for the arts through three key programs: Partnering, Giving and Volunteering.

The AbaF Artist Business program includes a free workshop covering business essentials like tax, insurance, risk management and copyright. Topics also featured include building relationships with clients and galleries, going to market, documenting artwork, building a client base, promotion and media relations.

Artists can also ask specific questions using the AbaF adviceLine and/or request a business adviser to assist with a specific project through adviceBank.

In connecting artists with donors, AbaF will provide artists advice and information about how to harness the support of their existing network strategically to help raise money. If an artist doesn’t have any 'supporters' AbaF will suggest investigating scholarships, prizes, residencies particularly to an artist’s artform/locality as a starting point.

The AbaF is not a membership body. All businesses, not-for-profit cultural organisations, individual donors and foundations can become involved with AbaF and access their services without charge.

AbaF is a national organisation headquartered in Melbourne. For more information about Artist Business or workshop dates, a list of State contacts is found here .

HELLO AND WELCOME

2009-12-31T19:24:00.000+10:00

Are you an aspiring artist or interested in the arts?

Artrillium House is a publishing house excusively producing art directories. Also providing a range of useful resources and information for artists available at our website at www.artrilliumhouse.com.

The 2010 Directory of Art Competitions & Exhibitions of Australia and New Zealand is detailing more than 1100 competitive art shows.

We look forward to sharing our art related expertise, tips and information in this blog.

The Business of Art

2009-12-31T15:36:00.000+10:00

Establishing a business for any professional can be daunting - and no less so for the emerging artist. However relevant professional arts organisations and government bodies such as the Australian Council for the Arts provide a plethora of free resources to assist. Information available covers topics such as planning, marketing, tax issues, copyright and mentorship - to name just a few.

We have listed many of the key resources on our website - please click here

As business journalist and author Peter Switzer says: 'Even if your business has the most humble beginnings with a strategy and passion it can grow to great things'. Fully utilising resources such as these can help harness your passion and skill, and facilitate your career development as a professional artist.

In this blog, we will discuss in more detail those issues affecting the professional artist - whether you are just beginning or already established.

In the meantime, if there is anything you would like more information about please do not hesitate to Email us.

Don't forget you can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook. We look forward to connecting with you soon.

Until next time. Best wishes.

Picture courtesy of Salvatore Vuono

Hello and Welcome!

2009-12-21T16:26:00.000+10:00

Are you an aspiring artist or interested in the arts?

Artrillium House is a publishing house exclusively producing art directories. We also provide a range of useful resources and information for artists available at our website.

The 2010 Directory of Art Competitions & Exhibitions of Australia & New Zealand - detailing more than 1300 opportunities is now available - and available at our website.

We look forward to sharing our art related expertise, tips and information in this blog.

See you here again soon!

Best wishes.