Artist Will Terry specifically answers the big question,
Agents and reps are struggling too right now.
Thanks to the internet, you are competing with a lot of other artists, but you are also allowed to, and can afford to compete with everyone.
Will Terry used to spend up to $7500 to advertise in one workbook, before the WWW in the mid 90’s.
When we going out to lunch?
Tips on lighting.
How to value a rendering done by a student, are you bias?
How do you choose color for your color schemes?
Do I need a Rep?
What should I do to keep my skills sharp?
Style? How to find your style and should you stick to just one niche?
Is it a viable option to print my books on good paper and try that?
Will went through all the great questions that were after our last post and in this video he answer as best he can. Thank you for your great questions.
FolioAcademy is dedicated to help any who want it, become better artists.
In this video Will Terry of folioacademy, answers a question from David – a Southwest Airlines employee who has 3 days off/week and loves to draw comics during his down time. He actually made a video in-which he asked what steps he should take next to getting his work published. We figured that other artists too, might be in his situation and might benefit from some answers. Give it a look or just listen to this video, (there is audio) while you work or what ever.
Heidi Berthiame, has been working hard toward her goal or wish, (we are yet to discover what that is) for the past two and a half years. Perhaps in a last ditch effort to see her wish come true, she started folding 1000 origami Wish Cranes in January of this year.
Because getting the Crane folded is not the end goal, but rather the end results, it takes her about six minutes to fold each Wish Crane. That time is spent thinking about her wish and how she can best do what ever it will take to make it come true. That time is a break from what has to be done to contemplate what could be done. That time is well spent, every day.
She currently has over four hundred Wish Cranes completed. In November, she will finish folding the final one.
She said, “I do not know when my Wish will be granted, but I do know …
I will have *a lot* of origami Wish Cranes.”
Thus she has started a Kickstarter project. And yes, it has funded.
You can give a Wish Crane a home? There are about two days left for the Kickstarter but you may be-able to contact her as for a Crane at the same Kickstarter page.
If you pledge, you will receive one of the origami Wish Cranes that Heidi has personally hand crafted this year. She says that she will rejoice that it has a new home, and perhaps that Wish Crane can aid a wish of yours to come true, too. So if you can provide a good home. . . make a pledge.
The origami Wish Canes are created from 3 inch x 3 inch patterned paper, which comes in five designs.
Each Wish Crane is folded by hand, therefore they lack a machine’s precision but have a craftsman’s uniqueness.
All Wish Cranes are numbered under one wing, ranging from 1 to 1000.
The number and pattern of the Wish Crane you receive will be randomly chosen when she reaches into the flock and closes her fingers gently upon a single wing and withdraws that crane – kind of like The Claw in the movie Toy Story, but with less vocalizations for her origami Wish Cranes are all silent species. At least whenever there are people around.
The Funding Goal was only $25 because that is how much she needed to pay for the additional paper necessary to fold the remaining Wish Cranes.
The Pledge Reward is set to $3, which covers supplies and shipment of one Wish Crane to wherever you are in the world. (even Utah)
The Pledge Limit is set to 999 because Heidi will keep one of the Wish Cranes for herself. So she is folding 1000 origami Wish Cranes and hope to send 999 to new homes, where they can live happily ever after and perhaps help fulfill a new Wish.
It is possible a Wish Crane may go missing after it leaves my house and before it reaches yours. I will pay to ship a replacement Wish Crane if yours does not arrive within 30 days of being shipped. Replacement Wish Cranes will not be numbered but will be folded from the same kind of patterned paper as the original 1000 Origami Wish Cranes.
And if her wish comes true, maybe she will tell us what that wish was.
P.S. I just re wrote (plagiarized) what Heidi already said on her Kickstarter page.
Here is a little acrylic sketch that FolioAcademy artist/instructor Will Terry did awhile ago. I was a fellow Art Student with him in college back when he was trying to find his niche and style. I remember him looking for a real toothy texture that would peal the paint off his brush. It took him years to master this style but it was worth it.
He eventually developed his own recipe for a painting. The ingredients include thumbnail sketches and getting the drawing designed just right and transferring that onto the paper.
Then getting the texture just right with a clear gel medium that would allow the drawing to show up perfectly.
He then tones the surface usually with a medium value color then adding dark paint where needed and then gradually, using a DRY brush and very little paint, he adds lighter and lighter acrylic paint. Light on Dark.
He teaches this process here at FolioAcademy.com, Just click on the link and purchase his tutorial.
Acrylic Painting
I get asked many times each week if I can take a look at someone’s portfolio, project, drawings, or paintings and give them a critique. I love teaching. I love giving critiques because it’s a way I can help others and feel connected. I love being able to share what I’ve learned because I get such a high from working on a piece that’s working. Probably the best thing about helping someone else with their art is watching them make new discoveries and epiphanies. (yes I had to look that word up)
The problem is that I just don’t have time to help everyone who asks. The internet has blessed me with more connections than I can possibly handle. I have my regular freelance workload and I often don’t blog about them due to confidentiality agreements. I am usually working on a picture book – two right now and then there’s my personal story writing/illustrating that I try to find time for and of course Folioacademy.com requires a lot of time and effort. I’m also teaching both online and at the University and then there’s blogging and my family that often gets left out. I’ve been blessed with a wife who supports my daily sanity hikes (we call the outdoors our boardroom) to get away and clear my head and talk shop with my partner Wayne Andreason, but that leaves little extra time to help those of you who have reached out and asked for help.
So I have to say no to everyone to be fair. Please know that it’s not because I don’t want to – I love talking art and sharing my thoughts on your work but most nights I don’t go to bed until 1:00-2:00 am as it is. I have set aside time to help people through my new online SVS class because I wanted to be able to present material in a logical way and then work through a project.
Some have said, “Well I just need a few pointers so it won’t take long.” I’ve known people to make life altering decisions based on a few remarks. I take each critique seriously and realize that a few careless words could have a long lasting impact – so giving critiques when I’m pressed for time is a recipe for disaster. I want to feel really good about what I think are the two or three things that will really make a difference in the artist’s portfolio – which comes with careful contemplation.
I also get asked to give paid critiques. Again, I don’t have time but beyond that I really like the idea of presenting material through a class because many of the questions are answered through the material and then the critiques are better received and have more meaning.
I hope I have not offended anyone with this message and please know that I love getting your emails, letters, and comments! There just isn’t enough time in the day for me to do everything I want to do.
I’m out of here – going for a walk with Pooch – later.
Element hired me to do the cover art for an English language text book.
“Discover your inner creativity!” We have 3 new courses by the funloving, certified Zentangle instructor/ photographer/ artist, Ellen Darby, on Zentangle at FolioAcademy where you find all kinds of art lessons online.
Zentangle is an easy to learn art form, it is fun and relaxing. With it you create beautiful designs through the use of repetitive patterns. It’s like doodling with direction.
Zentangles canbe used in endless ways—from greeting cards, creative journals, and ceramic tiles, to business logos, therapeutic self-expression, and corporate team building.
No matter how you choose to express yourself, Zentangling is a fun, soothing, invigorating, affordable, portable, and personal way to be creative. No background in art is required!
