9 Ways YOU, The Artist Can Change The World

By Nicole Tinkham

Can we take a moment to show you some love? We feel that artists (like you) really don’t get the credit they deserve. You are absolutely incredible! Sometimes people who don’t fully understand the impact art makes on our lives, assume that being an artist isn’t a “real” job. This can get any artist down but our goal is to lift you back up and let you know how much of a difference you really do make. Your artwork isn’t just something pleasant to look at. Your artwork HEALS. It challenges and inspires us. It provides peace when everything else is in chaos. It’s truly incredible just how special your talents are! Read on for 9 ways that you, the artist can change the world.

1.    You inspire

You inspire more than just the artist. You inspire everyone to do something they’re passionate about. Others see you and your love for art. They see you having fun, enjoying what you do and they want to feel that way about something in their lives too. Your artwork can encourage them to take the leap and try something new.

2.    You make the world colorful

Literally! Can you imagine how dull the world would be without art? Even gorgeous buildings have a creative architect behind them. Art floods the streets in billboards, museums, graffiti, signs, fashion, and so much more. It’s something not everyone appreciates enough (being too busy in this hectic life) but if it weren’t there, we would all notice.

3.    You make people happy

It’s not just those crazy sand sculptures or chalk art events that make people happy. It’s anything that the viewer can relate to. It’s bright colors, something clever, something useful, something they just get. It doesn’t matter what type of art you do, you’ll always have the power to make others happy if you choose to.

4.    You heal

You may not have a doctor title but you’d be surprised by how much artwork can heal. We just mentioned that you make others smile. That alone has healing powers not to mention other emotions that artwork can bring up. When people are dealing with depression, your artwork can help them cope. Again, you are improving the lives of so many people.

5.    You make people think differently

Your artwork may portray your point of view and maybe the viewer is able to see that through your work. But maybe they see a different point of view and that’s ok too. No matter how it’s done, artwork that get’s people thinking differently is considered brilliant work in our books. It’s not always easy to do but it can be so powerful.

6.    You challenge others

As you get others to think differently, you’re also challenging them. The challenge could be finding a deep meaning in the artwork or relating it to each person’s individual life. Challenges are presented all around us. They allow us to learn and grow. If your artwork presents a challenge, it’s helping every single one of us.

7.    You share your story

The best way to connect and relate to someone else is to hear their story. You might not think your personal story is very exciting but you have no idea how much that story can change someone else’s life. When you open up to others and share personal things about yourself, others will realize they’re not alone. You’re proof to the viewers that they can make it through the tough times too. You are right there with them and when you can tell that story through your art, incredible things start to happen.

8.    You provide peace

Some artwork is peaceful and some aren’t but the really cool thing about being the artist is that you can decide what kind of emotions come through in your artwork. How incredible does it feel knowing that you can bring peace in someone’s life simply by creating? That just blows our minds every time we think about it!

9.    You give

When you produce your artwork, you’re not just giving to one person. You’re giving something of value to every single person who looks at it. People need what you have to offer! Stop hiding in the shadows and show your work off to the world. Not sharing it would only be selfish.

If you ever doubt yourself, which we all do at some point, grab this list of 9 ways you, the artist can change the world to remind yourself of the true power of your artwork. It’s so easy to forget these things and to forget why you’re an artist in the first place. You all have a huge heart and we believe that you create for others. You want to make a difference and you can do that through your art. You are capable of incredible things. Never give up on yourself.

74 Unique Things You Can Put In A Frame

By Nicole Tinkham

With our new framing department and professional framer, Mark Gagnon, here at Keeton’s we got to thinking about all the creative things you could possibly have framed. There’s so much more that can be done than just the typical photo or piece of artwork (although Mark does an incredible job with these as well), so it’s time to think outside the box, look around your home and decide what your next brilliant framing project will be. Read on for 74 unique things you can put in a frame for everything from vintage fans to wine corks.

Note: You’ll see some photos of Mark’s favorite framing projects in the list below. If they have you feeling inspired, give us a call at 941-747-2995 and ask for Mark or email him at markg@keetonsonline.com.

1.    Photos
2.    Paintings
3.    Drawings
4.    Certificates
5.    Awards
6.    Sand (yes, actual sand!)
7.    Coins
8.    Clothing
9.    Maps (shown below: Italian Map Triple Matted)

10.    Letters
11.    Recipes
12.    Newspaper articles
13.    Money
14.    Diploma
15.    Event tickets
16.    Jerseys
17.    Jewelry
18.    License plate
19.    Medals and badges
20.    Mirror
21.    Quilt
22.    Baby shoes
23.    Records (Shown below: Elvis LP with Sleeve and Crescent Mat Cut)

24.    Antique nick knacks
25.    Guitar
26.    Leaves/flowers
27.    Stamps
28.    Photography (Shown below: Bird Photo with Fillet)

29.    Keys
30.    Paper art
31.    Invitation
32.    Pages from a book
33.    Comic books
34.    Board games
35.    Bottle label (Shown below: Wine Cork w/ Bottle Label and wax seal)

36.    High end shopping bags
37.    Flags
38.    Old architectural sketches
39.    Vintage swimsuits
40.    Stuffed animals
41.    Mixed media (Shown below: Mixed Media into Metal Porthole Frame)

42.    Buttons
43.    Fabric
44.    Toys
45.    Antique silverware
46.    Rocks and stones
47.    Shells
48.    Post cards (Shown below: Pop Art Post Cards)

49.    Paint brushes
50.    Ballet shoes
51.    Kid’s artwork
52.    Antique sewing supplies
53.    Wooden design (Shown below: Heart Shaped Wood With Photo and Hand Drawn vines and words)

54.    Pocket watch
55.    Bottle of wine
56.    Scrabble pieces
57.    Dry erase board/chalkboard
58.    Illustration art (Show below: Intricate illustration art)

59.    Collage
60.    Origami art
61.    Cards
62.    Holiday ornaments
63.    Feathers
64.    Wine corks (Shown below: Four Corks and a Wax Seal)

65.    Vintage fan (Shown below: Italian Fan In Shadow Box)

66.    Coffee beans
67.    Antique tools
68.    Sheet music
69.    Bouquet
70.    Graduation cap
71.    Bottle caps
72.    Tree branches
73.    Lace
74.    T shirt (Shown below: Bradenton Blues Fest T Shirt)

So now that you have 74 new ideas on the different unique things you’re able to have framed, what will you choose?? And don’t worry if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. Mark in our custom framing department can walk you through the whole process. Just give us a call at 941-747-2995 and ask for Mark, email him at markg@keetonsonline.com, or stop in to see him!

New Year Checklist – 10 Things Every Artist Needs To Do

By Nicole Tinkham

Getting ready for the New Year doesn’t have to be crazy and overwhelming with serious goals and planning. It’s great to have some goals laid out, an idea of where you want to be by the end of the year, and to get organized too. But we also think it’s important to HAVE FUN!! On this list of 10 things every artist needs to do for the New Year, you’ll notice that something fun is included in more than half of the tasks on the list. And if you find a daunting task you don’t want to do, turn it into a game or reward yourself for completing it!

•    Have a new sketchbook ready to go (open it up every day!)

•    Get organized for peace of mind

•    Make a list of things you want to learn – Plan to attend an art workshop, save YouTube videos, buy a new art book, or subscribe to an art magazine

•    Plan something fun – we all need a break. Plan a vacation at some point next year or even a staycation if you have nowhere to go

•    Have your goal and action plan written down

•    Plan regular friend and family time! It’s easy to get so wrapped up in our own little world that we forget to spend time with the ones we love

•    Have an open mind – Do something wild, crazy, unexpected, out of the norm, and anything that takes you out of your comfort zone

•    Buy fun colored Post-it Notes to write yourself positive notes and reminders

•    Change up your art room for creative inspiration and more room for new supplies 🙂

•    Get your artist portfolio in line

We believe that having fun is the best way to start the New Year, wouldn’t you agree? Doing something you enjoy is easier to stick with than something you don’t. Start doing some of the things on this list, have fun with it, and don’t stress about starting a new year. Tell us, will you follow this checklist when heading into the New Year?

6 Things To Consider When Starting A Craft Group

By Nicole Tinkham

Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut? The best way to get out of that rut is by discovering fresh new ideas. And the best way to discover these new ideas is by learning something new. The answer? CRAFT GROUPS! A craft group is a gathering of creative minds working on projects together. We mentioned crafty parties in a previous blog but now we’re talking about regular meetings. We understand that putting something like this together can be overwhelming with meeting times, location, projects, cost, food, and more. But we’ve also realized how simple it can be if done right. For instance, having a different hostess each month can take a lot of the pressure off of you. Read on for 6 things to consider when starting a craft group.

1. Initial questions – Figure out what type of group this will be and who will attend

What’s the goal of the craft group? – Improve skills? Make new friends? Swap ideas?

Who do you want in the group? – What are they into? How old are they? What other hobbies do they have? What’s their home life like (married, children, etc.)?

When, where, and how often would you like to meet? This can be decided in the first meeting as a group discussion.

What type of projects will you focus on? – Of course you can do a variety of different crafts but it may be helpful starting with something specific like paper crafts or jewelry making.

2. Ways to get started – How to spread the word and invite people

Word of mouth – Start with your group of friends and host your first meeting among like minded people. Then have those friends invite some of their friends next time who might be interested. You can see how this has potential to grow quickly. It depends on the space available but if you have a large area and a few people instructing, you can turn these groups into something huge. But if you want to keep it small, we recommend about 10 people.

Social media group – You can meet a ton of new people in Facebook crafting groups. Form relationships with these people first before inviting them to your craft group and if they aren’t local you could try a virtual craft group.

Meetup.com – This is a social gathering tool where you can find a ton of different groups centered around various hobbies. Create your own to get more local artists in your craft group!

3. The details – What you need to start thinking about

Length of time (we recommend two hour sessions)

How often – Once a month works well for most people.

Each person pays the hostess for supplies – $10 to $20 typically works well but it depends on the project.

Things work out nicely when the hostess provides the supplies so people don’t have to bring their own. However, if they want to bring something special (like a particular craft paper) that’s fine too.

The hostess should also be the instructor but the hostess can switch from person to person each month.

It’s a good idea to email the invites and have recipients RSVP by a certain date so the hostess can get everything ready. Also consider requiring those who RSVP pay the fee even if they don’t show up.

You can also host the group at a place where you can rent space if you have little room in your house.

Have others bring the food. We recommend keeping it simple and nothing too messy!
Set up supplies ahead of time, make sure you have plenty of space, and have extension cords ready if needed.

Complete an example of the project so others can mimic it. Also be sure to float around to help others when they have questions.

Consider dry time and the tools needed. Some projects may not be dry in time to do the whole thing in one session. And certain tools like a saw for wooden projects may not be the best idea in a group like this.

4. Your first meeting

Do something simple that doesn’t take long.

Plan for future meetings and brainstorm project ideas together. You can even vote on projects that people want to do in the future.

Act as if this is a trial run. It doesn’t have to be perfect but from the first meeting you’ll learn and be able to make changes for future meetings.

Start with just a few close friends so you don’t overwhelm yourself.

Do a project you’re confident with and can easily explain.

5. Why form a craft club?

To try things you wouldn’t normally do on your own

To learn new things from other creative people

To meet new friends in your area

To gain a social life and escape the stresses of life

To be inspired and get your creative spark back

6. Craft ideas

Holiday themed projects

Cards

Crochet

Jewelry

Get more ideas on Pinterest and get the whole group involved

Don’t let the planning part of a craft group hold you back from starting your own! Determining what type of group it will be with what type of people, switching hosts every month, planning it out as a group, and having a fun purpose behind it sets you up for success. The key is having fun. It doesn’t matter if there are slip ups or few people attend your first one. Make it fun anyway!

Tell us, do you have a craft group you’re part of? What are your best tips for starting one?

26 Killer Art Tips From Real Artists

By Nicole Tinkham and the Keeton’s Facebook fans

We’ve asked for our Facebook fan’s best art tips in the past (view them here) but the helpful tips we receive from talented and experienced artists is never ending and we just can’t get enough of what they have to say. These are artists who have been through it all. They’ve struggled, received negative feedback, experienced times of being totally stuck, and they keep getting back up and continue to do what they love every single day. We all could learn so much from these artists and lucky for us they love to share their best tips! Read on for 26 killer art tips from real artists.

1.    Don’t be afraid to fail. It’s ok to fail, it’s what you do after the failure that matters. Learn something new from it and move on. (Artist Vanessa)

2.    Recognize your small ember of creative spark. It may one day become a creative explosion. (Artist Tia)

3.    Do your art from your heart and do it out of joy. (Artist Terry)

4.    Learn from other artists, don’t be intimidated by them. And practice every day! (Artist Jamie)

5.    Always turn mistakes into an active part of your art. (Artist Tami)

6.    Invest in a good book to teach yourself. (Artist Jnett)

7.    Create something every day, even if it’s just a scribble on paper. Keep going until you see the beauty. (Artist CJ)

8.    Focus on what you like to do and keep doing it. (Artist Vera)

9.    Ask artist friends for advice. (Artist Vera)

10.    Keep your coffee mug and your paint cup separate. (Artist Jamie)

11.    Find someone who gives you encouragement versus critique. We learn better with positive energy around us. (Artist Diane)

12.    Never be too hard on yourself. (Artist Tina)

13.    Join an art class! Creating with others is more inspiring and fun. (Artist Chuck)

14.    Honor your true self and don’t worry about what others think.(Artist Karla)

15.    There are no mistakes – push yourself beyond what you think you can do. (Artist Chris)

16.    Create because you are happy doing it, not because you want to prove something to others. (Artist Zhel)

17.    Go for patience, not perfection! (Artist Denise)

18.    Don’t judge your work, just enjoy it. (Artist KC)

19.    Some things will turn out and some things won’t. Either way it’s ok. (Artist Sue)

20.    If you feel it, do it and get it out. (Artist Cynthia)

21.    Never, ever give up. (Artist Rita)

22.    Try everything! (Artist Hayley)

23.    Keep doing your artwork every single day. (Artist Sandra)

24.    Set goals for improvement. (Artist Renee)

25.    Say to yourself “I AM an artist”. (Artist Renee)

26.    Experiment after you learn the basics. (Artist Charles)

There you have it. 26 Tips from real artists who have survived the struggles, learned from them, and are now sharing them to help you move past the difficult times that come with being an artist. This right here is a list to print out and read over whenever you hit a tough place. While all of these are excellent tips, our favorite has got to be having fun. Whether it’s in your art or any other hobby you pick up, always enjoy life.

6 Ways To Get Motivated And Finish Your Artwork

By Nicole Tinkham

“Art Attack: The overwhelming feeling of having so many creative ideas at once and not enough time to do them.”

Many of our artist friends experience these “art attacks” and feel totally overwhelmed. They stop what they’re doing to begin something new and have a difficult time getting back to previous artwork to finish them up. Or sometimes they go into a piece excited about it and get stuck halfway through. Maybe they aren’t sure how to do a particular technique and they lose their drive. Regardless of what’s causing them to stop a project, artists have SEVERAL unfinished pieces, according to our Facebook poll. There are some artists with 50+ projects that they can’t seem to get around to finishing! With that being the top issue we’ve been hearing about lately, read on for 6 ways to get motivated and finish your artwork.

1.    Remember your strengths

It’s a fact. When we’re really good at something, we are more motivated to do it. So if you’re stuck on a project, ask yourself how you can make your special talents shine to finish it off. If you just don’t know what to do next, look at some of your favorite artwork that you’ve done in the past. What do you like most about them? Can you incorporate that into your current piece?

If it’s a lack of skill that’s holding you back but you already have an idea of what you want to do, you need to study it! Look up YouTube videos, browse books, ask artist friends, or take a class. Fill your mind with knowledge and practice it every day until you get it. It may be a challenge but remember that the little stumbles along the way mean you’re growing and improving.

Take action: List out the skills and techniques you’re really good at. This will not only give you some ideas for the unfinished project but it will also boost your confidence. You may even be inspired to learn something new.

2.    Do it for fun

Sometimes what holds us back from completing artwork is the fear of messing up. You may notice that it’s more difficult to finish artwork that you’re making for someone else or trying to sell. But when it’s just for fun and you do it because you want to, you’re free to be loose and play a little more. Take the pressure off yourself and remember why you choose to do this every day, because you enjoy it and have fun with it.

Take action: Look back at some of your early artwork, the work that you did while learning, experimenting, and playing. You were creating these simply because you enjoyed doing it. You had no other agenda. Remember the feeling you get when you create just to create and apply that to the work you’re struggling to finish. Remember there are no mistakes in art, only happy accidents.

3.    Adjust your environment

The place in which you create has a huge impact on how you work. Have you ever noticed that a certain song, place, sound, scent, time of day, or emotion gets you in the mood to create? These are like triggers telling your body you need to be doing it. So if you’re feeling a little off one day, it could be your surroundings. Before getting out that painting from the past, set the mood and get in your creative place.

Take action: Take a look around you. Are you in a creative space? Is there anything distracting in the area? Do you have good lighting? Take everything into consideration. If this doesn’t work, try something different. Take your work outside if you’re used to working in the studio. This often times brings new inspiration.

4.    Set a deadline

We admit, the word “deadline” feels way too structured when it comes to having fun with your artwork but sometimes a set date is exactly what you need to get moving on a project. Set goals for yourself, get focused, and aim to meet those deadlines! Even if the artwork is just for you, still set deadlines that you’ll strive to meet. Having an accountability partner can help you with this. Check in with that person to keep on track with getting it done.

Take action: Take a look at the projects you want to finish up within in the next few months. Now open up your calendar and set a date that you will have them done by. Be sure to set progress deadlines as well for larger projects so you can see how far you’ve come and be sure you’re still on track with the big deadline.

5.    Leave your comfort zone

Doing something totally out of the norm could cause new creative ideas to spring up. When you try something new and even a bit scary, you take yourself out of your element which could benefit your artwork as well as yourself. Your “something scary” doesn’t have to be art related though. Any different experience can cause a shift in your thinking. This shift could bring about new creative ideas for that project you’ve been putting off.

Take action: Make a commitment to something you’ve never done before that takes you out of your comfort zone. Sign up for a class, take a trip, or attend an event that you normally wouldn’t.

6.    Get focused

Sometimes what holds us back from getting things done are distractions. Have you ever experienced artist ADD where you stop halfway through a project to begin on another project that just popped into your head?  It’s difficult to stop that creative mind of yours (and we wouldn’t necessarily want you to) but we recommend getting super focused on the project at hand. Eliminate all distractions including your phone! If a creative idea pops into your head jot it down in your sketch book and continue with your project.

Take action: Get your unfinished piece out and everything you need to work on it. Make sure all other unfinished work is out of sight so you can focus on the one you’re planning to finish.

We think it’s great that you have so many creative ideas that you can’t keep up with them all. We don’t want you to stop being creative but we also know that having a ton of unfinished artwork can be overwhelming. Plus, it’s important to show completed pieces that you’ve been working on! Every artist has their own way of working and we completely understand that. Some artists work well on multiple projects at once. Try these helpful ways to get motivated to finish your artwork but choose to go with a method that works best for you. Sometimes no matter what you do, you just can’t get motivated at all. If a piece is doing nothing for you, paint over it! Do something different with it. Take it in a new direction. We are always changing and something we were once excited for may not give us that feeling anymore. There’s nothing wrong with going with the changes and evolving as an artist.

Whether you finish a piece of artwork or not, just remember to keep creating! Don’t allow yourself to get so caught up in a particular piece that you no longer want to create.

How To Find Inspiration Without Comparing Yourself To Others

By Nicole Tinkham

There is a fine line between being inspired by another artist and comparing yourself to another artist. One can lift you up and take your artwork to a new level and the other can leave you crashing down, wanting to give up. No matter what area of your life (art related or otherwise) that you’re trying to improve upon, the journey can be a rollercoaster ride. One minute you feel like a total rock star ready to take on the world and the next you feel worthless. Have you ever experienced this? If you’re wondering what the happy medium between being inspired and comparing yourself is, we have the answer! Here’s the FIRST THING you need to do when taking a look at another artist’s work.

Remember that everyone is on their own journey

Everyone is at a different stage of their journey. You cannot compare yourself to a professional artist of 30 years when you’re only on day #1 of your art journey. That’s like comparing a child just learning to ride a bike to Lance Armstrong. That just sounds silly, right? Even with the same number years of experience, you still can’t compare yourself to someone else simply because you are not them. The number of years has nothing to do with it. How much time does this other artist put into their artwork and how often do they take the time to learn new techniques? It’s hard to say and unless you are that person, you don’t know for sure. Another big component of success is mental. If you’re not in the right mindset, it is very difficult to move forward. Again, you have no idea what this other artist’s mindset is like. You cannot compare.

There are so many variables that go into really great artwork. It’s easy to make up stories about other people and how they got to where they are today but it’s impossible to know the real story. Don’t even waste your time trying to figure it out or stressing and worrying over it. It’s also easy to make up stories about yourself and why you aren’t as good or why you never sell any of your artwork. These stories are not your reality! Remember that you have the power to change your story. Start speaking with confidence and that alone will go a long way.

Put your blinders on

If you find yourself getting too distracted by the other incredible artists around you, get laser focused on your own work! Spend some extra time learning a new technique or try something that you’ve never done before. How can you push yourself to new levels? We also recommend picking up a personal development book to help you work on your mindset. This will go a long way in helping you grow as a person and build up your confidence. Be consistent with your personal development and get it in every day!

Be open to learn something new

There’s always something new to be learned. It’s ok to look to others for inspiration as long as you don’t compare yourself to them. Instead of saying “I wish I was that talented”, start saying “I will learn how to do that”. Always ask questions. Ask other artists, look it up in books, YouTube videos, or Google it. The answers are out there and you can do anything you really want to with a little research and practice.

The key to finding art inspiration without comparing yourself to other artists is to remember that everyone’s different. You will never be just like anyone else and no one else will ever be just like you. That’s a good thing! Find your unique qualities and skills and use them to your advantage. Play around and discover what you’re really good at and allow yourself to shine! Embrace imperfections and keep working on yourself.

Tell us, when you do look to another artist for inspiration who inspires you most? Let us know in the comments!