Jenna Benn Shersher, Founder and CEO of Twist Out Cancer (TOC), was midway through her cancer treatment and feeling isolated. A dance lover, she created a video of herself doing the twist and asked her friends to join her on a virtual dance floor. It was the power of sharing and having a support community that so benefited her that she wanted to share. After completing treatment, she wanted to give back in a meaningful way. And Twist Out Cancer was born.

As TOC describes on their website: “Twist Out Cancer offers the platform, tools, and community—both online and offline—for anyone touched by cancer to feel connected to a community, and for many to take action. A labor of love, Twist Out Cancer is a volunteer-led organization boasting a network of volunteers serving as ambassadors in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, Tel Aviv, Montreal, and Toronto.” One of the innovative ways that TOC connects the community to those impacted by cancer is through their Brushes with Cancer program.

Brushes with Cancer is a four-month program that strategically matches artists with those touched by cancer to create unique pieces of artwork reflective of their personal journey with cancer. It’s a global community of previvors (individuals who are genetically predisposed to cancer), survivors, caregivers, supporters, and artists.

Brushes with Cancer (BWC) pairs an artist with an “Inspiration” and they connect in person, via FaceTime, on the phone, or by email. Their relationships are guided and supported by mentors, who are often clinicians who are there to create a system of support for both the artist and inspiration. The program finishes with an art exhibition, gala, and auction where the artwork is unveiled and auctioned. What started as a small art exhibition in Chicago for 20 artists and Inspirations has now become an international program with people involved globally.

We Were Inspired!

Who doesn’t know someone who has had or has cancer? It’s pervasive and comes in so many forms—some many don’t even think of as cancer and some so rare that they aren’t part of our awareness until someone has it. Bringing awareness through art and creating a community of support along the way is truly inspiring. We wanted to know more.

We met with August Spree, TOC Executive Board Member and Director of Programs, and artist Karen Kingsolver to get a couple of inside viewpoints on the Brushes with Cancer program. Of course, since the whole TOC concept is built on the belief that when you share, the world opens up, they both were eager to tell their stories.

August came to BWC unexpectedly when a friend gave her a ticket to one of the galas. She loved the artwork and as a 10-year cancer survivor herself, she was moved by what she was experiencing. She describes, “The poignancy of the program, creating beauty from pain using art, touched my soul on a deeper level than I was even able to express at that time. This was what I had been looking for within the cancer community; a way to be involved in something personal, something creative, something with a healing quality.” Then one day, she was invited to be an Inspiration in the 2014 Brushes program.

In her words, what August came to realize is that she was “able to lay out all of my journey, the fears, the struggles, and the victories, without judgment, criticism or emotional reaction. And while I shared, I could feel myself coming to terms with my own experiences.” Things she hadn’t shared with family or even her closest friends were now spoken for the first time with her artist — and became the muse for the artwork that was unveiled. It was a healing experience for August and today working with Twist Out Cancer, she brings that experience to others over and over again.

A match: beauty from sharing

With an amazing career and background in behavioral medicine and psychology, Karen Kingsolver uses many art modalities including poetry, theater, clay, and mark-making to teach and support palliative and surgical physicians at several universities including Duke, and the universities of North Carolina and Michigan. She was inspired by the Brushes with Cancer program and applied to be an artist simply wanting to contribute. She had no idea her Inspiration would have such a profound impact on her life, nor did she anticipate the astonishing bond she would feel with her Inspiration.

Karen enlisted an artist friend, Beverly Dyer, and together they worked with her Inspiration over the months preceding the gala and, as it turned out her Inspiration’s death. The instant connection Karen felt with her Inspiration had Karen sketching and writing in journals to capture her Inspiration’s insights and wisdom. She filled most of a journal in the months they talked. Her Inspiration was going through intense difficulties and yet often was asking courageous questions such as “How do you find gratitude when you are so very sick?” and “Life has set me some big and impossible terms, so how do I keep enjoying life, while I am still living?” “Love runs through it,” was yet another one of the things Karen would hear when they connected. That and “you can invent a shiny Facebook story that ignores the truth, hides difficulties. Or, you can keep searching to transform things, to shine a light on what’s happened to you.”

Karen’s Inspiration was honored in memoriam during the Brushes with Cancer Detroit celebration in 2019. Today, as Karen reflects on the experience, she says, “She was, from the moment I met her, such an Inspiration and I told her that frequently. My Inspiration thought deeply about the big questions such as how to live your life, how to be real, and who to make time for, and who to let go. Her beauty and depth were totally unexpected.” Karen continues to be involved with BWC and is looking forward to meeting her next inspiration and creating another piece of art with that person this Spring. 

It’s the art that makes a difference

August recounts the interplay between the artists and their Inspirations she has watched so many times over the years since she walked into that first BWC gala. “An artist creates from their own viewpoint, from their experiences and inspirations. With the Brushes program, they tap into someone else and create from their viewpoint. It’s magic to see!”

As is frequently the case with art, there is a healing and a creation of awareness and revelation in the process. Not only do the Brushes pairs feel the power in their relationship and the art that has been created, but the program engages others. From stimulating interest in art at all levels to creating broader and more impactful cancer awareness while encouraging greater community involvement, the outcomes all make a difference.

We couldn’t end more perfectly than with a quote from the BWC brochure: “Brushes with Cancer is a celebration of survivorship and hope through art, music, and storytelling.”

__________________________________

About Twist Out Cancer

Established in 2011 as a non-profit organization, Twist Out Cancer® offers the platform, tools and community – both online and offline – for anyone touched by cancer to feel connected to a community, and for many to take action. Twist Out Cancer was founded on the principle that when you share, the world opens up. Since its inception, the organization has touched over 22,000 people around the world through its programs and events. A labor of love, Twist Out Cancer is a volunteer-led organization boasting a network of over 200 active volunteers serving as ambassadors in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, Austin, Tel Aviv, Toronto, and Montreal. More information is available at www.twistoutcancer.org.

About Brushes with Cancer

Brushes with Cancer® is the signature program of Twist Out Cancer® which provides psychosocial support to individuals touched by cancer through a unique art experience. The program matches those touched by cancer (Inspirations) with artists to create a unique piece of artwork that reflects their personal journey with cancer. Each pair is matched with a mentor which is typically a clinical psychologist or social worker that oversees the relationship development and helps to ensure that each participant is supported and heard. Since 2012, there have been over 400 works of art created and over 30,000 individuals impacted by the program. More information is available at www.twistoutcancer.org.

For media inquiries, please contact Joshua Taustein at josh@twistoutcancer.org.

To bring Brushes with Cancer to your community, please contact Amelia Hanrahan at amelia@twistoutcancer.org.

The post Artist Pairings: Brushes with Cancer Opens More Than Hearts appeared first on Art Business News.

Placeit

Looking to get your logo out into the world so you can share it on social media? This is an easy to use tool that will save you launching a whole photoshoot. With Placeit you can drop your logo or product into an authentic-feeling environment without the hassle. Their vast array of stock images provides plenty of options, and their video template option lets you create gifs that have your logo at the heart of them as well! This is a quality service but it’ll cost you: $14.95 for a month or invest in a year for $99.95

Live Mockups

If you want access to mockups but Placeit seems a little pricey, Live Mockups is a simple tool with a handy free option. Dale Coello, a business blogger at DraftBeyond and Last Minute Writing, explains that “by uploading text and background images and combining them with Live Mockups’ stock library you can create great images for your social media. You’re creating something beautiful and improving your visibility at the same time.” Okay, until you splash out on a paid account, the images are going to be watermarked but this is a good tool for getting started. Premium is an affordable $5 a month.

Canva

Canva features tons of templates so you can get to work creating great images for your social media without the steep learning curve you sometimes hit when working with a new tool. Canva has loads of customizable options, so you’ll be able to create something really unique. The drag and drop interface makes designing a breeze—size your image however you like and select from a wide range of fonts to suit your style.

Skitch

Skitch is a screengrab tool with a broad functionality that will let you share a hint of whatever you’re working on to your social media. With Skitch, easily loaded through keyboard shortcuts, you can draw an area of the screen to record, creating a still image or a gif if you want something a little more dynamic. Then you can play around with what you’ve got—for example, annotating it to add an extra dimension of information or blurring whatever you want to obscure.

PowerPoint

Last encountered when you had that big presentation back in your school days, PowerPoint might not be the first thing that springs to mind among artists as an image creating tool. But think of a slide as an image, and suddenly PowerPoint reveals itself as a familiar tool that can create a wide variety of images for social media! Images can be imported into slides as background, text, graphics, and icons are on-hand to be overlaid. As an added bonus you’re probably already familiar with it so you can get started creating right away!

Easel.ly

One of the most attention-grabbing pieces of content you can share is the infographic and Easel.ly’s intuitive tool lets you whip these up in a flash. “Starting with a template speeds things up, but they’re so customizable you’ll always end up with something unique,” says Louis Murrin, journalist at Writinity and Researchpapersuk. “Images, charts, and icons are amongst the vast selection of options on Easel.ly. I rarely get more likes than from one of these creations!”

Smush.it

Once you’ve created your masterpiece it’s time to share it, but large file sizes and slow loading times are a huge barrier to engagement when people are scrolling through a social media feed. That’s why bringing your file down to size can be an essential element of content creation and Smush. It is the perfect tool. Simply upload your work and watch the magic happen as your file shrinks without a compromise on quality.

As an artist, you’re always creating. Add these tools to your repertoire to create fantastic images in quick-time and supercharge your social media.

Cheri.S.Jones is an aspiring entrepreneur and business writer at Finance Assignments and Gumessays.com. She loves all things creative and works with traditional and digital materials to create art that explores the relationship between identity and technology.

The post 7 Top Tools to Make Stunning Gifs and Images for Social Media appeared first on Art Business News.

But, what happens if you fail to get the people to engage? In that case, you need to improve your social media strategy. Here are 6 tips to help you as an artist engage your social media audience.

Let’s take a closer look.

1. Share The Process of Creation

People who follow you on social media already admire your work. If you want to give them something special to truly enjoy, show them how you work. “Behind the scenes” of creating a piece of art will make people feel:

• special
• included
• invited into your world

In addition, they’ll feel like they’re getting to know you and your art better. Share videos or images of how you create a piece of art from beginning to end. Try a time-lapse video for extra excitement and fun.

2. Story Behind the Work

Storytelling is another strong tool artists can use to engage their social media audience. It implies sharing the story behind the piece of art and telling people about:

• the inspiration to create it
• its true meaning
• the secrets it holds
• the reason you made it

Once again, you’ll be letting people step into your world and give them a reason to connect to you and your work. This will inspire them to comment, share, like, and communicate with you more freely.

3. Live Videos

Everyone would love to have a face-to-face meeting with their favorite artist. Luckily, social media gives you the chance to connect to your followers using live videos. Live videos can be perfect for increasing engagement. All you have to do is:

• announce it in advance
• set a goal or purpose of the session
• invite people to join you

You can discuss your upcoming events, talk about your latest work, and answer questions from followers. This will bring you even closer to them and help you create a stronger bond with them. Therefore, use live videos whenever you have a good reason to do so.

4. Master Classes

Your audience isn’t only made up of people who love and appreciate art as viewers. There are those who are artists as well, and look up to you or see you as a role model. To increase engagement with that part of your audience, you might think about offering educational content such as masterclasses. Make an IGTV, Facebook, or YouTube video and teach them about:

• improving their painting
• being more confident with their art
• different techniques
• quality art equipment and tools
• anything they’d enjoy

These online workshops and training can be extremely valuable to your followers. They’ll be able to learn from you and advance as artists themselves. And in the process, you’ve made them even more loyal to you.

5. Promote Your Work

Your work is what makes you the artist you are. Social media serves as a space where you get to promote your work and show it to the world online. Presenting your work is what will get your followers engaged. All you need to do is:

• post images and videos of your latest work
• ask for feedback
• read the comments and answer them

Make sure that you truly embrace what your followers are telling you and pay attention to their perception of your work.

6. Be Social

Finally, there’s one last tip we want to share with you and it’s a big one. In order to get your followers to engage with you more, you need to reciprocate. They need to see how social, interested, and open for communication you are. And any time you are communicating, make sure that everything you write or post is proofread and accurate. That means that you should:

• answer their messages
• respond to their comments
• thank them for their support
• respond to every action they make

This way, you’re showing them that you welcome their engagement and, in turn, you inspire them to keep up the same way.

Final Thoughts

As an artist, it’s up to you to motivate your followers to increase their engagement towards you via social media. Use the tips we’ve listed above to start improving your relationship with your followers and we’re sure you’ll see the improvement sooner than you expect.

Author’s bio. Daniela McVicker is a passionate digital marketer. Daniela is interested in everything related to SEO and blogging. She contributes to Essayguard and other websites where she shares her experience and helps marketers make their names in the online world.

The post 6 Tips for Artists to Engage Their Social Media Audience appeared first on Art Business News.

However, to successfully advertise your art on a website, blog, or social media page, it’s essential to craft innovative descriptions for every piece, making it inviting for visitors to purchase your creations. When trying to sell your art, the more information you provide to potential clients about a particular piece, the easier it is to convince them to make a purchase.

In this article, we’ll be sharing some surefire pointers on how to write fascinating art descriptions for your artwork that will boost sales.

Define the Inspiration behind Your Art

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but when it comes to selling that picture, it may require more than a couple of words to convey your message to the buyer. How you describe the muse behind your art can elevate the appeal of your designs. There are no set guidelines for product descriptions, but a general rule of thumb is that it needs to be alluring.

Begin with describing the source of your inspiration, be it a historic event, a person, a unique experience, or just something that appealed to you. Don’t just reference being inspired by an event, explain how that experience influenced your design, from shadow play and lighting to your chosen color palette. Describe how it impacted your perception of pigments and color as an artist and influenced the tiny details that are significant to the artwork as a whole.

You can explain why you choose a specific texture or the particular aesthetic you were aiming for and how the color palette helped you achieve the finished product. Let the words flow, and you can make adjustments to the final draft when you’ve arrived on the desired emotion you’re aiming to convey.

Include the Bare Facts

Once you’ve covered the inspirational aspect of your artwork description, it’s time to focus on more factual details. For this, place yourself in your customer’s shoes and consider the kind of information you’d wish to acquire before finalizing a purchase. This would include most of the physical details, such as:

• The accurate dimensions of the piece
• Materials used in creating the artwork
• The kind of procedure involved
• Explain the delivery process/method

The good news is, you can follow this formula for all the art listings that go on your website or blog with minor tweaks depending on the piece of art. Consider every possible detail that the customer would like to know and explain it in a clear description, so there is no ambiguity or confusion.

Finally, create a Call to Action (CTA) to motivate the desired response from your potential clients; at the end of the description, encourage them to directly reach out to you for any further questions or queries.

Use the Right Keyword (But Don’t Go Overboard)

Before you begin to draft the perfect description for your art piece, it’s recommended to pick the most suitable keywords or phrases that customers may use to search for art like yours. People often choose to skip this approach, but search engine marketing is possibly one of the most cost-effective marketing methods today. This requires you to do some keyword research, so you know the right terms to include in your description before the piece goes up for sale.

Once you’ve selected the appropriate key phrases, you can scatter them throughout your product description, as long as the text makes sense. The ideal frequency would be 2 to 3 times maximum. Exceeding that limit would classify as keyword-stuffing and can blatantly risk your Google rankings, as well as turn away any potential clients.

When optimizing your art descriptions, you can also seek the expertise of a digital marketing agency or a marketing expert. Their experience and knowledge of the industry might save you from errors in boosting SEO; they will elevate your art description technically so that maximum potential clients view your work.

Add an Inviting But Searchable Product Title to Your Creation

The right keyword is not only incorporated in the body of the description but the title of your art piece as well. When considering a title for your artwork, it’s important to include a keyword that relates to the context of your art. You want the title to describe the finished product and for viewers to be able to understand the image through the title. This is especially important when selling your art online since most art collectors or buyers search for pieces using specific keywords. Therefore, if your title does not consist of the relative keyword, it could affect your chances of being found online. The search engine algorithm will naturally skip your artwork if it lacks the appropriate keyword, and your piece will not show up in the search results.

Your descriptions may fall on the wordier side, but that’s okay. You may address the different aspects of your artwork and the creative process as eloquently as you wish. Just remember, you want your story to succeed in capturing the viewer’s attention and prompt them to seal the deal. With beautifully written descriptions, your sales will never have to suffer again. Play around with words and be sure to express your journey as an artist in a way that resonates with collectors and helps them emotionally connect with your artwork. 

In a Nutshell

In the end, it’s essential to be equally creative with your words as you are with your art. When you’ve got a compelling story to tell within your description, it’s guaranteed to grasp the attention of art enthusiasts and collectors. People look for something with feeling, and if you manage to effectively deliver a powerful message, there will always be a shower of praise on your doorstep. Keep creating compelling descriptions for your artwork, and you will never be out of commission again!

Author Bio: 
Arslan Hassan is an electrical engineer with a passion for writing, designing and anything tech related. His educational background in the technical field has given him the edge to write on many topics. He occasionally writes blog articles for Dynamologic Solutions, a software house in Pakistan.    

The post How to Write Art Descriptions That Will Sell Your Art appeared first on Art Business News.

Now that you have picked the platform, you need to create a strategy that will increase your audience. Here are nine steps to follow to make your art gallery marketing strategy a masterpiece.

1. It’s a journey not a destination

You want to document the process of what goes into your art gallery or the art itself. To do this, take pictures of the journey. It can be progress pictures or a time-lapse from start to finish. Your audience will enjoy seeing the process as it adds a human aspect.

Your marketing strategy needs to incorporate a variety of images. Yes, you want to post photos of your finished product, but add in pictures of the process as well, your audience will appreciate the work behind your final product.

2. Track your audience engagement

Engagement on Instagram is measured by likes, comments, and shares. Even if you post regularly, which is vital, you’ll notice a difference in engagement within your posts. The Instagram algorithm is ever-changing so you’ll want to develop a community within your profile to assure your posts will be seen by your followers. The best way to build a community is to follow people, and engage with your followers by liking and commenting on their posts and replying to comments on your own posts.

You do not need tangible incentives, like free products, to engage followers. They are following you for the potential content you will share, so make sure it is relatable, unique, and true to your brand. Instagram also allows you to take your creativity further by captioning your images. Use humor, history, or personal stories to captivate your audience, and don’t forget to include hashtags!

You can try and facilitate a conversation on your Instagram picture, as well. There are many ways to get people liking, sharing, and commenting on your posts. Make sure to pick one and watch your engagement soar.

3. Your Instagram art gallery feed should look cohesive

Luckily with an art gallery, you will and should have a lot of images to choose from. It is essential that your Instagram feed looks professional, elegant, and memorable when someone visits your profile. Use filters, plan your content, and use different apps to spruce up your feed.

You also want to make sure that the content on your feed is well written and proofread. Try tools like Best Writing Services, Thesis Writing Service, and State Of Writing to ensure your posts are ready for the masses.

4. Always improve through analysis

Pay attention to your competitors on Instagram. There will always be accounts with more followers, but that does not necessarily mean they have strong engagement. Analyze your competition, take note of what you like (and dislike) about their accounts and see what you can improve on your own end.

Once you figure out what works, try and incorporate it into your posts. That is not to say steal their ideas, especially if it is attached to their brand. However, you may find strategies that work well for them. For example, you may discover that quoting a famous author every other post is exciting for your audience. Improve your profile by utilizing the explore section to examine other pages on Instagram.

5. High-quality content

This one is a no-brainer. Try to take the highest quality photos you can. That doesn’t mean the highest pixel either. Pay attention to the borders of your photo, and the angles, among other things.

Clive Kutter, an Instagram expert from Academized and UK Services Reviews, says, “if you are serious about producing the highest quality photos, you may want to use a software program. There are so many out there for free, or you can pay for a premium one.”

6. Using proper tags

Make sure you are using hashtags on every post. You want to make sure the hashtags are relevant to what you are posting. If you use random ones, then Instagram’s algorithm will pick up on that, and it may affect your performance.

For example, if you have a painting of flowers, do not hashtag the word beach.

If you need help figuring out what hashtags to use, take a look at what your competitors are using. Find out what hashtags get the most engagement and stick with them.

7. Using social influencers and endorsers

Instagram influencers are easy to find. In the last few years, the number of social influencers has skyrocketed. Research and find a social influencer that enjoys art. Instagram allows you to direct message profiles, making it easy to develop relationships with influencers. It may cost a bit, but it may be the best way for you to get your brand exposed to a vast audience quickly.

8. Sharing other people’s work

Support other artists or galleries in your social network. Find someone you admire, it could be a friend or an inspiration and share their work with your following. In return, they may share your work to their audience. Seeing men and women support each other on a social platform shows your followers that you are connected in your community and care about the success of fellow artists.

David Green, a social media manager from Student Writing Services and Essayroo, offers some advice, “you can also go out of your niche and find someone that has a page you like. If you share their things, they may share yours as well. If they share yours, you may pick up new audience members you may have never gotten.”

9. Use Instagram Stories

Instagram has an impressive feature called Stories. You can share a picture or video through Stories and they will remain on your profile for 24 hours. This is a great way to engage your audience. Stories allow you to take videos, so get creative! Show your audience a new piece you are working on, talk about your inspiration behind it, and utilize the features within stories to get feedback on your work. This is an awesome way to humanize your page and elevate your content. By exposing your personality, it will allow your followers to get to know you, which could lead to higher engagement.

Follow these nine marketing strategy steps to make your Instagram art gallery profile a masterpiece!

 A tech journalist for BoomEssays and Australian Help, Aimee Laurence, enjoys all things gadgets. Her area of expertise is email writing and conversions. In her spare time, Laurence works as a freelance editor for Essay Services.

The post Make Your Art Gallery Marketing Strategy a Masterpiece on Instagram appeared first on Art Business News.

“We created the [PLATFORM] Artist of the Year contest to empower talented artists and introduce their work to the world,” says Eric Smith, president and CEO of Redwood Media Group. “We had really wonderful artists submit their work, so it was a tough decision to make, and we are really excited to provide this opportunity to Kevin Grass, a very gifted artist.”

The entrants’ work was judged by a panel of esteemed art-industry insiders: Mary Ann Cohen, James Lambert, James Baird, and Smith. The panel considered originality, sense of composition, creativity, technical skill, use of materials and light, commercial appeal, and overall impact of the artwork when judging the work.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: KEVIN GRASS
Artist Kevin Grass was announced the winner of the [PLATFORM] Artist of the Year Awards and will receive prizes valued at $65,000, including a $10,000 cash advance against future royalties, a publishing and licensing contract with Art Brand Studios, and numerous exhibition opportunities at Redwood Media Group’s 2016–2017 shows.

“I feel very honored that I was chosen as the winner the first year of the [PLATFORM] Awards among all of the talented artists that entered,” said Grass. “I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity and to see what comes next.”

Grass, a full-time Assistant Professor of Art at St. Petersburg College in Clearwater, Florida, paints representational landscape and surrealistic figure paintings. He has been interested in art since he was a young child and, while in high school, he spent time on a wide variety of commissioned works, ranging from portraits and landscapes to campaign signs and car decorations. He exhibits his work throughout the East and Southeast, including the Evan Lurie Gallery in Carmel, Indiana. Grass’s work has been purchased for museum, corporate, public, and private collections throughout the United States and in Europe.

Art Brand Studios is excited to work with Grass and thinks his work has tremendous appeal and opportunity. Art Brand Studios will be providing not only art publishing, but also collaboration with Grass, offering him a comprehensive set of tools from retail placement to marketing strategy, propelling his art, and building his brand and market reach in the art industry.

FINALISTS
Julie Schumer – Three Figure Study No. 10
Rae Broyles – Dreaming of Tibet
Sara Conca – Virtue
Flavio Galvan – Way Over Yonder
Jeremy Sicile-Kira – My Future Girlfriend
Veronica Leiton – Invisible Realities
David Gonzales – Primal
Leon Oks – Anticipation
Sergio Valenzuela – Giros

SPECIAL CATEGORY WINNERS
Sculpture:
Jean-Jacques Porret – Pretense
Steven Lustig – Stacked Torso

Photography:
George Saitas – Nuclear
Charleen Baugh – Multicolored Reflections

Mixed Media:
Mary Hong – Abstract in Blue
Beth Goldberg – Keeping the Beat

Glass:
Alexis Silk – Electric Suspense
Elizabeth Dunlop – Turquoise Totem II

Save

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