VWS additional information for juried postcard SVAC, and some imaging info.

Hello again

I forgot to clarify a few things about the request for postcard images for Southern Vermont Art Center:

SVAC puts together a catalog for the year- hence the early jurying for the postcard. CDs are for ONE image per person. Please label with your name, title, size price of painting, and contact info- email, phone, address.

I've been asked about how to make a CD and getting images of your paintings a lot, so here's a brief overview:


People make CDs by various means- usually you go to a place where they can scan or photograph your work and put it on a CD.
Ask for several versions for your use. One at low resolution (72dpi) that can go on a web site, One at high resolution (300dpi), full size, if you want something that can be printed. And if you don't know how to re-size an image, ask for a 4" x5" 300dpi version. When you get your CD home, put it into your computer and drag the images off the CD . Put them in a folder on your desktop or somewhere that you can find them. (Dragging them off the CD doesn't remove them-it just duplicates them). Eject the CD and store it someplace safe. To send something for a postcard or juried show, put a blank CD in your computer, drag the 4"x5" 300dpi image onto the blank CD dialogue, burn the CD and be sure to label it with the title(s), your name, painting size and price. If more than one image is on the CD, be sure the title of the image is the same as the title indicated on the CD. If you send #5409678, for instance, the juror won't know which painting that is. Guesses have been wrong! Check the CD to be sure your image actually got transferred. Blank CDs don't give you much of a chance. Again, this is just a copy- the image is still on your computer.

There are probably quite a few places you can get this work done for you- I only know of 2 where I live: Slide Specialists in W.Lebanon, N.H. or North Light Digital in White River Jct. Vt. (Tip Top building). Places that make copies , like Gnomon copy might also do this kind of work.

You can also take your own photos of your work, but it is a pretty special skill. Doing a web search for "photographing artwork" will get you a bunch of tutorials. I've seen quite a few home-created photos that don't do justice to the paintings, and may lower the chances that the work will be accepted by the juror. Typical problems are:
1. photo taken at an angle so painting looks smaller at one end.
2.Photo is blurry
3. frame is included in photo
4.colors are off (hard to get them right so they look good on someone else's screen)
5. photo is simply a number (see above)- no title

Etc.Etc. Not to be discouraging but if you want your art to look it's best in a digital image, you need to know what you are doing, or someone else should do it for you.

By the way, VWS DOES NOT jury artwork. Jurors are the gallery owners or someone independent hired by VWS to jury a show or images.

The image you send to Rob for Southern Vermont Art Center now is only for the post card. If you are chosen, you'll need to save that painting for the show in October. There will be another CD jury in the fall for the actual show.

I will likely do a VWS workshop of some sort on digital imaging next year if it looks like something useful for members.

Cheers,

Cindy

posted by Cynthia Crawford VWS president 2006-2008