How to Be an Artist

Learn how to be an artist. It is a lot simpler than you might think. Being an artist is fun to be able to make your own art and make money off your art but there are some business and administrative tasks involved. Keep reading, to learn more about how to be an artist.

How to Be an Artist 

Make art and sell it. I wish it were that simple but it doesn’t need to be overly complicated. Often artists, including myself, get caught up with the never ending to-do list and forget to focus on the basics of making art and selling it. The number one focus for artists should be to make art and to sell art. 

Make Art

No famous artist made a masterpiece the first time they made art. It takes time and practice like any new skill. It also takes awhile to define what you want to make art about. What do you want to be known for? What art do you like making? In order to answer those questions you have to make a lot of art and focus on that daily if not weekly. 

Market Art/Sell Art  

When you aren’t making art it is important to share about your art while growing a community of fans. Build your social media platforms by posting consistently, grow your email list by offering a freebie or discount like free shipping on artwork and share about what you are making. 

It’s important to share about your art and process 80% of the time and then sell to your audience for the other 20%. 

Decide where you want to sell your art. Start small and simple first. You can sell on your website, Etsy, Amazon or a print on demand website like Society6. You can also try selling at local art markets. 

Once you have established an email list, one social media platform and making and selling art you can begin to add other elements to extend your business as an artist. Here are some ideas below:

How to Be an Artist - Ideas 

• Affiliate marketing 

• YouTube or Podcast

• A blog 

• Selling art on another platform

• Adding another social media platform 

• Apply to artist awards/grants 

• Apply to artist residencies 

• Apply to art exhibitions

• Reach out to stores to pitch your artwork 

• Teach a course or a workshop on an art technique you use

As you can see there are lots of possibilities for how to be an artist. There is also no right way to become an artist. 

If you want to get into art school and need help with you art portfolio application click on the links below:

Art portfolio prompts to help you with ideas of what to include

Art portfolio coaching to answer questions and help you prepare your portfolio

Join the waitlist for my art portfolio course - helping you to submit a portfolio confidently and without stress!

Click here to download my FREE guide with 10 tips for creating your art portfolio for school applications!

Connect with me on social media by clicking on one of the icons below! Best of luck with your journey to becoming an artist! 

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Check out my YouTube channel and subscribe 

Check out my art shop

Check out my art prints

Get on the —> Art Portfolio Course Waitlist

My Art Goals Examples

Here are some tangible art goals examples to feel inspired when it comes to making your own art goals. You can change and adjust your art goals through out the year. You don’t need to wait for January 1st to make your art goals happen! Check out my art goals examples below! 

My Art Goals Examples 

Post consistently to social media (5x a week to instagram, 3-4x to facebook, every day to Pinterest, twice a month to my email list, blog post 3-4x a month, YouTube 2x a month), TikTok weekly 

Social media takes time. I recently started a tiktok - Jackie Partridge Art.  I would like to try paid ads this year 

Apply to art calls twice a month - I want to have more exhibitions this year!

I have been getting more exhibitions and artist grants since I have been consistently applying to art application calls. 

Spend time in nature for inspiration- I find this really helps with my art practice.

Once a month Gordie and I made it a habit of hiking, campinging or walking outside. I’ve taken lots of photos that I have shared on Instagram

Make consistent art sales- I would love my art to be my main source of income. I would like to match my current teaching income before the end of 2022. These are my current streams of revenue:

1. Art grants/awards and artist fees

2. Art workshops and coaching 

3. Selling art teaching resources on Teachers Pay Teachers

4. Selling my original art 

5. Selling my cyanotype prints on Society6

Set boundaries for teaching for more work life balance- no work on Friday nights and Saturdays, no emails past 5pm, no marking on the weekend. No working camps.

This past summer I worked the month of July at a day camp at my school. I was very intentional not to start working on school stuff until the end of August so that I could have a break from school. Make art during school breaks- I plan on not working at camps this year so that I have more time to focus on my art and business. 

Make art each month- I want to get back to making art each month. It is something that I put off like exercising. I want to be able to prioritize both. 

2022 Goals 

• Exercise 2x a week

• Match my teaching salary in my art income

• Purchase a Home 

• Have 5 exhibitions or publications 

• Grow my mailing list by 500 people 

• Grow my YouTube to 500 subscribers 

• Have 200 products in my TPT store

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If you found these art goals examples helpful please leave a comment below. Be sure to follow me on social media by clicking one of the icons below! 

10 Skills You Need to Become a Better Artist

10 skills you need to become a better artist - here they are -ready for you to put them into action! As an artist you are constantly balancing producing art and running a business. There are a lot of skills you need to be a successful artist. Here are my list of 10 skills to become a better artist below!

Skill #1 Confidence 

It is easy to think that everything has been done before, that you will never “make it” as an artist and that you are just wasting your time and money. You might even feel like you are not qualified enough or that you shouldn’t even apply to an exhibition because you probably won’t get in. It’s important to have confidence and faith in your artwork and in yourself as an artist. If you aren’t confident you will not want to put your art out there. You will not want to share it and you won’t receive art opportunities or money for your art.

Skill# 2 Time Management 

You need to be able to balance your time with making art and completing admin tasks like updating your website and social media, answering emails, updating photos, buying supplies, applying to artist calls and more. If you aren’t making art then you are not enjoying the reason why you wanted to become an artist in the first place. It is also hard to grow as an artist if you aren’t making any new work!

Skill #3 Patience 

I don’t think it’s possible to wake up one morning and all of a sudden you’re a famous artist and making money without having to do anything. It takes time and it takes work to happen!  Artists face a lot of rejections and disappointments in the art world. Just remember that your time will come! 

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Skill #4 Consistency 

In order to be good at anything it takes consistency. Consistent applications, social media posts, art making, etc. If you aren’t putting in the time and the consistent effort it will take longer to become a successful artist! 

Skill# 5 Ongoing Learning 

I am a teacher and I love learning. You can learn through YouTube (check out my painting channel), through books, courses and more. Brush up on learning new art techniques or business strategies to make your art business more successful! 

Skill# 6 Risk Taking 

You have to be able to fail and to learn from it. Try new materials, take a chance and step outside of your comfort zone. If you always do the same thing you can become stuck or bored and that’s not good either.

Skill #7 Writing and Communication

You have to be able to talk and write about your art. When you apply for grants or exhibitions often you need to write about your art clearly and concisely. When talking to people it could always lead into a networking opportunity further down the line. It’s important to know what to say when speaking about your art and share it proudly.

Skill #8 Money Mindset 

This relates to confidence but if you have issues with money it will be hard to make money as an artist. If you believe in the starving artist narrative then good luck trying to make consistent sales with your art! You need to start believing that you can make money with your art and that you can make as much as you want! 

Skill #9 Creativity 

You need creative ideas to be able to make something exciting and something that stands out. In the world of social media going viral can help your art. But if you are making art that looks like everyone else’s you won’t stand out. Be creative and do something different that is unique to you! 

Skill #10 Marketing and Business Strategy

In order to make sales you need to share what you are doing. You need to have a plan if you are launching a new piece of art or an art collection. You can’t just post about it once. It’s good to learn more about marketing and business if you are new to it! 

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I hope you found these skills to be helpful! Connect with me on social media for more great tips! 

3 Tips to Style a Shelf

3 tips to style a shelf so that you can display your art collection proudly in your home. Learn from artist Jackie Partridge on how you can display art on a shelf! Do you have open shelving in your home? Or maybe you would like to add shelves to display your art collection, family photographs, some candles and fresh cut flowers. Maybe you have even tried to style your shelves before and they just end up looking either too crowded or worse.. BORING!

With some knowledge about composition and art display you will be able to style better shelves in your home. Read my three tips below!

3 Tips to Style a Shelf

Tip 1 - to Style your shelf- Experiment and play

Part of styling is about having fun and arranging items to what you feel drawn to. Everyone has their own personal design style and this shows up in how we dress ourselves and how we decorate our homes. Through playing and experimenting you will naturally discover what your eye is drawn to and what you enjoy looking at. Remember the whole point of open shelving is displaying the items you love. Through the experimentation process you will discover what works by fiddling and tinkering until you find the spot that is just right for your objects. You can really play with different textures on a shelf by having a mixture of textured objects that interest you.

Tip 2- to Style your shelf-Add books

You can use books to stack them horizontally and put items on top of them to create different heights or levels. You can also display the books vertically by using hardcover books to stand up on their own or you can use book ends. A large heavy object like a plant can also act as a book end. Books help take up space and can be arranged as beautiful and colourful objects. They also look natural- we are used to seeing books on a shelf. You can arrange your books by size or even by colour. The Home Edit does a great job of arranging books by colour in what they call rainbow order. 

Tip 3 - to Style your shelf-Create variety and a focal point 

It helps to understand composition to make a styled shelf look beautiful and not too crowded. Even if you don’t understand composition just know that you need a focal point. You should aim to have one focal point per shelf. You can create a focal point on a shelf in a number of ways - including through contrast - dark objects next to light or soft next to rough etc. You should create space around the object you want to show off. You might pick an object that is larger or bright to be your focal point. The focal point should stand out from a distance and be what your eye is attracted to when you look at your display shelves. 

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Avoid these three things:

• Avoid making things look to symmetrical or perfect

• Avoid making the shelves look to crowded -just in an artwork there should be areas for you to rest your eyes

• Avoid keeping things the same-take a look at Pinterest for inspiration. You can follow some of my home decor and art displaying boards for ideas. With shelving you can change out items to add holiday or seasonal decor like flowers, leaves, pumpkins or pinecones. The possibilities are endless. Just remember you can rearrange your shelves at any time which is part of the fun! 

Follow me on Pinterest for more inspiration!

Need some art for your shelf? Check out the art in my shop!

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The Biggest Secret for a Struggling Artist

The biggest secret for a struggling artist is more common than your think! Being an artist is a difficult job. It's a journey and very much a marathon.

There are a lot of barriers to becoming a successful artist like; self doubt, your ego talking, imposter syndrome just to name a few. I’ll share the biggest secret for a struggling artist below! Read on!

Before you read on...I think some perspective is needed.

Images from Styled Stock Society

It is important to define what success looks like for you.  This is the BIGGEST secret for a struggling artist.

Do you want a new exhibition every week or one a month? Do you want an art sale every day or are you fine to have a couple a month or a year just as extra income?

Only you know what success means to you. Because it’s different for everyone! In order to stop feeling like a struggling artist you really need to define what success is going to look like for you! 

Here is my letter to the struggling artist  - you could even try writing a letter to yourself - it might be helpful.

Dear Struggling Artist,

I know things are hard right now. And you may be beating yourself up. Wondering when is it going to be your big break? When can you finally pursue your art full-time?

And your time will come.

You might be scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram and thinking wow, they have a TON of followers. They must have a TON of sales! They are so lucky! I wish I could have that… I wish it was easier for me..

And your time will come.

You might spend your days daydreaming or hoping that things might turn around. 

And your time will come.

But in this stage you are in now, just know that it is not permanent. It can and it will get better. If you give up now you’re abandoning your passion, your true calling, your talent and gifts for the world to see. I know this has been a big dream for you for a while now. Trust your gut and follow your own path. Don’t follow someone’s else’s path or their definition of success. What’s the point of that really?

I want you to become crystal clear about what you want...

I want for you to have the life of your dreams.

Deep down, only you really know what that looks like... So take a moment and write it ALL down. 

Start dreaming your biggest goals and wildest dreams (even the ones that scare you or the ones you are doubting will come true). Pursue them anyways and pursue them especially. 

What do you want more of in your life? What do you want less of?

Start Brainstorming now! Take out that old journal or sketchbook...seriously.

Sincerely,

Every Struggling Artist

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Let me know if this exercise was helpful for you - message me on social media so we can connect more. I would love to hear from you!

You Got This - it will get easier!

How to Stay Motivated as an Artist (5 Tips)

How to stay motivated as an artist is a question I get asked all the time! Here are my 5 tips for how you can stay motivated as an artist. This is what works best for me! It is normal to go through periods during your career as an artist where you feel unmotivated. Maybe you even feel unsuccessful and wonder when things will change. You might even feel overwhelmed and feel like you don’t know where to begin. That’s why I have put together a list of five tips to help you so that you don’t have to give up on your dreams as an artist!

Check out my 5 tips below!

How to Stay Motivated as an Artist

1. Don't compare your art to others

It is easy to compare yourself to other artists and question why did they get that exhibition and not me?

Why did they win the prize? Why did they receive the grant? Why did they get the residency? Why not me? Is my art not good enough? Did I not work hard enough?

Comparing yourself to other artists let alone other people in general can be a dangerous rabbit hole to enter. It’s important to work on your mindset and recognize that there is enough room for lots of people to be successful artists.

That's why I like to stay in my own lane:

I try not to compare myself to other artists to look at their CVs. If I happen to witness a friend or colleague from school win or mention something - I am genuinely happy for them- everyone has a unique art practice. We all make different things that are about different topics. And that's truly great!

Staying in my lane helps me focus on my own practice and not waste time thinking about other people’s practice or entering comparison fatigue.

2. Keep track of deadlines For Your Art Goals

I keep track of my artist deadlines by looking at art deadline websites like Akimbo. I check websites like this daily or every other day. If I see a deadline that I am excited about I will take a screenshot of it and write it down in my agenda later. If there are a lot of deadlines in a certain month I will write them in order of when they are due in a list format on a sheet of paper. This helps me see which ones are due first and focus on that but also look ahead to be able to focus on deadlines that I am most excited about.

3. Make Art goals or deadlines to get things done

I have a goal to apply for 7 applications every month. This goal allows me to be focused and hold myself accountable. Not every deadline takes a lot of time. Sometimes it's as simple as submitting some photos and a copy of my artist statement. Deadlines naturally give myself something to work towards so that I can stay productive.

4. Review your goals and create systems to stay organized

It's one thing to make a goal and it is another to keep them. It is important to review your goals and hold yourself accountable when you don't meet them. Reviewing your goals helps to really prioritize what is important. You can read more about my goal setting process in this blog post.

I also stay focused by creating systems that make it easier when I apply to deadlines-like saving files in PDF, saving different versions of files like a CV that is 2 and 3 pages and saving photos in both 300dpi and 72dpi.

5. Find ways to stay inspired - do what works for you

It's important to listen to your body and if you need a rest- take it. There is no sense beating yourself up about it. If you don't feel like applying to something then think about something that you can do to still be productive or that could save you time when applying to things in the future.

Remember to take care of yourself and support other artists. It's a difficult job but at the end of the day it's what you love to do so it's worth the days where you need to rest- you need that break and you just feel completely unmotivated. Remember that the feeling is temporary and that it will soon pass. Here is a blog post with tips if you are feeling uninspired!

Would you like to improve your acrylic painting?

Download my FREE Guide with the 10 Mistakes Beginner Painters Make and How to Avoid Them!

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For more tips and inspiration - follow me on social media -by clicking on the icons below!

8 Reasons Why I Love Art

Here are 8 reasons why I love art and pursued art as a career. Art can do so many wonderful things and there are so many reasons why I love art! Growing up, I always loved making things, colouring and making crafts and painting on my plastic easel. As I got older, I started to see all the benefits of art and really began to appreciate the talent and skills I had been developing. I think we can always use more art in the world! Here are my 8 reasons of why I love art!

8 Reasons I Love Art:

Art communicates messages

Art has the opportunity to be very powerful and communicate messages that are impacting the world like climate change and social justice. Art has the ability of starting conversations and getting people to really stop and think. 

Art gets us thinking critically

I love going to art galleries and just analyzing and thinking about what the artist is trying to communicate. Why did they choose certain materials? Why did they make the decisions they made?

Art is healing and therapeutic

You can make art on any topic, you can incorporate any medium like writing or journaling where you can really express something that might be difficult to talk about or just hard for you to explain. Through art, you can release situations that have been bothering you and you can begin to feel a sense of peace in your life.

Art is relaxing and meditative

Art has the power to be very calming and relaxing. It is nice sometimes to make art and just zone out. To calm your mind and just focus on keeping your hands busy. Making art like mandalas, repetitive pattern or repetitive marks can help you create a zen feeling.

Art is imaginative and exciting

Art is something that is constantly changing. There are new art supplies being invented and new processes of making art to try. That for me, makes the process of making art really fun and exciting. 

Art is creative and inventive

Making art allows you to be creative and problem solve through the process. Through making art you are creating or inventing. You are developing problem solving skills and decision making skills as you are trusting your intuition, trusting your eyes and figuring out what to do next. 

Without creativity - we would lack so many inventions and our lives would be very different than they are today.

Art is everywhere

Art is all around us. It is on social media like Instagram and Pinterest. It is flowers in the garden, photographs we take, the way the sun dances on an object. Art is sidewalk chalk drawings, graffiti, masterpieces and doodles when you’re talking on the phone. I love going outside on a walk and being able to absorb everything. It’s so nice to really stop and look at something. I think the more time you spend noticing details the more you will recognize that art is truly all around us. 

Art is easy to learn

Now more than ever there are so many ways to learn art. You can learn online and often for free like through YouTube. These educational tutorials and even the ones I do - make learning art so accessible and convenient for everyone! 

Learning art is really playing and experimenting, testing, trying and being able to practice and know that it is okay to make mistakes. Although making art can be difficult. Learning art is easy! It’s important to remember that masterpieces aren’t made overnight and being successful in something does require time and effort. But with time and effort you will get better and so will your art! 

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My Top 10 List of Favourite Painting Supplies

Here is my top 10 list of favourite painting supplies to help elevate your acrylic painting! Learn what Jackie Partridge likes to paint with. What I love about art is being able to test and try new materials. I love experimenting with art supplies and often make great discoveries that way! New painting supplies can allow you to feel creative again in your art practice. Here is a look at my top ten list of favourite painting supplies! I wrote a basic list of supplies you need to get started with acrylic painting - you can read that here!

My Top 10 List of Favourite Painting Supplies

1.  Besides a different variety of primary colours it can be nice to have special paint like a metallic gold or silver -these can be nice touches in a painting -buying a smaller amount is fine to try if you want. Metallic paint is usually more expensive than regular acrylic paint. I also love grabbing colours that I am drawn to or colours I love using like yellow ochre or different greens.

2. A good easel for painting - I purchased a wooden table top easel from Michaels that folds away, making it nice and compact. I went for wood because it can be more durable than some of the cheaper metal or aluminum ones out there.

3. Posca Pens - I love using Posca Pens in my paintings and to doodle with. You can learn more about Posca Pens in these videos on my YouTube channel: Posca Pen Introduction and Posca Pen Zentangle Technique

4. Golden Acrylic Fluids- I enjoy using these as inks on paper, or to mix with my paint or gel mediums to make it more vibrant.

5. Golden Matte Gel, Golden Modelling Paste and Golden Crackle Paste - with these products you can really enhance the quality of your acrylic paint you can make the paint thicker or crack like broken glass. Although the brand Golden is more expensive it is great quality and a brand I recommend.

6. A great sketchbook- I prefer something smaller that I can carry in my bag. I usually buy mine at Michaels because they often have a BOGO sale. It’s great to have a sketchbook to store ideas of future art projects.

7. A variety of brushes including plastic scrapers -just like having extra paint it is nice to have other options.

8. Palette knives- I love abstract painting and the texture that palette knives allow you to get. You can see my palette knife painting videos here:

   How to choose a palette knife, palette knife painted sunset, palette knife river painting, palette knife painted poppy

9. Watercolour paper and coloured drawing paper- I love painting on paper. It is a nice and affordable option to painting on canvases. Make sure to browse the paper aisle at your local art supply store to find something that calls out to you! 

10. Handmade Paper -It can be really fun and beautiful to paint on you can check out some I have for sale in my shop here!

Want to Grab My FREE Guide with the 10 Mistakes Beginner Painters Make -and how to avoid them?

Make sure to follow me on social media to stay connected for more ideas and inspiration! 

Improve Your Acrylic Painting by downloading this FREE 12 page guide. Click the image to download!

6 Tips for Hitting Your Art Goals

6 tips for hitting your art goals this year! This year you can make your goals come true! How did you do sticking to the goals you made last year? Do you even remember them? Here are some tips about sticking to your goals, so you don’t lose track of them this year! 

I love planning, making lists and achieving my goals. It does take work though..

Here is a list of my 6 tips to help you hit your art goals this year!

# 1 Sticking to Your Goals - check on them

In order to keep my goals I need to review them and to check in on them.

I plan my goals near the end of December a year in advance and I review my goals every four months to adjust them accordingly.

Each month, I check on my monthly goals and put a check mark beside the completed ones. I have a new agenda this year that has a section for goals at the start of each month which really helps! If you don't have this you can always set up reminders on your phone, write on a calendar or create to-do/goals lists.

It's important to check on a goal's progress because if you have many goals you can easily forget.

Pro Tip: If you are working on a larger goal you can break it into smaller chunks that are easier to manage!

#2 Your Goals Aren't Permanent!

Life happens... Before you know it you meet your goal or you decide the timing isn't right. You are allowed to change your mind - because they are your goals! I like to give myself some grace and I'm not hard on myself when I am no longer aiming for a goal. I'm still figuring out what kind of artist I want to become and what I want my life to look like in the future.

#3 You Need to be Invested and Know Why

You have to want your goals- and not believe you should make them because what society is telling you. Part of sticking to goals is figuring out why you want them in the first place. This drive keeps you motivated. So, if you don't know why you want something, think deeper or even try journalling.

A goal needs intention behind it. It helps when a goal has clarity too because it will be something that you can easily visualize.

#4 Does Your Goal Inspire You and Excite You?

Like Marie Kondo says "does it spark joy" if it does, it's something you will treasure something you will continue to work on. If it doesn't you won't - it's that simple! The more excited you are, the more urgency there is to finish it.

A goal should be exciting but still believable to you.

#5 Give Yourself Deadlines for Your Art Goals

I was always an achiever in school and I've found to still be successful out of school it helps to have deadlines. Give yourself a realistic time frame while keeping yourself challenged and accountable! Sometimes, I will make a firm deadline with myself like "If you don't finish this by the end of the day then you can't ..."

The nice thing about applying to different art calls and grants is that they have deadlines associated with them. These deadlines can really help you stay organized.

#6 Reward Yourself for Meeting Your Goals - Make the Process Fun!

Some goals are going to take longer to complete because they require more work and they are bigger goals. I find it helpful to remember to enjoy the journey (although I struggle with this). Don't be afraid to celebrate milestones or to reward yourself with something you want. If the process of goal setting isn't enjoyable you aren't going to be excited about it and it will be harder to stick to your goals.

Here are my art goals for 2021

Now that I am teaching full time I have to consider what goals are realistic for me and my schedule:

1. Post consistently to social media (5x a week to instagram, 1-2x to facebook, every day to Pinterest, twice a month to my email list, blog post 3-4x a month, YouTube 2x a month)

2. Apply to art calls twice a month - I want to have more exhibitions this year!

3. Spend time in nature for inspiration- I find this really helps with my art practice.

4. Make consistent art sales- I would love my art to be my main source of income.

5. Keep my website updated monthly- I like reviewing my website at the end of each month to make sure everything is current.

6. Set boundaries for teaching for more work life balance- no work on Friday nights and Saturdays, no emails past 7pm, no marking on the weekend.

7. Make art during school breaks- Teaching full time has made me really miss having time to make my art.  

Your Art Goals Might Be…

Working on an Art Portfolio

Check out this post on how to prepare an art portfolio for college or university!

Starting a YouTube Channel for Your Art

Check mine out here for acrylic painting!

Improving Your Acrylic Painting

If one of your goals is getting better at acrylic painting - I can help with that! Download my FREE guide where I show you the 10 common mistakes beginner painters make and how you can avoid them!

If you have a goal this year to get into art school and become an artist or an arts-related career- download my FREE guide with 10 Tips to Make Your Art Portfolio Application Stand Out!

Follow me on Social Media for more ideas! And let me know your goals this year in the comments or the DMs!

How to Create an Art Portfolio: 7 Tips!

How to create an art portfolio with 7 tips from artist Jackie Partridge. I have been exhibiting my artwork since 2012. I have received artist grants and awards and I have attended artist residencies. With this experience I have done my share in submitting my portfolio for numerous applications. As a teacher, I have worked with grade 12 students to help them with their art portfolio applications. See my 7 tips for your college/university art portfolio application below!

After receiving my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from Lakehead University I also completed teacher’s college. I graduated being able to teach grades 4-12 in Ontario before taking my Master of Fine Arts at Concordia University.

During my time in teacher’s college part of my placement included teaching art to grade 12 students. In the first term I helped students with their portfolios as they were in the midst of applying for university and college arts programs. I volunteered my time to help these students during my lunch break by giving them tips and ways to improve what they had selected to be in their portfolios.

I have worked as an art instructor for a private boarding school where I helped international high school students with their portfolio applications in art, graphic design, illustration and architecture programs.

If you need ideas for what to put into your art portfolio application you can click here!

7 Tips to Make Your University/College Portfolio Stand Out

Tip #1

READ THE REQUIREMENTS -AND FOLLOW THEM

You need to know what they want and usually they tell you specifics!

Every university and college or even programs within the same school have different application requirements when it comes to their portfolios. Some schools are very specific asking for a certain number of pieces, certain media used or certain sizes of work. Some schools want original work, some/most don't-- they want photographs uploaded on programs like SlideRoom.  Some schools even have specific themes like "Make a work that is finished yet unfinished." This can make the process more difficult and leave students feeling overwhelmed and unsure -often overthinking their decisions and ideas.

Want to go to art school but unsure how to create an art portfolio that stands out and gets accepted? Click on the button below to get on the waitlist for my art portfolio course!

Tip #2

Show Your Creative Process

Most schools want to see your process work - they want to see how you think about your art and why you made the choices you did.

Tip #3

Show Your Personality

The purpose of the portfolio is an introduction and a chance for your chosen school to get to know you and see if you would be a good fit there.  You want to show your interests and possibilities you might want to continue to explore while in post-secondary education. You should include materials you like working with and show your artistic style that is unique to you!

Tip #4

Show Variety

You want the professors reviewing your portfolio to be impressed by your skills and see you as an artist who is versatile. Therefore, it is important to show that you can do more.

By showing variety you are showing that you aren't afraid to try new things and experiment with your artwork. It shows that you are open to growing and learning which is the whole point of college and university programs. Check out my YouTube channel for tips to make your acrylic paintings stronger! You can also improve your painting with FREE12 page Guide!

Tip #5

Show Program Specific Techniques 

If you are applying to specific programs like architecture or illustration you want to think about possible projects that might be studied in those programs. Once you have thought of those ideas you could try to include relevant pieces in your portfolio.

If you are applying to a non-specific program like a Bachelor of Fine Arts for example- then again you want to show variety. You need to show your range, talents and abilities.

How to make a strong portfolio - show your diversity of skills like ceramics

Tip #6

Details are Important 

You need to remember that review panels are looking at portfolio after portfolio for hours on end. You need to stand out and be memorable. Make sure you consider details to set you apart.

Edit your photos, think about your layout, come up with clever titles for your work. All these details are important!

Tip #7

Show Your Thinking, Your Writing and Research

Usually you will be asked to submit written descriptions about your work- make sure they are detailed and informative.

List your inspiration- if you did a drawing based off a building or place -state that research. You want to show your intelligence and critical thinking abilities in these descriptions.

Make sure you edit your writing, stick to the word count and choose a consistent and legible font.

Take time to plan your written descriptions and do not leave them to the last minute!

I wish you good luck with your portfolio applications and the BIGGEST tip I can give you is to start early and trust your gut!

What People are Saying

I was excited for the opportunity to work with Jackie!

The presentation from Jackie was very specific relevant information to prepare my students for applying to art schools. It gave us a checklist to follow and ideas we had not yet considered.

This presentation is a MUST for anyone needing information to better prepare students to apply to art schools. Not having gone that route myself, it was invaluable!

Jackie was not only knowledgeable, but easy to work with and super accommodating. I would highly recommend her!!

Britt, High School Art Teacher, California, U.S.

Here are my art portfolio ideas. These ideas are great if you are struggling with what to include in your art portfolio.

Click here to purchase!

To purchase the art portfolio coaching please click the button below

Want Some Help With Your Art Portfolio? I Would Love to Work With You - Send me an Email!

I offer Portfolio Review and Portfolio Development Consultations. I can help you decide what to create, what to include in your art portfolio, answer any questions, prepare for interviews, and more!

Here is the link to download my FREE Guide for How to Create an Art Portfolio That Stands Out!

All the best with your art portfolio applications- You got this!

14 Considerations for Buying Art

14 considerations for buying art - what you need to think about before you start expanding your art collection! It doesn’t feel like home for me until I start hanging things up on the wall. But there are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to selecting the right piece of art for you! Learn from me, artist Jackie Partridge as I help you with what you need to consider when purchasing artwork!

Art is what makes your house a home. It makes your home come alive and become a place that you enjoy to spend time in.

When it comes to buying art first and foremost you need to buy what speaks to you. It has to be something that you absolutely love. Before even designing a room it helps to know what will be going on the wall. Let your art collection be the focal point.

There are many things to consider when it comes to buying artwork for your home.

Handmade paper art by Jackie Partridge -check out the shop here!

Here is a list of 14 questions to consider when buying art:

1. Is it important to buy local?

2. Is it important to buy from someone you know?

3. Where will this artwork be displayed?

4. What size of space do you have?

5. What does the decor of your space look like? 

6. Does the art come framed or need to be framed?

7. What frame or display method suits the artwork?

8. Does this piece of art mesh well with other artwork or photographs?

9. What is the budget to spend on art?

10. Is this the right investment for me and my home at this time?

11. What colour are the walls, flooring and nearby furniture?

12. What is your design style? 

13. Is this something you will love in the future or is it just a trend?

14. Is there enough lighting for the artwork?

Once you have thought about the above considerations it will be easier for you to make a purchasing decision.

Owning original art is an investment in your home and how you express your sense of style/personality. Therefore, make sure you do your research so you can be completely satisfied with your purchase!

Since art is an investment I offer a certificate of authenticity to be able to feel comfortable about the investment in the future.

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Tip for buying Art:

If you are working with a lower budget to buy art you can reach out to an artist by asking them for a smaller work or a print of something they have already made.

You could also consider joining your favourite artist's mailing list to stay up to date with when they offer sales or discounts.

For me, I have my annual art sale every November where I give a discount of 20% off and free shipping. In addition, my email subscribers have a chance to purchase art in the last week of October as pre-sale to get something they might have had their eye on. Email list members also are first to know about new art before it is released!

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Head to my shop to join the list and see what is available!

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My BEST tips for Displaying, Framing and Purchasing Art

My best tips for displaying, framing and purchasing art all in one helpful post! I wanted to make things easy for you and compile my favourite resources about growing your art collection in one place. I have collected my BEST tips and added them here for you! Learn how to frame your art, how to purchase art or get art commissioned and where to display your art in your home!

Deciding to Buy Art for the First Time?

Read this!

If you haven’t purchased art before there are 14 considerations you will want to make to decide which piece of art is right for you. You can read more HERE. If you would like to read more about art commissions or getting a piece of artwork commissioned by me - you can click here!

Unsure About Framing Art?

I can help with that. In this blog post I share about how to choose the right frame to display your artwork proudly in your home. See more HERE.

Not Sure Where to Hang Your Art?

I have added a list of 16 ideas of places to hang art in your home. I also give tips about hanging your art like choosing a gallery wall or hanging art as a pair in a diptych. Read the tips HERE.

Stop Wondering How to Display Art on a Shelf!

Learn how to style your shelf to display your art collection and other meaningful objects like framed family photos, souvenirs and more. Read more here!

Ready to start or expand your art collection for your home? You can check out my shop here!

Connect with me on social media by clicking on one of the icons below!

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How To Add Freshness to a Stale Art Practice -Artist Tips

Want to know how to add freshness to a stale art practice? I will explain how. I know it can be difficult to make time for your art practice but it should be your top priority. Of course there are times where you won’t feel inspired like if you are sick or busy with other things. As an artist, I have found myself sometimes getting into ruts with my creativity. There are days, weeks and months where I don’t feel driven to make new art or I’m just too busy to be creative. Here’s how you can add some freshness to your art practice!

Does this sound familiar?

I have been busy lately planning an online art class that I am currently teaching for a private school. I have used my spare time to take on creative projects which has helped me to take care of my mental health. When you have taken a long break from your art practice it is easy to forget how beneficial art is in terms of being therapeutic, how it makes you feel and why you fell in love with it in the first place! I’ve made it a goal to try to make art or do something creative each day…

Bonus Tip: learn a new skill like ceramics to stay inspired to make art. Playing with clay and tools to try something new!

It’s important to add freshness to a stale art practice to help keep you inspired and making art more consistently! I have added 7 tips for you to try to feel creative again!

Here are some fun ways to get back to a creative process that might have been previously on hold:

• Get involved in a creative challenge or start your own— searching on Pinterest for creative art challenges is a good way to get inspiration. You can start your own based on your art practice. For example, if you are a quilter you could plan on making a certain number of quilts in a timeframe or if you’re a painter- plan on painting a small 8″x10″ painting everyday. Challenges work as fun goals to complete but they also act as a piece of accountability. Creative challenges can also be a good way to create social media content by updating your audience on what you are working on. As a creative it can be good to work on a series and challenges can help you to develop your own artistic style.  I send an exclusive painting tutorial to my mailing list every season - if you would like to receive that - enter your email at the bottom of this post!

• Look at application deadlines as motivation— I love looking on websites like Akimbo  -websites like this provide artists with deadlines of submission calls for exhibitions and awards. These deadlines, I find hold me accountable and I write them down in my agenda and apply when I have time.

• Reach out if someone wants a commission or make artwork for a friend or family member’s gift—This can be a good idea to make a little extra money or to have a project to work on. Sometimes, I find I just need a project to keep me busy. Making a gift for someone or a commission  gives me a due date to stick to. You can read more about my commission process here!

• Make a board on Pinterest for art inspiration or future project ideas— Pinterest is an amazing resource and I love pinning an idea that inspires me to try something similar with my own flair later on.  Check out my Pinterest boards here! 

• Take a look at your art supplies—reach for something new and experiment and play. Let yourself create without pressure - follow your intuition and do what’s fun! Also this might be a good time to head to the art supply store and pick up something new you have been dying to try! Take a look at my list of my favourite painting supplies here!

Bonus tip: turn to other passions like these plants or gardening to feel inspired again!

• Experiment and Learn— It’s so easy to learn new art techniques and there are so many free and incredible options out there! You can look on YouTube, invest in a course, or head to your local library.

I invite you to check out my YouTube channel all about acrylic painting for beginners. Learn to paint landscapes, flowers, new techniques and more! Simple options that are easy enough for kids to do too are also available!

Click the Image to Pin it for Later!

Bonus

Remind yourself why you love art and why it is so good for you. Does it calm you down, make you relaxed, is it fun or the highlight of the day? If yes, make sure you schedule time. Block off time on your calendar. Create a pop-up reminder on your phone. That way there’s less excuses and “more time” to be creative.

I have also found scheduling art to remove distractions like turning my cellphone on airplane mode to be helpful. Or make sure you studio/art space is clean and ready the night before. Even having a playlist of your favourite songs will get you pumped and ready to create.

I hope you can feel creative soon! I know how frustrating the feeling of not wanting to create can be.

For more tips and to receive an exclusive painting tutorial each season - sign up to join my mailing list below!

I challenge you to make something now - even if it is a simple doodle on a scrap piece of paper it is a step in the right direction!

Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas and resources!

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Want to Have a Piece of Art Commissioned By Me?

Want to have a piece of art commissioned by me? Read on to learn more about the process of getting a piece of art commissioned. As an artist I have been doing art commissions for friends, family and even people I don't know that well for several years.

Creating a successful art commission can be a lengthy process but I have come up with a list of tips to create a faster and more positive process for both the artist and the client. I have 7 things to consider if you are wanting to get an art commission done and 7 things for an artist to consider when offering art commissions.

As a client getting a piece of art commissioned

• Communicate what you want - be clear and specific if you have a vision in mind

• Trust your gut-if you don't feel comfortable with anything -then don't go ahead with it

• Ask for a price estimate if it is not provided to you

• Figure out the size of the work you want

• Figure out where you will put that piece of art -this can help determine the dimensions and also the style or colours you like - It is helpful for the artist to see a photograph of your space and know what you like (everyone has their own unique design style)

• Send inspiration  -whether it's a photograph, colour swatches or a sample of fabric for the curtains that will hang next to the artwork - anything is helpful

• Make sure you have done your research- Do you like the artist's work?

As an artist commissioning a piece of art I…

• Give a price estimate that includes the size of the work, materials used, any custom finishes that are requested and possible shipping charges

• Give an estimated deadline of when the piece will be finished-I take on 6 projects a year usually you will have a commission within 2 months -unless specified by yourself

• Communicate clearly and ask questions- we will have a meeting or exchange emails to make sure you are happy with the end result

• Create a sketch or mock up during the consultation process - see my ideas before committing - I will send you progress pictures if requested!

• I will ask for photos of the work hanging in your space

• I will send you a contract that explains payment and delivery of the artwork

Interested in Having a Piece of Art Commissioned By Me?

I am an artist based out of Waterloo Region, ON Canada- if you are interested in getting a piece of original art made please fill out the form below. I do art commissions for paper making and acrylic painting. My paintings range in price from $50 (5”x 7”)- $1000 + depending on the size. Handmade paper can be made as 5”x7” or 8”x10” and is anywhere from $25-100 per artwork. Shipping for large paintings over 20 inches will be paid by the customer and all other shipping in Canada and the US under 20 inches will be paid by myself. Please note I only take 6 commission projects per year. If I am full I will put you on my waitlist and I will email you with an estimated time when I can start your commission. I currently have 4 spots for year!

Get Ideas for Art Commissions for Me to Do

Check out my art shop for ideas of handmade paper art

Take a look at my YouTube for ideas of paintings

Fill out the form below to get in touch!

Think about the size of the art you would like and where you would like to hang it. Looking forward to working with you and filling an empty frame!

Black Eyed Susan Cyanotype 1

CA$49.00

Find the Perfect Spot to Hang Your Art (16 + Ideas!)

Finding the perfect spot to hang your art can be hard! I get that! I will show you how to find the perfect spot to hang your art in this blog post. I will give you over 16 ideas of where you can hang artwork in your home! It can be hard to choose a spot to hang your collection of art. You might find yourself asking “where should I hang this art?” Learn from artist Jackie Partridge - I’ll show you how!

Art adds beauty to your home. It can also make you happy looking at something you like or it can create a feeling of calm. You should hang art in an area you spend a lot of time in- so you enjoy it more. Lastly, art can tie the look of a room together and create a home you love which I know you deserve!

In this post, I am sharing over 16 ideas of places where you can hang art in your home. Giving you tips along the way!

If you are making an investment and collecting art then make sure you are displaying it in a way that it stands out and commands attention to get that “wow factor” when someone walks in a room. You can learn more about choosing the perfect frame here.

Let’s Look at Some Rooms You Can Hang Art… (It’s all of them except maybe the garage and attic?)

Hanging it in your bedroom - beside a mirror, near a spot you spend reading or relaxing like above your bed or beside your favourite chair.

In your nursery or child’s room - art can create a sense of calm and can be visually stimulating for young children - you could hang art above a crib or bed, on a small frame on a shelf or in a group of photos, quotes or other art you may have on display - this type of display is called a gallery wall.

In the bathroom - since bathrooms are a smaller space you will want to choose a piece that is smaller, so there’s enough wall space for the art to breathe.

In the kitchen - you can hang framed art on the wall by your kitchen table and you can hang a smaller piece of art by a patio door. 

In the dining room - you can hang your art by the table. Hanging a larger or commissioned piece of art can really set the tone. You can also hang smaller pieces in row as a group of two or three above a buffet or side table.

In the home office - you can set smaller pieces of art that are framed resting on your desk, you can hang pieces on the wall that will relax and calm you like simple modern designs on the wall by your desk. You can choose art that isn’t too bright so you can stay focused and productive! 

In the laundry room - you can really be playful. I have a few pieces of round denim paper and a denim pocket with added recycled blue jean paper. Laundry rooms are often smaller so hanging a smaller artwork on the wall by itself is best. Hanging art in this room can really help to brighten your mood -especially if you are not a fan of doing laundry!

In the living room -  you can arrange multiple pieces of art on a shelf and mix in some framed family photos in black and white or sepia tones that will complement that art on the shelf because they are neutral toned photographs. In the living room, it also looks great having art leaning on a fireplace mantle or displayed as a gallery wall above the couch.  You can read more tips on displaying art on a shelf here!

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In a play room or rec room - in these rooms you can choose art that is more bright or playful. You can choose bold shapes and arrange art on a gallery wall by hanging different sized frames of art and family photos. You could even add some drawings or paintings your children did in frames as sentimental pieces of abstract art. 

In a larger entryway - you might want to have one larger artwork to create a statement piece. You could consider getting a commissioned painting done. 

In a smaller entryway - you could hang two artworks that are similar side by side as a pair. It’s good to have the art be one of the first things a person sees as they enter your home to give a welcoming vibe.

In a home gym - while running on the treadmill or working out it’s good to have something to look at, whether it’s a TV or a piece of art you love looking at. You need something that is going to motivate you or be your sense of calm during an intense workout. 

General Tips:

Arranging art on a shelf or dresser - you can choose to arrange framed artworks with space in between them or you can overlap them slightly. There are a lot of great ideas on Pinterest. I have a board all about framing and art display -check it out here.

Creating a gallery wall - you can create your gallery wall in an even and mathematical approach- where you measure and have artwork lined up in rows all evenly spaced. Or you can create a gallery wall that is more organic using different sized frames and even different sized spacing. Again, Pinterest is an amazing resource and I encourage you to follow me on Pinterest and check out my board “Framing and Art Display.”

Hanging a diptych or triptych -  a diptych is when you have a pair of artworks that are the same size hung side by side separated by at least and an inch or two of space. A triptych is three artworks that are the same size that hang in a row evenly spaced. Art that is hanging in a row like this should go together and look like they belong. It can be art by the same artist, art with similar colour and subject matter (like all flower paintings). The art should really connect with one another since they are hanging so closely. 

Hanging art on its own - hanging art on its own should really command space. If art is smaller (under a foot wide) then consider hanging it on a smaller wall like in a bathroom. If art is larger and it commands its own space because of its size or bold colours then it can hang on its own on a larger wall. Art should have enough wall space around it to breathe with out looking crowded and making the walls look smaller or like they are closing in on you.

Fern Cyanotype 1

CA$87.00

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Rainbow Field 4

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