It?s all about getting your art out into the world so that you and it can be seen. Sharing your art with the world is an important aspect of your art practice and Opus offers you a number of options that you can use for self-promotion.

There is no one else in the world who believes in your art more than you do (with the exception of your mother perhaps, but when it comes right down to it, Mom really believes in you and your art is just a facet of your innate fabulousness, so it?s really just you). You want to share your vision, sell your art and live as an artist. To do that, you want exposure, exposure, exposure. The best way to get that ever elusive exposure is through blameless, shameless self-promotion. Have fun with it, look at ways to best represent who you are and what you do.

While grant applications and submissions to art shows and galleries often require you to send in slides of your work, keep in mind that you don?t have to limit your portfolio to a set of slides, your artist?s statement and a copy of your artist curriculum vitae. Use this opportunity of gathering your information to put together a second portfolio that includes photographic representations of your artwork as well. An instant look at your artwork displayed in a presentation book like the Prat Start presentation case will organize your artwork and add to your creative WOW factor.

Consider customizing your portfolio to suit who you are and what you do. You may want to start with a refillable presentation case in which to house your images, but how do you want that presented?

Self-promotion isn?t just about images of your artwork in plastic sleeves. It is a whole package: your business card, stationary, artist?s statement, CV and the physical packaging in which to house all of this. It should work together to tell a story and display who you are, your talent and the purpose and direction of your artwork.

Strengthen your portfolio with the Prat Start refillable presentation case or spiral book. Both of these presentation systems offer you the freedom to change the presentation of your art.

Displaying your art in these presentation systems is simple in our digital age. You can easily have your slide images put onto a CD by your photo lab and print digital copies to display. Or, if you have the technical know-how and a scanner or digital camera, you can upload your images onto a computer and print them yourself. We have a wide selection of digital papers for printing your artwork, from the artist-grade Arches Infinity mould-made papers to Legion or Hahnemuhle digital artist papers to the new Strathmore Digital Art papers that are on sale this month. As with all artist?s papers, digital papers come in a variety of grades and textures.

Images of your work can also be printed in editions which you can then sell or give away. Consider it digital printmaking. This method of exposure will go a long way to self-promotion. You can print onto digital greeting cards, postcards or adhesive papers to adhere to any paper, for promoting any exhibitions or shows that you are featured in.

Strathmore Digital Photocards are specially coated on both sides to produce beautiful colour reproductions of your artwork with six different finishes to suit your artistic style.

But don?t let us tell you what to do, you?re a creative individual; why not share some of your shameless self-promotion tricks with us? After all, wanting to put your creative genius in the limelight is a blameless wish and the only option is to be shameless with your pursuit of it!

Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE): It is important to include this if you want your portfolio and slides returned to you. Be sure to include the right amount of postage!
Artist?s statement: Let a gallery or grant committee know where you sit conceptually. Who are you? How do you think about your art?
Curriculum Vitae (CV): Your CV is a list of your exhibitions, collections of your work, and publications, etc. Think of it as the history of employment section of your resume. Let them know where you and your art have been!
Contact: Include information on the best way to contact you. Getting a phone call from an interested Gallery or grant committee is the goal here!
Artwork: Be sure to follow the directions given by galleries and committees for all applications or shows. Give them exactly what they ask for.

Need help writing your artist?s statement? These websites are great resources: www.artbusiness.com/artstate.html and www.eciad.bc.ca/wc/writingcentrehandouts.htm