[gLitterbug]

Hi everyone,

I would really like to know how you advertise your art or services? Asking around I mostly got replies like 'If I�d just know how to advertise myself to get more/any jobs/sales at all. So I was wondering how everyone on here is promoting their work or the fact that they are available to do freelance work.
Are you advertising at all? If yes, is it word of mouth or do you have an approach you found out while living with a supersecret underground cult? Or is your mailbox flowing over with mail asking for your stuff anyways since you posted that last painting on forums?

It�d be awesome if not only freelancers would reply, but also 'free' (not sure how to distinguish between those in english, sorry) artists on how to get exhibitions and get yourself as famous as possible out there, so people fight to get your expensive artwork into their homes.

[Yarik]

Well I don't really advertise since I dont have real art work to show for. But what I would do if I needed to advertise my work to get a job is...
1st post your work at CGTalk, meaning submit it to the Gallery Finished works page. There are really lots and lots of professionals, and I bet they use cgtalk as a recruiting tool sometimes.
2) Make lots of friends in the cg industry, maybe not friends by "Connections" I suggest pm a person of high level first about some post other then cg. Just talk to them about something that you saw in there post about blah blah blah. And then you can slowly build up your connections and slowly slip in your work. Asking for tips, advice, maybe even a hookup with a job.
The phrase "It is not what you know, but what you know and who knows it" comes in play here.
I am not looking for a job, but I already made the effort to contact many people and talk to them in person, like Flush, kevincu, sukhoi, allpetter, dylancole, panray, yanka, M.C. Barret, *The cute Leigh, from CGTalk*. It didn't take much effort to contact these people. And all of them are extremly nice and very helpfull.
3) I would just post at a few more different sites. It is like free advertising, nothing beats it.
4) I wouldn't be rude, because word travels very fast. And second of all,
5) Lastly I would wait off until I have like about 5-8 of very good pieces of work, and about 10(good) of speed paintings, then I will just start posting my speed paintings, 1 a week, and after that I will start posting my good work.
But other then that, I *would* give email or phonecalls a try to advertise my work to get a job... but I am a bit skeptical. I think it feels better when you discuss your work in person with someone...

Just my 2 cents. Dont take it too seriously

[balistic]

Yes, you should definitely bribe CG Talk moderators with cash. PM me for Paypal details.
_________________
brian.prince|light.comp.paint

[Yarik]

lol, I didn't bribe any cgtalk mods. I am not looking to shove my foot into the cg work world. I was just saying that making friends, or just plain contacts is a good idea.
Ballistic, you are so hillarious. Where is your "Boom, tsk" avatar?

[balistic]

I need to change that avatar. It was funny for about a minute before it got annoying.



see what I mean?
_________________
brian.prince|light.comp.paint

[eyewoo]

I periodically snail mail 8.5 x 11 inch ink jet printed pages of my work, putting several illos on a page. I generally send out 4 or 5 pages. Each page also has my contact info on it.

I have developed a mailing list from various sources - The people on the list are art dirctors at magazines, publishing houses and art agents. In total there are only about 150-200 targets on the list, but it has been good to me.

The list is not available, but there are many sources available to start developing your own. The book, "Artists and Graphic Designers Market," is a good place to start. A new book is released each year.
_________________
HonePie.com
tumblr blog
digtal art

[gLitterbug]

Ah that is a very good idea eyewoo, thank you.

Yarik, I know what you mean, keeping friends is important, but I would not have too good of a feeling if I were to pretend to be interested in people, when I just want to get their contact to benefit from it some day. I bet that will make life harder for me, but I wouldn�t want to look into my face anymore if I sweet-mouth people all the time to get an advantage out of it in the future.

I like to say what is on my mind, what would maybe make me more suited to be one of those eccentric artists that have exhibitions and stuff. Seems like with those kinds of artists the look of people is also alot on personality rather than on skill only.

oh and balistic, about those paypal details, just in case of course...

[B0b]

i'm starting to look @ a lot of companies websites in my area, alot aren't web complient and need to be since Oct this year..

i've had work from alot of other forums i belong to (mainly gaming sites). i've gained clients overseas through this

i've also got a realy nice client in town that seem to want to send people they talk to my way (including bridgestone tyres)

[Yarik]

"Yarik, I know what you mean, keeping friends is important, but I would not have too good of a feeling if I were to pretend to be interested in people, when I just want to get their contact to benefit from it some day."
Well, I see them as counterparts and very nice people. If you are going to make pretend friends just to get your foot in the door, I would rather see you shoot yourself in the leg. I know how it feels to be used, it is horrible, that is why I don't want to endorse it. Sorry if I sent the wrong message

[gLitterbug]

Ah ok Yarik, that clears it up. Guess since you�re not urgently looking for any jobs it�s just building up friendships with equal-interest people in general and not abuse friendships. Good to hear that.

I thought the local websites and business thing would be a good idea too B0b, but sadly it seems like my area is so small minded and unprofessional that this possibility is giving me more disappointments than any useful results.

Basically I think I want to be an artist with exhibitions and living off selling my art and becoming "famous". Besides another life-dream I have. Just wondering how to earn money until I reach that.

[sedgemonkey]

Great tip eyewoo. There's almost no real drawback to your approach since it's fairly cheap and you're not likely to waste anyone's time if you keep it all tidy -- keeping your contact info on the piece is a nice touch.

I browsed your site and you really do have some great talent to offer up. I love the flossing poster and the picture book with LuckyLou.
_________________
HEY YOU! We're looking for a few good pixel artists

[Gort]

"Artists and Graphic Designers Market" is definitely a great resource, but it wouldn't hurt to call in to a listed agency to ensure that the Art Director listed is still there - sometimes they're gone by the time the book hits the market, and the standards for submission may change; pay close attention to the details for how work is submitted.

Consider "promo packets" like Phil mentioned; you can actually do some short run digital offset stuff (full color) for a fraction of what prepress will sock you (www.imagers.com).
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[galaxy2005]

i got to think that u guys would show some pics to us