Wednesday : Tip Jar

Posted on June 15, 2011 by The Pick

Choices. Good.

Editing. Help.

There are times you look at your collective body of work and think wow. I’ve been busy. Then comes the unfathomable part of narrowing down the great to the best. It’s a good place to be. That means someone has talent. That’s you.

Whether it’s your Altpick page or your personal website, choosing which pieces should be front and center is sometimes challenging. What will my choices say about me as an artist? Should they be random greatness or will a series tell a better story?

Do you need help editing your work on Altpick? Can you use some professional and honest feedback? We can help. Over 20 years in the industry and it turns out we do know a thing or two about what art buyers are looking for. Imagine that.

Email us at altpick@altpick.com and we’ll set up an appointment for a review. Bonus: We’re friendly. And one of us speaks Italian.

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Ponzi + Amnesty International: Voices for Freedom

Posted on June 13, 2011 by The Pick

From one candle, thousands of candles could be lit. A visually stunning and moving light that shines into one of the world’s darkest corners. Altpick member, Emiliano Ponzi (represented by Magnet Reps) partnered with Leo Burnett Iberia and the incredibly talented team at the animation company We Are Captive to create Voices for Freedom. The animated short is part of Amnesty International’s recently launched campaign that confronts the silencing of civil activists from around the world. It was just screened before an international audience at the Festival de Cannes in southern France.

Emiliano’s beautiful, graphic illustrations tell the story of Dhondup Wangchen, a Tibetan filmmaker who was imprisoned in 2008 after the making of his film, Leaving Fear Behind. The film documented how modern-day Tibetans feel about human rights in Tibet, as well as the then impending Beijing Olympic Games. After being tortured and held without charge for more than a year by Chinese authorities, the filmmaker Dhondup was sentenced to six years imprisonment for inciting separatism.

The short was strongly influenced by Buddhist and Tibetan proverbs, using animals central to the religion and lifestyle in Tibet and the crane which is a national symbol in China.

The short was included in four entry categories at Cannes. Please click here if you would like to sign a petition or contribute a voicemail in support of Dhondup.

The power of art to illuminate human suffering and to mobilize the right action: defined. Beautifully.

[excerpted in part from www.magnetreps.com/wp]

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Wednesday : Tip Jar

Posted on June 8, 2011 by The Pick

The artist bio. You have to write one. Reaction? Does the thought fill you with an inevitable sinking feeling?

Who are you?

A bio is part story-telling and part self-promotion. It’s a fine balance of the personal and professional. Your work should speak for itself. Adding words to it supports the story. Your thinking, rationale and motivation behind the art. Yes, we want to know the why. Because it’s your interpretation of the piece, it’s wholly you. There’s no right or wrong. It’s yours.

Add a client list you are proud of, a career background filled with experience and the ever-important potential. If you’re light on the experience, use your interests. The potential spotted, right? Buyers always want to know that you are a consummate professional. Just the mention of a brand, agency or another buyer’s name is a shortcut to knowing that they’re dealing with a pro.

The personal bit is more challenging. Many artists speak eloquently with their art. It’s their chosen form of expression. Created beautifully and giving us a view into you. Do include personal tidbits in your story. Something uniquely you that buyers can recall after reading all about the experiences that may fit certain criteria but the fact that you are a rodeo barrel racer will stick.

Saying all that, here’s the real tip: You’re an artist. A guaranteed license for creativity. Don’t worry so much about bio protocol. Feel better?

If you don’t have one already, add a bio to your Altpick page. If your bio is up, here’s a gold star. Now go update it. Keep it current, you pro.

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Wednesday : Tip Jar

Posted on June 1, 2011 by The Pick

You: A card-carrying member of Altpick.

Altpick: We have some tips to make your altpick.com experience a more jar half-full one. Because we’re nice like that.

Your Wednesdays are about to be your favorite. We’d like to introduce our Tip Jar. An occasional look at some of the steps we recommend you take to increase your chance of being noticed on altpick.com. We like juicy news.

Here’s one: Take your page seriously. Don’t just throw some random pieces up there and leave the work to the buyers. Making them sweat is not good strategy. They’re busy.

You have to sell yourself and the best way is by telling your story. Yes, you’ve got one. You, the hero. Remember? Show your work in a comprehensive way that is a true reflection of who you are and what you have to offer. What sets you apart from your competitors? How will I remember you?

This is not the time to be a lemming. Ooh, look! Shiny.

Photo by Art Brewer

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Art + Japan = Compassion

Posted on May 3, 2011 by The Pick

Designed by Ayako Otoshi
It is no coincidence there is passion in compassion.
In a continuing effort to show Japan they are an island in geography only, Altpick is providing a platform in an effort to activate, inspire and facilitate the marrying of passion with compassion through art.

Art + Japan = Compassion is a tribute to the art of human nature. Yours.

This inaugural benefit fundraiser marks a most anticipated launch of an ongoing effort by Altpick to inspire global compassion in art. Your donation of one art piece will find its way to a happy place and become a collection of proceeds that will help with the ongoing relief efforts for those truly affected by the calamitous events in Japan.

In the coming weeks, we will be in conversation with you regarding this benefit fundraiser including dates, logistics and news. Altpick members will have a direct feed. For those new to the conversation, please say hello at 212.675.4176 or altpick@altpick.com.

Open call to artists [members or non]: Donate one piece by emailing a jpg to altpick@altpick.com with subject line “art + japan donation”. You will be added to our compassion list. Stay tuned for next steps.

japan benefit logo design : Ayako Otoshi | ny

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AltPick Connects the Dots

Posted on April 25, 2011 by The Pick

We want to talk with you. You. The artist who fills the world with paintings, graphics, photography, fashion, architecture, music and books. This is not an exhaustive list by any means. We find art in unexpected places. We find artists in infinite places. You will find both at AltPick Connects.

Welcome to our conversation.

2011 finds Alternative Pick at Year 20. A milestone we cannot let escape without a proper tribute. We begin with a conversation we call … AltPick Connects. It occurs to us that 20 years is a wonderful place to be. History is made. Industries are changed. Art is produced. Artists continue creating. The conversation gets better.

Lucky us.

Start the conversation: comment, subscribe, post, tweet, say hello.

banner art: paul garland | uk | altpick member since 2007<

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