Print your Art: The World needs it!

Where have you seen art, in real life, lately that has impacted you? What value do you find in viewing and responding to tangible visual art? When’s the last time you strolled through an art gallery? It doesn’t take much to discover the art around you. Even in my small, relatively rural hometown we have an arts council with a gallery, a local artist collective, the library, and multiple restaurants and establishments that promote art through sharing in their spaces. How does an artist go about displaying their art? I’ve found myself on this journey this year and here’s what I’ve learned.

BELIEVE

It starts with this. It begins with a recognition of yourself as an artist. If it’s challenging for you to embrace that role, take some time to look in the mirror and repeat, “I am an artist.” Write it down on a card or sticky note and place it in your car or at your computer desk to remind yourself throughout the day of the truth that you are, indeed, an artist. Embrace the encouragement you receive from others. As you put your art out into the world digitally and it touches lives (because it does!), open your mind to the positive reflections you receive and take them to heart. Start by printing, framing, and displaying your art in your personal spaces. Through experiencing the joy of the images that you create that speak to your heart, imagine how that feeling could be transmitted throughout your community!

Connect

Through the process of believing your role as an artist and your absolute benefit to the world, take the next step to connect with others. When I was inspired to print my art for display, I first reached out to a former local Arts Council Director for advice. She recommended joining local arts councils (which typically have a low yearly fee) and photography groups. Through their newsletters and websites I discovered multiple opportunities for displaying my art in the community. In addition, I made personal connections through in-person (yes, I actually walked into the arts council and had face-to-face conversations! ) as well as telephone calls with those which required a bit of a drive. These relational interactions opened doors for brainstorming, collaborating, and exhibiting my art in local spaces.

Submit

Opportunities to display your art abound. I’ve found some exhibits are for photographers only, usually sponsored by local or regional clubs. They are displayed in an array of venues. Some have themes, while others are open to interpretation. In addition, many local art galleries have opportunities to submit proposals for shows in their public spaces. This could include a few to a few dozen images chosen by you to display. Again, I have found these options to have small fees. These galleries also offer the opportunity to sell your art (of which the gallery takes a percentage commission.) Other alternatives include juried shows. These have a singular juror who chooses pieces from submissions, and often, a monetary prize is awarded. For each of these, there's typically a gallery opening celebration (who doesn't enjoy a good party?!) where the participants and community are invited to enjoy the collection exhibited. These are wonderful experiences to chat with like-minded creatives and enjoy a variety and depth of artistic presentation. 

Some to which I submitted, my art was not chosen, and I’ve also had some surprisingly positive responses. Irrespective of the level of approval, your art is needed. Printing and presenting your creations have powerful impacts. The unique ways you view, observe, interact with, and capture the world around you bring essential light and vision, depth, and wonder. Your art has the power to transform hearts, minds, and souls with hope and mystery, peace and authenticity, relatability and comfort, and compelling stories. Get out there and share your art with the world! Bare minimum, print your art for YOU.