Friday, February 05, 2010

Top 10 Artists Magazines!

I love a good art book or art magazine. They are helpful, usually contain alot of info that I can use or pass along and they motivate me to get back into the studio and keep painting. These are the ones I will continue to subscribe to, probably forever! They did not pay me to promote them!  but I'm going to anyways! :) Here IS THE COMPLETE LIST!
1. International Artists
Great high quality photos and articles that speak to the beginner and experienced artist. I have been with them since issue #1. They publish every two months. You can reserve your copies at any book store, or if you don't want to chance missing an issue, subscribing is easy!
Look for:
Their  popular art competitions.
Support for portrait artists.
Interviews with well known artists.
Something for oils, watercolors and acrylic painters.
Marketing tips.

2. American Art Collector
If you are a serious artists and can only afford one magazine, THIS IS IT! Galleries across North America spend big bucks promoting their best artists. These are the people you need to know!  A treasure chest, not only for the collector, but for the aspiring gallery artist!
Look for:
Glimpses inside of galleries across the states.
Ideas on how to promote your work.
What is popular in certain areas so you know your market.
Price rages for professional and emerging artists (extremely valuable info).
Art  that is actually sold from being seen in this magazine.
Representational and some abstracted  artworks
All mediums.
Major Art Exhibition locations and information

3. The Artist's Magazine
The Artists Magazine has been around forever. It is the magazine that covers every niche! I 've enjoyed the high quality images and the advice and step by step instruction that this magazine offers every month. It now has a sizable online presence and very worthwhile to join up (for free) There is a blog, marketplace, networking area etc. A great advantage is now back issues are available on CD and DVD!

4. American Artist
Sister site http://www.artistdaily.com/
This is the oldest publishing art magazine that I have read. I have copies from the 70's hanging around somewhere in the basement. Just can seem to throw away any art book! It's getting a bit thin, but the online network is fantastic...they have a great and helpful newsletter ( a bit to sales oriented at times), but a way to communicate in an arts community. They are embracing the future of online mags and providing free infomation, an easy means to keep in touch with other artists and great promotions like the Weekend with the Masters.

5. American Artist Oil Painting Highlights
6. American Artists Workshop
All from the same publisher and all availalbe through the same website portal. My personal favorite is the Artists Workshop because I happened to be at a featured workshop with Greg Kruetz and the write up was bang on. Once you've been to a professional artists workshop you soon realize that it is impossible to remember everything! The next thing question is who do I take a workshop from? This magazine eliminates hours of research on the computer and if you like a certain teaching style, you'll find the right workshop by going through the magazine. NEVER throw them out!

7. Art Business News
Art Business News was recommended to me when I first passed my professional framing course. It offered advice on framing tachniques, gave me the trends in the art industry, colors for the year, what is a giclee, what are print companies interested in and their newest lines, how to run a gallery and how galleries were doing across the United States.It now has a submission area online for articles and art, along with regular catagories of emerging artists, print and original artwork, what is selling where and also a great newsletter. This is for the serious career artist!

8. Decor Magazine
It is the art and framing resource that I trust. They are also sponsors of art expos around the US and have the lastest art and trends and advice. I use to get it when it was almost a thick as a phonebook, but those days are fast disappearing! Go online and check it out and see if you want to subscribe. Again, for the serious career artist.

9. Canadian Brushstroke Magazine
Great and timely writing, high quality pictures and it's free only online. There are contests, reviews, hints and tips, interviews and it is great to see an upstart magazine do so well...and it's Canadian! Be sure to sign up for this up and coming ezine!

10. Southwest Art
This is a must have if you are interested in highest quality images of contemporary realism. I use the images in this magazine to instruct on color and composition. I think the Southwest has been a hotbed of great art for many years and has a loyal and well educated following. I have visited Scottsdale and have seen many of the featured galleries and yes....the art is THAT good! Inspiring and educational.



Did I miss your favorite magazine? I'm sure there are others and I'd love to promote any that help us artists!