Links
Associations, Resources, Suppliers and other Links
Arranged loosely alphabetical but I’m not going to go crazy keeping this organized. Let me know if any links stop working.
Associations, Organizations and Networks
- Artist Trust A non-profit organization devoted to the support of working artists. Services include: networking, workshops, lists for calls, housing and grand opportunities, legal workshops, medical clinic referrals, etc.
Blogs
- Strobist Photography: All about using strobes and flashes for still photography.
Continued Learning
- Computer Arts Magazine/Tutorials Home of Computer Arts Magazine and Computer Art Projects Magazine. There are loads of free high quality tutorials. A PDF version of the tutorial and working files often available for download. Very informative site and one I regularly visit. I also recommend subscribing or buying back issues.
- Layers Magazine/Tutorials Free Adobe Creative Suite Tutorials. Content available in video or traditional text and image tutorials. Downloads often available.
- Lowel: Learning to Light Better A collection of tutorials about lighting for photography and video. Among the topics: Assessing a Location; Choosing and using Lowel lights; glossary of lighting terms; Lowel equipment instructions. Tutorials are divided into two categories: Foundations and Lessons.
- Spectrum Fantastic Art Video Game/Illustration: One of the leading showcase magazines for fantasy art of all genres.
Font and Stock Sources
- dafont.com | Top 100 A good source for free and for purchase fonts. Fonts can be displayed using your phrase or characters, a good feature if you are trying to weed-out incomplete display fonts. Public domain and free font filters for easy searching.
- Fontspace.com Download free fonts @ fontspace.com.
- Fotolia.com Royalty Free Stock Photos.
- iStockPhoto Stock photography, video, vector illustrations, etc. The inventory is quite large and they have many exclusive providers that are not available elsewhere, and likewise, many that are. It never hurts to search iStock over the cheaper competitors. Items are given a valued by the credit system. So many credits by image size, or regular vs extended rights. You purchase credits (minimum of 10 credits last time I checked) that you use like money or buy one of several subscriptions. Be watchful of the dollar per credit ratio per item.
- iStock’s Vetta Collection The vetta collection of images at iStock. A collection of drop dead beautiful exclusive images. I would normally purchase a larger size just in case the client unexpectedly wants to do something in print or in a larger size but watch these prices and sizes, they can bite.
- Linotype.com Download fonts.
- Morguefile.com Free stock photography site.
- Stock.xchng Free stock photography site.
- Wikimedia Commons Images fall loosely into public domain. Notice: Read the usage information given with each image.
Service Providers
- Next Day Flyers, Inc. Next Day Offset Printing. I’ve used their services and been very happy with their quality, prices and speed. I really like the paper weight and coatings on the business cards; it really says quality when you hand it to your client. Related blog post: NDF – Great tips and suggestions
Suppliers: Art, Photo, Video, Audio
- B & H Photo Video One of the biggest names in prosumer and professional level photography, video and audio gear. The B&H name comes up on the short list, when asking pros were they got their equipment. The inventory is huge, navigation on the site is good but occasionally it takes more than one attempt to find the product in their system, but odds are, they will have it. Their prices usually beat the competition, but it wouldn’t hurt to shop around a bit. Their staff is very knowledgeable. Orders shipped quickly and the shipping costs seem to be very reasonable given the weight and size of most items. Products available through a huge mail order business with a storefront in New York.
- Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Well stocked art supply outlet. They offer major brands as well as their own brand and offer some unique brushes not duplicated elsewhere. I haven’t purchased from them but believe they are a good company. Products are available in their local retail outlets (two to date) or via mail order.
- Daniel Smith Artists’ Materials Daniel Smith brand printer inks and artist colors (oil, acrylic and watercolor), which are widely considered to be one of the best brands available. Inventory also includes general art supplies, and other brands of artist colors. Great service. Products available via DS Retail stores, third-party retail outlets, and mail order.
- Dick Blick Art Materials A huge array of products for almost any type of artwork imaginable. Blick has some of the lowest prices available. Shop the Blick brand to find the best deals. Great customer service. I’m not aware of any Bick retail outlets. Products are available via mail order. Shop two weeks in advance of need to get the best price on shipping.
- Golden Artist Colors, Inc. Simply an amazing array of products for acrylic artwork and interior decoration (wall applications). They only manufacture acrylic products, but offer a wide array of mediums, gels and additives that will allow you to paint in an oil or watercolor style using acrylics. Golden often puts out new products and aggressively research new advances through customer feedback and their “Working Artists” program. Very informative web site. Their products are widely available via third-party retail outlets, and mail order art supply outlets. I believe they also have a retail outlet on or near their manufacturing site.
Friends
You may also enjoy visiting the sites of some of my friends and associates:
- Mark O’Connor, Composer and Violinist at: MarkOConnor.com
- Jason Sobottka, Artist and LWTC Instructor at: Gallery 110
- Mark D. West, M.A., Artist, Musician, Instructor etc. at: markdwest.com
