Comments on: Best Gifts for Budding Artists

By: Alyson Stanfield

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 14:17:36 +0000

AGSI: I don’t think they’re talking about young children – just high school grads. But I still think that the biz book can wait a year or two after that.

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By: Art Gallery St Ives

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 08:52:29 +0000

For an young artist,a big “No” from my side when it comes to giving a business book to young children. It’s the time when they need to grow on their own and not just with textual knowledge. I think books related to art will do wonder for them along with art supplies.

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By: Elaine Luther

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:49:08 +0000

I agree that a business book isn’t appropriate at such a young age. It’s important to develop as an artist.
Then again, if the person can separate the two and realize that they need to learn about business topics, even if they’re not ready to apply them yet, then that would be okay. Why not learn the basics of business from a young age?
The issue of keeping the art creation mind separated from the business mind _during the creation process_ is one all artists face.

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By: Steve Worthington

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:44:17 +0000

I’d give them a set of credit card sized artist grid cards currently up for pre-order on Kickstarter. They’re great for drawing and composing for painting. But then I did make them! I wish I’d had a set since my college days (and before). They are easy to find at kickstarter if you search artist grid cards.

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By: Roopa Dudley

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:48:39 +0000

For me, Easels were the best gift ever! I have two types. One that I use for large paintings made out of metal and is sturdy. It stays in my studio. The other one that is portable made out of solid wood called RENOIR Table Easel. It has a drawer to hold your Paints in it and is very well made. It can hold up to 18×24 size canvas panel or Stretched Canvas. It folds up into a brief-case. I take that with me everywhere – On Picnics, to Cafes, on Vacations.

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By: Lucy Chen

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 02:27:03 +0000

Alyson, I don’t know if you’d find it interesting. My bachelor’s degree is in Commerce majoring in Accounting and Finance, and I had worked a few years in banking and investment after I graduate. I think banking and finance and accounting are the last places that people should get creative about, because it is destructive. Anyway, it is still very very different from Marketing, which I wish I have studied instead (after painting).

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By: Lucy Chen

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 02:20:11 +0000

In reply to Arthur.

Arthur, I don’t need motivation either. But this is a really good book. I don’t think anyone can be disappointed in it.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 01:53:49 +0000

In reply to Dee.

Dee: I love the idea of the card for the post office. And I also love the spa idea. What a treat that would be!

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By: Dee

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:59:22 +0000

“What are your favorite gifts to give and receive?”
A new computer, with great software.
External storage device(s) for backing up work. Artworks, photography of art, digital art, video, all very storage intensive.
Gift certificates to eateries, itunes, netflix, etc.
Subscriptions to expensive imported magazines on art, fashion, culture, architecture, etc.
Membership fees to the local Art council.
Pre-paid card to the post office for shipping and mailing things.
Things that reduce stress – lessons in some outdoor sport, tickets to concerts, zoo/aquarium, spa (rather decadent tho)
Regarding business, I think it should be something taught later in school and the matter of Ethics and intellectual property being taught first, as those things are important to one’s mental health and sustaining a sense of (business) confidence. Marketing and so forth is also useful, but as an end piece.

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By: Jenny Schu

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:37:39 +0000

Looking back, I’m not sure what would have helped me as a gift heading into Art School, I was nervous enough about the commitment to Art and went to a large university in case I didn’t like Studio Art, full time.
What helped me most was the cash to help pay for books, art supplies that I didn’t have but needed for certain classes and Sunday meals (most colleges don’t have Sunday in their meal plan).
I know I did want to take business classes along with my BFA, but my university didn’t allow an Art/Business double major and classes in the business school were limited to Business majors only. Our school only started to look at teaching the business side of it as I was heading out, so there were some voluntary workshops. The ones I remember best were about Shamless Self Promotion.
At this point in my art career, it would have been nice to have an idea of all the different paths I could take as an artist and which routes might get me there. The biggest help as far as the business side for me has been through our local Arts Council (the Arts Council of Greater Lansing). They offer tons of workshops, grants and their one on one help. They also are great at connecting artists for mentoring etc. Some artists are extremly talented, but struggle on the business end. It would be great to get into the business side right away so that you can think about it, and the balance while working on Studio Discipline.

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