7 Hi-Tech Gifts for Artists

All of the items in this gift guide were recommended by artists who read this blog, and online design groups.

I asked the question "What is something in your studio you can't live without?"

I got a wealth of responses, and because of this, I wrote three blog posts on gift ideas by theme: 7 Hi-Tech items for Artists, Re-purposed & Free items, and Art Supplies.

I tried my best to locate a link and picture of the suggested item if the contributor did not. The comments next to the items are by the artist who suggested it.

#1
Filter Forge $44 and up

"Filter Forge is a truly is an amazing tool that quickly allows you to create various artistic styles, change color themes, turn a photo to a sketch, create your own patterns and seamless tiles - really, the possibilities are endless. It is the perfect companion to Photoshop."
-Deb Trotter http://www.debtotter.com





#2
IPad $499 and up
New and used on Amazon

My favorite tool at the moment is my iPad. Great for sketching, holding reference photos, which can easily be magnified, research and just plain FUN. I resisted for months and finally gave in. I am so happy it. It is useful in more ways than I could have imagined".-Eva-Maria Ruhl www.evaruhl.com








#3
Digital Camera $55 and up

"Something I use a lot before I even start drawing is a point and click digital camera for photo reference!" -Brooke Luder






#4
Mimobot USB Drives $24 and up
On Amazon $29 and up

"Mimobot line of designer character-based USB flash drives." -Evan Blaustein





#5
Photoshop $79 and up (multiple versions)
On Amazon $55 and up

"I couldn't function without Photoshop! I create most of my artwork now on the computer as well as manipulating traditional art on it. I love using layers to experiment and not have to worry about ruining anything." -Deb GallagherVocal Greetings, LLC http://www.vocalgreetings.com




#6
Lightboxes

Artograph Light Tracer Light Box $34 and up

As an illustrator, I can't live without my light box. I use it constantly and would be lost without it. I use it for:
-working up new illustrations,
-retracing key lines before cutting greeting card mock-ups,
-placing handwritten text on greeting card mock-ups, etc.
Some people use transfer paper but that never felt comfortable for me. While in art school, I probably spent under $40 for an "Artograph Light Tracer Light Box". There are higher end models -- but I was on a "student" budget and this inexpensive model has served me well and become my number one, go-to tool. Beverly Ann Hayes, Illustrator www.beverlyannhayes.com



See-Rite Light Box $83 and up

"A great light box. I can refine my sketches and trace onto canvas paper to start painting away! Also a decent scanner is indispensable to transfer art to digital".- Laura Cantu Smith, www.cantusmithdesign.com






#7
Wacom Tablet $60 and up


Comments:

"My artistic item I could NOT live without: WACOM tablet. Intuos4 Medium is the perfect size. Tote-able & offers plenty of space to draw. $349." -Barbra Ignatiev Surface Design, Illustration www.ifneedb.com

"The Wacom tablet at least 9x12" in size is a game changing accoutrement for the computer using artist." -Brian Lee Boyce

"I couldn't function without a Wacom tablet!" -Deb GallagherVocal Greetings, LLC http://www.vocalgreetings.com

"A great idea is the Wacom tablet. It is a great tool". -Eva-Maria Ruhl http://www.evaruhl.com/

"A Wacom tablets is a fantastic gift. It allows the Artist to a have greater control and precision when designing. -Janice Savage -For digital work, I would say a Wacom tablet, and if you you have the extra money:) go with a Cintque". -Andre Saunders http://www.dreillustration.wordpress.com

"Wacom Intuous tablet. For tablets Wacom is higher end...I have heard people say they love the Bamboo as well." -Karen Harris

"My wacom drawing pad." -Patti Gay http://www.pattigay.com/

"Wacom Tablet - Why I love it is because it allows me to draw with the same hand position that I do when I use a pencil. It feels like an extension of my hand, letting it move easily. I have two. One for the road to take with me and my laptop. And one for home that stays on my desk". -JC Langford, Artist jeannenelangford.com/blog

Greeting Card Designers Sing For Apple: Funny Video

On Saturday we held our art licensing anniversary party in Berkeley, California. Over the next few weeks I'll be posting interviews and a presentation by Ginger McCleskey, a card sales rep, who spoke about trends, and the future of the card industry (below in green sweater).

Recently, I was thrilled to learn that Apple Computer is opening a new store in Berkeley, near our meeting. At the party, we made a video to celebrate that fact. It is the Christmas song "Apple Store is Coming to Town."

(1 minute)

Why the big deal about Apple? Most designers work on Macs as the industry standard, and graphic design software works better on Macs. I also continue to have excellent customer service when I walk into an Apple store with tech problems. Now, even die-hard PC users are coming around and deciding they are tired of the Blue Screen of Death.

But on a more serious note, I remember the day of the '89 San Francisco earthquake, when my neighbor came home from working at the San Francisco Chronicle, and she told me the only way they got the newspaper out that day was to put it on a Mac.

Today, publishing a newspaper on a Mac might sound like no-big-deal, but then, the general attitude was: Macs were toys and businesses used PC's.

At that time, the San Francisco Chronicle was something we could rely on, since telephones, TV, and radio stations were down, and a lot of communication came to a halt. Freeways collapsed, the Bay Bridge was closed, bus service was limited and people couldn't get home.

So when I think of Apple Computer, I don't just think of laptops and ipods. I also think about how my neighbor was stunned that this "toy" had published the newspaper in the middle of a crisis.

Use your Kindle to Learn About the Card Business

Every night in bed, I read all my favorite blogs on my kindle...it's such a completely DIFFERENT experience than reading them online.

I actually "read" blogs on my kindle, versus just rushing through headlines in front of a computer. That's what I do when I'm on the web.

At first I thought "Why would anyone pay 99 cents a month to read a blog when it's free?"

Well, I realized that for just 3 cents a day, I can relax and read an entire article, without blinking ads coming at me and other things fighting to distract me. My neck is also less sore from sitting in front of the computer and I even found out that some blogs write 10-15 articles a day, but I've never see them because I only visit the blog once a week or randomly. How great it is to have all these articles flow into my kindle.

Blogs have passionate writers and because they are tied into specialized communities, their info is hot off the press. Also, topics I'm interested in are discussed, such as how artists use social media to sell their art. Rarely do I find newspapers or magazines that write about this specific subject.

I can clip articles for later reads (versus putting them into the twilight zone bookmark world), and if I feel the urge to click through a link in the article, I can do this on a kindle, but the great thing about kindle is it narrows down the noise coming at me when I'm surfing the web...where rarely I read a complete article.

See what you think and let me know. You can also subscribe to this Blog on a Kindle.

See all Blogs on Kindle.

Editor Picks: Christmas Cards with a New Look

Thanks to our enthusiastic readers who submitted their art! Here is our Gallery of indie Christmas cards for 2010!

From the submissions below, I selected 14 cards based on interesting design challenges, emotional response, and marketability. Out of those, Kathy Krassner chose the "top pick" Christmas card based on a "new look." -Kate

TOP CARD SELECTION

Kathy Krassner, owner of Krassner Communications, chose the most interesting "new look" Christmas card. She has been writing about the card and stationery business for more than 20 years and currently serves as Editor-at-Large of Gifts & Decorative Accessories magazine.

TOP CHRISTMAS CARD for 2010
Rebecca Green

Kathy Krassner Comments

"Since I've covered the greeting card market as a magazine editor for more than two decades -- and personally send and receive more than 100 holiday cards each year -- finding a "new look" that I haven't already seen on a Christmas card is a real challenge! That's why Rebecca Green's design caught my eye. I appreciate the juxtaposition of the various patterns and shapes, the pairing of unexpected colors such as peach and pink with the traditional red and green, plus the handwritten-type font that delivers a well-expressed message of hope and peace. This card is a winner not only for its "new look" but for its smile factor and salability."

Other EDITOR PICKS for 2010




Comment: A playful and humorous card with bright colors. People always like cat themes.








Comment: Card with rich colors, calming image, great contrasts.








Comment: Unusual modern interpretation of traditional card.






Comment: Simple, playful, surprising format.







Comment: Humor and witty design layout.







Comment: Charming, unpredictable animal choices. Warm message of hope.







Comment: Off the wall edgy, funny, good for dog lovers.








Comment: Surprise image of climate mixes, colors and funny symbolism.







Comment: Rich use of watercolor skills to express a winter feeling. Great color contrast, although could use a tweak on getting the text to stand out more.







Comment:Off the wall humor. Good for women's market.









Comment: Modern style with interesting colors. Picasso-like.







Comment: A play on the eyes with negative/positive space contrasts. Interesting balance, color usage and textures.








Comment: Simple, clean design with interesting texture.




~ CARD GALLERY ~
Generous Contributors of Holiday Card Designs

Here is an assortment of festive Holiday Cards by our readers!
See something you like? Contact the artist on the card.


All Rights Reserved © Copyright Notice:
All card designs on this page are the property of the artist.
Digital distribution or print reproductions of these images is prohibited .
To obtain permission please contact artist.

Kate's Greeting Card Designer Booklets on Amazon

You can support this blog by ordering e-Booklets that are a compilation of different articles on this blog starting at only .99 cents! They can be read on your kindle, ipad, ipod, cellphone, or your computer. Free samples and lending options available.

ART LICENSING

Booklet on 20 Steps to Art Licensing that is a list of suggested steps to to take for getting into art licensing. How to license your art to companies that publish greeting cards, and manufacture coffee mugs, magnets, wall hangings, kitchen items, and dozens of other gift items. This booklet covers 20 basic steps from how to prepare your art, to what companies to contact. It includes topics on: How to find agents, classes and what trade shows to attend. There are extensive resources on social media, licensing community groups, and lists of interviews with professional designers (5,200 words).

MARKETING CARDS

Booklet on Unusual Ways To Market Greeting Cards, and 22 places to get your designs featured. A 20 page booklet on how to get your cards noticed in non-traditional ways. Everything from why you should send cards to your dentist, to how to get special features in national publications. Great tips for designers who are starting out and want to get their cards into the hands of people beyond friends and family. Special Section: Submissions guidelines and contacts for 22 Gift Industry publications and professional gift industry blogs that seek out new greeting card designs to feature for free. (5,000 Words and 17 greeting card images included)








CARD WRITING

Booklet on 7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers Make A list of 7 things to avoid when submitting greeting card verse to publishers.

Includes a list of card publishers and their guidelines, links to writer interviews, articles, card samples and other current resources. 20-page booklet and 2,300 words and 8 Pages of Card Samples.


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