Yes, you CAN get a job with a Fine Arts Degree!

If you haven’t yet noticed, we’ve focused a lot on emerging printmakers this month in honor of our Excellence in Printmaking show.  As February wraps up, we want to share one more post of encouragement for all those in MFA and BFA programs staring graduation in the face.

Don’t worry, there is life after art school!  And not just one of a poor, starving artist! (Yes, even in this economy!)

True, it may take a little while to get your own artwork up and going, and you’re probably going to have to sink some money into it before you start seeing a pay-off, but just remember to keep at it.  No one will know what wonderful work you’re creating if you don’t get it out there.  But, while you’re busy creating, you need something to sustain you, right?  Let that fine arts degree work for you and find a job in the field you love!

We’re happy to report that many WPG interns are doing just that.  After interning here, Fawna Xiao put that experience to work for her and became the Director of Studio Gallery after graduating UMD.  Another intern from UMD, Mara Duvra, is teaching printmaking at a summer camp this year before she goes to graduate school.  Rachel Cohen is still in school, but manages to combine two of her interests, art and hockey, by illustrating the blog “Russian Machine Never Dies.”

If you are looking a pursuing a career in the arts (other or in addition to that of “artist”), networking and building relationships is key.  The people you meet during your school internships can help you later–either by introducing you to someone offering a job, writing letters of recommendation, or guiding you in the right direction in your search for a position.  If you didn’t take an internship, don’t worry!  Keep in touch with teachers, visit and start volunteering at organizations you like, and keep in touch with class mates.  Keeping these relationships alive can help you land that arts-related dream job.

But don’t rely on other people to do the work for you.  You have to start digging!  Look at job banks–we like idealist.org, the Smithsonian Institution Career Center (listing all currently available positions in all Smithsonian-run organizations), and the Americans for the Arts Job Bank. Don’t rule out Craigslist, either–WPG’s current director happened to find the listing for this job on Craigslist the day before resumes were due! Finally, always check the websites or call the organizations you want to work for–they may have something listed there or be ready to list something, and you can get your application in early.

Basically, it comes down to persistence and hard work.  If you keep looking, eventually you will find something that is right for you.  Happy job hunting!

Merry Christmas from WPG!

WPG is open 10-2 today, and then closed tomorrow.  We will re-open as usual on Wednesday, December 28.  Here are some seasonal prints that we think would look great on your walls year-round.  Have a safe and happy holiday!

"Burr" by Anne McLaughlin

"Snow Pattern on Gate" by Nuong Van-Dinh Tran

"Family Dinner" by Max-Karl Winkler, a woodcut illustration for a Cookie Recipe book published in 1977.

"Reindeer Lookout" by Karen Olanna

Intern Perspective – Field of Vision

Field of Vision is a unique show combining the discoveries of two a like artists in one another’s respective homelands. Despite the differences in Martha Oatway and Tracy Hill’s prints, wholeness is created among them through the unity of their one vision. Their shared multidimensional experiences shine through the communication of their works.The show consists of prints with abstract expressionist qualities illustrating different locations around Washington and Preston. Martha Oatway’s prints carry a mysterious mood with their muted colors and eye-catching patterns. She uses various techniques, my favorite in particular being her screen prints on Plexiglas. Oatway’s enigmatic aura distinguishes her work from Hill’s. Hill work is more conceptual, abstract, and less formal. She has beautiful combines where she presents translucent layers of print and drawing on acrylic panels. Hill says the layers in her work “connect with the layered histories and physical creation of the landscape but the overlaid images reflect on the fragility of the earth.” The 10 hanging screen print’s Hill made engage the viewer as the lightly sway in the front of the gallery. Their purpose being to invite the viewer to “ consider the narratives of those places through time” I truly think this is successfully done. The viewer is able to capture that ambiance from this series and relate it to the rest of show. I feel as if the entire show is to express the journey and process that rendered the art itself. The way the artist’s incorporate maps and a constant audio track playing in the vault of the sound the artist heard during their walks, really enables the viewer to fully indulge in the exploration and passage of time. I enjoyed the uncommon partner show, it felt like a performance piece to me.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Three things we are thankful for this year:

"Supposed to Be" by Andy Farkas--a sweet, family-themed print for this Thanksgiving.

Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and our sister organization, Washington Print Foundation–2011 was WPF’s first full year in Maryland, making it eligible for Maryland grants.  We are so happy they won the Small Organizations grant supporting both this and next year’s National Small Works Exhibitions.  Thanks AHCMC!  You can help WPF and it’s programming, too, by donating here.

Our wonderful new artist members–WPG added a lot of new names to its family this year–Andy Farkas, Clare Winslow, Dean Russell Thompson, Eric COGu Robinson, Heather McMordie, Janet Yagoda Shagam, and Kiyomi Baird.  Their techniques, styles, and approaches to their art vary widely, but all are dedicated and talented printmakers that we are happy to have here.

Our long-time artist members–WPG has been in existence for 26 years now.  We are happy to have some of our founding members still taking an active role in the gallery–exhibiting in solo and group shows, volunteering for gallery activities, and being continually committed to the gallery’s success.  A special thank you to Carolyn Pomponio, Nuong Van-Dinh Tran, Nina Muys, Pauline Jakobsberg, and Terry Svat (hope we didn’t forget anyone–some of our founding members are very modest!).

Happy Halloween!

Some Halloween prints to get you in the spirit this weekend!

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Off Celebrating!

WPG Director Annie Turner is getting married today!  Here’s some wedding-themed prints from WPG member artists to celebrate!

"Celebration Var. 1" by Carolyn Pomponio

"I am my Beloved's" by Lila Oliver Asher

"Wedding Guest II" by Edward McCluney

Making the case for Co-op galleries

As we extend invitations to some of this year’s NSW artists to become full-time members (everyone’s been commenting on what a great show this year’s has been!), it seems a good time to make the argument for co-op galleries, which sometimes are shown in a bad light.

If you’re thinking about joining a co-op, look for one with a good track record.  Co-ops with a long operating history (WPG is proud of its 26 years), that usually indicates that it is a stable organization.  New co-ops can be exciting as well as reputable, too, but in that case, knowing the people behind the co-op is all the more important.

Co-ops provide stability that may not be found in non-co-op galleries.  Of course the goal of gallery representation is always to sell your work, but sometimes things happen.  Having a sound financial base in membership fees can keep a gallery solvent during difficult times.  After natural or man-made disasters or during economic downturns when no one is interested in buying art, many galleries fold.  Sure, co-ops aren’t completely fail-proof, but having that cushion can help a lot!  And wouldn’t you rather have a gallery actively promoting your work instead for a small fee instead of losing representation all together?

Finally, if you are an artist applying for a lot of juried shows, take a minute to total up what you spend in a year.  Most calls for entry at this time are around $30-$50.  Even if you only apply to one a month, you’re spending $360-$600 a year, and not necessarily getting into all the shows you apply for.  If you apply that money towards a membership in a co-op gallery instead, especially one that has a generous hanging schedule (like, *ahem* WPG), you get constant representation.

So, in closing, if you are an artist, consider applying to your local co-op.  If you’re an art appreciator, support your local co-op artists by buying from the gallery!

Did you know that WPG…

1. Puts out a quarterly e-newsletter? Juror’s statements, images of new prints, and other articles by and about our member artists. No subscription necessary, you can see it on our website. The next newsletter goes out in June.

2. Offers the gallery for event rental?  Some of the most successful events include food and wine tastings, meet-up groups, and smallish parties (40-50 people is most comfortable).

3. Is accepting new members?  We are looking for quality printmakers.  Local artists are preferred, but we’ll consider distant members as well!  Potential members are voted in by the current membership via an application review process on the last Sunday of every month.  Contact the gallery for more information.

Calls for Entries

A few calls we wanted to share-

1. National Small Works 2011–you know the drill by now: works must be smaller than 170 sq in and original, hand-pulled prints (no digital or photographic work) created in the past two years by artists nationwide age 18+.  The full prospectus is on our website, and there are only 8 days left to take advantage of the early bird reduced fee!  (The final deadline is May 15).

2. Art Addiction’s 7th Annual Medial of Miniature Art – this is an online exhibition, but the prizes are worth it- First Prize includes a 2-page spread in World of Art Magazine and two more artists receive a 1-page spread.  Email info@artaddiction.net for a full prospectus.

3. ARTspace original print exchange-Deadline August 1.  If you’ve never done a print exchange before, they’re pretty fun!  ARTspace is asking for 10 original prints in a series.  They will keep one for their collection and the rest are redistributed into portfolios of 9 prints each and sent to the participating artists.  There is a $25 submission fee–but you’re guaranteed a return in the form of artwork (they will also have the prints for sale).  Please see the prospectus for full details.

4. Trawick Prize–Deadline is TOMORROW but if you can get an application together it’s worth it–put on by Bethesda, MD’s Arts and Entertainment District, up to 15 finalists are exhibited in the September exhibition.  From there, $14,00 in prize money is at stake–Best in Show: $10,000, 2nd Place-$2,000, 3rd Place-$1,000, and a young artists award of $1,000.  See the full prospectus for more details and get that application going!

Top 11 articles from 2010

In this weekend of top-list count-downs, here’s one more for you to enjoy while WPG is away.  Remember, WPG is open until 5 pm today (December 31) and will re-open Sunday, December 2, 12-5 pm.  The 2nd is the LAST DAY to see Two Artists, Many Journeys.  Now on to the list!  In case you missed any of these when they were first published, here’s a round-up of what other people have been reading the most this year:

"Cow Grazing" drypoint by Lee Newman

10. Intern Perspectives: Lee Newman — The first of two posts on Lee Newman in this list.  WPG intern Fawna Xiao reacts to the art in his recent exhibition, Glimpse.

9. National Small Works 2010 — we’re so glad we are able to share our exhibitions with people outside of the area through this blog, and that you all are looking at them!  This is the first of 3 posts on this list that focused on sharing installation photos.

8. Watch Stumptown Printers Video — insight into a print shop provided by WPG member artist Carole Nelson.

"Three Torsos" by Simon Brett, Wood Engraving from the upcoming January 2011 Invitational

7. Printmaking 101: Wood Engraving vs. Wood Cut — the first of two posts from our “Printmaking 101″ series to make this list.  In this post, the difference between these two wood-based techniques are discussed.  Great reading for our upcoming January exhibition on wood engravers!

6. Artist Q&A: Shahla Abdi –  Shahla won the Excellence in Printmaking Award for 2010, and as a new member, was part of our “New Faces, New Prints” exhibition in October.  Six of her prints have sold since August — come in and see them in person after reading the post, you’ll see why!

5. Two Artists, Many Journeys is up! –  A chance to see show photos from this

"Pot-ed Plum" by Carole Nelson, from the exhibition "Two Artists Many Journeys"

month’s exhibition, in case you can’t make it to the gallery in person.

4. Impressed — our review of the UMD student exhibition at the Brentwood Arts Exchange.  This exhibition is up through January 14, so you still have time to see it.  Read a little more to whet your appetite here!

3. Interview with Printmaker Michael Hagan –  This post was mentioned in last week’s pre-Christmas countdown.  In it, WPG member artist Carole Nelson

"Ain't" silkscreen by Mike Hagan

interviews fellow WPG member Artist Michael Hagan about his printmaking.  If you like this post, remember that Michael Hagan has a solo exhibition coming up next year!

2. Lee Newman: Glimpse — what can we say?  People love Lee Newman’s work, and with good reason!  See photos from his November exhibition in this post.

1. Printmaking 101: Monoprint vs. Monotype –  The number one most viewed post published this year!  It discusses the difference between the two related printing techniques, with examples.

Thanks, everyone, for reading!  We’ll be back next year with many more exciting, print-related posts.  Don’t forget to share us with your friends to help spread the appreciation for the printmaking processes we all love.  Happy New Year!