Graphhics and Art Jobs

I absolutely love it when people are inspired by my videos and/or my art and take the time to comment. Here is a recent comment on Google+ that made me smile.

Check out the comment and video below.

“Watching you and listening to you has rekindled my interesting in art--I've been feeling lost and was starting to doubt whether or not I should continue majoring in graphic design while in college--but you reminded me that there is so much to be done with graphic design and art. I especially love that you mentioned how you liked working with people because I do too!! Thanks and I'll check out AmeriCorps”

Wow, this comment was so kind. I really hope to share valuable lessons that I have learned from my own experience. I am currently editing a series of videos based on my volunteer experiences and what I learned. If there are any other questions out there, please let me know as I would love to create some video responses to your questions.

Reminiscing About WOW

One of my past jobs involved working for Works of Wyoming (WOW) a non-profit with the purpose of helping artists turn their art into a career.  I had several positions in the two+ years there.  As a volunteer my roles included curating and hanging shows, graphic designer, teacher, retail clerk, marketer, and social media expert.  As the social media expert I created and ran the WOW blog for a short period of time.  Since the blog is no longer active, I would like to share some of my favorite blog posts with you via my art blog.

1. Work and Play - Using Social Media for Marketing
2. 12 Alternative Art Venues - Although many of these specific venues are in Laramie many cities have a variety of places that would fall in each category.
3. Beginner Twittering - Some simple tips
4. Top 10 Art Biz Blog Tips - This is by far my favorite business of art resource and certainly one of the best out there.
5. Websites - DIY website guides
6. $mArt$$Money$ - A list of resources where artists can apply for grants and fellowships for their art.

If you are ever in or around Laramie WOW is a fantastic source for Wyoming art.  Even though I am not at WOW nearly as often it is still a wonderful resource for artists and the arts community in WYO and I am proud to continue to promote them and their services.  Promote what you Love! and I do love WYO art and Artists.

Why I Like Art (and My Job)

Hi my name is Felicia Follum. I am a Cooper Center staff, artist, social media junkie, and am currently teaching the blogging class (this first sentence was written by the class).

When Maggie (a student in my Blogging and Social Media class at the Cooper Center) asked me to write about why I like art, I knew the topic would be a perfect fit for a guest post on the students’ blogs (since their blogs are currently set to private, I thought I would share this guest post on my own blog as well).

Why I like art… As most artists would say, I have always been an artist.

In high school I wanted to be an art teacher because I loved watching my friends and peers who didn’t enjoy school light up and really thrive in the art room. I have always liked helping people and saw art as the perfect way to relate to my friends and others when they needed a little extra encouragement.

Since attending the University of Wyoming as an art and conceptual graphic design student, I have become passionate about using art and creativity as a tool for social justice, activism, and communication. Art can make a political statement much more clearly and directly without being a “slap in the face” than a good portion of the political dialog around us.  People tend to THINK about beautiful art rather than becoming defensive and belligerent. When we can create a work that consists of both concept and aesthetic beauty we have created a powerful tool and made a difference in the lives of those who have engaged with the wok.

I suppose my simple answer to the complex question “why do you like art” can be summed up in one sentence. I like art because it is a wonderful tool to help make the world a better and more beautiful place.

I am fortunate to have the opportunity to use art, creativity, and innovation to work with such beautiful and wonderful people on a regular basis. The Cooper Center (click to see photos the Hip-Hop class I teach) is a perfect example of why I like art. We are using the arts to better the lives of people with disabilities (and all who come in contact with their work) every day.

PS I would like to thank Maggie, Nik, Eleanor, and Molly for inspiring this blog post.

Works of Wyoming Internship

Fellow artists, family and friends. I would like to introduce you to Works of Wyoming. I am currently the AmeriCorps intern working primarily on social media marketing as well as working in the gallery space and gift shop. (Last year I worked as the Graphic Design Intern for WOW and the WWBC. You can see my blog for that here.)

As the social media marketing person (I would love to say coordinator, though I do not officially have a title) I have been posting some marketing tips on the WOW blog. My current goal is to post every week on either Tuesday or Thursday and sometimes both. In addition to weekly social media marketing tips, there are basic professional development tips for artists, some fun projects and of course announcements for our workshops and shows.

It would make my day if you would check out the blog and share it with your friends, especially artists and small business owners who could benefit from our services.  In addition to sharing the blog with people, I would also love to have more examples to post.  If you would like to have your social media site, plans, or strategies in the blog, please comment below or contact me on the WOW Facebook page.  If you would like to contact me through WOW feel free.  Their phone number is 307.742.6574 and the email address is wow@uwyo.edu.

If you are not from Wyoming and would like help with your social media comment below for more info.  If you are from WY not a part of WOW you should look into becoming a member.

Contact

WOW
WOW Blog
WOW Facebook
307.742.6574

Personal
Art Facebook Page (I don't add people I don't know in real life to my personal page, so be sure to go to FeliciaFollumDesign not FeliciaFollum. Thanks!)

The ArtsVan

A short slideshow from my summer with the ArtsVan.

The ArtsVan travelled to various parks in and around Yakima, Washington, giving art lessons to kids.  Art is something that has almost completely disappeared from the school in Yakima.  Allied Arts also provides art lessons in the schools to help the kids get some exposure. 

Some of the communities that we worked in are heavy with gang violence, poverty, and single parents.  A goal of the van is to help these kids have a positive outlet as well as some positive role models, all while teaching them some basic skills (such as using scissors).

In the future, I would love to go back to Yakima and work with kids who are into gang tags and help them to put their efforts and talents into making artwork.  I will post some of my ideas for projects in the near future.

I Love My Job!

I have enjoyed getting to know and work with these guys.

This summer I have been able to work part time for the Arts Van in Yakima. We travel around to a variety of parks and give art lessons to kids.

One of the parks has a large Spanish speaking population and many adorable kids, unfortunately, my Spanish is not great. The first week I was pretty shy (with speaking Spanish). About the third week I saw this little girl run from her house.  As she ran toward the park I shouted “Como Estas?”  “Bien,” she replied.

The older brother was so excited that I “was learning Spanish.” Since then, I have been practicing (and making a fool of myself).  The kids seem to appreciate the effort and enjoy helping me.
 
This art lesson is Papel Picado. We cut simplified traditional Mexican flags from tissue paper. The kids (and parents and older siblings) all had a blast.

 There are more photos of Papel Picado, the kids, and the ArtsVan below.

The Career Options for an Artist are Endless

Art is fun, but it is also hard work. Honestly it is the hardest work I have ever done.

As artists we are constantly being told that “you can’t make money doing that” and “maybe you should get a real job.”

These sayings are misleading and quite honestly become obnoxious.  Of course, art can be a hobby and that may be best for some people, but for others, art is a real job that generates a steady income (yes there are also artists that make $30,000 every 4 – 6 months).  This article is for those of you who want to be a professional working studio artist, with a steady income, but are not quite there. It also applies to those of you who would like to create part-time, study art in a formal education setting or pursue one of several fields in the humanities.

Process of Becoming A Working Artist
 

If you are in the process of beginning a professional artist career, you may be interested in working part time while you figure out what exactly you need to do to get you art career/business up-and-running.  Which is what I am doing now. Below are some art related and non-art related jobs that could be inspiring but also can help with networking and learning necessary business skills. They could also be long term career options.

You can read about my art jobs here

Art vs. Non Art-Realted Jobs
There are benefits to both art and non-art related jobs.

A job in an arts related field can help “get your name out there” and be incredibly inspiring, while at the same time offer great networking opportunities and awareness of community events and/or venues that could use your skills.  A non arts related job could give you a needed break when you are feeling burnt out or you need some non-art inspiration.  Some of the places I listed below will hire people over Christmas or over the summer.  If you are interested in a short term job, be sure to specify that when you apply.

Continue reading for career lists.

Respect the Arts & Business of Arts Series

This series will feature discussions such as the famous Art vs. Craft debate, what are some good art careers/jobs, how to make a living as an artist, Marketing and Self-Promotional strategies, networking, organization, goal setting, and stereotypes that are believed about artists and by artists. 

I will begin this series by explaining some reasons why art is an integral part of society.  I will then move on to some of the topics above and some new ones of my own.  I do not plan to conclude my research in these specific and related topics, so I think I will continue posting to this series and not really have it end….

Is there anything that you want me to post about?  Please let me know below and I will try.

Upcycled Paper Beads Lessons Plan

This past summer I was given the opportunity to go on a trip to Haiti.  I took a couple magazines, scissors, toothpicks and glue along with me.  These four items led to an amazing opportunity to lead some of the older girls and younger boys in the skill or craft of making paper beads.  It was a great opportunity to combine two of my most significant passions, people and art.  Although paper bead making may not be seen as Fine Art (Check out my Facebook Art Page), there is something marvelous about using my artistic ability and Fine Arts training to connect with others.

This is a project that could be done with kids or adults of any age.  The process is fairly simple.  You start with a piece of magazine or paper and cut it into triangles (for more oval beads) or rectangles the long way (for thicker beads).  After you do this you can roll them on a toothpick and add a drop of glue.  Finally finish it off with some sort of water proofing (spray paint or gloss medium work well).  I use gloss spray paint.  The simplest way to create a piece of jewelry is to take stretchy sting and thread it on with one or two spacer beads in-between paper beads.
 
Last Christmas break I created and sold a significant amount of jewelry made from these beads. I entered, and sold, jewelry in the Affordable Art for the Holidays show at the Works of Wyoming Gallery. Some of the jewelry that I created for gifts and the show included earrings, necklaces and bracelets incorporating paper beads.