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• Jo in The Chair - Yay
  by Jo O'Brien

  Interview by James Pierce for Wrapped Up Issue #2...

  Interview by James Pierce for Wrapped Up Issue #2 The Chair – A little more serious than the ‘The Couch’ James: Give us a bit of background about the gallery you manage, what’s it like ? What kind of work do you show ? What sells ? Jo: We have three galleries around Melbourne and specialise in affordable original art. It’s really challenging and creative work and I get to meet some very talented people. Most of my day is spent promoting emerging artists to our lovely customers and sourcing artwork to sell. We exhibit most forms of visual art including paintings, illustrations, sculpture and prints. I find many customers are looking for artwork to fit a particular space in their home. Often they buy something because of its size or colour. Other customers come in for a browse and fall in love with something on display. Often these customers are drawn to quirky and unique images or artwork that is presented in an interesting way. / James: How important is it for an artist to have a body of work ? Do most artists come to you with a few pieces, or a series with a theme ? or something else ? / Jo: It is important to show that you are creating art regularly and that you are improving with experience. Reputable galleries will want to know that you are more than a ‘one hit wonder.’ I like to see a minimum of 5-8 examples when considering an artist. If they are presenting me with a series, I also ask to see work from outside the series. A website or online portfolio is perfect for this because they often include information about the artist and images of older works that have sold. Our best selling artists have their own distinct style which makes their work recognizable outside of a gallery environment, but they are also careful to keep each piece unique. James: What difference do you see between what’s popular online and offline ? Is the physical gallery crowd more conservative ? Jo: There’s a much greater appreciation of photography online. In a gallery it is the hardest medium to sell and artists have to create well presented, interesting and unique images to be noticed. Animation, stencil art and street art are enjoying popularity offline as well as on. Textured artworks, paintings, objects and multimedia pieces sell well in galleries. Online it is mostly about the image however the gallery crowd are also looking for presentation, texture, quality and information about the artist. I am often surprised by how unconservative gallery customers are. I have found that an original, creative and well executed idea is the strongest selling point to any artwork. James: As artists, what are some of the little things we can do to stand out to buyers, attract a little attention ? Jo: I could write a book answering this question! My best advice is to connect with your customers. Be accessible and tell your story. That could mean attending gallery special events, or it could mean having a biography, email address and phone number on your website. Online you can participate in forums, competitions and instant messaging. Update your website or profile regularly so that there is an incentive for people to visit it often. Offline, be a self-promoter. Exhibit when you can, join collectives, write to various media publications, and start introducing yourself as an artist rather than a check-out-chick. If you have trouble self-promoting, pair up with a friend and promote each other. On a practical level, think about what your art will look like on display in a gallery or home and be creative. Consider the quality and type of materials, the packaging or framing, any extras that you can throw in, what information will be on display with your artwork and how it will be presented. Do something different to make your work stand out. James: How important is price to buyers ? Jo: Last week I had a women who fell in love with a stunning and very expensive piece. She handed me a credit card and said “don’t tell me how much – just put it through and deliver it.” Alas, this is the minority. Most people are decorating a particular space and have a predetermined budget. Others fall in love with an artwork and will save up especially or ask for a layby if it’s more than they had anticipated. Inexperienced art buyers often associate size with price. If it’s too cheap I am asked “What’s wrong with it?” If it’s too expensive I am asked “What’s so special about it?” It comes down to ‘value for money’ which is very subjective and unique to the individual. Having artwork with a range of prices means that you have something for everyone. James: What’s the future ? How does digital artwork fit into the ‘real world’ of art ? Jo: Websites and online folios have replaced business cards for artists and galleries are going online to service interstate and international customers. More and more I meet people who want to find art online rather than drag their spouse around galleries all weekend. In store we use online catalogues to show customers prints and to place orders in real time. The practice of having a physical gallery or showroom with an online store is starting to emerge. Customers like to see an example of the finished product before buying but once they have, are more receptive to buying online. Internet shopping may never completely replace seeing and touching the real thing in store but the two methods work well in combination. I’d like to see more galleries embrace the technology to bring their customers an almost limitless selection of art. If you’d like to know more, please don’t hesitate to email me at jo.obrien@hotmail.com or comment here.

• Fifteen Cards of My Photography
  by Stephen Mitchell

  Nice. They arrived this afternoon. Thanks RedBubble. They look great. !http://www.redbubble.com/rbimages/works_work_main_view/Cards_On…

  Nice. They arrived this afternoon. Thanks RedBubble. They look great. Here is a newer photograph which more clearly defines each card, also showing the back of the card.

• Featured on the HomePage
  by Carrie Glenn

  Yeeeeaaah….after a long day of chores, running …

  Yeeeeaaah….after a long day of chores, running around and my weekend cleaning…I began to log on to my favorite site…only to find, one of my newest works staring back at me…and let out a small yelp of joy…to myself! ;) / It’s strange almost to see my own work on the homepage…I always check out what works are featured; it’s a great way to find new artists to watch and I really enjoy the themes. I was very happy to be included in one!!! / Thanks everyone!!! ....and the fish thanks you too… ;)

• I just fell off my chair! Right Here, Right Now... Framed!!!
  by Paul Tupman

  Wooohooooo!!!! Crack open the box of champagne, light the cigars and Ferrero Roche all round for everyone… but monsieur with this sale …

  Wooohooooo!!!! Crack open the box of champagne, light the cigars and Ferrero Roche all round for everyone… but monsieur with this sale you are really spoiling me! Ok, compose yourself Paul, you’re in a public forum now… yes, yes I’ve been told I can get a little excitable about things, but this is all so new to me. A first sale, is mind blowing, further sales is like happiness in a jar… 5 sales in 1 go is time to do the happy dance… but a Framed Print... They like me, ma.. they really like me! Oh I’m so proud.. Right Here, Right Now venturing out into the world with his brand new shiny frame… doesn’t he look a picture… oh yeah, that’s right… Thank you all so much… I’ve been totally floored this week and to add another cherry to the cake, whilst lying here on the floor I have noticed that me and Kate have have hit the Community page with our collaboration and competition win, Secrets Unfurled Thanks again to anyone who has taken the time to comment on my work and even more thanks to anyone who has stopped and looked a little bit longer and found themselves being enticed to that Buy button. There are no secret subliminal “Buy me, buy me” mesages in my work… honest!

• WEBGRRL GETS THE CHAIR!
  by webgrrl

  THE CHAIR / – a little more serious than ‘The Couch’ / by James Pierce ...

  THE CHAIR / – a little more serious than ‘The Couch’ / by James Pierce James: How did you get into RedBubble ? Webgrrl: It was a meant to be connection for sure. I first read about RedBubble whilst browsing thru a site about Web 2.0, and I was updating some of my sites with info of where people (photographers) can sell… do something with their images.. I found it at mashable . And then either that same night or the next day, my bestest friend Rick Monk (who i bought my first camera from 12yrs ago, and my photo mentor..if i had to choose one) msgd me thru MSN to tell me about RedBubble – he had already joined.. so i joined.. Wonder what date that was… twas certainly a ‘birthdate’. It was February 2007 though… I remember being very excited..cuz it was Australian and started telling everyone, and posting it around sites too..made banners and everything! hehe J: What’s the experience like now that you’ve been here for a few months ? W: Well RedBubble is like Oxygen to me now.. its the first thing i check when i wake up.. Its also the last place im at before i go to bed (6-7am). Even though im not part of the RB team, i sort of feel like its my baby/sibling.. maybe cuz ive waited for something like RB for sooo long (about 12years).. It’s a bit like finding a soulmate..:) The experience has been wonderful.. like a mum watching her kid grow each day and the crew that runs RB is REAL.. unlike other similar sites which is quite sterile (when communicating/relating to those behind the scene of a particular website). Maybe its cuz its Australian, and we have that ‘earthy’ thing – but RB feels more than just a website (eg : flickr, cafepress, etc). RedBubble is like family :) I used to upload to flickr everyday..(got over 10,000 good pix on there now) but since RB – there’s been a definite decline of my presence in flickr… and im happy now that i can balance my stuff by putting the real good ones on RB, giving me a place where i can show and sell my creative works whilst feeling safe and at ‘home’. J: Favourite site feature ? W: Hmm.. checking for Sales and comments i suppose! But i would like to think that my most favourite feature of RB is still to come.. I love all of RB features quite equally i think at the moment. OOh.. i just made another sale as we speak.. hehehe J: Oh a nice unplanned lead in to my next question – how are your sales going? What sells? Sales are going Great! Very promising.. I sold my first Tshirt (sungoddess) on April 11 and then since the Sungoddess got featured in Sunday Life, its been going wonderful.. beyond my expectations. All up I’ve sold 13 items to date, 12 t-shirts and 1 small framed piece (spiralfractals). Still havent sold a ‘photo’ ever (in RB or elsewhere) – which sort of funny, as I’m known for my photos.. BUT having the SunGoddess featured and seeing the sales in that week, gave me affirmation that my creative arts is good. Before RB I was known only within the Psytrance community.. which is quite small compared overall to say, general mainstream community and i had always wondered how I would go.. outside the psy community. So the Sunday Life feature was like a big HUG from the universe saying that my stuff is good..and that I’m on the right track.. Thank you sooo much RB for giving me the platform to stand on for a little while..so that i could shine TShirts is what im selling the most – I aim to create designs that is Psytrance/music, Psychedelic, Spiritual, Earth/Universe, Positive affirmations … well i try to design what everyone is not.. Also in my years in the Psy music and arts community – I’ve seen some awesome tshirts and art pieces but the price tag on each was always above $50AUD each, which is something I never could afford.. So thats also what I focus on.. creating pieces that everyone can afford.. and not just available at certain places/prices Of the 12 tees I have sold.. 9 tees were the Sungoddess and the others are Psychedelic type designs. I’ve been working on fine tuning to get fractals on to tshirts, nearly every day now… it takes quite a bit of work to get them right..and hopefully one day soon.. i will master it :) J: Last question (for now): Promotion is really important to drive traffic and sales for any artist. What have you done, what’s working? W: To promote my creative works I have: made banners and buttons and placed it in my blogs and websites, Stay active in RedBubble thru commenting on others people works, converse in forums, puts a large amount of photos and designs in RB and other places.. Added buttons/links, a mention, in Other forums/places (psytrance), – places that I hangout that wouldn’t know about RedBubble, yet. Tell /show friends & associates in my msn contact list my new design, t-shirts, that a particular person would like etc. Journaled my sales or thoughts, ideas, re my designs or daily experience.. in my Webgrrl site, updated all my profiles in the various social network websites that i have an established presence in (eg: MySpace, Flickr, etc) Added links to my email signature Made widgets/slideshow type thang (web 2.0) – really utilizing all the stuff/service u can get free online and instead of showing photos of family snapshots, i showcase my stuff available in redbubble.. and add a link.. etc / design graphic presentations & minisite of my designs – make like virtual shopfront / exhibition promoted red bubble as Australian yay! and just explain to friends all the good things thats been happening to my life, and why im real excited… and No, its not multilevel marketing!. haha! Most importantly : I’ve put love and belief in my creative expressions and when i put them online and share/promote it.. its like I’m giving it wings to fly, and its exciting to see where it lands… J: Thanks so much for your time here, we’ll keep in touch and keep publishing a few sales tips from your wild mind in the future! Well there it is.. my first interview :) This was in the debut newsletter by James Pierce who da head honcho of the Marketing, Selling dept for RedBubble (correct me if im wrong guys.. ) RedBubble has been giving me a few firsts actually.. grins All these wonderful things happening lately / Thank You EVERYONE... N A M A S T E go read Wrapped Up Issue #1

• Is red leather your 'thing'?!
  by Rosalie Dale IPA

  My wonderful Lady in Red is up for grabs … she’s starred at Gallery …

  My wonderful Lady in Red is up for grabs … she’s starred at Gallery 26, and on YouTube … makes a stunning prop for photos … if you live in Sydney and could give her a good home, please let me know. The only catch is you’d have to come pick her up … she doesn’t fit in my sedan!!! Rosalie

• From Good to Great (hopefully) using Photoshop CS2 Basics
  by Nikki Trexel

  By Nikki Trexel I was in North Carolina’s Outer Banks for ten days, a summer paradise …

  By Nikki Trexel I was in North Carolina’s Outer Banks for ten days, a summer paradise for one Midwestern girl who’s never been to the ocean. Many photos were captured, such as A Sandy Stairway to Heaven, and the ocean was lapping at our ankles and The Shadows Ascend. But this, one of the first taken at the beach, immediately stuck out to me as having potential: And so you can compare them side by side, here’s the final product. / / The first thing I did when I opened the photo was crop a little extra space off the bottom and left-hand side. This gives the photo a more balanced composition. The sand shouldn’t be the first thing the eye lands on. I also rotated it one or two degrees counter-clockwise to even out the horizon line (Image>Rotate Canvas>Arbitrary). These are very important steps and I recommend doing them first. (And if I hadn’t been trying to keep up polite conversation with the person showing me around, I might have even gotten it right when I took the photo.) Then I had a play in Curves (Ctrl+M or Image>Adjustments>Curves). This is a very powerful tool which, used appropriately and subtly, can create more “pop” and intensity in a bland photo. It can take a while to get the hang of, but for me, the best results are often obtained by creating two or three “pins” and dragging the line so it creates a kind of subtle S-curve like this: / / Here’s roughly how Curves works: the line represents darker tones towards the bottom and left, and lighter ones towards the top and right. So, for example, if you drag the top part of the line down, it’ll make the highlights darker; and if you drag it upwards, your bright spots will be ever brighter. Be very careful, though, not to blow out any highlights or over-darken the dark spaces. It’s easy to get carried away with the Curves tool and make your photo look pretty ridiculous. Next, I used the Replace Color tool (Image>Adjustments>Replace Color) to make my chairs a little brighter without oversaturating the blue sky. Here, you just use the dropper to select which color you’d like to alter, and make sure the “Fuzziness” slider on the Replace Color window is increased as much as possible without starting to apply to stuff you don’t want it to. Here it’s simple because there is only one pink and one green area in my photo. All I did was “grab” each color with the dropper, and slightly increase the saturation. (It might be a bug in my version of Photoshop, but you might have to close out the window, then open it again to start working on a new color.) Again, this is something you have to get the hang of, but after a while it becomes second nature. I also cloned out one or two swimmers in the distant water. Not much more than a dot or two of cloning was necessary – they were only large enough to be spots in my lovely blue water. The last, and most important thing, I did with this image was – I guess it’s pretty obvious – give it a nice sky. I kind of liked the simplicity of the plain blue sky in the original, but I wanted the image to be special. I was lucky enough to have a similar photo of the clouds, taken on the same beach but on another day. I chose it because the size, depth and lighting were mostly correct already. I had to slightly alter the color to make it match the “feel” of the original photo. Here is my new sky in its primitive form. My original sky is also a very simple one to replace. The only thing sticking into the sky area is my duo of beach chairs. (If it had been a more complicated horizon, I would have probably opted for a smooth blue sky.) My chosen method for this simple replacement was simply to Clone the new sky overtop of the other old one. (There are more complex and useful ways utilizing Layers but there is really no need for that now. Plus, I don’t know how to use those ways.) This method won’t work every time, so you’ll need to size up your options to see how you’re going to create your masterpiece. If the sky to be replaced is very simple, with not a lot of complications like trees or people or other things in front of it, then you are golden. Lastly, I did a little bit of final tweaking to the entire image to make everything feel right. That included a bit of dodging and burning in my clouds, a slight saturation increase overall, and a couple of tiny clone jobs to get rid of a few blades of grass apparently growing out of the ocean (courtesy of the foreground of my new sky). You’ll have to work with this on your own photo and see what looks best. Every photo is different, and every path from good to great is totally unique. Here is my final product again, which took me a little less than a half-hour from start to finish. / Rhapsody in Blue Thanks so much for reading!

• Home Page Feature: Where She Sat
  by Charles Dobbs Photography

  Great news! Where She Sat is currently featured on the Home Page! / ...

  Great news! Where She Sat is currently featured on the Home Page! Thanks for all the comments and support of my work! I definitely appreciate it!

• WOW 2 Featured in 'Tea and Chairs'
  by hickerson

  / !http://images…

  / / Tea and Chairs Thank you Tea and Chairs

• Saying Goodbye
  by Charles Dobbs Photography

  Saying Goodbye was featured in Emotive Art – Not Happy Campers..

  Saying Goodbye was featured in Emotive Art – Not Happy Campers today! I am honored it was chosen. Thanks to the hosts! I still have a few more thoughts for this series, so stay tuned! =)

• 06/27/08 My Red Chair In The Shadow, FEATURED.
  by VanSnuG

  I almost miss the chance to put my latest Featured photo in In The Shadow group’s homepage into…

  I almost miss the chance to put my latest Featured photo in In The Shadow group’s homepage into my Journal. Thanks a lot, Dana. For All My Friends and Foes HERE @ the RedBubble, You ROCK! ( For my FOES, there’s a RED Chair that you can ROCK on) Wait a minute, do I have any foe here? ;-D

• Woo Hoo - "Cup of Tea @ Grandma's" got picked as group avatar!!
  by lynzart

  Woo hoo! My work “Cup of Tea @ Grandma’s” got picked as the new group avatar for the Tea & Chairs-...

  Woo hoo! My work “Cup of Tea @ Grandma’s” got picked as the new group avatar for the Tea & Chairs group! I am completely chuffed about this as there was some great work to choose from, and somehow or other my piece got picked! Just wanted to say thanks to my new redbubble friends who have been supporting me so well. I feel very welcome in this little community. It’s so nice to get that little bit of recognition, just makes my day when people comment on my work or favourite it. No sales yet, but I’ll keep trying :). Now that really would give me a buzz. Anyway thanks to all of you who have taken the time to stop by and look at my work, I really do appreciate it! Lyn

• Remembered & Best Seat in the Garden -- Featured!
  by Steve Rowsell

  I’m so pleased to announce that two of my pieces, Best Seat in the Garden...

  I’m so pleased to announce that two of my pieces, Best Seat in the Garden and Remembered were both recently featured in the Newfoundlandia group. I’m really happy about this, I’d like to think I’ve improved just a little since joining redbubble. :)

• bikes, chairs, tables, bloody fingers and headache
  by Sarina Tomchin

  feel like i’m coming down with something. Maybe it’s sniffing resin all week. it’s been too cold for it to go off and STINKS. i’ve done 6…

  feel like i’m coming down with something. Maybe it’s sniffing resin all week. it’s been too cold for it to go off and STINKS. i’ve done 6 chairs, 3 tables, painted up 2 helmets, covered one in a pair of old jeans, made 3 really cool belts outta old tyres (if i put them on red bubble they’ll be copied for sure) and painting over 8 old mannequins. / I’m going to do a BIG shop window display at Bar Bici Bondi Junction next week and i’m just making all the props i want to use in the display. I’ve also made cusions outta tees and sewats but they’ll go in the new Apres Velo Temple (office) when my partner moves later in the year. / Better go keep painting helmets too cool for school.

• peppermint tea for three- voted most popular in the TEA & CHAIRS CHALLENGE :)
  by debb

  So excited !!! – Thanks to all who voted for peppermint tea for three in the peppermint tea challenge in the TEA & CHAIRS GROUP – I reall…

  So excited !!! – Thanks to all who voted for peppermint tea for three in the peppermint tea challenge in the TEA & CHAIRS GROUP – I really appreciate it and thanks for the lovely comments! / Congrats to all of the entries, there are so many talented artists – please check out the fabulous images in the group – definitely a favorite past time – cheers debb :)

• Stillness Speaks
  by Amanda McLennan

  After a very long day at work I checked the bubble to catch up on everyones work only to discover that I have been featured in the “Still…

  After a very long day at work I checked the bubble to catch up on everyones work only to discover that I have been featured in the Stillness Speaks group with my piece Under the Tree Thanks to group host Beth Lambert for choosing my photo to represent the group. Amanda

• The tea and chair group - challenge
  by Taschja Hattingh

  Please pop into ‘The tea and chair group’ and give your vote for their challenge. Some great pictures there….

  Please pop into ‘The tea and chair group’ and give your vote for their challenge. Some great pictures there….

• Cracker House Chair
  by Judy Gayle Waller

  Went to Dudley Farms on Sunday to take some pictures and boy did visiting this old cracker farm bring back memories of growing up. Fun me…

  Went to Dudley Farms on Sunday to take some pictures and boy did visiting this old cracker farm bring back memories of growing up. Fun memories of a great childhood. We just finished renovating a house that was built in 1908 so it was wonderful to see the same styles in the house that was in ours. The white bead board and narrow stairs and right down to the hard wood floors.

• Featured: Tea and Chairs
  by izzybeth

  I am happy to say I am currently featured on the Tea and Chairs group… Last week , when I noticed this, I hesitated to respond a coupl…

  I am happy to say I am currently featured on the Tea and Chairs group… Last week , when I noticed this, I hesitated to respond a couple days or write any thing because I almost did not believe it. And then, I thought I had written something just the other day in my journal. I guess it went some where in bubbleland, because this is my first journal entry for the bubble. There are so many talented art pieces to see at Redbubble. I love this community and am encouraged daily to keep doing art.

• second day on red bubble
  by Tricia Holmes

  Last night, my sis, rightasrain, sent me a little redbubble link and ‘to please have a look at her Red Bubble site’ and guess what? ...

  Last night, my sis, rightasrain, sent me a little redbubble link and ‘to please have a look at her Red Bubble site’ and guess what? Now I am stuck! Stuck to the keyboard / Stuck to my chair / Stuck to my laptop screen / and tearing out my hair!! Never more to be seen…. / by anyone…. / I am lost forever… / to all the gorgeous, stunning, / art work there…. Above all: have Fun!

• Design Portfolio
  by Graeme Hindmarsh Design

  I’ve released a portfolio specifically devoted to my design work. In it you’ll find everything from cars, furniture, ceramics and a few s…

  I’ve released a portfolio specifically devoted to my design work. In it you’ll find everything from cars, furniture, ceramics and a few sci-fi images. It’s a mixed bag that didn’t seem to fit well with my other work which is mostly digital and fine arts. You can access it by clicking here. Many thanks to the RB team for featuring some of my work on the Homepage!

• Tips: Transferring a resident to bed, chair, showerchair, wheelchair...
  by Reymalyne Reynon

  Current Background: I’m a Certified Nurses Aide. I’ve worked as a CNA for 4 years. But constantly changed my position at the facility b…

  Current Background: I’m a Certified Nurses Aide. I’ve worked as a CNA for 4 years. But constantly changed my position at the facility because honestly i got tired of doing things repeatedly. I need my brain to do more then just repeat things everyday. I’ve worked on the unit with elders. Meaning I got them ready for their meals, showered them, cleaned them when they went to the bathroom. You name it i have done it. Then I took up another position as an activity aide. I got to work with all the residents on activities, get to know them one on one and just make them feel wanted. Then I transferred to another position. As a Restorative Nurse Aide. Which allows me to help them ambulate meaning walk, move their joints so it does not get stiff like their arms and legs, help them with eating but making sure they swallow correctly and recognize if the food is going down the right tube. Meaning being a restorative nurse aide was a version of a physical therapist, occupational therapist and speech therapist all together. I work with therapist, nurses, doctors you name it i’ve talked to them a few times. I’m currently taking Physical Therapist Assistant classes at a community college. I plan on becoming a Physical Therapist hopeful in the near future. Past Background: Before i worked with elders i worked at YMCA with children grades K-6th grade and i use to tutor elementary to high school students. So i learned to be patient. I also volunteered as a student athletic trainer for my high school. It’s simple and easy. / Alright here are some tips on how you can persuade a resident to transfer from anywhere for you without lifting them. 1. If they have a bed that goes up and down. Put the bed high enough so they don’t need to struggle getting up. / 2. Put on shoes or non-skid socks so resident has grip. / 3. Have them sit up at the edge of the bed. / 4. Straighten out thier body. Meaning both knees are parallel to each other and hips are not twisted. / 5. Have them sit further out on the edge or the bed till they have their feet touching the floor / or / enough for them to not use so much energy getting out from the middle part of the bed. / 6. If the resident’s but is at the edge of the bed and their feet is touching the ground. Stand in front of them with your feet in front of their feet. Meaning tip to tip. And have your knees and their knees parallel. This is so the resident does not slide underneath you. Then you bend your knees and rock back a little to have them off the bed then tell the resident to straighten out their knee. At this time you should both be standing up straight. / 7. Pivot towards the seat. Remember to tell the resident what direction you want them to turn and why. / 8. When you finish turning from bed to chair or vice versa make sure the resident’s back of the knees touch the chair. This will save you some trouble on pulling the resident up after they are seated. They will perfectly sit nicely in the chair. There you go.. That should be helpful.