Monday, February 23, 2009

Bookmark Art

I thought I would share an idea that was passed along to me by a fellow artist.
As a way of marketing my art, I've created bookmarks that I give out at shows, to my students, to friends and family members, or anyone who shows an interest in my art. I think that it's a better way to advertise than business cards since most everyone reads books and, let's face it, business cards usually get lost or end up in the trash.
People seem to like the idea, and it's a little different from what they would usually expect. Since I'm scaling down the size, and not using the entire image, the viewer gets a small sampling of the whole piece - just a little bit of a tease.
I take a scanned image of my artwork and crop it down to bookmark size in my photo manipulation program. I use Roxio Creator and Corel Draw, but any photo program would work for a simple project like this.
After I make any adjustments to color or exposure, I copy the image several times to fill a standard size paper. I then make prints onto heavy, cardstock paper and cut out each bookmark with an x-acto knife.
On the back of the bookmark, I put one of those sticky back return labels with the kind of information that you would normally see on a business card - my name, email address, and other contact information.
If you decide to try this, I suggest you use several different images of your artwork. I've found that people like to pick out a favorite.

10 comments:

  1. Anonymous2/23/2009

    "Awesome idea! I've been thinking lately of making bookmarks as a smaller format of making art. There just isn't much time to make bigger pieces just now, so your idea ties in beautifully with my thought process!

    I love the prancing horse on your bookmark! It reminds me of when I was little and I used to love going for rides on the Merry-go-Round :)"

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous2/23/2009

    This is a great idea. An easier way to get your info on the back would be to print it, just use the same spacing you did for your front images. My business card has an image on it, but I like this idea much better.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brilliant! I love this idea. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I will definitely use this idea! Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You know I did that at my last student Graphic Design and Illustration show. Everyone loved it! I still have some left over and still give them out. Now my 11 year old has me make them of some of my drawings and paintings, we take it to kinko's laminate them and he takes them to class and sells them for Decker dollars (not real money but his teachers way of teaching them how to manage money). Every couple of weeks I make him a new set appealing to both the girls and the boys in his class. When ever I run into his classes parents they always mention the bookmarks and how great they are, but I'm afraid I haven't gotten any work of them. But I enjoy doing them for my son!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fabulous idea. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I see you also draw feathers, and beautifully presented. Enjoyed seeing your work, reading your thoughts and look forward to more.

    ReplyDelete
  8. HI Dianne,
    I have a great time saving tip for you, I make my own business cards and cut them...big time and effort saver is to buy a small paper cutter (I got mine at Walmart) for scrapbooking or trimming photos. MIne is blue with a grid on it, you slide your paper, under the bar and just push down on the cutter and swoosh it up the bar...presto! nice sharp cut, no rulers and xacto blades etc...so easy! I do several layers at a time, if you are printing them out and they're the same design it should line up.

    Hope this tip helps you out!!
    great work!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The bookmark is a great idea. Very creative way of promoting yourself.I love your art.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cool idea. I will have to keep this in mind.

    ReplyDelete