SS1 News

It has recently been brought to our attention that the image upload feature of the site is refusing any images, stating (rather incorrectly) 'You did not submit anything!' . We apologise for this and are working on fixing the problem. Hopefully the issue will be solved soon.

Thank you for your time.

Update! 2007-09-03

This issue has now been fixed and the work upload now works fine once again. Sorry this took longer than expected to resolve, we deeply apologise to all our members, and thank you for your patients.

If you are seeing this news post then you know you're seeing studiospaceone.com on its new server. Hopefully we didn't disappear from you for to long ;)

We hope the site will run smoother and faster for everyone now.

With this server move now out the way (its been plaguing us for a while) studiospaceone will now be pushing to promote itself across the country so you may be seeing our local loon Jay Roerade dropping by your college sometime soon to get everyone in the spirit of SS1.

This Thursday studiospaceone.com is going to be moving to a new web site server. The move will begin tomorrow evening. During the transitional period the sites editing abilities (work upload, comments etc) will be locked down in order to make sure things go as smooth as possible.

It can take up to two days for a domain to transfer to a new server so if you are finding you still can't upload any work then you are probably still seeing the old server, we apologise but unfortunately its the way of the Internet... and they say technology keeps getting faster ;)

We'll post another news blog on the new server so that you know when you've reached the new home of SS1.

WHAT makes Plymouth great? You do. All 260,000 of you who live in this city make it great.

You make it great through your families, your jobs, your social lives, your community groups. And Making Plymouth Great is your way of showing the world why we think Plymouth is such a great place. It is an online 'digital time capsule' which gives a snapshot of life in this wonderful city of Plymouth, Devon, UK, in 2006.

Making Plymouth Great was brought about through a partnership involving leading TV production company Twofour, high-tech software firm GOSS, and the Evening Herald. But it is a website for you - the people of Plymouth, and people who love Plymouth.

It is a place for you to share photos, video, information, ideas; in fact anything that shows why you think Plymouth is great. The aim is to create a huge database which you can access, add to and comment on. And we want that information to come from you. Already the Herald has submitted stories and pictures showing what it thinks makes Plymouth great. But this site is constantly evolving.

Now its over to you. Submit whatever you want.

Keri Smith has written a brilliant and simple 'How to start as an Illustrator' - we thought it would be a good piece for all of you budding illustrator's to read - Thank you Keri!

So many people have written me asking for advice I decided to put this short list together. Some of these things may be stating the obvious but I wanted to start simply so that you don't get too overwhelmed with an enormous load of things to do. Be gentle with yourself. The goal in the beginning it to just start, forward movement in any direction is good. It helps to just get that feeling of accomplishment, when you come back from the mail and feel really good about sending out some cards.

1. Go to a library or bookstore and look for publishers, magazines, etc. that use work like yours, (in a similar style.) Find names of art directors & addresses on the masthead, (usually by the contents page, the masthead lists everyone who puts the issue together.) For publishers you may have to do some digging, look in Writer's Markets, web pages, etc. ALWAYS be on the lookout for places, restaurants, posters, greeting cards, advertising, murals, comic books, products...etc. that your work would be suitable for. It will become natural for you after a while.

Research:

Graphic Artist's Guild The Business of Illustration by Steven Heller
List of Research Journals, Magazines,and, U.S. and World Newspapers
Canadian Magazine Publisher's Association

2. Once you get a name and address (start with 10 names and go from there). Do not overwhelm yourself too much, just start with a few! Send them samples. It could be color copies (good quality) or a printed piece. The MOST important thing to remember is that the work and samples be appropriate to their publication. notes: If your work seems to focus mainly on animals try Children's magazines, animal magazines, licensing for products, etc., look for companies that already publish stuff similar to yours. It would not be cost effective for you to market to Time Magazine. When mailing you will usually have at least a 2 percent response, (I've found it to be more like 10 percent).

Also try to stick to one style when targeting clients, they need to know what to hire your for, (you want them to think "Comic-like, oh I need to call...insert your name here")

3. For further help I highly recommend: -read Seven Steps to getting Published for advice on how to go about the creative part. -research promotional mailers and marketing for designers. Some simple techniques in bookbinding can be very helpful in coming up with some unique promotional mailers.

A good book for this is Making Memory Books and Journals by Hand by Kristina Feliciano, Jason Thompson, and Barbara Mauriello. -Read: my recommended reading business & money section and "How to Make a living doing what you love" -make a business plan, starting with short term goals that are do-able (it will all get done, take it slow!) -if you haven't been already, the "Art Talk" section of TheIspot is an excellent place to pick up info from people who have been in the business for a long time.

-read designer Bruce Mau's Incomplete Manifesto I particularly like, "Don't enter competitions, Just don't do it, it's not good for you." When I first read this I was stunned, all my teachers in art school always told us, "Enter every competition you can. It's good promotion if you get in. It's worth the cost." In the beginning I did this. I wanted so badly to win these competitions that I tried to create "winning" artwork. It was usually contrived and not from the heart. I never got in. I think what Bruce Mau was talking about was when you put something into a competition you are putting your work up for judgement by a third party (in this case a large magazine or organization.), thus giving them the ability to deem your work 'good' or 'bad'. When you do this is you are in effect putting other's opinions ahead of your own. Now I know we must all face rejection at one time or another. (You have heard the saying, "if you are not being rejected you are not trying hard enough.") But it seems strange to me to PAY someone to judge your work, these competitions are quite expensive. I'm sure I will get some flack for this opinion by some who truly believe in entering competitions. After several years I started to get into many of the major awards annuals (without trying), and in my experience I have not yet gotten a job from it, so I do question the promotion incentive. If you are producing work that moves you, over time you WILL be recognized by others, but a) competitions should not be a motive for creating and b) putting other's opinions over your own puts us onto a subjective scale, ("I must not be living up to the rest"). Create your own rules.

We were going to write an incredibly interesting synopsis of the night but we thought that Jim Bott's said it all - so here it is. Thank you Jim for a sweet review.

Okay, so after hearing about this project on monday afternoon, calling studiospaceone, blagging my way onto the guest list several days after the deadline that was stated on the flyer I finally made it to the launch party. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when leaving the house and heading towards the art college. "Am I going to be in for a serious, formal debate? man its 2.5 hours long, If its really intense, how rude is it to sneak out?..I'm wearing baggy jeans, do I need to go home and change?, do I want to turn up in a room of suits...ahh sod it, if I'm going to be sitting listening to other people talk for hours I want to be bloody comfortable and well, I might be able to meet some other local artists while I'm there".

As it turned out it was a great evening, informative, relaxed, informal and fun. There was a definate buzz of enthusiasm from the team behind the site, businesses who came to give their support, professionals in the field and post graduates hungry for work alike. There was a lot less lecturing than I originally thought was going to take place in the 6.30-9.00 slot, The evening started with everyone arriving, mingling and chatting for a while in the view point gallery before being escorted into a lecture theatre where we were given a short presentation then question and answer session. Afterwards we retired back to the view point gallery where the mingling continued into a swirlng mass of discussions about design,art and the possible applications for the site, which was readily available to view as around 10 macs were set up in a circle of podiums in the centre of the room . Also there was some great work displayed on the walls. I particularly liked the illustrations by Philip Horton and the photography of Cassandra Horsley.

The night ended in a boozy haze at Ride. With a little accoustic background music and a lot of laughter. It was a great time and I met some very friendly, talented and interesting people. I'm really looking forward to watching the community grow and checking out the work of more artists, designers, photographers and animators as they join up.

I wish all the brains behind studiospaceone.com the best. Thanks for a great evening!

We are starting over with the SouthWest's creative drinking session - Last Friday.

For the past five years we have downed a few jars together in the B-Bar of Plymouth's Barbican Theatre, nattering creatively (sometimes), making new best friends, meeting co-collaborators and generally getting together.

Now comes the time to take ourselves to the next level. We have decided to get a lot more creative with Last Friday.

From now on, you will be able to enjoy:

A new venue: still close to the city centre and the Barbican, mind

Distinctive decor: we are draping ourselves in finery

A boutique bar: a special menu including Cuban mojitos, Plymouth Gin and Thai beers, plus some fresh fruit juices, coffees and teas

The new look Last Friday takes place: 6pm-11pm at Plymouth Arts Centre, Looe Street, Plymouth, Devon on Friday September 29, 2006

We are delighted to say that His Worship the Lord Mayor, Councillor Mike Fletcher (AKA Plymouth's blinged-up Alpha Male) will be officially opening the new-look Last Friday at around 8pm.

How to get in: Come to the wooden doors at the side, ring the buzzer and step through into a new experience.

Finally: We want to make a creative night out for Plymouth with a great atmosphere and an original feel, with good conversation and good people. Come and join us on our latest journey.

And if you want to get in touch, email letmejoinin@lastfriday.org

For details on the new venue, visit:www.plymouthac.org.uk/info.htm

Do you think you're good enough to put your work up on display? Of course you are!

Plymouth's Derriford Hospital is currently looking for a number of people to exhibit their artwork for rolling display on a plasma screen in one of their new waiting rooms.

The work can be created in any medium or style - whether photographic, drawing/painting, applied arts, sculpture etc - but ideally the hospital are looking for images that portray tranquility and calm, and a sense of well being.

The chosen pieces will be compiled into a continuous loop on the screens, and each piece will be creditied with the artist's name. Should any member of the public wish to commission any artist to produce further work - this service will be made available with the help of the PCAD Partnerships Office.

This will need to be regularly updated throughout the year to keep it fresh so they need plenty of submissions!

Get creative and get in touch - if you think you've got the right pieces for this exhibition email us with a few details and we'll get back to you.