Your Full Name
Chelsea Knight

Tell us about you
I am a photographer, writer, dancer, endless dreamer and a struggling soul. I have been an Irish dancer for 10 years and I now teach an adult class, and I used to compete at a championship level.

Photography isn’t just a passion or a talent for me, it’s life. It’s what makes me whole and what makes me complete as the person I am. I never stop dreaming, conceptualizing, thinking, and formulating ideas. I am a conscious and unconscious creative mind.

If you have a bachelor degree/education background; what is it?
I just finished at a community college with my A.A. degree.

Where are you located?
In Southern California.

What do you do when you are not producing photography?
I’m a retired championship Irish dance so I love to dance, write poetry and stories, watch movies for inspiration and generally just enjoy life as much as I can.

What drove you to become a photographer?
I was always set on becoming a writer but one day I became curious and picked up a film camera, intrigued by the light of sunset through our living room window. Soon after I asked my dad about his old film camera, and then my interest began to grow.

How do you promote/sell/showcase your work?
By posting on various websites like DeviantArt, Flickr, FaceBook and Twitter.

Do you work better at night or in the morning? Why?
I work better at night and early morning, I feel calm at these times as far as editing goes. For shooting, late afternoon and sunset are my prime times.

What is your strength as a photographer compared to others in the industry?
I’m not afraid of the ugly. I’m drawn to beauty and perfection, but also to disgusting horrific things. I’m not afraid to be ugly or show ugly things in strange and eerily beautiful ways, according to my tastes anyway.

Who is an photographer that you look up to? Why so?
I look up to Jamie Nelson, Lucia Holm, Elif Sanem Karakoç, and Brooke Shaden. All of them have qualities about their work I deeply admire and enjoy.

What do you think about the Internet and how it is affecting the visual communication business?
It’s a lot easier to get your work out there for it to be seen.

If you can only shoot one object for the rest of your life, what object would that be? Why?
The human face. I find it appealing, more than structures or still life.

How does the global economic recession affecting the industry, or the least affecting your business/ work?
I don’t have much money to spare for new equipment or a new camera, but I’m getting by. I’ve recently started charging for sessions, as encouraged by family and friends.

What is your motto in life?
Live with eternal innocence and wonder. Never let things become jaded and old, I try to find excitement and interest in everything, even if it makes me seem childish and silly.

Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
Vogue (not sure if that counts but there sure is a lot of photos), Norman Rockwell books and any books that showcase classical art.

What do you like the sound of?, i.e. wind blowing, bird in the morning, etc. Why so?
I like the sound of rain, the ocean, an empty quiet forest, and the sound of accordion and piano music in a hotel lobby outside ballrooms full of people. All bring a certain peace or happiness to me.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
- dA Portfolio: http://sparkbearer.daportfolio.com/
- My dA page: http://sparkbearer.deviantart.com/

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[.]

HYMN TO BEAUTY
THE ART OF UTAMARO

13 February – 2 May 2010
Art Gallery Of New South Wales

Whether depictions of high-ranked courtesans, diligent housewives, affectionate mothers or passionate lovers, the prints of Japanese artist, Kitagawa Utamaro (1753?-1806) have delighted audiences for over 200 years.

An exhibition of his work will be in Australia for the first time. Featuring over 80 prints from the collection of the Asian Art Museum, National Museums in Berlin, this exhibition showcases the art of Kitagawa Utamaro, one of the most well-known Japanese artists in the Western world.

Utamaro revolutionised the way women were portrayed in Japanese visual art. Compositions of ill-fated lovers, lovers in moments of despair and mothers doting on their sons were among his favourite along with many erotic depictions of men and women, so subtle they escaped censorship at the time.

Trained in the orthodox painting style of the Kano school, Utamaro’s talent was soon discovered by Tsutaya Jûzaburô, an influential and astute ukiyo-e publisher. Under Tsutaya’s guidance, Utamaro rose quickly, achieving his first critical acclaim and commercial success with vibrant illustrations for sumptuously printed poetry anthologies and erotic books in the late 1780s. When this type of publication was censored in the early 1790s, Tsutaya and Utamaro shifted their activity to the profitable genre of ‘pictures of beautiful women’ (bijinga). The close-up view enabled him to capture a fleeting facial expression and mood and imbue his subjects with a psychological depth.

About one third of the 2000 authenticated designs by Utamaro deals with subjects related to the Yoshiwara, the licensed pleasure quarters of Edo (today’s Tokyo), including numerous portraits of its courtesans, their teenage attendants and child servants. Presented as icons of beauty and fashion trendsetters, these alluring images acted as advertisements for the women, for the establishments with which they were affiliated, and ultimately also for the artist. By acquiring these prints, the public, most of whom could hardly ever afford the company of such ’stars’, could indulge in the illusion of being part of this exclusive world.

As well as the female inhabitants of the pleasure quarters, Utamaro portrayed women from all walks of life. In his images, diligent housewives doing daily chores or female workers of various trades were instilled with a poise and understated eroticism that matched the courtesans of the Yoshiwara. His depictions of mothers doting on their little sons and pairs of star-crossed lovers from literature and theatre are among the finest in Japanese art. Like no other artist, Utamaro understood how to visualise passion and physical intimacy between the sexes without transgressing censorship laws.

By the mid 1790s, ‘Utamaro’ was the most sought-after brand name for sensuous, passionate and technically outstanding images of beautiful women. His style set the standard for the works of his contemporaries and followers such as Eishi, Eishô, Eisui, Eiryû, Chôki and Banki, who are also presented in this exhibition.

The exhibition’s title takes its inspiration from the poem of the same name by Charles Baudelaire. Baudelaire’s adoration of beauty might well find resonance with viewers of Utamaro’s images of beautiful women.

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On view:
13 February – 2 May  2010
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney

Telephone:
(02) 9225 1744 or recorded information (02) 9225 1790
National Toll Free 1800 679 278

Hours:
10am to 5pm, 7 days a week
Art After Hours Wednesday nights until 9pm

Admission:
$8 adults $5 conc $20 family

Media Information and Interviews:
Susanne Briggs
(02) 9225 1791 or 0412 268 320
susanneb@ag.nsw.gov.au

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IMAGE CREDIT: Kitagawa Utamaro (1753?-1806) The white surcoat from the series New patterns of brocade woven in Utamaro style c1796-98. ôban, colour woodblock print. Asian Art Museum, National Museums in Berlin. Photography: Jürgen Liepe; Kitagawa Utamaro (1753?-1806) About to breastfeed from the series Elegant comparison of little treasures c1802. ôban, colour woodblock print. Asian Art Museum, National Museums in Berlin. Photography: Jürgen Liepe

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[.]

If you’ve placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again?

In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist’s view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist’s route and take a challenging and fulfilling life.

So Why Nurture An Optimist’s Point Of View? And Why Now?

Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma.

On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife’s disorder but also a teen-eager’s disorder’ as well.

Optimists Expect The Best

The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault.

The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune—it’s the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case.

Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the ‘problem’ at hand. They use ‘positive reinterpretation.’ In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder.

They won’t say “things will never get better,” “If I failed once, it will happen again” and “If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.”

Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles.

People Respond Positively To Optimists

Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with.

Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably.

In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice.

When The Going Gets Tough, Optimists Get Tougher

Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise.

They persevere. They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream.

Optimists Are Healthier And Live Longer

Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body’s ability to fight disease.

Optimists’ health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts.

So Why Not Be An Optimist Today? And Think Positively Towards A More Fulfilled Life.

Why not look forward to success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see life in the bright side?

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[.]

Your Full Name:
My name is Janel, but you can call me Dangerously Dolly or “DD”.

If you have a bachelor degree/education background; what is it?
Bachelors degree currently in progress for Graphic Design.

Tell us about you
I photograph pretty people in interesting concepts, usually “out of the box” situations. I guess you can say I am usually in wonderland when it comes to photography, or at least the type of concepts I like to shoot. I’ve been doing this for a little over a year and I am hoping to grow more and learn more as time passes by.

Where are you located?
Atlanta, GA occasionally traveling for work.

What do you do when you are not producing artwork?
I like to spend time with my little family, have dinner, catch a movie.

What drove you to become a photographer?
Being a Photoshop guru! That’s when I actually have the most fun. However the entire process is still a lot of work, but I still enjoy doing it.

If I didn’t I wouldn’t be focusing much time and effort on it.

How do you promote/sell/showcase your work?
Actually, I don’t. The only investment I’ve made in terms of promoting is actually purchasing a domain and web space for my website portfolio.

However that’s been the way magazines and other opportunities have came to me when it comes to showcasing my work.

Where do you get inspirations from?
My inspirations for photography usually come from paintings in general. Not one specific painting, but many. I might like the hair from a girl on one painting, and the make up from another, or what the person in the painting is doing. Sometimes I just randomly think “Oh what if I tried to do this?”, or situations where you turn the impossible, possible thanks to photo-manipulation. If I am inspired by a particular artist, I will mention them in the credits. Dreams are another source of inspiration, or experiences alone.

Do you work better at night or in the morning? Why?
When it comes to ideas, I work better at night. When it comes to getting the actual work done, I do that better during the day. My mind is more clear/alert.

What is your definition of “A Great Photographer”?
A great photographer is someone who is respectable, and knows what they’re doing, experience is probably the best term I’m looking for. Also, someone who doesn’t play dirty or selfish to gain advantages on other people. Personality is important, you don’t want to work with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable, or uneasy.

Who is a photographer that you look up to? Why so?
Ellen Von Unwerth! I love her work, it’s gorgeous,striking and mysterious. In my opinion, she is one of the top photographers when it comes to fashion, fetish photography. It’s sexy. I love it!

What do you think about the Internet and how it is affecting the visual communication business?
The internet is a great thing. Probably one of the greatest things ever created by man. Everything about the internet has to do with visual communication, because we use our eyes, with the exception of people who are visually impaired, and even then, there are tools so that they can use their sense of hearing to surf the web.

The internet is all around based on communication and communication alone, which is a great thing because before the internet, we only had telephones, and if you’re anything like me, I dislike being on a phone. I’m a visual person, I would rather sit here and read an email in a minute than be on a telephone.

What music are you listening lately?
Oh my taste in music is bizarre… One minute I’m listening to Lady Gaga or Britney Spears, the next minute I’m listening to my favorite Nine Inch Nails albums.

How does the global economic recession affecting the industry, or the least affecting your business/ work?
Oh the economic situation that we are in affects almost everybody but bar. However, I started my photography just yesterday (I’m kidding), a year ago, and last year is no different than this year, but I’m very persistent, devoted, dedicated to what I do. That alone pays off. You have to think about it as a romantic relationship. There are ups and downs, and if you can’t be dedicated in a relationship, then you most certainly can’t be dedicated to a business. You need to have love for what you do in order for it to work out.

Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
To be honest, there are none that I regularly purchase (magazines) but if I happen to be in a magazine isle I’ll check out Juxtapoz and Advanced Photoshop.

What do you like the sound of? Why so?
I like the sound of silence. Live with very noisy neighbors for a few months, and you’ll be saying the same in no time.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
http://dangerouslydolly.com

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[.]

Did it feel like you had exhausted all possible options and yet are still before the mountain – large, unconquerable, and impregnable? When encountering such enormous problems, you may feel like you’re hammering against a steel mountain. The pressure of having to solve such a problem may be overwhelming.

But rejoice! There might be some hope yet!

First of all, in the light of creative problem-solving, you must be open-minded to the fact that there may be more than just one solution to the problem. And, you must be open to the fact that there may be solutions to problems you thought were unsolvable.

#01 Maybe the reason we cannot solve our problems is that we have not really taken a hard look at what the problem is.
Here, trying to understanding the problem and having a concrete understanding of its workings is integral solving the problem. If you know how it works, what the problem is, then you have a better foundation towards solving the problem.

#02 Try to take note of all of the constraints and assumptions you have the words of problem. Sometimes it is these assumptions that obstruct our view of possible solutions. You have to identify which assumptions are valid, in which assumptions need to be addressed.

#03 Try to solve the problem by parts.
Solve it going from general view towards the more detailed parts of the problem. This is called the top-down approach. Write down the question, and then come up with a one-sentence solution to that from them. The solution should be a general statement of what will solve the problem. From here you can develop the solution further, and increase its complexity little by little.

#04 Although it helps to have critical thinking aboard as you solve a problem, you must also keep a creative, analytical voice at the back of your head.
When someone comes up with a prospective solution, tried to think how you could make that solution work. Try to be creative. At the same time, look for chinks in the armor of that solution.

#05 It pays to remember that there may be more than just one solution being developed at one time.
Try to keep track of all the solutions and their developments. Remember, there may be more than just one solution to the problem.

#06 Remember that old adage,” two heads are better than one.”
That one is truer than it sounds. Always be open to new ideas. You can only benefit from listening to all the ideas each person has. This is especially true when the person you’re talking to has had experience solving problems similar to yours.

#07 Be patient.
As long as you persevere, there is always a chance that a solution will present itself. Remember that no one was able to create an invention the first time around.

Creative thinking exercises can also help you in your quest to be a more creative problems solver.

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[.]

Your Full Name
Kim Jodie Wedlock

If you have a bachelor degree/education background; what is it?
I don’t have much more than half an A Level in Art, mostly because, frankly, the subject is so terribly boring. My teachers only ever told me what was bad about my work, and left out what was good.

I am a big fan of constructive criticism, but in my own little world it means telling them what you like as well.

Tell us about you
I am an aspiring writer, not that I’ve shown much of it online at all. I am currently working on a website about a trilogy I’m working on, which I intend to publish.

Photography comes second to me, as just a hobby, and I like to play computer games which can also inspire some things for my writing, even from the silliest games.

You can probably find me on World of Warcraft as “Spinegrinder”, if you look hard enough

Where are you located?
Currently in Hastings, South East England, though I hail from Bristol and will be returning there in a matter of weeks to work on my writing.

What do you do when you are not producing artwork?
Gaming, mostly, if you can call it that, and watching films. I’m a big fan of fantasy, and usually you’ll find my eyes glued to Harry Potter, Stardust or The Colour of Magic. Also, I am a bit of an obsesser when it comes to shoes, so I may well have my nose in a catalogue too

What drove you to become a photographer?
I was out running late Winter 2006 and I ran past some snowdrops. I went back home when I’d finished, got my silly little 3mp £20 camera and took a picture. It was from then on that I became a photographer, because I enjoyed it quite a lot of course, I’ve upgraded my equipment since then…

How do you promote/sell/showcase your work?
I quite simply just upload it onto deviantART, and into groups therein, and see what happens. As for my writing, I am working on a website that I intend to promote in any little place I can, short of tattooing it across my face. I also post my favourite pieces from time to time on my tumblr page.

Do you work better at night or in the morning? Why?
Photography would be the middle of the day. I have absolutely no lighting equipment so I rely purely on natural light. As for writing, any time my boyfriend is playing a computer game, or I’m sat in front of the TV, just as some background noise or my brain will turn off. But when I’m at home, most of my writing takes place at night, since I get up quite late.

What is your definition of “A Great Photographer”?
Someone original and who takes the photograph as they see it, not as someone else would. I am not much a fan, personally, of untouched photography, I’ve lately become rather interested in use of photoshop curves, colours and layers, and if they’re used in an original and/or appropriate way, that can really make a photograph.

Who is a photographer that you look up to? Why so?
Weeelll, there are a lot of users on deviantART that I look up to, but too many to name off of the top of my head. More world-reknown photographers would be someone like Strijdom van der Merwe, most notably for his work with water. He is a landscape artist, and his work is astounding, but then the way he photographs it afterwards really capture the beauty of it all twofold.

I have no name, however, but I also like the photographers for lingerie company Bravissimo, because they’ve gone in a different direction from skimpy and sexy and instead have gone for more cute and playful. Also the props are great, I want my house to look like that!

What do you think about the Internet and how it is affecting the visual communication business?
I think the Internet is a kind of…well it depends how you look at it. In one light, you’ve got the ability to let everyone get their work out there, and it’s opened a lot of career opportunities, especially in music, however there is the other side of things, where there is a lot of art theft going on, where people are stealing images and, the latest one I heard was only yesterday, girltripped of deviantART are having their work used on t-shirts in Australia without their say so.

It’s a very risky business, especially for photography, as with photography, there is no easy way to prove that you are the owner of the image unless it was taken with an SLR and not a digital camera. Clay work and artisan crafts are the safest online, due to the pieces being material, and that if someone attempted to remake it, the odds are it would be a shoddy job.

What music are you listening to lately?
Music is a funny thing. I’ve gone through it all, from boy bands when I was a young girl, to rap and RnB when I was an older girl, to heavy metal and grindcore as a teenager, and to all of it now. I find Lady Gaga to be a real inspiration, she’s a jack of all trades, master of everything under the sun.

She inspires my photography, my personal image, my music, my mood, even how I decorate my room! I would never want to be her, but she affects me in a more positive way than anyone else in music has. Also she seems to have a passion for shoes and costumes similar to me

How does the global economic recession affecting the industry, or the least affecting your business/ work?
Well, because of the recession, I, like many, am unemployed. I have been since Christmas 2008. I live off of my own and my boyfriend’s parents. It’s awful, but luckily I don’t ask for much. My dad bought me my DSLR out of money left over from the mortgage, and my sister got a laptop. Now, because of this money crisis everywhere, no one really buys luxuries like photographic prints, or things from etsy.

I attempted to set up a shop on etsy to sell my fairy doors, but I had no luck with it. I am still trying, of course, no point in giving up, and I have found a few more things to attempt on there, but as it stands, it’s hitting a lot of artists very hard, especially those who do it for fun, like me. However, doing it for fun suggests I never planned to make money anyway…

Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
Ah, it depends what you mean by “art” books. I do own a few, I have Dita Von Teese’s Burlesque and the Art of the Teese, which is full of fantastic photography, and that is my favourite. I also have Brian Froud’s Cottingly Fairy books, which feature art work of squished fairies through out, which I just adore. Other than that, I don’t have any more art books…oh, well, no I do have a Australian Women’s Weekly on cake decorating, and that has some nice pictures in it, along with instructions to make it yourself….does that count? I’m more of a fantasy novel person really…

What do you like the sound of? Why so?
I like the sound of water boiling, epically played violins and a funny call my Ring neck Parakeet makes. I’m always trying to mimic it…I fail, of course.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
Of course I do! I have my deviantART: http://blacklavaprints.deviantart.com
Although I have several of those for different types of art, but you can always contact me through that one to find out more.
And my blog where I post some of my favourites: http://cyanidemist.tumblr.com

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[.]

With this in mind, this article will attempt to explain the concept of Internet marketing for beginners and will outline some basic strategies which can help a business owner to launch his own Internet marketing campaign. We will cover concepts such as creating a website, placing banner ads, sending out e-newsletters, orchestrating an email marketing campaign and optimizing your website for search engines.

#01 One of the most basic steps for starting an Internet marketing campaign is to create a website.
If you don’t have a website or have a poorly designed website you should consider creating or re-designing a website to adequately market your products. If you do not have experience in web design, there are a number of software packages which make it simple for those with no design experience to create a functional website. However, hiring a web designer is worthwhile because he can work to create a website which is attractive, functional and suitable to your products and series. He can also help you include more advanced features on your website.

#02 Banner ads are another popular option for advertising your business on the Internet.
Banner ads are advertisements which typically appear along the top of a website but it may also include smaller ads in other locations. Banner ads typically include graphics and text which entice Internet users to click on the advertisement. Once a user clicks on the ad, they are directed to your website. This type of advertising can be very effective when care is taken to place the advertisements on high traffic websites which attract an audience who may have an interest in your products.

#03 Sending out e-newsletters can also be a part of an effective Internet marketing strategy.
E-newsletters are essentially emails which may contain a variety of information including informative articles, useful quizzes, relevant advertising or any other information which is deemed worthwhile for the recipients of the e-newsletter. The importance of these newsletters is that they can be used as marketing tools which are not viewed by the recipients as an advertisement. One way to do this is to incorporate links or other soft sale approaches into the copy of the e-newsletters. However, care should be taken to keep these references minimal so the e-newsletter is not viewed as Spam.

#04 Email marketing campaigns can be another successful aspect of an Internet marketing campaign.
Email marketing essentially involves sending out emails to a group of individuals who may be interested in your products and services. Care should be taken in sending out these emails to avoid sending emails which are unsolicited and will be viewed as Spam. One way to do this is to only send out the emails to users who have requested inclusion on an email mailing list. Another way to do this is to provide value in the emails as opposed to just including advertisements. This can be done by offering relevant advice in your emails and other useful information which may be of interest to the recipients of the email.

#05 Finally, optimizing your website for search engines is a critical aspect of an Internet marketing campaign.
Search engines rank websites according to quality and relevance for particular search terms. Many Internet users appreciate the effort by search engines and use these search engines to find the best websites on a particular subject. This means the Internet users are likely to only visit websites which rank well with search engines. Therefore if your website is not high ranking, you are not likely to generate a great deal of traffic from Internet users who use search engines to find relevant websites. Top ranking websites are likely to obtain the most traffic from search engines and all websites falling on the first page of the search engine results will likely enjoy some degree of success in improving their traffic.

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Do you think your business needs a website? If the answer is yes, don’t settle for an average website. Hire Halim Design to build you a professional website that will attract customers to your business. Visit www.halimdesign.com for more information.

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[.]

Your Full Name
My name is Laura Kok.

If you have a bachelor degree/education background; what is it?
I’m still on High School. Next year I’m gonna study Photography, Film and more.

Tell us about you
I’m a 16 year old girl, living on a farm.
I live with my parents but I have two sisters.

Where are you located?
In live in Zwolle, the Netherlands.

What do you do when you are not producing artwork?
I like to draw, write, watching movies, cooking. If I’m with my friends I enjoy it all.

What drove you to become a photographer?
My mother bought a digital camera and I was in love actually!

How do you promote/sell/showcase your work?
On the internet, just Deviant Art, Hyves (it’s a dutch Facebook) etc. I don’t sell my work actually.

Do you work better at night or in the morning? Why?
In the morning. I love morning lights and I don’t like flash lights. I’m also in a better mood at morning.

What is your definition of “A Great Photographer”?
Having an own style. Enjoying your work. Being ambitious.

Who is a photographer that you look up to? Why so?
www.iNeedChemicalx.deviantart.com. I saw her photos when i joined Deviant Art and I was like: I wanna be good like her!! And now is also like Richard Bakker and Lara Jade.

What do you think about the Internet and how it is affecting the visual communication business?
I think if there wasn’t internet I wasn’t good as I’m now. I mean, I learned sooo much because of feedback!

What music are you listening lately?
Ellie Goulding, Fever Ray, Russian Red, Natasha Bedingfield, The Cure and more more more. ( I know, i like almost every kind of music)

How does the global economic recession affecting the industry, or the least affecting your business/ work?
I think it doesn’t? I’m not selling my work so…

Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
Oh that’s a hard one.. I really liked Sarah’s Key and a Thousand Splendid Suns.
Magazines like Elle and Vogue are just fun to see the photo shoots.

What do you like the sound of? Why so?
Yes! Birds in the morning, the sea and all those natural sounds.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
www.LauraKokFotografie.nl
www.ByLaauraa.deviantart.com

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[.]

The first method is to weave in your personal touch in your sales message. Nobody wants to be sold to by a total stranger, but many people will buy what their close friends recommend to them. If you can convince your audience that you are a personal friend who has their best interest at heart, they will be convinced to buy your products. Remember to speak to an individual in your sales letter, not to your whole audience.

The second method is to publish testimonials and comments from your customers. A good idea would be to publish both good and bad comments; that way prospects will be really convinced that these testimonials are real. When prospects see testimonials on your website, they will have the confidence to buy from you because human beings follow the herd mentality; when others have bought and proven it authentic, they will jump on the bandwagon and buy too.

Use visual representations for the problems and solutions that your product offers. Not everyone will read your text copy from the head to the tail, but most people will pay attention to images on your website.

Offer quality bonuses to accompany the product. When you offer bonuses that complement your product, your prospects will feel it’s a very good deal and it would be stupid to miss it. Be sure to state the monetary value of your bonuses so that people will be even more compelled to grab your good bargain.

Lastly, ask for the sale! Many people entice their prospects with the benefits of their product, sell to them with stories of how it has solved many problems, even offered killer bonuses but forget to ask for the sale. Give a clear instruction on how to buy your product (i.e. “click the button to buy now!”).

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Your Full Name
Valérie Bastille

If you have a bachelor degree/education background; what is it?
I studied for two years in animation at the Cegep du Vieux Montreal.

Tell us about you
First of all sorry for my English, my first language is french : )

I’m a 20 years old girl, and like most people I’ve always been drawing, but got serious about it around 14-15 years old, and got my first tablet around that year too. After high school I studied Animation 2D for two years, before giving up.

I’ve been off school for roughly two years now, and learned a lot. I’ll be attending Illustration in Dawson College at fall tho, since I feel like I’ve been getting closer to what I want my work to be like, but I still don’t have the confidence yet to be a pro.

Where are you located?
Montreal, Canada.

What do you do when you are not producing artwork?
I drink coffee and smoke way too much with my friends, I talk to my cats and dye my hair. How exciting, right?

What drove you to become an illustrator?
There’s nothing I love more than that. I love creating a universe that reflects what’s going my head.

How do you promote/sell/showcase your work?
I have an online gallery at Deviant Art, and participate in a few collective publications, as Merure and Erri (http://drownspire.com). I also work part time in a VFX studio, Sexy Legs, which is totally awesome : )

What is your definition of “A Great Illustrator”?
Someone who can draw/paint/represent everything in a very personal way. I think that you have to ‘own’ something when you paint it, to make it work with your universe. It’s all about being personal and refreshing, I think.

Who is an illustrator that you look up to? Why so?
Hyung Tae Kim, Barbara Canepa, the french illustrator LostFish, Loish, mainly because they all have that very unique, stylish way of depicting things. They all bring that new twist in art and I really admire them, they never fail to inspire me~

What do you think about the Internet and how it is affecting the visual communication business?
I think the internet is honestly a wonderful inspirational tool, as well as great ‘window’ to the outside world, about what’s going on everywhere and all that stuff. Honestly, I think most of people drawing or being very intense in their stuff tends to close themselves to what surround them, so it’s a great asset? (I’m not even sure this is the right word haha)

What music are you listening lately?
My all time favorite would be Shiina Ringo. I love everything she does and never get tired of her, she’s a pure genius. Otherwise I admit I like Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance, it’s so very powerful and addicting. And I also listen to Emilie Simon, who has a very nice imagery, as well as Pierre Lapointe.

Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
Hi-Fructose art magazine, the art book serie Robot by Range Murata and SkyDoll 0: Doll’s Factory.

What do you like the sound of? Why so?
I like the rain pouring on a window, and the wind going inside an old house in winter.

If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
http://nay-chan.deviantart.com/
http://commeunblog.blogspot.com/

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