Artful exposure

Jeff Blandford is a studio art senior who already has his own business - Volmod: Voluptuous and Modern Ceramics - through which he sells his work in eight locations around the country.

"(I got) lucky with making stuff," Blandford said. "Things have really started to pick up."

But the 22-year-old isn't successful by chance - he started selling his work early in college and learned different ways to promote himself, such as participating in art fairs and wearing T-shirts bearing the Volmod logo.

It might be easy for music artists to create a MySpace.com profile and upload songs to promote themselves, but for studio artists, it's not always as easy to get exposure.

Getting noticed

Summer art fairs can be one of the best ways to get publicity, Blandford said, because thousands of people can see an artist's work in the span of a few days.

As a result of working the same art fairs for a few consecutive years, Blandford said he has started to get some repeat clients.

He said that while studio art students at MSU "definitely have potential," a lot of them don't seem to be trying hard to get exposure.

"Most people are waiting until after (graduation) to settle down," he said.

Jae Won Lee, an associate professor in studio art, also said a lot of students aren't active.

"They don't know where to begin," Lee said.

But even if some artists are taking their time, MSU professors have a lot of suggestions to get them into the swing of things early on.

Chris Corneal, an assistant professor of graphic design, said that at least for graphic designers, it's important to have a personal Web site that can "function as a portfolio."

Corneal said a Web site is important to have, but he doesn't think it's as successful as simply promoting work.

"They still have to go promote the Web site," he said. "It's just a vehicle to deliver the portfolio."

Studio art and English senior Kate Lewis said she has had a Web site for about a year.

"It's definitely one of the keys to promoting your work as an artist," Lewis said. "It's a lot easier and faster."

Team effort

Assistant Professor Blake Williams also suggested targeting a local gallery to hold a group exhibition of student work - something with which art education senior Cedric Tai is very familiar.

Though it wasn't solely a student exhibition, Tai had his second-ever show at (SCENE) Metrospace, 303 Abbott Road.

Tai, who focuses on painting, said (SCENE) Metrospace is a great place because "they're not looking for really super-talented emerging artists. They're just looking for work (that fits their criteria)."

On the other hand, Tai also has gotten together with other artists for exhibits.

"I'm very community-based," he said. "I love doing these things with friends."

Lewis said her classes have had group exhibitions and pottery sales.

"It's a good way for at least other students to learn about your work," she said.

Another resource Tai has used is www.deviantART.com, a free online community where more than 2.5 million artists upload photos of their work for others to critique.

He said the Web site was the first place anyone saw his work.

At MSU, however, Tai said the best way to promote your work is to join clubs and get involved with Kresge Art Center and Museum.

"(I'm) trying to get a community together because I know that I don't want to be alone for this," he said.

Tai said he helped plan an outdoor art show on the sidewalk outside Kresge Art Center and Museum.

"Basically it was very makeshift," he said. "(We) had a lot of our friends, friends played guitar and a lot of people got to see my work."

Landing a job

When it comes to getting a job, Corneal said because of the constant flow of new designers, getting noticed can be tough.

However, it helps when students make "small, self-promotional pieces … that can land on the art director's desk," he said.

Lee teaches a senior seminar that deals with getting work after graduation and said it's important to have a good-looking résumé, along with a precise and to-the-point cover letter.

She said some of her students have found post-graduation jobs as a ceramics technician or art teacher, or have opened their own studio.

"I really encourage my students to put together professional packets to submit to galleries," Williams said.

However, it's not easy to get into the commercial galleries right away, Lee said.

Blandford said artists are traditionally bad business people, which makes getting work more difficult.

"Don't be afraid to talk to people about your work who don't know about it," Blandford said. "Always keep in the back of your mind that you're trying to sell art."

Lee said the whole process of getting work as an artist is slow and needs to be done step by step.

"(The artists) really have to put in an effort," she said. "It takes time."