Why do Artist and Photographers choose to do there own printing?

 

Why do photographers and artists make a choice to print themselves vs having a lab do their printing?  The answer may be different for different people.  For me, my journey into printing goes back to the days of having my own darkroom and developing my own film.  One of the reasons ChatGBT Ai says artists and photographers choose to do their own printing is for instant results.  This would fall into the reason I wanted my own darkroom.  And one of the reasons I want to do my own printing today.  The ability to quickly have your creation in your hand.  There is something magical about seeing your print come up in the developer in a darkroom, and today it is nearly as nice to see the print come out of a printer.  

Another reason is the most important part for me as an Artist.  I want end-to-end control over my art.  (You could easily replace my Art for Photography as much as I am saying would still apply).  I got into printing in a big way when I could not find any company that was willing to print on the papers I wanted my art to be printed on.  Printing companies are all about control of their products and only use their paper.  I absolutely love the feel of heavy-weight paper with a fine art piece printed on it.  If you have ever ordered one of my points and held it, you know what I mean. And I firmly believe that 30% of a good print comes from the printer you are using and 80% comes form the paper. I have tested dozens and dozens of papers for different printing projects and can tell you this can be the most rewarding and most frustrating part of printing. But once you land on a paper that you love, you only want to use that paper.  I have so many different papers for different projects I started a 3", 3 ring notebook where I take one piece of any new paper, puch the whole in it, and place it in the notebook.  I then write on the paper, the source, cost, weight, texture, and project I used it for.  And how I rated it. It has become a very resource in my studio.  

Now to printers.  I have two printers in my studio. One is the Canon Pro-300 wide carriage printer that uses Gleese Print archival pigment ink.  The printer is still today the most highly reviewed printer by photographers and artists. But it is not cheap to operate.  The printer has 10 cartridges.  And if you do not use the printer, it continues to use the ink, cycling every day or so to keep the print head from drying out. So it is a Use It - Or Loss It type of printer.  However, I love the printer for my 9x12 or 13x19 art prints.  My second and newest printer is the Epson ET-4800 Tank Printer.  This is really a printer that is intended for office use, and has four tanks for Dye Based Ink.  I have found using specific paper in this for printing my greeting cards the prints are vivid in color and high in contrast and look great.  The biggest benefit is it is a Tank Printer.  No more buying ink cartridges and a tank full of ink will print thousands of pages without the need to refill the tanks.  And even refilling the tanks is inexpensive.  So, for the first time in my printing history, ink cost is no longer a factor.  The Epson Wide carriage Photo Tank Printer is on my radar for a replacement of the Canon Pro-300.  

Cost Efficiency.  If you print a lot then printing yourself can save you a considerable amount of money on prints.  Especially with the tank printers.  Your real cost then comes into the papers you choose.  The paper I use for my art prints is expensive.  I have to admit, really expensive when you consider the shipping cost from the supplier.  But for most, going to Staples or buying print paper from Amazon, printing becomes very cost-effective.  

Customization.  Most print companies print standard sizes.  My art prints are 9x12.  It is hard to find a printing company that would print this size.  It is not a standard size but a size I like.  Also, if you have an image you have cropped in non-traditional proportions such as a panorama, again it is hard to find a printing company that can accommodate this at a reasonable cost.  

Now for the downside of self-printing.  Must like the old days of a dark room, printers and paper storage take up space.  Second, the issue is cost.  Not only the cost of the printer but the cost of supplies.  This would be a big factor if you only print on occasion.  The third reason and the most significant reason is that self-printing is a science. It is technical, and at times challenging.  Be prepared to throw a lot of prints away.  Just like the days of dark-rooms.  You have to learn what you are doing.  You have to experiment, keep good notes, track your successes. 

 I hope this has answered some of your questions.  I will provide some reference links below.

Canon Imagegraph Pro-300 Printer on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Canon-imagePROGRAF-Wireless-Wide-Format-Profession/dp/B08C5J34T5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TLI46W34A90W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.usQz_IGGs81Qo196eCqRc66fcREDYMrjUrUgbfZwzj_iVpRgwAIt4aNrN8lpH4dk-vdhJV_4lBMhef-QRX4HyG3VhNJDNC6lmF8DQD2BrTaU1ytmNrDRK6z-3Fx3uJw3B1nFL0R_hwSkKjWXX9qm0TygHryjsf1GH5Hj1T-OoLdYsK4CsVrtqYnG9-78bj1rROV8e0h0aCqwDybaGbKF1QUzr81Wa9qwZae_8o5-rTU.WGVLVX6hfkRZWjNP-Ks_pgEgk4oSNeSXo51iGlUATug&dib_tag=se&keywords=canon%2Bpro-300%2Bprinter&qid=1732510677&sprefix=canon%2Bpro-300%2Bprinter%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS%3AUS_IHI_5M_HARDLINES&th=1

Epson ET-4800 Tank Printer on Amazon. 
https://www.amazon.com/Epson-Wireless-Cartridge-Free-Supertank-Ethernet/dp/B09P45LR5T/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=1567EF5CYQXDS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5SU2XERYvXIc2hExwi1ZkVFJD3g-wRwA1DonCICDTJ_u1DWm-82qT6xiJA6h3Up8w5MqCTYcj4lEjgy211-0I5tMOC34-eFII7tHnJNqQ6nz67AzqVml-pcCJf_ni77aA6i1VEZbLeiSznvANVEPkwghK5AAkOWTCITnvDJ2e8E8vLV3_C6jw0gL0cf8Dfw12lsc_jFy-7JelQR_Rc-XC8b0Frss2w8fy-4mE8SxeXw.56Gu0otRjOqgbNXzYn4XxJYobu39IxGAo62-F1eZkj0&dib_tag=se&keywords=epson%2Bet-4800%2Bprinter&qid=1732510774&sprefix=epson%2Bet-4800%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1&ufe=INHOUSE_INSTALLMENTS%3AUS_IHI_5M_HARDLINES&th=1

Redriver Paper
https://www.redrivercatalog.com/
Paper I use for my art prints. Red River 
My 9x12 Prints on Palo Duro Etching 9x13 

My Greeting Cards on - 
60lb. Polar Matte Greeting Cards

My Webiste - https://pixelmountainstudios.com
My email mike@mikeadkins.info

Is the DSLR Camera Dead?

 

I have the greatest respect and admiration for professional and serious hobbyist photographers.  After all, I started in photography in 1970 with my first film camera (Minolta SRT-101), which I purchased at the PX on my military base in Germany.  For a period in my life, I made my living as a professional photographer and owner of a studio and camera store.  And I still teach and mentor photographers.  

But in recent years I have become acutely aware of how few people I see shooting with a DSLR.  To further support this, I am an annual pass holder at Disney World and visit the parks about once a week. Here I have the opportunity to observe tens of thousands of tourists.  It is extremely rare that I see anyone with a DSLR.  The camera of choice for nearly everyone is the smart phone.  Predominantly the Apple iPhone.  

Ai states the following - "In 2023, CIPA companies shipped around 1.18 million DSLR cameras worldwide. This is a decline from previous years and is part of a 94% drop in camera shipments between 2010 and 2023.  

A statistics report found that digital camera ownership has dropped by approximately 50% in five years. In the USA, for example, the percentage of people who owned a digital camera dropped from just under 60% in 2018/2019 to just over 30% in 2023/2024.

This supports my observation. 

So, let's look into the past.  Before smartphones.  Who purchased most cameras?  I would venture to guess regular people who wanted to take pictures of their family.  This is what got me to purchase my first camera.  My mother kept sending me letters wanting pictures of Germany.  And I understood her interest in pictures as my grandmother always seemed to have a Browny Bullseye Camera at every family event.  Back before Smartphones when you put a nice camera into the hands of a first-time buyer, something magical happens.  I was bitten by the photography bug that lasted over 50 years. 

Let's examine some photography genres. 

Family  Photos - It would be rare that anyone would purchase a DSLR today to take family event photos.  When it is very likely they have a camera in their pocket. (smartphone).

Portrait Photography - In the past families would dress up and go to the local portrait studio for a family portrait.  I believe that practice is all but a thing of the past.

Sports Photography - Now here is where the DSLR shines.  It would be very difficult to take sports photography with a smartphone.   Not that you could not add a telephoto lens or get some good shots but sports photographers with the best equipment is definitely a DSLR market that still exists.  

Wildlife Photography - The same a Sports.  You really need a long lens for this.  But like Sports photography to really do well you have to be willing to shell out some serious cash. 

Let me know where you still see the DSLR camera fitting in today's market.  Do you still shoot with a DSLR?  Or Smart Phone?  What is your camera of choice?  What kind of photos do you take now?

Personally, I have hung up my DSLR and considered selling out.  However, I do not expect to get much for the gear for the reasons stated above.  I was once obsessed with photography and now that obsession has turned to art. 

Drawing on Inspiration

 

My observation and personal experience show that art is a very solitary activity.  We spend hours in our studio or work areas, without human contact.  What drives us?  What gets us going and wanting to create?  Is it for everyone? 

The hardest challenge to being an artist is you do not have anyone driving you.  No boss standing over you.  In many cases no deadlines. No one waiting at the counter for their order.  It is just you facing a blank canvas.  So what drives us to just get up and get excited about creating?

I draw inspiration from so many sources and will list a few here.  If you have other things that motivate you please send me a message.  mike@mikeadkins.info 

* YouTube - there are so many great artists on YouTube and great tutorials.  I watch so many of them, and many I follow regularly.  Here are a few that inspire me.  SLEW, TEN HUNDRED, JESS KARP, JONI YOUNG ART, and so many more.  Each time I watch one of their new episodes I get re-energized. 

 * Books - I have grown my art library to over 100 books.  Each one is full of ideas and inspiration.  I love the ART OF books that show the development of Disney movies. The background paintings, and character development.  I find that inspiring.

* Sale of Art - I do not make a great deal from my art but when someone buys something from me it means a great deal.  It is the greatest showing of application.  And that inspires me to create more.  It may be a little stroke to my ego, but everyone needs that to continue to create. 

* Friends - A good support system is so important.  Having artist friends that you can confide in, get inspiration from, and get feedback that helps quite a bit.  Having a mentor who understands what it is like being an artist will go a long way for one to continue creating. 

* Having goals.  - Setting yourself goals will inspire you.  Self-imposed projects or art styles you wish to master will surely inspire me.  I continue to create new goals and then set forth to meet that goals.

* Play the Role.  I have said this about many things in my life.  Playing the role gets you the role.  Ever imagined you were a Disney Artist? What it would be like going to work every day and creating great art.  But with purpose.  And what you create needs to be the top of your game.  No half-done are, you need to put into it 100 percent.  This is a great motivator and a way to impose self-inspiration.  Now if it came down to it, I really do not think I would enjoy re-entering the corporate world but it sure is fun playing the role.   

* Reviewing your old art.  A good form of inspiration can come from reviewing your older artwork.  Seeing the improvement is a great motivator.     

What is your inspiration?  

Is Social Media Toxic?

 

The question for photographers and artists is, "Is Social Media for you? "What are you looking to get out of it? "  Have you had a bad experience?  Are you on Social Media?  Are there benefits to being on social media?  

I have given considerable thought to all of the questions.  I realize that it means different things to different people.  But I think the driving force for photographers and artists is the human desire to share.  To be accepted in the pack.  We all seek recognition. If not then you live in a very lonely world.  Before social media, and maybe still exist to a certain extent is social clubs. Organizations such as camera clubs, art organizations, and other organized social clubs such as the Masons, or hunting clubs.  All social clubs that you can run with the pack. 

I am going to address Camera clubs and will show how this relates to this post in a minute.  I was a member of the camera club and president of the camera club for many years.  So  I feel I can speak with some authority on the subject.  Now, you can freely disagree with my generalization or option.  But Camera clubs have very little to do with the craft of photography and a great deal to do with being a social club.  And if presidents of these clubs do not realize this then the club will not survive.  I have told many new camera club presidents to treat the club like a preacher of a small Baptist church.  Always work to grow the flock or it will die off.  And realize that the social aspect of the club is the primary goal.  Not teaching photography.  Those who heeded this advice and understood what I was saying succeeded.  You see preachers know the value of the covered dish luncheon after the service.  People do not come necessarily to hear him preach the good word but to come to see their neighbors, to socialize, and to feel they are part of the pack. And if you do not believe this, see how many members show up when there is a social event.  

That brings me to social media.  It has changed considerably over the past few years.  And it is the reason many are no longer on social media.  It has become a toxic cesspool of political posts, self-proclaimed experts, and unwanted ads.  It is filled with people who could surely use some professional counseling.  But it was not always that way.  It use to be a place where you could see what friends were doing even if they lived a long distance from you.  It was a place where you could share images of your new puppy you adopted without fear of someone ridiculing you for it. And it was a great place for photographers and artists to share their work and skills. 

So, what are you looking for from a post on social media?  Are you looking to share or get some recognition?  Are you looking or hoping to land some work or have someone feel strongly enough about your post to actually purchase a print or contact you for some art or photography job?   Are you looking for "LIKE" or "LOVE" clicks?  I call them digital hugs.  Are you looking for a digital hug.  How many make you feel good?  

We all want recognition.  We want those digital hugs.  We want to have nice comments or even win a club competition.  It is about being accepted in the pack.  

Now the downside.  Stories to share.  Just FYI, but important facts.  Admins on groups on Facebook have ultimate power.  They can block you for absolutely no reason.  And you are blocked.  You have no recourse, no action, and you cannot even find the group after being blocked.  Believe me, I have experienced this.  Kicked out of the pack, and left ghosted. Wondering what the heck happened.  You feel let down, and depressed, want revenge.  You wish you had the resources to take a full-page ad out in the New York Times about the social media group. But there is nothing you can do.  You have to go in understanding this. Think of it this way, you have been exiled from your church.  It hurts.  

Nextdoor.  The absolute worst social media on the planet. It operates by deception.  They hire what they call neighbors to monitor posts and they can kick you out for any reason.  Or put you in a penalty box where you cannot log in for 30 days or six months or ever.  There is no real arbitration.  No number to call, no recourse.  If you post about your art or photography you could be considered self-promoting, and back in the penalty box you go.  If you complain about Nextdoor on their platform you have violated their rule, and back in the penalty box, you go.  Nexdoor is all about selling its ads.  So if you pay you can play.  Otherwise, I  recommend you just stay away for your own mental well-being. 

Instagram.  I think this still is a great platform for artists and photographers to share their work.  They have made improvements over the past couple of years to make it better.  Just recently they now allow you to post from your PC.  For most of Instagram's existence, they would not allow this, but people were figuring ways around it so they finally supported that.   A good move.  My only problem with Instagram and it may seem a minor thing, is there is no post date to see when an image was posted.  Recently I have seen artists saying Instagram does not get one's attention.  It does not feel like you are part of the pack.  Let me know your thoughts?

TickTock.  Well, I am not on it, don't really watch it, and have no comment about it.  I just cannot find one artist or photographer that says good things about the platform.  But a lot of young people love it.  And apparently, you can get likes and even monetize your post. 

Let me know about your soical media experience.  Email me if you like,  mike@mikeadkins.info

 

     

Are Galley Shows Worth It?

 

There is no more ego-boosting for an artist or photographer than having his or her art displayed in a gallery.  I get that.  I have had some of my works hung in a gallery show and even a private one.  

I have followed a New York Artist on YouTube for a long time. His YouTube channel is SLEW.  Recently he had a private gallery show.  I watched as his excitement grew over his first-ever private gallery show in New York.  I watched as he took on a self-challenge to paint a huge oil painting for the show.  His largest canvas yet.  This piece would be the centerpiece of the show and he wanted it to showcase his talents and abilities.  

I watched as he made this huge endeavor that would require considerable work and funds.  Gallery shows are not cheap in any respect. 

So, let's talk about cost. 

Rent.  Some galleries rent out their space.  Especially for a private showing.  In the case of Slew's show, he did not disclose what the cost was.  But considering New York pricing and that the gallery was two floors, then I would guess the amount was considerable. Some galleries work on a commission basis so that if you sell any works the gallery takes a percentage of the sale.  This can be as high as 60%.

Frames.  Presenting your work in most galleries requires your works to be framed. And some galleries are very particular on framing.  Most galleries will not accept saw tooth hangers on the frame, but require wire hangers.  Others require specific frames such as all the works require black wood frames.  In SLEW's show, it was completely up to him as to how his works will be presented. 

Time.  There is so much that goes into a gallery show.  There is considerable planning and preparation.  Depending on the size of the show.  In some cases, the gallery has staff that does the complete show layout and hanging of the art pieces.  In SLEW's case, he did everything with some help from a friend. This helped reduce the cost of the show considerably. 

Transporation.  You have to get your art to the gallery.  If you have large works of art then transporting the art can incur cost.  In the case of SLEW's gallery show, he and a friend bubble-wrapped each work of art then boxed them, and finally rented a You Hull truck for transportation.  Remember, this has to be done twice.  Getting the art to the gallery and once the show is over, getting it back to your studio or home, and doing this safely.  This adds to the cost, labor, and time. 

Opening. It is common practice to have a gallery show opening.  This can be a private opening or one that is open to the public.  Think of it as a social party.  You need to provide your guests with finger food and drinks.  In some cases, you may want to have this catered.  In SLEW's show, he included a free open bar.  This really added to the cost of his show. 

In conclusion, considering the considerable cost in money, time, and labor, is a gallery show worth it?  There are perks to gallery shows beyond the possible sales.  There is a great deal of prestige in a gallery show.  This is great BIO material.  Gallery shows help artists get known and recognized.  And there is the EGO boost.  The ability to show of your work to family, friends, and the community.  

My personal experience is the same as SLEW's.  He did not sell a single item at the show.  This included no sales of his artwork or merchandise.  The show seemed well attended, and some of his followers even traveled from out of town to attend the show.  In the basement was his student's show and I do not believe any of those works sold.  I wonder why?  He is very talented and his works reflected that. But not to even sell his Tote Bags that I an sure were priced affordable leaves me wondering why.

My personal experience has been the same as SLEW's.  I have been part of club gallery shows, independent gallery shows, and even a private gallery show.  And out of all of them, I have only sold a few works of art.  Nothing that came close to covering the cost or effort.  And like SLEW, was I disappointed?  A little bit.  Was it worth it?  I am not sure.  Would I do another one?  I never say never. As I said, there are benefits of having your art hanging in galleries beyond the monetary rewards.  You have to balance that with what you want out of the show.  If you want to have the gallery show with the bet of making a lot of money, well, good luck with that.  Not to say artists do not find galleries financially rewarding, I am just not sure I know of any that has.    

Reference SLEWs gallery Show.  
https://youtu.be/vGEVu_-pEws?si=BbNPrCGU9eSQJ6PM

   

Sunday Morning Artist - Why get into art as retired senior?

I have gone through many chapters in my life and have many interests. I think I have always been curious about how things work.  From my early days with an interest in electronics, to later in life my interest in photography.  My interest quickly builds into a passion.  I am never satisfied with being halfway into anything.  I am all in.  

People ask how long I have been creating art. It is something I have thought quite a bit about and a hard date or event that set me on this journey.  I do remember enjoying art in school and an art teacher who tried to discourage me in art, saying I would never become an artist.  Thinking back, what type of teacher would ever say such a thing to a student.  I did have a friend who was amazing at art in High School and I sure admired his work.  And in Jr. High, I took drafting and sure loved that class.  Again, not enough to fire up a lifelong interest in art.  Later in the military, I got interested in photography and thinking back, I believe it was my interest in the darkroom and how that worked.  The person who ran the photo lab was a very interesting character.  His photography was simply amazing and inspiring.  Mostly of beautiful women he photographed in the studio.  I wanted so much to do this type of photography and that started my passion for studio photography that would lead to studios I owned later in life.  I admired the old master's type of studio photography that mimicked great oil paintings.  I started doing a lot of oils over portraits and restoration of old photos that helped feed the family and pay the bills. 

The photography passion lasted for nearly 50 years.  But with my legs failing me and the pandemic hit, I hung up my camera bag.  I was retired at this point and missed not only the creative process of photography but also the social aspect of it.  I started getting into compositing in Photoshop, but soon though YouTube I found an interest in watercolor.  And said to myself, how hard could that be. hehe.  Well, little did I know that watercolor is considered the hardest of all art media to master.  But like the bumble bee that does not know he is not supposed to be able to fly, I forged forward.  Finding a new passion. 

What I came to realize was the way painting made me feel.  All my worries and concerns drifted away in the painting process.  Painting was all about problem-solving and focus.  It is how I maintained my sanity during the isolation of the pandemic.  And when the pandemic was over and people started venturing out from their caves, it became an opportunity to become social again.

I found some local artists who got together once a week to paint outdoors. Painting once again gave me the creative release I so needed, provided psychological therapy, and gave me joy in not only how I felt about my paintings but how others felt about them also.  Yes, it stroked my much needed ego.  And there is nothing wrong with that. Finally through much practice, and hundreds of hours of watching YouTube, I started to see progress in my own work. 

Why get into art as a retired senior?  It gives you purpose, is a great relaxing hobby, and a great social tool. Just pick up a brush and give it a try.  It is not important that it is not good, but more important to how it makes you feel.  

   

Acrylic Painting and chasing the white dots

 Welcome to my Blog.  

Today's Discussion (Acrylic) is why I almost always paint my canvas gray before starting a painting on it. 

Well, almost always.  And when I do not I always regret it.  Yep, there you go.  Chasing the white dots as I call it.  Here is what I have found.  Acrylic shrinks as it dries.  Ever so slight but enough that it opens tiny holes that the light from the white gesso canvas shows through.  Think of it like stars in the night sky.  

Now, the problem with that is that going back and dotting out these little spots requires paint mixed in that exact color and value. And I mix paint as I go through a painting. In the end, my pallet is a hot mess. Even if I have some paint that I can identify as the same color and value, it has long since dried on my pallet. (And yes, I do use a stay-wet pallet.) But it still happens.   

Painting a canvas gray works best for me.  Gray is neutral and mid-value.  And yes the little dots are still there but really hard to spot them even up close, as gray beside a color is just really hard to see.

In oil painting, which is a media that at present I do not use, the painting of the entire canvas is called the underpainting I think, and it tones the canvas making the painting carry that tone.  For example, many oil portrait painters that I have seen paint their canvas brown or a burnt umber color to give the painting a warm tone.  

Do I always use gray?  No, there is no set rule for me.  If I am painting a scene and the sky is mostly blue and the foreground is green, then I paint the entire background, let the paint dry on the canvas, and give it a second or third coat.  This usually hides the little white dots that would occur. But each and every time I just start painting detail on a white gesso canvas I end up regretting it.

Sketching over gray.  After painting my canvas gray and letting it set and dry, or using a hair dryer to dry it, I then go back with a white acrylic marker to do my sketching, or if I am using transfer paper, I use white transfer paper to get my sketch onto the canvas.  I can also use an acrylic black pen and that also seems to work for me. 

Hope this helps.