PhotoJournalism: How to prepare and submit a press release to media

Artists are having a very busy spring in our art community. I have already organized two art exhibitions and have another in June. Sometimes as artists we get so busy with last minute framing, sending out post cards, readying contracts, etc. that we forget our most important task and that is to have our press releases ready in advance. What good is an exhibition if the public doesn't know about it. You need to send those press releases with enough lead time for the journalists to write your story. Don't forget the community calendars that local television stations post online.

You are probably saying Ok, I write press releases, but they never get published. Have you ever thought that maybe it is your writing. I just read, and suggest that you do too, a wonderful blog called PhotoJournalism: How to prepare and submit a press release to the media. Here is the link: PhotoJournalism: How to prepare and submit a press release to media
If you really want to further your career and get into print, be serious about writing effective press releases. I really like the advice, that I already use, about calling the papers or other media and finding out to whom and where you should send those press releases. There is nothing like speaking directly with your contact. It is a start in establishing a relationship. The more you call the more you will be remembered. Please, be courteous in respect, with the journalists time, which is very limited. Know what you are going to say before you call and keep your phone calls very short and to the point. I would advise that you find out when their deadline is and submit those releases well in advance and somewhere at the top of the release include the publish date you are writing your press release for. If it is for immediate release say so.

You might consider keeping a notebook for press deadlines, the person you talked to , email addresses, size and format of the submitted photos they prefer. Always ask if there are any restrictions concerning press releases. Your willingness to be cooperative will be looked on favorably and anything that makes the journalists job easier will be in your favor. I also suggest that you keep copies of the press releases you send. You might be able to use them as templates or guides to help you write future press releases.

Keep writing; the more you write the easier it is and the better writer you become. I continue to learn with each press release I write, so that someday I will truly write effective press releases.

"Rejects" Not Rejected

"Rejects"
20" x 16'' framed
watercolor on Windsor and Newton Artistico paper.

I am so honored to be accepted into the Thirty Second National Watercolor Oklahoma Juried Exhibition. 64 entries were accepted from a total of 312 entries and only 6 Oklahoma entries were accepted.

`Rejects`, initially, was to be a depiction of childhood toys, but it seemed to have a path of its own. The painting evolved into a surreal work of discarded, broken, and rusting objects. It seems to ask us, to think beyond what happens to our material castoffs, and to think about people, especially our children. What happens when they are cast aside, overlooked, or taken for granted? The beauty and versatility of transparent watercolor enables me to communicate more eloquently; moods, memories, dreams, and questions."

The exhibition runs from October 31st to November 30th. The reception and awards presentation will be November 2nd from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Edmond Historical Society and Museum. The public is invited.

New Finished Work

This is "Moon Walk" my latest work created this month. This work was one, that left me physically and emotionally exhausted. This one took me almost a month to complete.

I will be having prints made of this one along with several others.

Instead of diving into another work I decided to take a break. I am working in the journal that I made and bound. I am doing a study of my colors, exploring color mixtures and their properties. I don't have a picture of it yet, since

I left my camera in Pauls Valley. Okla. at a family gathering.

When I finish a rather complicated piece I tend to delve back into study instead of starting another painting. I have several studies that are ongoing at the moment. I am learning the software programs Access, Powerpoint, and my new Photoshop Elements 4.0. I am also constantly learning new marketing and business management skills.

I will study a little longer then get a good nights sleep and start again.

Last 3 Journal Pages

This page depicts my dream garden. I have used it to help me plan my garden which will be accomplished in baby steps. Visualizing motivates me to carry on with my plan.

This is just one of the ways I decorate my pages to add interest to a lot of writing and encourages me to write more. Sometimes I paint the pages after I have written. The words seem to influence what I paint.


















Here is my journal in its entireity. I hope I have encouraged someone else to start their own decorated journal.

NWO Entries

These are the three works that I submitted to the

32nd National Watercolor Oklahoma Juried Art

Exhibition that will be held on October 31, 2006.

The opening reception will be at the Edmond Historical Society on November 2, 2006.

I am really getting nervous, because the notifications of acceptance will start this Wednesday, September 20th. Getting accepted into this show is a Big Deal. It will be quite an honor if one of my works is accepted.

My next post will contain a picture of my lastest work.

More Journal Pages

Sitting on my Mother and Father in-laws patio I spotted a Mourning Dove and several bright orange butterflies. In their front yard they have a beautiful Bougainvilla bush in full bloom. It was a magical morning to record.

I had a horrible headache this day and chose to record it in color.
You see, anything can be depicted in a journal.

Oh, what a beautiful morning.This is what I saw from my studio desk looking out into the back yard.

In a few days I will add the last three pages I chose to share with the world.

Pages From My Sketch Journal

I thought I would share some pages of my sketch journal and some other explorations.I do hope I inspire someone to try a sketch journal. I decorated my journal pages with pen and ink sketches and watercolor washes, gluing petals and leaves of plants and bark of trees. I often found that just writing in a journal became boring and I would eventually stop writing altogether. Being a visual artist I need more stimuli to keep me interested in journaling.When a friend showed me a book on decorated journals and papers I was hooked. I combined the decorating and sketching with my journal writing.Most of the following pages are from my vacation to Arizona. Other pages were ideas I wished to
develope or events in my life.
I hope you enjoy the pages.

This was the first day of our vacation and I got the date wrong. Story of my life.











This page is of the Nativo Hotel where we stayed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.




These two pages are my way of recording the night my Mother in-law, my son, and I played the computer games Zuma and Bejeweled. It's your fault Mom. I'm hooked now.
I will share three more pages in my next post.
I also learned how to make a book, so now I can make my own journals. I will have a picture of it in my next post as well.
My artist salon will be starting next month with five artists. We hope to learn how better to promote ourselves as artists. Alyson Stanfield provides all of the tools for the salon free of charge. Check out her website http://www.artbizcoach.com . I will record some of the things I learn, through this process, here in my blog.

Good night cyber space.