If you have free time and internet access this month, why not start the year off by organizing your artwork digitally with Artwork Archive?

It may seem daunting to spend a few minutes organizing your artwork, updating titles and dimensions, and putting together your application package, but it will pay off in the future.

Artwork Archive’s Guide to 2024 Opportunities and the Schedule can be invaluable in this process. These tools will help you to create a list of potential opportunities efficiently and keep track of deadlines.

This digital organization will not only streamline your current tasks but will also lay a solid foundation to ensure that you are well-prepared for the coming year and that your artistic goals are in focus. This digital reset is a great way to set the tone for an organized and productive creative journey in the months ahead.

How to Optimize your Artwork Documentation to Make it Professional

If you haven’t documented your art yet or feel that your documentation is uneven in quality, it would be a wise investment to hire someone who can take excellent photos. It is important to have good documentation. You can use it on your website, social media, or even on your applications. This can be an expensive expense but is a necessary one.

You want to ensure that your artwork is sized correctly and labeled properly for application.

Most applications require 3-20 images that are each less than 2MB. Select works that represent your best work and include installation and detail shots where applicable. Resize your images in Photoshop or other image editing software if they are too big. As a placeholder, label your template images as Last Name, First Initial_ Title of Work_Detail/Installation (if Applicable). Save your reduced or condensed images as a copy of the original in case you want to edit them later. You may have to take new images if your originals are too small or of low quality.

Some applications will allow you to upload videos directly onto their portal, while others may ask for the YouTube and Vimeo channel URLs. You can include video links with your artwork in the Artwork Archive so that you are aware of where they can be found and how they fit into your story. You should remove or make private videos that do not relate to your work or are not as polished as desired.

The Artwork Archive Tip

Artwork Archive allows you to store up to ten images on a single artwork record. This makes it easy for you to organize your pictures and locate them when you need them. Find out more.

Get started with your art documentation project:

Create an Artwork Archive Account if you don’t have one already. Start with the 14-day free trial here. Then, work through this checklist.

Here is a quick tutorial to help you get started.

Add artwork: Begin adding your artwork to the database. Include details like title, medium, and dimensions. Also, include any relevant notes. Upload high-quality photos of each painting.

Organize Your Artworks Create Categories or Collections To organize your artworks by series or theme. Use tags to add labels or keywords that will make it easier for you to search.

Artwork Detail: Document any additional information, such as provenance and exhibitions. Include any documents or receipts that are relevant to each artwork.

Create Your Profile: Fill in all the details of your artist profile, including biographical information, an artist statement, and your contact information. Upload your professional profile image and about image. To learn more, you can watch the video.

Create Reports: Explore Artwork Archive’s reporting tools. Create professional reports for sales, inventory, and catalog pages.