The Perennial Sam

Up until recently, my main creative outlet was through artwork.  Most of the people I know in person are aware of this because I tend to doodle indescrimanently on whatever I have in front of me.  Several months ago I heard about a program called Touched by Fire for fine artists suffering from mood disorders.    

This program was designed in memory of a female artist who suffered with severe bipolar disorder during her lifetime.  Touched by Fire is comprised of two elements:  an online gallery where artists can display their work all year long, and a week long show every year where visitors can see some of the pieces in person.  Unless otherwise noted by the artist, each piece of artwork is offered for sale on the website, at a price chosen by the artist. 

Sammy Like:  I haven’t gotten around to submitting any of my own work to this site yet, but I intend to.  I think it is a great opportunity for people to deal with their issues creatively, and to benefit from doing so.  I have seen “sold” signs on several of the pieces online, so some artists are finding clients through this program.  Not to mention it is a great way for people who often feel isolated to be a part of a welcoming community.  Each artist is allowed to display 10 pieces of their work, with the stipulation that they can only submit 3 pieces to each category (ie. drawing, painting).  Submission guidelines can be found on the site and are fairly straightforward.

Sammy Say, “Look out for:”  The only obvious problem I can see some artists having when submitting their works online is a lack of image-editing knowledge.  For anyone who has ever used PhotoShop, meeting the submission requirements should be easy.  If you require help, the site recommends visiting your local camera shop for assistance in preparing a digital image of  your work. 

Even if you’re not an artist, take a look at some of the impressive artwork on display at the Touched by Fire site:  www.touchedbyfire.ca.  Please pass this along to your artist friends!       

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