All Digital Artists Welcome
SlowArt Productions is calling for all computer digital artists, digital image compositors, and digital photographers to enter its Digital Art Extravaganza Exhibition.

Who Is Eligible?
According to SlowArt Productions, the exhibition/competition will be open to:

“…all artists working in any aspect of computer digital print media. This exhibition will include all aspects of digital art. Computer generated art, computer altered photography and collage and digital photography will all be considered. All computer printing formats are eligible.”

What the Contest Is For
The Digital Art Extravaganza serves several purposes–to act as a forum for digital artists to display their work at the Limner Art Gallery, located in New York, to provide an avenue for digital artists to sell their creations, and to give exposure to the winners in Digital Art magazine.

What to Submit
Entries may be uploaded or sent via standard mail. If you are sending your entries through regular mail services your prints should be 8.5″ by 11″. If your original print is larger, the 8.5 x 11 print should be an accurate representation of the full-sized artwork. The actual dimensions of the piece should be indicated on the back of your prints.

If you are submitting via email use the official entry form by clicking here. Files should be uploaded in JPG format, have a resolution of 72 dpi, and be no larger than 10″ in height or width.

Awards
Three winners will be featured in Direct Art magazine volume #17. One artist will be selected for a two page spread in the magazine.

The other two winners will be featured in a single page spread.

If you are accepted into the exhibition, your art will be displayed at the Limner Art Gallery with the provision that your artwork will be available for sale to the public.

There is a 30% commission fee on all art sold. The final sale price is determined by the artist.

Other Information and Details
There is an entry fee of $35 for up to four prints. Additional entries will be charged $5 for each additional entry. The deadline for submissions is January 30, 2010. For full details, entry forms, and contest guidelines click here.

Yourself as Art
Instead of creating art you can actually be part of it. The Power of Self international contest is announcing an open call for entries for self portraits. The sponsors of the contest state:

“We cannot tell you what is or is not your self-portrait. A reflection of your own image would be an easy “yes”. But does your work fall outside those bounds? We want to see it.

“We are looking for exciting, engaging & innovative work that is an expression of your self. We are looking for your likeness as much as we are looking for your interpretation of self-portraiture.”
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What to Submit

• The contest accepts a variety of mediums such as fine art, painting, sculpting, drawing, print making, graphic design, glass, book art, performance, video art, street art, photography, illustration, and tattoo art.

• The entry fee is $10 per image. Contest entries may be submitted in the form of an online portfolio with a biography of the individual. For an example, click here.

• To view the entry form and submit your pieces click here.

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Awards

• The Grand Prize winner will be honored with an Art-Star reception in New York City, international exposure and a feature in 3rd Ward Magazine, plus the choice of free living accommodations for six months at The Edge - an upscale apartment complex in New York City or $7007 cash.

• The People’s Choice Award winner will have their entry published on dozens of networked websites plus $1,000 cash.

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Contest Deadline
The final date for entries is January 14, 2010.

Thanks!
We just wanted to wish everyone a restful and Happy Thanksgiving. We’d also like to thank you all for dropping by GraphicDesignBasics and supporting us all of these years!

Some Food for Thought ;)
Just what does our traditional main course think on this holiday? We’ve presented a few images from some very talented people in illustration to show this — the cartoonists.

Have a wonderful weekend and we’ll see everyone next week!

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The Standard Resume vs. Creative Resume
When you seek employment, one of the first things your potential employers will want from you is your resume.

People who are looking for a job in business or retail sales will use a standard resume form. It includes contact information, experience, education information, and other facts about the person.

But what if you are seeking a job as a graphic designer, illustrator, or other position in the arts or media? Does a “standard” looking resume work or should you express some of your creativity in your resume?

If you take a look at the numerous books regarding resume writing, most of them will give you a limited selection of resume styles.

But that’s for “regular” jobs, not necessarily for graphic designers or artists.

Should your resume be different and creative? This question isn’t an easy one to answer because each firm, interviewer, or human resource person is wired differently. If your resume is different or stands out, depending on who is on the other end of that resume, you may get noticed or a frown.

The Examples
We’re not sure if the following resumes landed a job for the applicants or not, but they are certainly eye-catching, and different. Look over these examples and decide if you want to try a few of the ideas.

Perhaps the best bet is to have two resumes available for passing out — one that is “standard” and the other one more “creative.” If possible, you can ask the person who is handling resumes which one is more appropriate.

Without further ado, here are the examples.

Will a resume like this be taken seriously or will it be an attention grabber? Click on the image to see the full-sized resume.
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In our next example, the graphic artist has taken the approach of formatting his resume to look like formula guide cards. Click on the image to see the full- sized resume.
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The next example is based upon an old newspaper ad section. In this case however, the graphic designer is selling himself. The idea is interesting and makes reading his resume fun. Click on the image to see the full- sized resume.

As you can see, the variations of what you can do for a creative resume can be almost limitless. But the question remains, when is it appropriate to try a resume such as the ones displayed?

Next Time
We’ll explore a few more creative resumes and talk about what a successful graphic design resume should include. We’ll also try to answer the question of when it is appropriate to use creative resumes.
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Rectangle is Out. Die-Cut Is In.
The common business card can be a cliché at times.

The ubiquitous little rectangle is passed out to clients and associates like last year’s Halloween candy–sometimes, never gaining the attention of the person it is given to.

But this can change if you enter the TwitPic Business Card Design Contest sponsored by Uprinting.com.

If you are one of three lucky winners, you’ll be showered with 2,000 die-cut business cards. No more boring rectangular ones.

How to Enter

• Design a business card on one of the supplied die-cut templates
• Upload your design to @twitpic and leave a post that links back to your entry
• Tag your photo on Twitpic with this hashtag, #uprinting
• Get your friends to comment on your design on Twitpic.com

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The Design Shapes
Below are the different die-cut forms for business card entries:
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You can log on to the twitpic.com website to see what the other contestants are doing on their designs. There is no entry fee.

If you do win, 2,000 die-cut business cards with your winning design can be a great way to introduce yourself to prospective clients as you say, “Hello, I designed this card, and I won the contest!”

Winners will be announced and contacted on November 16, 2010. For more information about this contest, click here.

If you have ever submitted any forms for scholarships, you realize how involved it can become. But the Frame My Future Scholarship Contest 2010 may be the exception to the rule.

The contest is offering $5,000 in total prize money to five lucky winners plus an additional $1,000 to the grand prize winner’s graphic design school, graphic design college or university.

How It Works
Entering this contest is simplicity itself. Submit a JPEG image that communicates the following theme of “This Is How I Frame My Future.” The idea is to demonstrate, through your design, what your plans and vision are upon graduating college.

Acceptable Original Creations
After you have decided how to express your idea of what you want to accomplish and achieve after your graduation, you may submit your work in various forms such as:

• Photography
• Painting
• Graphic Design
• Drawing
• Poem
• Collage
• A Combination of All of the Above

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Who Is Eligible?
The scholarship contest is open to all full time students attending college for the 2010-2011 academic year. Entrants must show proof of legal US residency. For the official rules and guidelines, click here.

The Awards
Awards will be given to five “success driven” students in the form of $1000 scholarships. The grand prize winner will also receive a $1,000 donation to the school’s general scholarship endowment program.

The twenty-four finalists in this contest receive a commemorative “Frame My Future” frame displaying their submitted entry.

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Other Information
If you are enrolled for the 2010-2011 school year and are selected as a winner, your graphic design college can benefit as well. The deadline for entries is March 15, 2010. Winners are based upon the highest total amount of votes received during the website’s voting period at www.diplomaframe.com.

To submit your entry, click here. To view entries already submitted, click here.