For artists looking to stay abreast of current art trends and network with others, art journals are a good source. Art journals are essentially magazines about art-related news and events. They may include essays, art events calendars, networking events, conferences, seminars, discussion forums, and interpretations of artwork, especially contemporary artwork. Art journals are found mostly online, though there are some hard-copy publications that artists and art lovers can subscribe to and receive on a regular basis. These publications can help artists find art careers and local events for networking purposes. They can also provide support in establishing relationships with fellow artists and gallery owners.
- Art Daily was the first art newspaper to appear on the Internet. Artdaily.org features news about all types of art, including fine art, digital art, photography, and architecture. Types of news featured include artists, photographers, exhibits, art fairs, galleries, museums, special reports, and feature stories. Other features include quizzes, puzzles, anecdotes, mythology, education, and 3-D images. The site features photo and image galleries with many color photos and images from art-related events. There is also a search function and archive to find previous stories.
- Axis Art Talk, created by Axis, a non-profit charity, is a web-based journal that features discussions and news about contemporary art. It was started in 1991 to help support the development of visual arts. Although based in the United Kingdom, it has many topics of interest to artists and art lovers all over the world. The journal features art news, blogs, interviews with those in the art industry, and reviews from art fairs. It profiles key artists and curators related to contemporary art. Those interested in art can sign up for free and communicate with other members. Artists and curators can also apply to have their work featured online. These features help artists to get their artwork out in the public and network with fellow artists.
- Afterall was created in 1998 and is based in London, England. Afterall focuses on contemporary art and how it ties in with theoretical and social context. The journal, which is published three times a year, focuses on in-depth analyses of artists’ work. It includes essays about art history and theory. It also organizes conferences, seminars, screenings, and workshops in relation to different publication and research projects.
- Artist Advocate is an excellent resource for those looking for art careers because it focuses on creating successful art careers and building relationships with artists and art galleries. The journal is published quarterly and features how-to articles about gallery operations, management, and marketing. It is subscribed to by more than 15,000 galleries and offers opportunities for artists to showcase their work so that they can market it to galleries more easily and save time and money. The journal has many satisfied customers who are pleased with the results they receive from advertising. It includes interviews with gallery owners and articles about topics such as the most common mistakes artists and galleries make, how to increase sales, how to meet goals, and other business and marketing tips and strategies.
- Art Times is a literary journal and resource for those in the fine and performing arts. Focusing on the New York area, it was started in 1984 by two teachers who had an idea to present regional art events in a literary journal format. The journal includes feature stories and news about paintings, dance, music, theater, travel, and culture. There is an art calendar with a listing of events in the New York area. For those looking to expand their art knowledge or find work, there are classes and job opportunities available. Also included are videos and reviews of art, art books, CDs, and DVDs.
Many artists even create their own art journals. Similar to diaries often kept by young girls, art journals are essentially illustrated versions of diaries. They can be about any topic, such as thoughts, dreams, goals, or to-do lists, though many artists use them for their sketches, ideas, or anything else art-related.