IMAGINE Crafts is proud to announce its Call for Artists In Residence for 2015!  We’re looking for artists and designers who can inspire our customers and the crafting community with amazing projects using IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko products.

Perks of being an Artist in Residence:

• Your work will be featured through our online and print platforms and become part of our permanent website project gallery.
• Your work may be chosen for national and international trade shows throughout the year; if IMAGINE Crafts uses your work, you will be compensated.
• Generous supply of IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko products with which to work
• Free products from our partner companies including major rubber stamp, paper and die cut companies.
• Payment for published projects in select publications using IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko products (certain guidelines apply)

We are looking for artists to fill two different roles for 2015:

1. Project/Tutorial Artists who will submit a minimum of 3 different projects per month with complete instructions and step-out photographs that will be featured online and in printed formats. A great project demands stunning presentation, therefore we are looking for those artists who can capture those qualities in high resolution photographs and simple, concise written instructions.
2. Video Project/Tutorial Artists who will submit 2 edited videos per month each featuring a project or a technique which will be shared with our retail and wholesale customers online.  Let your personality shine with your positive energy, conversational style, sense of humor, and artistic abilities. Attention to audio and visual quality will be taken into consideration, along with your ability to edit your video for a “polished” final production.

We are looking for artists who can consistently create an interesting and captivating variety of projects using IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko products including home decor, mixed media and jewelry projects besides the “traditional” paper crafting projects.

Artists in Residence basic requirements:

• Commitment of term is one year — December 1^st, 2014 through November 30th, 2015.
• In addition to monthly projects, submission of at least 6 pieces of original artwork yearly for trade shows.
• Ability to “professionally” photograph and edit all projects (including step-by-step) and submit in high-res JPG format electronically by required due dates.
• Write and submit detailed written instructions for each project, including comprehensive list of all supplies used, in Microsoft Word in English.
• Socially active online with an established blog and Facebook presence.
• Not currently employed and/or affiliated with competing manufacturers including as a design team member or guest designer.

Show Us Your Artwork!

Show us how creative you are!  The only “rule” for submitting artwork for consideration is that it uses IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko products.  This means that there are virtually no limits to what you can create — scrapbook layouts, cards, altered art, mixed media designs, jewelry, home decor items or whatever your “niche” may be.

Please submit an original work of art — one that hasn’t been published, featured online, etc.  We also ask that all of your submissions to IMAGINE Crafts not be shared publicly until after we’ve announced our Artists In Residence for 2105.  Please note that Artists In Residence members will be asked to send all of their submission pieces to us after the announcement of next year’s team.

Submission Process for Round 1

Only electronic submissions will be accepted via email sent to johnp@imaginecrafts.com with the subject line of  “AIRs Round 1 <your name>”.

The body of your email must included the following information:  name, mailing address, phone number, email address, your personal blog and/or website address, and at least two links to any additional online content of your work (including videos) that you feel showcases your style.

Project/Tutorial Artists:

Attached to your email should be your step-by-step instructions, including high resolution (300 dpi) photographs, of how to create this project.  Instructions should begin with a photograph of your finished project.  Supplies used in creating the project should also be listed, including manufacturer’s names, etc. when available.  Please name this file “AIRs_<your name>_Instructions.doc” using underscores in the name instead of spaces.

Please also include as an attachment separate from your instructions a final high-resolution photograph of your project in JPG format.  Please name this file “AIRs_<your name>.JPG” using underscores in the name instead of spaces.

Video Project/Tutorial Artists:

Include in your email a link to your HD resolution video tutorial that you uploaded (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.). Mark your video as “private” and not “public” when saving your video.  Attach to your email the supplies used in creating the project, including manufacturer’s names, etc. when available.  Please name this file “AIRs_<your name>_Instructions.doc using underscores in the name instead of spaces.

Attached to your email should be your step-by-step instructions, including high resolution (300 dpi) photographs, of how to create this project.  Instructions should begin with a photograph of your finished project.  Supplies used in creating the project should also be listed, including manufacturer’s names, etc. when available.  Please name this file “AIRs_<your name>_Instructions.doc” using underscores in the name instead of spaces.

Please also include as an attachment separate from your instructions a final high-resolution photograph of your project in JPG format.  Please name this file “AIRs_<your name>.JPG” using underscores in the name instead of spaces.

Round 1 submissions are due by 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time on Friday, October 3rd.   Those artists who will be continuing onto the next round will be contacted by Wednesday, October 8th with a public announcement made online at this time.

For those invited to continue sharing your creativity with IMAGINE Crafts for Round 2…

Artists In Residence Finalists will each receive the same IMAGINE Crafts/Tsukineko products to create their final piece of artwork with accompanying instructions (including format for writing these instructions) or videos shortly after the Round 2 announcement has been made.  Finalists’ entries will be due by Friday, November 7th.

IMAGINE Crafts will contact each 2015 Artist In Residence personally to welcome them to next year’s team on Wednesday, November 12th.

Once we have announced our 2015 Artists In Residence, the work will quickly begin.  Each Artist In Residence will be shipped their “basics” kit along with our NEW releases for the Winter 2015 CHA Show.

Thank you

Thank you for participating.  We are excited to see your artwork and hope you will enjoy this opportunity to be creative as much as we will.