How to:

Supporting DallasArtsRevue is easy. Pick a level from the box below and send money.

DARts Membership Levels

Membership Level	First Year	Each Following Year	Web Page Eligibility	Exhibition Eligibility
Supporting Membership	$100	$75	X	X
DARts Friend	$150	$100	X	X
Gallery or Museum	$200	$200	X
Patron	$500+	$500+	X	X

There are no passwords or Users I.Ds.
When there were, nobody remembered them.

If you follow the 11 Purple Steps (below), you'll know what we need to put your work on your Member Page.

This page is important. There's information here that will only make sense later. Then it'll be essential. Please be so kind as to read it all and understand it most. Or you will drive me mad. Again.

The Easy Version provides the basics you need to join, but to have a member page, you need to read this whole page.

All DallasArtsRevue correspondence is via email.

If you don't know how to email — or don't
like dealing with it, we can't communicate.

It's not an accident that DallasArtsRevue is online. It's important.

If you don't deal with email or don't care about the internet — if you're not at home with digital media, becoming a member of this website might not be a good fit for you. If you're willing to learn or catch up, however, we'll help all we can. Whatever your skill level, there will be information on this site of use or value to you.

As a DallasArtsRevue Supporting Member, you have to pay attention to DallasArtsRevue.com.

At the very least, you should check in with the Members Index at least once a month. I don't always send mass emails about stuff. Often, I just put a note on that page, one of this site's most popular pages. It doesn't change often, but when it does, that's where information important to Supporting Members goes first. Things like member show opportunities, scam warnings, etc.

If you need me to know something, email me. I check email more often than I check my phone. My latest email address is always on the Contact Us page linked at the top of almost every one of the nearly 1200 web pages on this site. I welcome good, bad or evil emails from anyone, but I pay special attention to members' needs and desires.

If you make a suggestion, I'll pay attention and consider it.

Every time you or your art is involved in a show or event, email me the full information, so I can list your event on the calendar and link your name to your Member page. The more links to your page on the internet — especially from an information-filled, often-linked-to and Google-indexed site like this one, the more easily Search Engine Found you are.

I will take every opportunity to promote your page, but you have to tell me when you are in shows or other art events — anywhere. I put those notices in the calendar and on the members index page.

I used to write Midnight Rambles as a perk of membership, then the members insisted I make them public, so I did. Now, most of the information I used to put in a Midnight Ramble goes into ThEdblog — or on the Members' Index or one of those never-ending exhibition blogs.

top

Follow the 11 Purple Steps below
for the step-by-step instructions a DallasArtsRevue Member needs to know,

Or follow these simple steps to get the process started.

How to Join DallasArtsRevue

The Simple Version —

Even if you use the simple version,
All members should read this whole page,
so you'll know stuff you need to know,
and I won't have to tell you, again.
 

Send a check payable to J R Compton

My bank won't take checks made out to anything else.

To send us show or event info:

Membership:

top

Sonia King - Genesis
marble, river rock, recycled glass
16 x 12 inches
 

DallasArtsRevue Member Benefits

•	1 or 2 Web Pages with text and up to 6 total images for the first year
•	1 additional image each additional year you re-join before your old expiration date.
•	Eligibility to participate in Membership shows and events.
•	Your images may occasionally be placed on the cover, the Member's Index or other DARts pages to promote your work.There will always be a link to your Member Page.
•	I put a member tag on your events or exhibitions on the Calendar page, and the new tag stays up longer.
•	Occasionally, when I find something else valuable to members, I send it to them. Some time ago, I got a very new, updated and nearly complete email Press List that I forwarded to members.
•	When readers ask about members' work or anythinig else, I forward the email to the member and let them deal with it directly.

Remember the month you joined. Or check the Members Index on the Members Index page to see when your membership expires.

Check out the Supporting Member pages now online for examples of what you can do on your page, or read The Editor's Suggestions below.

Update your page every year. You, me, the curators who look through our membership pages, and everybody else wants to see your latest work. More than a couple years ago is ancient history.

top
 

The 11 (purple) Steps for becoming
A DallasArtsRevue Member

If this list is too complex for you, check out The Easy Way above.

You don't have to memorize it, just read it. There's stuff in here you will need to know.
 

1. Send me a check
 

Mail to J R Compton

J R Compton / DARts
914 Grandview Ave.
Dallas TX 75223

Do not make checks out to anything but "J R Compton"

DARts cannot accept on-line or credit card payments.

Please deal directly with Editor/Publisher J R Compton.

DARts communications are almost entirely via email.

Benefits of DARts Supporting Membership above

DARts charges no commissions on any art you sell via your Supporting Member pages, and yes, you can list prices.

You can link your other site(s) on your member page and

If you wish, you may include your

• email address(es),
• phone number(s) or any other contact information

Listing phone numbers online exposes your private information to humans who may wish to cause you harm or sell you something. Listing your personal address online is similarly problematic. But if you want to, you may.

First-time Memberships are for one year from receipt of your check.

First-time Membership pages may contain up to 6 images, including logos or trademarks, although I'd really rather you didn't include those.

Re-subscriptions (when paid for before the previous expiration date) are for 12 months. Re-subscribers get one additional image — each year.

If you resubscribe by the end of your subscription, your page will remain online.

I try to remind members when their term expires, but I'm a terrible bureaucrat.

Membership end dates are listed on the Members Index.

Prices may be posted on your page. We do not sell art, and we do not charge commissios. Most members chose not to include prices. I agree.

All DallasArtsRevue.com pages — including member pages — are copyrighted to J R Compton. All Rights Reserved. They may not be reproduced anywhere else without specific written permission. Which is to say, you cannot copy your DallasArtsRevue Supporting Member page onto the internet for your own use.

PLEASE NOTE: The name of this website is D a l l a s A r t s R e v u e.

Please look carefully at our name in big letters on the top of almost all 1,200+ of our web pages on this site. Arts is plural with an s on the end, and Revue is spelled R e v u e. Not some other way you may have lodged in your mind.

If you can spell the name of this site correctly in all correspondance with the already-curmudgeonly editor, he will look much more favorably upon you and your needs.
 

Dallas Arts Revue IS NOT a Nonprofit Organization.

It just works out that way.

Contributions are not tax-deductible, except as a legitimate business expense for a subscription to a business-related publication, or membership in a professional organization. These should be listed on tax forms.

DallasArtsRevue is not beholden to anyone, and the Editor takes his fiercely independent status seriously.

The reason DallasArtsRevue is not nonprofit, is so there won't be some well-meaning but essentially ignorant board of idiot directors telling me what I can't do or say. I have served on boards of directors, so I know.

At one time DallasArtsRevue was published by a nonprofit art organization that assured me I'd always have full editorial control. When they started telling me what I could and could not write about, I invoked our contract and began publishing independently again.

Those turkeys called DallasArtsRevue — "Darts." Then they changed their name to D-Art. Curiously familiar, huh? No wonder they changed their name several times after that. I knew who I was but I'm not sure they know who they are, yet.

All correspondence with DARts is conducted via email. If you want to talk with me by phone, email me first. I rarely answer my phone.

top

2.  Decide which 6 images you want on your DARts Member page.
 

1 additional image each time you resubscribe before your expiration date.

State the exact order you want your images to appear on the page and

Identify each piece with title, year date, materials or processes and size.

See Caption information below.

If you send me a big bunch of images wanting me to decide what goes on your page, I'll procrastinate choosing. I'm good at procrastinating. You choose. The whole rest of the site reflects choices.

It's your page, and it should reflect you and your tastes. Don't get a friend who knows nothing about art to choose what pieces should be on your member page. You choose.

We all have difficulty chosing our best work. You probably need the practice, and don't just send me your moldy oldies. Send at least one piece that was done recently, preferably this year.

 

3.  Get your images to me.
 

Either I will photograph your work — see below or

You can send me a CD of your work — or

You can attach your digital images to an email, carefully listing all the pertinent, caption information we need for each work.

Please do not make a separate document for each caption. Put all the captions in the text of an email. Don't make my life more complicated.

I prefer to deal with image files at least 600 k up to several megabytes on a CD. That way, I can reduce their physical size while improving their color, density and detail quality.

JPEGs are best.
I can deal with PSDs.
TIFFs are less than ideal. I don't know why everybody else seems to love these stupid things. But I do not.

Unless your work is lines and solid colors only, you should never use the GIF format.

If you don't know what a megabyte is, let me photograph your work.

If the images you submit include white space around them, it makes it much more difficult for me to work them up. It also will make them a lot smaller on the page, because all that stupid white space will take up the size. Frame your images exactly.

I hate PDFs. Do not send me PDFs. 

Be sure the CD you burn is universal format. You probably do PC. I'm Mac, and Macs don't open pure PC CDs.

After you think you've burned a CD, eject it. Then put it back in and see if anything's there. I get a lot of blanks.

Name your image files intelligently. "001" is not an intelligent file name. Name image files by your name and the title or a shortened version of the title of the piece in the image. I.e., "John Furbish - Wet Clothes"

For more info about images, see our How to Send Us Images page.
 

Name the CD with your name. I.e., Fiona M. Furd and nothing else.

Name the individual files with your last name, a hyphen - and a shortened version of the title of that piece.

Do not name image files with commas, semicolons, colons or more than one period.

Do not include dimensions in the file name — just your name and the work's title.
 

image from Art Here Lately, although
it's probably not there anymore.
I don't know who did it.
It's here as a really
lousy example of
a digital image.
 

Please get me all the information for each piece on your page at one time.

If I can get it all at once, in the correct format with all the correct information, I won't heat to a burn and get pissy at you for not reading this page.

If you can follow instructions, this can be an easy procedure. If you ignore these or my other suggestions, I'll wiat till you get it together, and your page will wait till then.

 

4.  Send the text you want on your page.
 

Read The Editor's Guidelines on What to Say on Your Page.

Do not attach title information to emails. Type all that stuff in the text of an email. Type it in the text of an email.

I am not your typist.

DO NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPTITAL LETTERS. I jst hafe to retipe that infurmatin, and believe me, you do nut want me retypink anyth-ng important to yu.

Resumes will not be specially formatted, although I'm sometimes inspired and make them look pretty good. Spacebar spaces in emails do not translate into spaces in web page formats.

Never use more than one spacebar space in a row.

If you send me tabbed columns, I have to reformat it and that takes time and temper. If I'm angry at you for ignoring my rules, your page will suffer. Usually I just procrastinate doing it. I'm very good at procrastinating.

Don't use curly quotes.

Our How to Send Stuff to DARts page includes easy instructions for copying word processor or other computer text into the body of an email. This used to be difficult for most people. Now, it's almost too silly to mention. Except that some people do not learn.

DARts will be happy to link your email address and/or other sites from your DARts Supporting Membership page. They are placed below all your images.

Send those in the text of an email in full http://www.XXX.xxx format.

I balk at listing your home address or phone number, but if you insist, you may. I think it's a bad idea, because using email addresses allow us to screen personal access. Too many people already have our phone numbers.
 

Official DARts style for captions

Cecilia Thurman   Quake   2004
collagraph/intaglio print   30 x 30 inches

Artist's Name   Title, year
medium   size in inches (or feet)

This is our new standard format for captions. Please send your caption information in this precise order. Do not center them, and do not label the information, i.e., "photo 1," etc., because I'll just have to edit that out.

Please capitalize the title.

If you ignore these rules, I'll send your text back suggesting you read this page and do it again. That's a nuissance for me and for you, but ...

The order is:

name, title, date on the first line (separated by three single spaces, not commas now)

and medium and size on the next line (also separated by 3 spacebar spaces)

(Size is always rendered as number x number inches, feet, miles or whatever)
 

Height first. Width second. Always.

Notice the space between numbers and Xs.

DO NOT USE quote marks " for inches or ' for feet.

We spell out everything. No abbreviations.

We only say inches or feet once — at the end.

This format rarely varies. The closer to this format you submit text, the quicker I'll make your page. If I have to reformat everything, I'll look at it again in a week or two. Maybe.

Unless your medium is a brand name, do not capitalize it. Unless your medium is a brand name, do not capitalize it. Unless your medium is a brand name, do not capitalize it.

The medium known as acrylic is not a brand name; oil is not a brand name; collage is not a brand name, etc.

top

5.  I'll create your web page(s).

Second pages usually don't get as many hits as first pages, unless people like your art and want to see more of it or are so fascinated they just gotta read all about you.

David Hickman's second page (his resume) has been one of the most popular DARts Member Pages (But then he was the 2004 State of Texas "3-D Artist of the Year" and he is a very talented and busy guy.)

You can have all your information and images on one page, instead.

Many, but not all, DARts Members choose this option. Several who originally chose two pages, now have only one.

I'll include your words, pictures and links to your email address(es) and/or other websites. Just spell them out — including the "http://" part.

Producing your page is free.

You can do it yourself if you just have to.

Only one member ever has. He's been an amazing member, he sends info about his upcoming shows, shows out of town and all kinds of other news, so I can promote him and his art often. Almost no one else does, and that's a stupid waste of possibilities.

If you insist on doing your own page, realize that:

All pages must adhere to established DARts Membership Design and Specifications (below).

The best way to send HTML is to include it in the text of an email or burned as a text-only (.txt) file on a CD along with your images. (Web pages are text files.)

Heather Gorham - Red Thread Serenade, 2005
acrylic on wood, steel - 51 x 29 x 10 inches

Pages must meet DallasArtsRevue Design & Specifications.

Each page will have DallasArtsRevue links and identification at the tops and bottoms.

The purpose of DARts Supporting Member pages is to present our member artists' work.

We're happy to provide links to your other web site(s) and email addresses, but only after the art.
 

DARts maintains certain aesthetic standards:

No buttons.
No sliced images.
No text as image(s).
No frames.
No fixed page sizes.

DallasArtsRevue reserves the right to decline membership to anyone for any reason, but you really have to piss me off for that to happen.

6.  I'll post your page(s) on the DallasArtsRevue site, so you can review it.

At first, I put your page online without linking it anywhere — so no one else will see it, until we agree it's ready.

Google and other search engine spiders or bots will probably hit your page, even if it is not linked anywhere, because I employ them to do our site Searching. So your hit counter may add numbers, even though no other humans will see that page. Yet.

I'll send you the URL (Universal Resource Locator — web address), so you can proofread your page(s).
 
 

7.  You proof your page(s).  

You'll probably want to change something or correct my or your spelling or correct errors.

If your spelling or grammar is incorrect, and if I catch it, I'll change it.

You are responsible for the text on your page.

Try to not change the titles every time you email me.

James Michael Starr - All Along The Way, 2006
17-1/2 x 11-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches
Cast iron lamp base, cast figurine, croquet ball, miscellaneous hardware

 

8.  I'll make the corrections

Unless I don't think there's anything that can possibly go wrong with your page, then I'll just post your page. It's still up to you to proofread your page and tell me about any corrections.s
 

9.  You check the corrections, and if everything's okay, you approve them.

If I don't hear from you in a timely manner, I'll decide when your page is ready and publish the link on the Members Index page.

10.  I'll link + promote your finished page(s).

The main way I promote your page is to link it to your name as often as I can.

To make that possible, notify DARts every time you are in a show or other art event.

The information I need.

Each time I list your name in a calendar or news listing, I'll link it to your DARts Member page. I may also use one of your images somewhere — like the cover or the members index — just so I can link your name to your member page.

Members report that they are much easier to find online than artists who aren't linked as often.

It probably helps that there's so many DARts pages, that they are all inter-linked, and that DallasArtsRevue is so informative.
   

11. Change your page every six months or so.

Creating and Updating Supporting Member Pages is a free service that takes up a lot of my time and effort.

Member pages showing recent work are bolded in the Member Index.

New images every six months is a good idea. It's usually easy for the editor to do.

If you pester me, I'll procrastinate.

Keep your resume and descriptive text — including email and other addresses — updated.

top

I will photograph your work free!  — maybe.

We make an appointment via email.

You send me an email. We make an appointment. Probably in the afternoon.

If you are close — within Loop 12 north of the Trinity, or just south of the river, I'll drive to where your art is. If you live far, you bring it to me. If I have a compelling reason to travel far, I might, but I'd rather you bring art to me.

I now have a mini studio that's good for small and medium-sized sculpture and every painting artists have brought, so far. Outside in bright sun is always better, it's amazing fast that way, but my semi-studio does good.

This free service is offered at my convenience. I reserve the right to choose to whom I offer it. It is a personal offer. It is not guaranteed in any way. I do it as a convenience to members, because it is often so much easier and quicker. I drive somewhere to do free photos less and less.
 

I photograph your work

It rarely takes more than a half hour.

The best place to photograph art (See How to Photograph Art.) is in direct sunlight, away from colorful objects like walsl or trees. It's worth waiting for a sunny day.

I can deal with almost any kind of light that evenly covers your art, but only direct sunlight will show its true colors.

I prefer to shoot member art during the week. Saturday may be my second choice. Sundays are difficult. I like to rest or recreate then.

Art behind glass is a problem. Same with Plexiglas. Take your art out, or the glass off, before I shoot it.
 

I optimize your images, put them on a page, and send you the link so you can check it.

See #6 in the 11 Purple Steps above to learn what happens next in the membership process.
 

Email caption information. List the caption information in the order I shoot your work. Then send it in the text of an email.

If you hand it to me when we shoot your art, I may lose it.
Don't give it to me if I ask for it when we shoot your art — I've lost those things too many times.
I can almost always read emails. I often cannot read writing.

Put your strongest image on top, so people see it first, while they decide whether to look at the rest.

I'd rather you decide which images — it's your page — but I can help.

top

There are no Members-Only pages. So there's no pesky User I.Ds or passwords to lose or forget. Everybody can access all of DallasArtsRevue's pages.

 top

Editor's Guidelines

What to Say on Your Page

Alex Troup - Mudman Recovering, 2002
collage, photo - 7 x 7 inches

Few people read long, wordy Biographies or Artist's Statements (a vastly overrated literary form) — unless, of course, they are fascinated by you or your art.

People don't read long paragraphs, which is why I write and edit most text into shorter ones. You should, too. If you want, I'll help you write or edit your text. Just tell me.

Keep it simple — be human. A little text after each image is appreciated by readers, who are engaged by personal stories or vignettes about your art.

• What were you thinking when you made this?
• Why did you use that material, color, object, technique?
• What did you hope your viewers would understand?

Long, drawn-out statements or or intricate intellectualizations can be difficult or boring. Be real.The more you involve readers, the more they will appreciate you and your work. Talk to them.

Do not use the third person (he/she/his/her).

If you say, "I," "me" or "my," readers will be much more involved in your words.

An online resume can be valuable. Many members use their second page as their online resume.People read pictures first. If they like those, they'll read the captions.The last thing they read is long text. If they like the pictures and are intrigued by the captions, they may want to read everything they can about you and your work.

Maybe.

Solely on the basis of the art on their Member page, one DARts Member sold several thousands of dollars worth of art to a collector whom the artist had never met, and the buyer had never seen that artist's work before.

Artists don't often get to select the company their art keeps, but on Dallas ArtsRevue's Supporting Member pages, your work will be exhibited with some of the best artists in Dallas.

Pretty good deal.
 

Art Shirer - Dreamcatcher 2

Then What?

Then, whenever you exhibit your work, do a demonstration, judge or curate something, participate in a show, art fair, sale or whatever, let us know two weeks before the event. Send the important calendar information — show title, artists' names (all of them), opening and closing dates, reception times.

Send us an image (JPEG) of your best work in that show, and we might illustrate your calendar listing with the picture.

top

Since May 18 2009

since August 9 2005