So you may have heard about the Free Art Friday Movement and now you are wondering - what is the point? Aside from just being nice, why do artists do this?  Here is what I have gathered from those I know who have participated.

It is an opportunity to share art with others removing the financial and time constraints from the transaction. It allows people who would not otherwise be able to spend money, or who are perhaps unable to make it to local art shops or shows, the chance to still own a piece of art. The connections of the local artist with their local art lovers and the ability to bring them together in an unimposing public space are a reward in itself. 

The accessibility is unconditional. When the internet is incorporated there is the magic of bringing the artist together with their locals initially from and then away from the internet which is another great connection. It is not unheard of for a public hand-to-hand Free Art Friday transaction to occur either. An artist can strike up a conversation and talk about their art and if they see the other person have a true interest, offer their free art piece. 

My World Reaches by asboluv

For the most part, it is simply FUN. And at the end of the day both parties are happier for it. The artist knows that something they created has a home with a philanthropic association. It makes for a great story, so the art and artist are going to be talked about. It is much like a free sample. It serves as a fun activity, like a game, which gets you out and about searching for art-treasures hidden in public places. 


To find out more about this art movement in your area, I suggest doing a search for “free art Friday (name of your city).” This movement has rippled all over the world, and sometimes involves a group decorating a public area together all at once or sometimes it is held on different days. "Free Art Night" is about as popular as Free Art Friday. It is NOT an exclusive group or movement - Anyone is welcome to join in. 


To learn more about the Free Art Friday Movement Click Here.

Free Art Friday is a movement where artists gift pieces of original art to the public.  You may associate it with Random Acts of Kindness. The idea is to bring some joy to someone by brightening up their day with a piece of art that upon finding, they can keep it or leave it.  It is not a secret event and you can, as an artist, decide to do it on your own in your own way. However, in order to be part of a group of artists that have an organized approach to the event, you do need to make connections within the local art community. 

Give Me Wings by asboluv

Typically it is organized by an artist collective or sometimes an art supply store or someone who is otherwise connected to the local art scene.  This will vary from town to town, city to city. In order to be a finder, you may be “in the know” about the local organized event, or just happen to find the art by chance.  

Artists have been leaving art out for many years, however, the modern version of the Free Art Movement and the coining the phrase of "Free Art Friday" is attributed to online artist My Dog Sighs, a.k.a. MDS. Back in 2006 he started his group on Flickr which has carried on the tradition ever since. Here is the Free Art Friday Facebook page.   

Here is how it works for artists:

• Chose a piece of art to give away.
• Write on an attached note "free art for the finder to own and enjoy." By choice you can include name, website, email, etc. If participating on social media, you may want to give @names and #hashtags to enable the finder to thank you or give a shout out on social media should they desire to do so. 
• Place the art somewhere in public either outside or indoors, the how and where is entirely up to you. You can hide it or leave it in an obvious location.
• Some make a scavenger-hunt game of it leaving clues on Twitter, Facebook, and more recently Instagram (which can also be shared to the aforementioned social media).

Not So Empty Shop Window by asboluv

For those who wish to scavenge up some local art, just follow the artists! Something important to keep in mind, is what Free Art Friday is NOT.  When the word "free" is used some folks can get carried away, so please keep in mind that it is not meant to exploit the generosity of local artists. Please don't be a greedy art-hoarder. Also, know that a copyright is not transferred in the free transaction, so do not pick up an art drop with the intent to reproduce the art image. The intellectual property belongs to the artist themselves only.

To find out why artists participate in Free Art movements Click Here.


Share your thoughts and experiences with Free Art Friday.  Have you participated? Are you going to?

Canadian writer Dyane Forde has always had a love for writing and decided to get serious about it around three years ago. Striking out to achieve her goal of publishing a book led her down many interesting and wonderful roads, learning many valuable lessons along the way. Dyane also has a blog dedicated to writing with the goals of both creating a place for readers to discover her work and to also serve as a writing resource. Her articles are often geared to inspire and encourage others from what lessons she has learned, as well as to provide practical writing support and tips.

Dyane's love of writing began with an early interest in reading and of words in general leading to a life-long desire to write all types of things, from short stories, novels, flash fiction, poetry, etc. 

"I enjoy delving into genres and forms of writing that are different from what I’m used to in order to stretch myself. Every story or book represents new challenges. I write to communicate, meaning that writing becomes a means through which I seek to connect with people on a level deeper than intellect."

So today, Dyane has come here to share some information and answer questions I have for her.  We are both excited that the timing of this interview is coinciding with her book The Purple Morrow just coming out, which is the first in her trilogy Rise of the Papilion.


How long have you considered yourself a writer?

I loved writing since I was a kid and dreamed of being a writer when I grew up but life took a different route. About 3-4 years ago I decided to take writing seriously and set to writing books and stories and what not, so I suppose I would consider myself a writer from that point on.



What inspires and motivates you to write?

I love words. I love seeing what they can do when mixed and matched in various ways, how they can be used to create a mood or a feeling, to stimulate the senses or to move people’s emotions. In a world dominated by visual stimulation, there’s something special about being able to stir the heart and imagination with the written word.

What inspired the name of your blog “Dropped Pebbles?”

The idea behind the name was in regards to the ripple effect that occurs after one drops a pebble in a pond. When I started the blog, I hoped that each story, article, interview etc. would reverberate like that, connecting with and affecting readers, and over time, one day make its own place within the writing community.

Bookstores have been expanding the definition of what patrons expect - not only as a place to buy books. Other forms of media such as music, video, computer programs and even video and board games have been a fixture for a long while.  With the larger franchises you can get all this and more; would you like a box of chocolates, coffee, or tea with that book? The direction would appear to be towards anything that stimulates our minds.  A strong trend I have noticed in rare book boutiques and used book sellers is the combining works of writers with those of visual artists.  Come for the books, stay for the art OR come for the art, and stay for the books. Artists read and write books after all, whether of the coffee table variety or instructional. As such, you may buy a book about art and/or get something to decorate your home.  Sometimes the booksellers hold events more akin to those of an art gallery, complete with opening parties for exhibitions. Is the book + art connection a branching out for the enterprise, or is it perhaps an adaption to stay relevant, or even just to capture a certain niche? 

Art display at bookshop

On one hand it is all art.  Literary art is an art form so the book itself is a work of art.  Even though many book shops are just wall-to-wall books and an art gallery is usually just the opposite but with visual art pieces instead of books, there are certainly instances of overlapping.  In fact, art galleries also will be seen to include a corner devoted to books.  Authors team up with illustrators and find themselves together at book-signing events; also art and literature are naturally very closely interwoven in the creation of graphic novels.

Farewell Books, first day.

A prime example of the art displayed in bookstores phenomena, Farewell Books is a progressive bookshop and art gallery that specializes in new and used hard to find books and magazines.  Farewell Books sets out to provide space for contemporary culture and community. In addition to release parties and poetry or prose readings as one would expect at bookstores, the owners host art openings, performances of theater and film, workshops, and so forth.

Another way in which book stores and visual art have come to intersect is in taking old books that are victim to time and are disintegrating and crafting them into artworks.  “Altered books” is a term for art made from disused old books incorporating elements of origami or sculpting in the process. You may find workshops that encourage book art or altered books held at used bookstores or libraries. This art reclaims outdated books in poor condition and turns them into unique even beautiful creations.  One that I know of in my community shared their reason for promoting altered book art: “The goal of Recycled Reads is to extend the life and maximize the use of books and media and by including crafting and up-cycling we can help meet the City of Austin's Zero Landfill goals. ”  So in this manner, a process of creating art and sourcing media to do so in the form of worn out books is good for raising awareness for the environment.  If you think about it, papier-mâché brought old newspaper media into the hands of artists in a similar fashion.

Black White and Read All Over  © Lauren Moss

Books and art media in their physical forms are being rapidly transformed into digital versions in our technologically advanced age. Digitized media are admittedly easier to store, replace and preserve, however, the characteristic of tactility still draws us to want to hold and have a more personal experience with books and art. A book shop is primarily a place for books, so it would be safe to assume that first time visitors expect only books - yet they find themselves intersecting with the art displayed along with the literature.  It is an innovative way to combine two cultures into one to enhance the experience for people browsing book stores to learn new stuff, find a non-specific gift or maybe just there to pass time.

Please feel welcome to comment with your experiences and opinions, or tell me about another place you know of that has a similar setup.  Share what you know as a patron or a shop owner. I am curious and want to learn more. This is so many things I love rolled into one - art, books, business and innovative commerce.  


© Rebecca H Knight, all images and media used are © their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Action rewards action, so if you want others to notice you then you need to notice them first. It is show-and-tell which works best if you approach another artist’s work and then respond with your own art story. So how to engage with the art community… the first step is to find a way that best suits you. Where you want your art to go, who should it reach out to, how you want to be received by society, what is the message or story you are telling with your art, and why should others engage with your work – these are all questions that factor into understanding what communal outlets would work best for you.  After all, if you look to be seen by the art community, then the best way to do so is to actually become part of it.  This generally means putting yourself out there and taking what you created out of the shadows and letting others experience it.  You will not be discovered in hiding, unless you are leaving that to future archaeologists.

The Tank, a New York-based independent artists’ creative and collaborative venue.

Getting your art noticed and connecting with others is what the art community is chiefly about – artists coming together to work towards the common goal of learning and growing. In this era, with the power of the internet, barriers between artists and the global audience are easily overcome. Online there are multiple art communities such as Deviantart, Behance, See.Me, A Singular Creation, and others, where you can create a free account and: 

• upload images
• share information on projects you are working on
• write your artist statement
• post news and achievements
• network with other artists

Various artists contributing to oil on canvas 
work for a gallery display

Offline is much different in that the search engine optimization is not going to help your target audience find your particular style and medium.  Also you are going to have a smaller localized group to take interest in your works. Sometimes a group show works out well if a level of synergy is achieved within which the show attendees are both surrounded by art and artists and entertained by all. It takes drawing a crowd with the right people in the right place at the right time.  Such is task best left to experienced event coordinators. If you find a community that is working together in this way, you want to contact whoever is in charge of events and submit your work to see if it meets the criteria for their shows.