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20+ Best Free PowerPoint Art Presentation Templates (2024)

If you're an artist or a creative you need an inspiring art PowerPoint template. It'll bring life to your art presentation.

A premium art PPT template can help highlight your artwork. Get your vision out in a professional a and original way.

Pop Art & Graffiti PowerPoint Template , a premium template from Envato Elements

A poor design can negatively impact your art presentation. Building a presentation from scratch is time-consuming. Instead, try working with pre-built artistic PowerPoint templates.

Browse through loads of pre-built art PPT templates designed by experts. You can pick a template that suits your topic, audience, and brand. Immediately download it and start customizing it according to your needs. 

We'll explore Envato Elements' top premium PowerPoint art presentation templates .

Use any of these modern and minimalistic templates for your presentation. We'll then check out 20 free art PPT templates and backgrounds found online. 

5 Best Premium PowerPoint Art Templates for 2024 (Envato Elements)

Are you looking for creative templates for your art-themed presentation? Explore the premium collection of top PowerPoint art templates on Envato Elements.

Here are five examples of premium PowerPoint art presentation templates:

1. Arcanist - Graffiti & Pop Art PowerPoint Template

Arcanist is a creative and modern template that comes with:

• a total of 39 slides
• 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio
• resizable and editable graphics
• vector icons included

These professionally designed slides are impressive and easy to work with. The slides are simple, allowing your artwork to shine. 

2. Street Artistic PowerPoint Template

This template uses black, white, and red to create unique slides that grab attention. Add your colorful artwork to these slides and watch it all come to life. It features:

• over 40 slides to pick from
• HD resolution
• over 500 icons

With this template, you'll be able to create your presentation in minutes. 

3. Brushy - Creative PowerPoint Art Presentation Template

Give this template a try! The edges of the images are uneven, giving the slides a unique look. All graphics are editable and resizable. You have complete control to customize according to your needs. This template comes with:

• PPT and PPTX files
• a total of 38 colorful slides
• documentation included

4. Hollize - Art PowerPoint Template

Hollize is a clean and minimalistic template that uses thin-lined squares as part of its creative design. Your images will be the primary focus of these slides.

Take advantage of its impressive features:

• more than 30 total slides
• based on Master Slides
• fully customizable text, images, colors, shapes, and elements
• free web fonts

5. Wall Art - PowerPoint Art Template

Lastly, take a look at this inspiring art PowerPoint. Its features speak for themselves:

• 30 unique slides
• five color schemes
• handcrafted infographics to help you turn any data into visuals
• animation for slides

Download it and start putting your creative art projects into it.

20+ Best Free Artistic PowerPoint Templates to Download (2024)

We've checked out some top art PPT templates from Envato Elements. You can focus more on the content by leaving the design to experts. Save time by working smart!

In this section, we'll take a look at 20 free art templates for PowerPoint, and backgrounds found online.

Let's check out Envato's free offerings first before we move on.  

Get 12 free unique monthly free files from Envato Elements

Here's the offer:

• Envato Elements offers 12 monthly premium free files . Test out premium assets like templates, photos, audio, fonts, 3D objects, videos, and more. Create a free Envato Elements account to download this month's free files.

Let's explore 20 free free art templates for PowerPoint, and backgrounds found online:

1. Free Kids Art PowerPoint Template

Here's a colorful and fun kids' art template. The background color is red, with a contrasting blue and yellow border.

2. Free Tattoo Artist PowerPoint Template

This tattoo artist PPT template comes with a purple theme. There is a choice between a purple and white background. 

3. Brushes - Free Template for Art Presentations

This is a dark template with white fonts. It comes with an image of paintbrushes in a glass. 

4. Free Artistic PowerPoint Template

Here's a template with a blue art image background. It comes with a title and three other slides. 

5. Free Color Art PowerPoint Template

This template is simply colorful. It comes with an image of a person with color powders. The background is a bright gradient yellow. 

6. Paint Artwork - Free Template for Art Presentations

Paint Artwork - Free Presentation Art Template is a bright, colorful art-themed template. It has an image of a person's face covered in paint.

7. Art Design - Free Art Template for PowerPoint

This is a floral art design template with purple and pink as the primary colors. The background is light gray, which is quite different from a usual white background. 

8. Floral Art - Free Art PPT Template

This floral art template uses curves on every slide. The background is a gradient pink.

9. Free Marbling Art PowerPoint Template

This template has an off-white background and a blue ink-like design on each slide. All fonts and graphics are in blue. 

10. Creative Studio - Free Art PPT Template

Here's a light template with a pink artistic design on the left. The fonts are black. 

11. Nature Art PowerPoint Template

Nature Art PowerPoint template comes with a watercolor design. The fonts are black, and the background is white. Orange is used to highlight graphics on the slides. 

12. Free Paint PowerPoint Art Presentation Template

This is a great option for a free PPT, as it shows various paint cans in different colors, which help artists bring their creations to reality. 

13. Watercolor - Free Art Template Diagrams

Here are multiple diagrams in a watercolor theme. Primary colors are green, pink, yellow, and purple. It's one of the coolest free templates for art presentations.

14. Free Watercolor PowerPoint Art Template

This is a simple yet artistic template. It comes with various watercolor designs on every slide. 

15. Watercolor Free Template for Art Presentations

This template came with yellow watercolor and floral designs on each slide. The background is white, and the fonts are dark red.

16. Free Watercolor Artistic PowerPoint Template

Looking for free templates for art presentations? This watercolor template comes with five gradient color options. The slides look bright, colorful, and artistic. 

17. Free Brushes Template for PowerPoint

This template comes with two to three diagonal brush strokes on each slide. The paint colors are yellow, blue, and green.  

18. Free Portraits Template for PowerPoint

Free Portraits Template for PowerPoint is an artistic one-line drawing of faces. It comes in pastel colors and has a very calming feel to it. 

19. Renaissance Frames Free Template for Art Presentations

This is an antic-themed template. It comes with vintage gold frames with photo placeholders. Easily add your images to give them a framed look. 

20. Free Strokes PowerPoint Art Template

Each slide comes with a unique brush stroke design. These strokes are custom masks that you can replace the image with your own. 

5 Quick Tips To Make Great PowerPoint Art Presentations in 2024

Once you have chosen your template, it's time to start working on it. Keep the goal of your presentation in mind as you create your slides. It helps you stay on track. 

Here are five design tips to help you create the best possible presentation deck:

1. Use Custom Image Masks

Brushy - Brush Creative PowerPoint Art , a premium template with creative custom image masks

Custom image masks help easily add creativity to your slides. Squares, circles, and rectangles images can make your presentation look dated. Keep things fresh and fun with custom image masks. 

2. Keep It Minimal

Hollize - Art Theme PPT , a premium minimalistic template from Envato Elements

Are you presenting your artwork? Select a clean, simple, and minimalistic template to work on. This allows your artwork to be the main focus of each slide. 

Avoid slides that use loads of graphics or design elements that may dilute the importance of your artwork. 

3. Pick a Color Scheme That Allows Your Images to Shine

Use a color scheme that doesn't outshine your artwork or images. Black and white or pastel colors are the easiest choices in most cases.

Pop Art Graffiti PPT , a premium template from Envato Elements.

Once you complete your presentation deck, take a step back and look at each slide. This helps you confirm that your images are the first to grab your attention. 

4. Gray Fonts Make a Difference

Inka - Creative PPT , a premium template from Envato Elements with gray texts

Black text against a white background creates a strong contrast. Gray text creates a calmer and softer feel. It also allows your images to be the center of attention on each slide. 

5. Add Animation and Transitions

Phase in sections one at a time as per your discussion. This helps your audience focus better.

Here are some articles to help you use motion on slides and diagrams:

Discover More Top PowerPoint PPT Template Designs

Are you looking to check out more templates before  taking a pick? Explore other creative, colorful, and fun PPT templates.

Here are three articles to get you started:

Learn More About Making Great PowerPoint Presentations in 2024

If you're new to PowerPoint, you can use all the help you can get. Here's an Ultimate PowerPoint Tutorial Guide . Pin it to your browser and refer to it when you need help. 

Here are three sample tutorials from the guide: 

Find the Best Premium PowerPoint Art Templates on Envato Elements for 2024 (Unlimited Use)

Start your search by browsing through premium templates from Envato Elements. Get to know what top-quality templates have to offer. By getting a healthy benchmark, you can avoid settling for anything less.

Are you creating an art-themed presentation in PowerPoint now?

PowerPoint Art Templates

Sign up to Envato Elements to get access to millions of creative assets. Enjoy the freedom to play, experiment, and create!

Plus, now Envato Elements has introduced an AI-powered search feature ! This new tool allows you to input a description of your project. You'll effortlessly locate the finest human-crafted resources. 

Start experimenting with this enhanced search tool! Discover the ideal art PowerPoint templates for your projects.

Download a Premium Art PowerPoint Template Today!

Creating a presentation deck can be as fun as creating art. Explore premium PowerPoint art templates from Envato Elements. Any of these premium templates will help you effortlessly create modern presentations. 

Avoid creating from scratch. Focus on your content and leave the design to the experts. It's the best way to work smart and save time too. 

Get a premium art PPT template from Envato Elements. Explore, subscribe, and download it now! 

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7 Ways to Make Your Next Artist Talk Painless, Entertaining, and Successful

Paige Simianer | January 25, 2017 (Updated February 2, 2023)

Photo by Ben Moreland on Unsplash

At some point in your art career, you will be asked to give an artist talk. and, if you are like most artists, the thought of this already has you in a panic..

But, before you stay awake all night with anxiety about this inevitable public speaking engagement, we put together some tips to help the nerves stay at bay and guide you to a place where public speaking becomes second nature.

Here are some tips to help make your next artist talk more painless, more entertaining and more successful:

Remember, you are the top authority on your artwork

The great thing about being an artist is that you are your own resident expert on your work. Who knows more about your technique, background, or subject matter than you? No one. Remind yourself that you aren’t being quizzed or challenged when you are giving your talk.

Generally, people who attend your artist talk will have a genuine interest in getting to know a little more about your work. And what’s more, often times they have a great appreciation for art but don’t know all that much about it. It’s your job to educate, inform and maybe even entertain them (but, no pressure on delivering one-liners).

Construct a Storyline

The best talks — and not just artist talks — follow a storyline. Chicago artist and curator, Sergio Gomez follows this one to keep him on track:

“Story> the art process > influences or concerns > highlight key works in the show > final thoughts”

He also suggests sprinkling facts around a story and notes that most of the successful Ted Talks do this. “I believe a good artist talk will make the viewer engage more in depth with the work. The talk should provide context and present a point of departure for a deeper conversation between the viewer and the work,” says Gomez.

Need inspiration on how to tell a great story? Check out the 5 Ted Talks for artists .

We all have stories to tell. Moments that ignited our artistic flame, changed the direction of our practice or hooked us for good. These moments that bring up the most emotion for us, are also often the most engaging narratives for our audience.

Start with some freewriting

If you don’t even know where to start, try some free-writing exercises. Don’t just try and start writing your final draft as soon as you sit down. Jot down bits and pieces about your background, what led you to this point, what motivates you … anything!

Try not to be a perfectionist during this part of the process. In fact, the more you can check that part of your brain, the better. You want to get all of your rough ideas down and then you can begin to comb through them and make connections.  

Tip : Art Biz Coach Alyson Stanfield suggests fleshing out anywhere where you have written down something like “painting outside is cool because” or “it was really interesting.” Those are the points to enter and flesh out.

Rehearse your story like you are rehearsing a play

Even if you think you know everything about your artwork, finding the right order to talk about it can be tricky. You might feel completely comfortable talking about your work in a conversation, but without prompting or natural pauses, it can difficult to speak about your work for a solid five minutes or so.

But, just as with most things in art and life, practice only makes you better .

So, to turn yourself from a timid speaker into a confident orator put in the time beforehand. Practice timing yourself as well and grab a friend or family member for a few minutes to give you some good, honest feedback.

Keep it simple

There is a phrase that is common among designers : “keep it simple, stupid.”

The same goes for giving your artist talk. Don’t get bogged down in trying to explain complicated theories, philosophies or even techniques in your speech. Try and keep it as simple as possible, while still getting the point across.

You will have to go into specifics later. Save the art jargon for now and engage your listeners by connecting with them through direct, concise and clear language. This will both help you to not trip over your toes, but also to connect with your audience.

Often times, the most simple explanation is the most powerful, relatable and honest.

Eliminate language that undermines your expertise

Have you ever done an experiment where you try not to use the words , “just,” “sorry,” or “like” for a day? Were you shocked by how often you started a sentence with one of the words?

It’s so easy to insert these words into casual, everyday language, and sometimes they have their place . However, their place is not in your artist talk.

Even if this is your first talk, or this is the very beginning of your career, own what you are doing and present yourself with confidence ( even if you have to fake it till you make it ).

Let’s pretend for a minute that being an artist isn’t your full-time job yet. Instead of saying that you are a “business analyst/painter,” unless the business is integral to your art, there is no need to mention it.

Redbubble suggests that some other ways you are undermining your authority is by saying things like you make artwork “on the weekends,” or by self-appointing yourself as “aspiring,” or “emerging.”

Anticipate questions you might be asked

Don’t get caught off guard. Practice your responses by anticipating what audience members might ask you. If you have been an artist in any capacity, for really any amount of time, you know that there are a few questions that you get asked over and over.

If you have a really unique technique, it could be about that. Or, if your subject matter is a little off-beat, it’s probably about that. Make sure that you have solid answers for these — as you know they will be asked in front of a new audience.

While you still have your friends and family as a captive audience after your timed rehearsal, ask them to shoot you a couple of questions. Give yourself the same time constraints to practice (say, 30 seconds or so).

On the day, limit your questions from the audience to about five or so. Tell them this beforehand and then let them know that you would be happy to answer any other questions in person after the talk. This way you don’t let the talk drag, and you will be able to answer more difficult or time-consuming questions face-to-face.

Make yourself accessible and be prepared

After the questions conclude at the end of your talk, make yourself accessible to the people in attendance. Walk around and introduce yourself to anyone that wants to speak with you. Try to make sure that everyone gets a chance to talk with you that wants to, however.

Be aware of the people in the room, and if one encounter begins to take too much time, ask them if you could circle back around to this discussion later and thank them for their time.

Calm your nerves by directing attention towards your work

Does the thought of talking about your work in front of an audience still raise your blood pressure to unhealthy levels?

One way to assuage this panicky feeling is to fall back on your artwork. When you feel that overwhelming fear that everyone is looking at you, simply direct them to something in your artwork. By moving around and keeping the focus on your artwork, you can relax a bit more and not worry so much about being the center of attention.

Plus, it makes your presentation more interesting. After all, that’s what your audience is really interested in!

One last bonus tip?

Be prepared to meet gallerists, potential collectors, and clients. Always present yourself professionally. This means from your dress to having business cards available and having lists of your available works on hand.

Looking for an easy way to print professional reports at the click of a button? Try Artwork Archive to get beautifully laid out inventory reports, consignment reports, portfolio pages, and invoices.

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Art Types Uncovered: A Comprehensive Guide to Artistry

Art has been around since the dawn of time, and we’ve always been drawn to create art in various forms. But there is also a lively debate about what exactly can be defined as art . 

In this guide, I’ll explain the seven forms of artistic expression. These are all commonly accepted as the most well-known art forms. 

What is Art? (A Definition)

Art is a tricky thing to define. Just like beauty, art is in the eye of the beholder. What looks like art to one person might be meaningless to someone else. So, there isn’t one clear definition of what art is.

Humans have discussed and debated art as a concept for centuries. A common understanding is that art is something created through skill or imagination. And often, it aspires to be an object of beauty. 

But a piece of art doesn’t have to be beautiful to be classified as art. Art can also convey a message or provoke a reaction in the viewer. 

And there’s more to art than the visual forms of art that first come to mind. So, let’s take a closer look at the various types of art expression. 

What are the 7 Different Forms of Art?

Seven main forms of art are accepted across the world. Each art form has been around for centuries, if not millennia. 

There is evidence that humans have participated in these art forms as far back as human history. So, let’s learn more about the different art forms below. 

Painting 

Paintings are the most common and well-known of all the art forms. In fact, children often start painting as soon as they can hold a paintbrush . It’s an accessible type of art for almost anyone. But becoming a talented artist also requires a lot of skill, patience, and creativity. 

In this art form, artists use paint on canvas, paper, or other materials to create a piece of art. However, there are many different painting styles, depending on the type of paint you use. You can choose from watercolors, acrylic, and oil paints. Each type of paint will create a unique look and requires specific techniques to get the most out of it. 

If you want to learn more about painting, you can look at works by the great masters. Picasso, Monet, Kahlo, and Van Gogh are just a few names to get you started. 

As you develop your painting skills, you can attempt to recreate their artworks. But you should also make sure to develop your own art style so that your paintings stand out. 

There are also many different art movements and painting styles. These range from classical to cubist, surreal to impressionist. Painting offers limitless possibilities for what you can create, so why not try it?

Sculpture is an ancient art form dating from the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. But there is also evidence of sculptures much further back in history. 

Unlike paintings, sculptures are 3D visual artworks. They’re made by chipping and shaping materials like stone, clay, wood, or metal. 

Michelangelo was one of the most well-known sculptors of the Italian Renaissance. Today, tourists still flock to Florence worldwide to see the famous statue of David. 

Sculptures are often seen in public spaces like government buildings, churches, and cathedrals. These artworks are often large, so they’re not so common in the home. But in the past, wealthy families commissioned sculptures from the most talented artists. 

But sculpture is an art form that is alive and well today. Many modern sculptors are creating their own twist on this art form. They are experimenting with new shapes, techniques, and even new materials like plastic. 

Sculpture isn’t the easiest art form to learn. First, you’ll need plenty of materials, such as materials to work with and tools to use. But you’ll also need expert training and guidance to learn the trade skills.

Architecture

Architecture has been around as long as buildings have been around. It’s the art and science of creating not only functional but also beautiful buildings. 

Some key examples include amazing buildings like the Taj Mahal in India and the Coliseum in Rome. And even earlier, you have the pyramids built in Egypt and Mexico. These buildings were huge undertakings that required knowledge, skill, and imagination.

There have been many different movements across the ages. Some of the most well-known include Classical, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. But then you also have Neoclassical, Bauhaus, and Modern architecture. 

Each movement has its own distinctive styles, forms, and use of color. These make the buildings easily recognizable. Anyone who wants to become an architect has a rich history to delve into and learn from. 

We’ve all come across literature in one way or another. You likely studied literature in school. It’s a written art form that uses carefully crafted words to convey a message. 

Words themselves can be beautiful when composed with skill and talent. Literature includes many sub-forms, such as poetry, essays, novels, short stories, and non-fiction. (Here are my recommendations for the best non-fiction books for artists ). 

We can learn a lot by studying the greats, such as the master playwright Shakespeare. There are many reasons why we often return to classics by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. 

And the myths of Ancient Greece and Rome have permeated our culture. You’ll often find them referenced in popular culture, from movies to sitcoms. 

Many writers state that the first step to becoming a writer is reading widely. You can also start keeping a journal and make it a habit to write in it every day. In this way, you’ll develop your observational and writing skills. 

Music 

Almost everyone is drawn to music in some form or another. And many of us aspire to become musicians or singers, creating our own music for others to enjoy. 

Even if you’re not a musician, you can appreciate music as an art form. Music organizes sounds into a composition that is attractive to the ear. 

But as with any other type of art, there are endless types of music. You can probably think of everything from classical music to pop, rock, and more.

There’s evidence that we’ve been creating music as far back as history. Basic instruments date back thousands of years. And you can find some form of singing in almost every culture around the world. 

It’s instinctive to create music with the human voice. Even the youngest children enjoy lullabies and start making their own music as soon as possible. 

Many musicians are self-taught through a combination of innate talent and determined motivation. But there’s a lot to learn when it comes to music. 

For example, you’ll need to be able to read music to play an instrument. And there are many different elements to master, from rhythm to harmony and melody. 

Theater predates cinema and differs from it as it involves live performers. This performance art isn’t new – it’s been around for centuries and even millennia. We have plenty of evidence of theater performed in ancient China, Greece, Rome, and Egypt. 

As humans, we love storytelling and entertainment. Theater combines both aspects in a communal experience we can go through together. 

In Shakespeare’s era, theater was affordable and a common form of entertainment. Theatergoers would often heckle and interact with the actors (then called “players”)

Through visual props, music, storytelling, and acting, theater can be a transformative experience. It can take you anywhere in the world and put you in another’s shoes.

There are many forms of theater, from plays to dance shows, circuses, and puppet shows. Plays can range from comedies to tragedies and everything in between. 

Cinema is the newest art form on this list, and it has both similarities and differences with theater. Cinema only became possible after the first movie camera was invented in the 1880s. But it wasn’t until the early 1900s that movies became more mainstream.

As you can imagine, cinema has evolved a lot over the years. The first color movies weren’t released until 1909. And initially, all films were silent as the cameras couldn’t capture audio. It was only in the late 1920s that “talkies” became much more common. 

Cinema is an art form, providing a lot of creative and technical potential. First of all, you need a screenplay that will capture the audience’s attention. Then, you decide on the filming process, casting, costumes, and special effects. 

But cinema also shares many of the same elements as other art forms. For example, cinematographers must consider the story, composition, and framing. They need to consider the movie’s use of space, color, and language. 

Cinema has undoubtedly taken a lot of inspiration from the world of theater. But the technical differences set these two art forms apart. And thanks to home streaming services, we can watch the best movies from the comfort of our own homes.

Different Art Forms – FAQ

What are the different types of art.

There are seven main types of art. These include traditional visual art forms such as sculpture and painting. But music, literature, theater, and cinema are also considered types of art. The final art form is architecture. 

What are the different art styles?

Within these art forms, you’ll find different styles or movements. For example, painting is one of the types of art expression. But there are many painting styles, from abstract to expressionist, modernist, and more. 

What is the most common type of art?

Painting is probably the most common type of art. Humans have been painting since prehistoric times, with cave paintings as evidence.  Painting is one of the most accessible art forms, as you need relatively few supplies. You can get started with a basic and affordable painting set . So, anyone can learn how to draw and paint with a little motivation and dedication. 

The Wrap Up

There are seven main forms of art expression, each with a rich history. Now, you should have a deeper understanding of the art forms, from sculpture to theater. 

Let me know if you have any questions about these art forms below. And check out my guide to the visual arts for more information on different types of art! 

Make sure to follow Proactive Creative on social media and Pinterest ! I’ll keep you up to date on the best content, tips, and reviews for creative professionals. 

Outmane is the founder of Proactive Creative. He is an artist/designer.

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How to Give Confident Presentations about Your Art

An excerpt from the new e-course reach more with video: a digital guide for creatives from colour in your life. founder graeme stevenson addresses challenges artists face when speaking publicly, and how to overcome them..

Graeme Stevenson, founder of Colour in Your Life

Speaking about your own art and process can be terrifying, let alone if it’s before a large crowd. Communication, however, is important for an artist that wants to see themselves in galleries or taking their career into the world. Being able to communicate yourself and your work effectively to clients, galleries and investors is important. Brief conversations with clients can deepen their understanding of you as an artist, your message and your work. Attending art events and openings can help you expand your social networking platforms; it’s always important to cultivate your fan bases.

When speaking publicly about yourself and your art, these are some important tips to remember:

Yes, it’s very easy to say ‘be confident’, but not always easy to do. The best way to feel confident is to be knowledgeable about what you’re presenting, and hey, it’s about you! When you get flustered or feel uncertain in front of a large crowd, focus on what you’re talking about. If it’s your art, remember how it felt creating it, or the reason why you created it. You don’t need to boast or bring your ego into the show – that’s often the fastest way to turn people off – but finding that happy balance where you can present who you are and what you do without feeling overwhelmed is important.

Introduce Yourself and Your Art

Storytelling has been the way humans have shared and grown cultures for thousands of years, and there’s no reason you can’t tell your own stories about your art and your life. These are a wonderful ways to help people understand who you are and what you’re about. You’re the world’s foremost expert on ‘you’, and your art, so take advantage of that!

A good presentation has the right amount of information and a dash of humor. Yes, we’re not all moonlighting from our art careers as comedic geniuses, but a touch of humor here and there helps lighten situations and break down barriers.

Be Prepared

Set aside time at home in your studio to verbalize your thoughts and feelings about your art. Write them out, organize them, then rehearse. Your goal is to introduce yourself and connect with people by briefly telling them who you are, describing your art, and addressing a handful of questions. Tip: the best place to start is usually at the beginning.

Brainstorming and Writing

Consider writing about who influenced you and how you started as an artist. It doesn’t have to be formal to start with. Just write about what comes to mind, and put as much raw material in as you can. Write about your art journey in as much detail as you can – you can always edit things out later.

Once you think everything is written out, or you have as much information as you can squeeze out of yourself, go through and select the sentences that you feel will best represent your work, and you as an artist. Identify what being an artist means to you; what compels you to create art, where your ideas or inspirations originate, how you incorporate them into your work, and so on. It’s good to keep in mind that many people who attend art shows enjoy art but know little to nothing about art in general, let alone what they’re looking at or the artist. These are the people you have a good chance of attracting or winning over. So making your talk/presentation accessible to everyone is key.

Simple Language

You have a limited time to speak to everyone, so keep your language understandable to the general public. Your art is about you and your message on personal and societal levels; packing in academic jargon can detract from that. The last thing you want to do is look elitist or snobbish – it can separate many artists from collectors.

What is Your Message?

If you’d like some tips about putting together Your Message, I recommend looking at Your Message and You , by Celia Moriarty. It’s always worth considering though, what is your message and does it impact the wider world around you? Is it about positive or negative aspects of the world? How you convey this is important, and what people can use to find your art in the future.

Many powerful and confronting subjects can be broached through the medium of art. In presenting this type of subject, there should be an expressive dialogue that goes with the work. There may need to be an explanation of why you came to create and present this type of work. Sometimes a specific thing has happened to an artist on a deep, personal or emotional level for them to create some of their pieces. Your work needs an explanation of some type, and some will need more explanation than others.

There are a few ways you can do this to help with the nerve factor as well. Talk alone if you like, but sometimes reading aloud to friends or acquaintances can help as well. You can also film yourself speaking, which is a great way to learn if you have any nervous habits or ticks that you can work on. Reading some books or watching YouTube videos on public speaking is another option.

One of the great parts about filming artists for Colour In Your Life is that it gives them an insight into what it’s like to be in front of the camera. I have always only acted as a conduit for the artist, enabling them to tell their stories with as little input from myself as possible.

There Will Be Questions

You should practice answering questions from people. An odd thing to do, but worth it in the long run, as you will undoubtedly receive questions about your work and your message, be it in galleries or online. Always try to keep your answers positive, even if your piece is powerful and confronting, with negative connotations. Confronting pieces without great explanations can lose an audience. Get friends and family to ask as many questions about your work as possible, so you have a good idea of what’s to come.

At the end of any presentation, it’s always a good idea to take maybe half a dozen to a dozen questions. This will let the audience know that you’re open to discussion, making you more approachable afterward. Remember that you need to move through a crowd, a room or a gallery speaking to as many people as you can. In saying that, don’t get trapped in a corner with one person that’s drinking too much of your champagne. Clients may walk out if you’re chatting too much to one group or person. Spread yourself around and don’t be afraid to approach people either.

Damage Control

There’s usually one in every crowd – a person that has a significant gap between their brain and their mouth. There are people in the world that will try to make you feel stupid or unworthy because you’re an artist. You know, the old ‘get a real job’ critique. The most important thing in these situations is to stay calm.

We all know that art and what it does for society, as well as individuals, is incredibly important; half of our brain is driven toward creative endeavors. Ignorant people will always seek to make themselves feel bigger than they are, and normally try to rip down talented people to do so. Do not let them succeed.

If you have said things during your presentation that they’re calling out, address them with an explanation. If they’re simply being belligerent, how you proceed is up to you. The important thing is to be prepared for this occurrence and to be ready to back up your statements with information and damage control. How you react in these situations can be just as important to a client as your message itself.

If you’re presenting at a gallery opening, I recommend no longer than five to ten minutes. After that, people start to wander and you need to keep them interested in you. However, if you’re presenting in other situations or have been asked to present, confirming a time with those who brought you in is your best bet.

If you are holding an opening, then timing your speech is also key. Through experience, I have learned that an hour into the event can be beneficial. By this time, people have had a chance to wander and look at your work while probably having a few drinks. It’s amazing how champagne rather than wine can loosen people’s wallets (I’ve done more than a few shows over the years, and champagne always seems to work better than wine…)

Demonstrations Can Help

Part of the reason Colour In Your Life has been so successful is that people love watching others create. If you’re set up in a gallery for an exhibition or an allotted time, take a sketchpad or an easel or something with you. It gives people an insight into your abilities or techniques, which can help sell your work. Demonstrations also open up conversations.

Purchase Pressure

It’s never a good idea to pressure someone into buying your work. If you’ve told your story and answered questions, your best bet is to step back and let the staff, gallery director, etc, close the deal. Sometimes it’s best not to distract the customer, so stepping back or letting someone else help close the sale can be very beneficial.

Graeme’s new course Reach More with Video teaches artists to create professional level videos to attract interest, grow their following and make more sales. Learn more about this comprehensive guide here .

Artsy Shark is a marketing partner and affiliate of Colour In Your Life.

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More From Forbes

The art of presenting.

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Lisa V. Sellers, PhD, is CEO of Vector Laboratories .

Communication is foundational to both personal and professional success, and presentation skills are key to sharing impactful ideas and complex concepts. No matter where we give the presentation, how or to whom, we want to make sure it’s clear and memorable to the audience. The ability to articulate ideas and present them to reach a broad audience isn't just a skill—it’s an art. But just like students of an art class create unique pieces with the techniques they learn, every effective presenter uses an arsenal of communication techniques to develop presentations with their own flair.

No one can tell you exactly how to give a good talk, but learning the basics and identifying personal touches can help get you there. Here, I’ll share some ideas that have shaped my own presentation style and tips for finding your unique voice.

Know your audience.

The first step to preparing for any presentation is to identify your audience. This not only helps you understand the level of depth and technical detail the audience expects but also gives insight into how to connect with them. How much knowledge do they already have on the topic? What issues do they care about? What do I, as the speaker, have in common with them? Research the background of your audience ahead of time to note down factors such as their industry, educational and professional background, areas of expertise and what positions they generally hold.

Especially if you’re presenting to a diverse audience with various backgrounds and experiences, it’s helpful to evaluate what success will look like at the end of the presentation. If the goal is to connect the audience with your story, what does the route look like to get there? One approach I take is to get the audience involved with a question. For example, in a recent presentation on empowering young women in STEM careers, I shared the story of my career path and invited others in the audience to discuss how women mentors fostered their career journey. Getting the audience involved adds color and richness to the overall discussion and gets listeners personally invested in the talk. Connection makes for an impactful presentation, so don’t just talk to the audience—talk with them.

Develop a structure.

Identifying the situation, complication, implication and position of your presentation is a great place to start. Build in context and detail around those main points. Importantly, if you’re developing slides to use with your presentation, choose quality visuals that complement your message without completely pulling focus from your words. If you include graphs or figures, explain them clearly rather than just assuming the audience will understand. Text on slides should also be chosen with care—if the audience is spending too much time reading your slides, they’ll be drawn away from what you’re saying.

But don’t overthink it.

Confession: I sometimes procrastinate when I’m making a presentation, and it still turns out fine. While that may not be the best approach if you’re uncomfortable with presenting or if you're giving the most important talk of your career, I've found avoiding overpreparation can be helpful. Overthinking your presentation can be just as much of a hindrance as preparing carelessly. Rather than trying to memorize a word-for-word script of your talk, get comfortable with the main points and key takeaways of each section. I know I sound more natural and feel much more confident if I focus on the big picture rather than getting every detail as I’d planned it. When you know what you’re trying to convey in each section, it will be much easier to get back on track if you’re interrupted or asked a question.

For slide visuals, be intentional while avoiding perfectionism. It’s easy to get caught up in endlessly tweaking your slides or trying to find the "perfect" image at the expense of your overall message. To maximize efficiency without sacrificing quality, imagine yourself in the audience and ask: "Would this detail make a difference to me? Would I even notice?" Taking this perspective can help you invest your energy where it really matters.

Authenticity is everything.

The difference between an average presentation and an excellent one is how your message resonates with the audience. A great way to bring your presentation to life is to tell a story that’s relevant, relatable and elicits emotion. A poignant or inspiring story is impactful, but humor can be a wonderful tool as well. Identifying and telling a story creates a memorable moment in the presentation and illustrates your message in a unique way. With that, it’s vital that this story is told with conviction, comes across as genuine and is true. Don’t shy away from stories that sparked growth, even if they require vulnerability.

Whether you’re having a one-on-one conversation or you're presenting in a conference room full of people, confidence and authenticity are magnetic. With the right message and some thoughtful presentation, you can give a memorable presentation just by being yourself.

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Art Presentation – When Walls Have Meaning

by armandlee | Oct 1, 2015

Art presentation, like other artistic expressions, has become more experimental, more conceptual, more varied, and more personal. Interior design has evolved to meet the emotional and intellectual needs of more educated and worldly clients by challenging convention in the use of space, materials, scale, color, and texture. Personal and public spaces, like everything else, are becoming more interactive. Even traditional environments are filled with eclectic collections from family legacies, world travels, and expressions of personal interest.

As an integral part of interior design, art presentation must work on three dimensions: respecting the art, accessorizing the setting, and reflecting the importance of the art to the owner. Of these three, how the owner feels about the art is the driving force. Custom art presentation, which effectively balances all these considerations, requires an almost infinite assortment of profiles, finishes, and design details.

The Importance of the Art

In cases where the art is seen primarily as an investment, the presentation would be done to preserve and enhance its monetary value. In that case, archival presentation, conserving historic elements where possible, or using period-appropriate, formal presentation techniques would be a likely solution.

However, most important art is not valued primarily as an investment. Most art is used to set a tone and express ideas and feelings that are specific to the owner. Whether it is to evoke a comforting nostalgia, ritualize an event, impart energy or serenity, playfulness, humor, irony, worldly sophistication, personal style, or a simple appreciation of beauty, the presentation can greatly enhance that aspect of the artwork that is important to the owner. Only when the art presentation reinforces the emotional and intellectual relationship between the owner and the art does the presentation ‘feel right.’

Accessorizing the Setting

Where is the art to be displayed and how is it used? Is it in an intimate, personal space? Or will it be displayed in a formal, public one? Is the art to be a central focus, independently adding to the emotional and intellectual quality or the space? Or is it primarily to support the design idea?

Making appropriate framing and art presentation choices requires a close partnership with the designer. Site visits can help the art presenter understand the genre, and get accurate field measurements. Custom finish samples can be prepared to take into the setting or to coordinate with other suppliers. Custom profiles can be created to reference an important shape or pattern. Custom mirror engraving and silvering can be used to help the designer achieve a particular look or mood. Custom hanging methods, including an analysis of the appropriate angle at which to hang, lean, or cant the art of the wall can all influence the impact of the art. For three-dimensional works, cabinet or pedestal designs that complement the art and the setting require the design and fabrication skills of a fine cabinetmaker. The art of presentation is doing whatever it takes to get the details right.

With so many design rules being broken for interest and effect, understanding the underlying design principle for the space in which the artwork will reside is essential for satisfying art presentation. One of the more common design challenges is incorporating contemporary art in a traditional setting, or classic art in a contemporary setting. Frames and presentation treatments that make that transition comfortable frequently have ambiguous references to period design rendered with an unusual finish or a change in scale. The Tulip frame, shown right, combines sleek lines and a silver finish common in contemporary design, with a fluid carved corner detail more common to Art Nouveau. It is appropriate in traditional as well as contemporary settings, used as a mirror or as a complement to art.

Another common role for art is to add drama and formality to an ‘industrial’ or high-tech setting where the finish materials are exposed brick, brushed, rusted or painted steel, or hewn beam. ‘Organic’ finishes over profiles with strong, architectural, and graphic lines are a new formal language for art presentation. For example, the Deco Step frame, shown right, combines geometric forms frequently found in Art Deco design and architecture. The 12K white-gold finish is toned to gives it an organic texture unusual in fine finishes, with the fleeting impression of brushed steel.

The quality of light within the space is also an important consideration. Should UV protective glass be used? Is an independent light source required?

Respecting the Art

After understanding the emotional and physical context for the art, the final presentation decisions are driven by the art itself. Appropriate presentation means respecting the kind and level of detail, the strength of line, the color palette, the subject matter, and the materials used.

Effective presentation of artwork is as much an art as the creation of the art itself. Working knowledge of art history gives the art presenter a context that makes “respecting the art” possible. The eclectic nature of contemporary design requires a balance between convention and novelty. Having trained artists and art historians on staff with expertise in contemporary as well as classical art gives designers the creative resources to break “new ground” in the world of design with confidence.

Artist Guide

How To Write The Perfect Artwork Description

When it comes to selling your art, the more information that you provide in your artwork description the better! After all, this is where your customer will turn to learn more about your piece.

The best artwork descriptions on Artfinder comprise two sections: one detailing the inspiration behind the piece and another presenting the bare facts .

The inspirational bit

This component of the description will need to refer directly to the artwork at hand. There's no perfect formula for this, however it does need to be engaging! Remember that it should reflect you and your personality, as well as your enthusiasm for your work.

You may wish to mention the following:

• What inspired you to create the piece?
• What techniques did you use and why?
• What does it mean to you?
• What does it represent in terms of your artistic work as a whole?

Bear in mind that along with our usual criteria for excellent listings , we look for detailed and inspirational artwork descriptions for our Art of the Day email feature. So if you tick all of the boxes, you are more likely to be selected!

The factual bit

It’s worth spending a little more time on this component to ensure that you have every possible factor that the customer could wish to know. The good news is, though, that you can then copy and paste the same formula into each listing and tweak it to make it relevant to your artwork.

• Materials used – include canvas type , materials used e.g. pastels or pencils
• Dimensions – include these in centimetres and inches for extra clarity
• Packaging - explain your packaging process. Will the work be packed in bubble wrap or rolled? Do you offer to ship artworks both rolled and stretched?
• Delivery - expand on your courier and shipping times
• Anything else to add? Maybe you want to encourage the customer to get in touch with you directly with any questions

Image courtesy of Marcel Garbi

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4 Tips for Presenting Your Art to Galleries

By Carrie Lewis in Art Business Advice   >   General Art Advice

Now that you’ve decided gallery representation is for you and have found a few galleries that are a good fit for your art , the serious work begins. It’s time to present your work to the gallery manager or director.

Speaking as both an artist and a former gallery director, the single most important advice I can offer is to treat contacts with galleries just like you would treat an interview with a corporation for whom you really want to work. And I mean really want to work for. It’s not just another job, it’s THE job for you.

You need to:

• Act professional • Look professional • Make a professional presentation

Let’s break those down.

How to act like a professional artist

This should begin the moment you select a gallery. Every communication you have with the prospective gallery should be handled with courtesy, politeness, and attention to detail.

Some people advocate drop-in presentations and there are a few good arguments for that. But if the gallery is a busy one, the drop-in policy is probably not going to earn you points. The staff will be busy with day-to-day business, waiting on customers, answering questions, and generally doing what the staff of a successful gallery does.

So don’t be surprised if you drop in some time to show your work and are asked to make an appointment. After all, a gallery that can look at your work right away may only have the time for drop-ins because they aren’t very busy selling art.

When you call to make an appointment, you can also get answers to questions that will you make you look like you know what you are doing from the start. So in my opinion, call, set up an appointment, and get ready to “wow!” them with your presentation.

Dress appropriately

If you’re like me, when you think of an interview, you think of a business suit, spit-polished shoes, and an immaculate appearance.

That might not be quite as necessary for a gallery interview as for a professional interview, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with showing up looking like a professional. Artists do have a bit more leniency in this regard than the average accountant, lawyer, or other business professional, but you should still think of yourself as a professional and you should dress and behave in a manner that reflects that attitude.

Like it or not, first impressions are formed in a matter of seconds and are solely based on appearance and posture. If you show up at the gallery of your choice wearing cut-offs and flip flops and looking like you don’t care, you may have just torpedoed your chances with that gallery.

(Unless, of course, the gallery is on a beach somewhere and caters to surfers and beachcombers.)

Having said that, I will offer this caveat. If you’ve done your homework, you will have already seen what people are wearing to the gallery—staff and visitors alike. Use your best judgment and dress accordingly.

Present like your career depends on it

The artwork you present (and how you present it) will typically be determined by what the gallery asked to see.

Original artwork should be framed in good quality frames (dusted, too) and neatly fitted with the appropriate hanging devices. No sawtooth hangers!

If you’re doing your own framing, it isn’t necessary to cover the backs of works on canvas with paper, but if you do, it presents a much nicer package to all who take the time to look and makes a wonderful place to put your contact information or details about the painting.

You should also present original work in a fashion that indicates you respect it. Don’t stack paintings one on top of another or otherwise handle your work carelessly (I know I’ve done it, so I’m guessing you have too!)

And some form of professional organization for originals is a good idea. Even a large portfolio holding one or two pieces is a step in the right direction.

If you’re showing reproductions, photographs, or other printed material, keep it simple, neat and clean, not too big or too small. Check online for printing companies that do this sort of work and you will be amazed at what you find. Make sure to include enough samples to present a range of subjects and, if applicable, mediums.

Plus, don’t forget all the usual items like your resume (art-related of course), biography, and any other material the gallery has requested.

And here’s one final tip—talk it up!

Be prepared to talk about your work. What inspires you? Why do you choose the subjects you choose? Why do you use the medium you use?

You should also be prepared to answer questions about specific pieces. If there is a special motivation behind the artwork, you should be able to explain it.

The “story” behind a piece can transform it from a nice piece into a piece of art with an additional connection—and viewers who develop a connection with a painting, drawing or sculpture become buyers. I’ve seen it happen.

In the end, once you’ve done your homework and put together the best presentation of yourself and your work possible, all you can do is allow the gallery to make their decision. Some will be able to give you an immediate answer. And if they accept your work, they may want to keep some of what you have presented so be prepared for that possibility.

If they ask for time to make their decision, allow it. If they say no, accept it with grace. Be professional to the end. No matter what they decide, you can walk away knowing that you’ve done your best!

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The 8 Elements of Composition in Art

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Composition is the term used to describe the arrangement of the visual elements in a painting or other artwork. It is how the elements of art and design—line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space—are organized or composed according to the principles of art and design —balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, unity/variety—and other elements of composition, to give the painting structure and convey the intent of the artist.

Composition is different from the subject matter of a painting. Every painting, whether abstract or representational, regardless of subject matter, has a composition. Good composition is essential to the success of a painting. Done successfully, good composition in art draws the viewer in and then moves the viewer's eyes across the whole painting so that everything is taken in, finally settling on the main subject of the painting.

Composition According to Henri Matisse

"Composition is the art of arranging in a decorative manner the diverse elements at the painter's command to express his feelings." - Henri Matisse in "Notes of a Painter."

Elements of Composition in Art

The elements of composition in art are used to arrange or organize the visual components in a way that is pleasing to the artist and, one hopes, the viewer. They help give structure to the layout of the painting and the way the subject is presented. They can also encourage or lead the viewer's eye to wander around the whole painting, taking in everything and ultimately coming back to rest on the focal point . In Western art the elements of composition are generally considered to be:

• Unity : Do all the parts of the composition feel as if they belong together, or does something feel stuck on, awkwardly out of place?
• Balance : Balance is the sense that the painting "feels right" and not heavier on one side. Having a symmetrical arrangement adds a sense of calm, whereas an asymmetrical arrangement creates a more dynamic feeling. A painting that is not balanced creates a sense of unease. 
• Movement: There are many ways to give a sense of movement in a painting , such as the arrangement of objects, the position of figures, and the flow of a river. You can use leading lines (a photography term applicable to painting) to direct the viewer's eye into and around the painting. Leading lines can be actual lines, such as the lines of a fence or railroad, or implied lines, such as a row of trees or a curve of stones or circles.
• Rhythm: In much the same way music does, a piece of art can have a rhythm or underlying beat that leads your eye to view the artwork at a certain pace. Look for the large underlying shapes (squares, triangles, etc.) and repeated color .
• Focus (or Emphasis ): The viewer's eye ultimately wants to rest on the "most important" thing or focal point in the painting, otherwise the eye feels lost, wandering around in space. 
• Contrast: Paintings with high contrast—strong differences between light and dark, for example—have a different feel than paintings with minimal contrast in light and dark, such as in Whistler Nocturne series. In addition to light and dark, contrast can be differences in shape, color, size, texture, type of line, etc. 
• Pattern: A regular repetition of lines, shapes, colors, or values in a composition.
• Proportion: How things fit together and relate to each other in terms of size and scale; whether big or small, nearby or distant.

The elements of composition are not the same as the elements of art , though composition is sometimes included as one of the latter.

• The 7 Principles of Art and Design
• Words to Describe Art
• The 7 Elements of Art and Why You Should Know Them
• 7 Major Painting Styles—From Realism to Abstract
• Is Mary Magdalene in Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper?'
• The Most Important Functions of Art
• Surrealism, the Amazing Art of Dreams
• What Is Balance in Art and Why Does It Matter?
• The Definition of Shape in Art
• Overview of the Op Art Movement
• How Are Patterns Used in Art?
• What is the Definition of Contrast in Art?
• What Is Meant by "Emphasis" in Art?
• The Element of Space in Artistic Media
• The Life and Art of John Singer Sargent

How To Give An Artist Talk & Describe Your Art

All of these questions and assumptions pummel your mind, syncopating your racing heart. What will I discuss? Is my public speaking as engaging as my art? I’m better at art than speaking!?  

This anxious, panicky response is understandable.  

But what if you could talk about your art and overcome your fear of public speaking at the same time?  

Here’s how to talk about fine art in a 9 step guide to what we hope will free you to simply be your artist-public speaking self. .

1. Outline your art talk

Organizing your thoughts is a necessary evil. Some people feel it keeps them from the freedom of expression, or it somehow dulls their creative edge.  

What if it actually made all of those things better? Imagine if those beach condos on the east coast didn’t have railings on their patios? That might be too liberating right?  

Take outlining as the way to maintain your ability to reach the peak of your talk, and hit all these important points on the way down. Outlines help make sure you don’t lose any of your listeners while you’re at it.  

What good would a great artist talk be if it was just an artist ramble? Outlining helps you toss the lesser ideas so you can keep the long-windedness at bay.

And outlining is arguably the most important part, don’t put this off. Your ideas will likely be fresh after your anxiety has subsided, take advantage of that brainstorm.  

2 Familiarize yourself with the way you talk  about art

Getting familiar with what you plan to say, the way you plan to say it is public speaking 101.  

Although having your 3 best friends in your living room won’t be quite the same as a 3,000 person lecture hall or even 200 person exhibition, it’ll help work out the kinks and get you feedback on what you did well and what could use some work.  

Also, enter in blinding stage lights, and you’re unlikely to see any of the people in the audience–this is a blessing for those burdened with fears of public speaking.

You may even find that more intimate settings are far more intimidating than the larger ones. In a room of 200 everyone can’t see your imperfections as opposed to a room of 5, when there’s likely nothing that can be missed.  

Intimate practice sessions should help get you more comfortable. During these times of practice it’s also a good idea to appeal to your learning style.  

If you best remember your talking points by writing them down, create cue cards. You can also write out your talk from start to finish if visualizing your talk in your head is best for you.  

Writing your talk sometimes is equivalent to seeing your talk projected in your mind and scrolling by like a marquee as you are on stage speaking.  

Some speakers may be auditory so recording the talk and replaying it throughout the day and as you fall asleep is another great way to commit your talk to memory.  

A 2017 study of memorization  methods among science students actually concluded the use of drawings as increasingly beneficial to memorization. The experiment was over the course of 4 weeks wherein students were split into groups based on the memorization technique they were to use. The group assigned the drawing method “remembered significantly more propositions than those who had memorised the propositions by writing them down”.  

The study further cites there wasn’t a difference between the students who memorized by vocalizing and those who    memorized silently to themselves. The goal was ultimately to assist in bridging the concrete with the abstract. Thus the more concrete you can make your speech in your mind the more success you may have with memorization and delivery.

And perhaps the artist stands to be the most likely to be a grand public speaker? If you are a painter, illustrator, or use sketching to inform your work, consider how your own drawings can assist in increased memorization. This step may be a space where you can innovate.

3. Less is more, decide your goals for talking about art

You don’t have to feel this compulsion to say too much when you discuss your fine art. Don’t worry about “sounding smart” or being “impressive”. These unnecessary pressures tend to crowd out the speaker and the point of the message.

People can tell when you aren’t being authentic. If your talk doesn’t sound like you, scrap it. Your audience attaches to your authenticity and credibility or ethos, not someone else’s.

Establishing ethos according to a critical analysis of over 150 speeches notes  that language and its effective use was indispensable from the determination of speaker ethos. Depending on the setting in which the speaker is giving their talk, credibility will determine success. The study further notes that speakers who display the most, or the highest ethos present as knowing what they’re talking about, display confidence, and gain the audience’s sentiments. Fluid delivery and use of language is also critical to the development of credibility over the course of a talk. This also flows into the use of words such as “like” “um” or “uh”. These are noted as “discourse markers” and often give the impression that a speaker lacks professionalism. The audience stance on these markers and overall credibility of a speaker was also said to reflect the intelligence of the audience, whether this was seen as problematic or somehow unacceptable.  

This is why it is so necessary that an artist keeps to what they know.

To avoid this, determine what your goal is. Jumping in without a framework makes the task of writing a talk incredibly cumbersome. Imagine jumping into a pool with no floor or walls, what contains the water? Is there even a pool?  

In sum, what do you want your listeners to ultimately walk away with? This is your framework.

Do you want them to leave with the urge to create? With a new found respect for art? An understanding of art as a vehicle for social change? Or maybe that art should just be able to be, without demands or constraints.

Whether you’re “selling” inspiration, creativity, or empowerment these feelings are the ones that stick with the audience long after you’re all gone.  

Make your audience feel!

Determine your end goal, this will guide you in the writing process for your talk and ultimately the terms you’ll use to deliver.  

And remember every word counts. It’s not about the many words you can speak, but the specific words you choose to speak. Don’t waste them as you never know who is in the room.  

It may also be helpful to remember this orator points:  

• Oral Arguments have a more immediate effect on the audience.  
• Clear definitions are needed to explain a claim and [support] a [talk].  
• The setting where the [talk] occurs has a definite impact on the argument.  
• Visual aids can help to make your [talk] clear for the audience.  
• Analysis of your audience is essential.

4. Make it yours through stories, know your audience before you talk about art

You don’t have to worry about speaking on behalf of all artists or the entire genre of fine art. Speak about your particular lived experience as an artist.  

These unique talking points are what will truly engage your audience. Don’t attempt to be pretentious or talk about what you don’t know, nor speak about the nebulous “we”.  

Give your talk definition and depth with stories! Real stories.  

It is noted that captivation of an audience   is tied to fine storytelling. A speaker cannot disentangle the emotions from a good story as this is how the audience bonds to the characters the story is about. This means making the story somehow about you will build cohesion between you and the audience. This is also defined as the psychological state coined “narrative transport”.    Also by consensus scientists agree stories have a universal power to conjunct the “neurological roots of both telling tales and enjoying them” as a form of our social cognition.    These same results were seen in a study of advertisements which found that narratives within ads were positively correlated with critical thought, audiences were more likely to engage as opposed to simply being told the information without engaging the sensing through story.  

Be anecdotal and narrative. Just as you would story tell when you’re creating a series, or curatoring a collection, use your talk to paint a picture in the mind of the audience, or sculpt a new piece of insight, vision, or dialogue you want your audience to consider.  

This study suggests the use of stories every 15-20 minutes . Or using such stories to punctuate your talk, interjecting one at each junction–intro, middle, and end. Think of the stories as the rails keeping the locomotive of your talk in motion, ensuring you don’t derail. Narratives keep listeners locked in. How many stories used will depend upon the length of your talk.

This step is a combination approach because as you make the talk yours and about you, you must also make it about your audience. The only way to do this is to know them.  

Suss out beforehand who will be hearing your discussion. Will you be at a college exhibition with a majorly young adult audience? The way you’d appeal to them will be distinctively different; you may use pop culture references here. Will you be at an art fair with a mixed and fluctuating audience? Your talk may need to be more universal.  

5.    Embrace the anxiety that comes with art public speaking

As an artist, it’s likely your artist talk will include displays of your work. A great way to help yourself find a natural and calm rhythm for the duration of your talk is to refer back to your pieces.  

Use your artwork as both transitions in your talk to arrive at the next point and to help you maintain a steady pace that keeps your anxiety at bay.

Find spaces in your talk where you can direct the audience to look at your piece and consider a particular question you’ve posed.  

These small breaks of time allow you a chance to relax, to breathe, and to find comfort in being in front of an audience. And to contemplate what British writer and poet  D.H. Lawrence penned, “Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.”  

These moments also allow you to slow down. Contrary to what you might think, speeding through your talk won’t make you less anxious.  

Taking your time and approaching your talk with a conversational pace allows for rapport building with your audience. You can also Insert a well placed joke that is akin to your personality, even if it’s impromptu.  

These moments, these spaces of laughter, lighten the energy you feel and the energy in the room.  

“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.”

– John Ford

It may even be helpful, although not in all cases, to invite a trusted friend or loved one that gives you peace of mind, just knowing they’re in the room. Your artist talk is a great time to support your needs as well as those of the audience you’re speaking with.  

And if you’re still unsure of yourself  Toastmasters International  is a world-renowned incubator for public speaking, speech-writing, confidence-building, and networking. Each club is intimate with somewhere around 20 people per club. There you can fine tune your public speaking skills into a craft.

You want to ensure that both you and the audience walk away feeling expanded in some way. More aware of self and the world that lies just outside of you.  

Your artist talk is a chance to make even a small wave in an ocean of talks, if there’s one defining step to be guided by, let it be your heart.  

Frits F. B. Pals, Jos L. J. Tolboom, Cor J. M. Suhre & Paul L. C. van Geert (2018) Memorisation methods in science education: tactics to improve the teaching and learning practice, International Journal of Science Education, 40:2, 227-241, DOI:  10.1080/09500693.2017.1407885

Croucher, S. (2004). Like you know what I’m saying:A Study of Discourse Marker Frequency in Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking.  University of Oklahoma.

Porrovecchio, M. (2007). A Timeless Struggle: Ethos, Ethics, and Ethical Oral Communication.  JCSTAND 55.

Importance of Stories: Public Speaking/Speech Communication

Smith, F. (2000). Public speaking survival strategies.  Journal of Emergency Nursing . Retrieved from DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0099-1767(00)90064-3

35+ Best Arts + Artistic PowerPoint (PPT) Templates 2024

When you’re preparing a presentation for a creative project, the design you choose for the slideshow plays a very important role. Mainly, it’s what helps set the tone and the mood for your entire presentation.

Whether it’s a presentation for an art exhibition, a portfolio showcase, or even to present your creative agency, using a PowerPoint template with an artistic design will go a long way to make your presentation a success.

To help you find the right PowerPoint design, we handpicked some of the best arts PowerPoint templates with stunningly creative designs. See if you can find a PPT template for your project from the collection below.

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Ciri PPT Template

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Urban – graffiti & pop art powerpoint template.

This PowerPoint template is designed with an urban pop art-style design to make it suitable for all modern creative presentations. You can use it to create a slideshow for showcasing various artistic projects. This arts PPT template includes 30 beautiful slide layouts with fully editable graphics and shapes.

Hollize – Art Exhibition PowerPoint Template

Hollize is a fantastic art exhibition PowerPoint template for those looking for more creative control over their presentation format. It provides you with tailored slides and extensive customization options, ensuring your presentation fits your very specific artistic direction.

Arcanist – Pop Art PowerPoint Template

Looking for a template to present your art project in graffiti style? Then be sure to download this template. It includes 39 different slide designs featuring pop art and graffiti-themed layouts. You can mix and match different slides in this template to create an attractive presentation for your project.

Art Gallery PowerPoint Presentation Template

Just as the name suggests, this PowerPoint template is designed with art gallery and art exhibition presentations in mind. It features a minimal and clean slide design with a modern art look and feel. The template lets you choose from more than 50 different slide designs to create an artistic presentation.

Street Art – PowerPoint Presentation Template

If you’re a fan of street art, this PowerPoint template will help you design a street art-inspired presentation that looks trendy and attractive. It includes more than 40 unique slide layouts with fully customizable shapes, colors, and master slides. You can also easily drag and drop your images into the template using its image placeholders.

Colorful Pop Art PowerPoint Template

Mixing both modern art and pop art design elements, this PowerPoint template creates a unique look throughout its slides. It’s perfect for creating presentations full of vibrant colors. The template features 30 different slide layouts with master slide layouts, vector icons, editable colors, and much more.

Hyphes Portfolio – Free Art PowerPoint Template

This is a free PowerPoint template that comes with 24 unique slides. Each slide features colorful designs with abstract shapes and layouts. You can use it to create all kinds of creative presentations.

Brushy – Brush Art PowerPoint Template

Just as the name suggests, this PowerPoint template comes with a beautiful brush-themed design filled with colorful layouts. It’s perfect for designers, artists, and painters for showcasing their art in a creative way. There are 38 unique slides included in this template.

Gummy – Creative Art PowerPoint Template

Gummy is a modern art-style presentation template that comes with artistic slide designs. It has 30 unique slides with minimal layouts where you can show off art and designs using large images.

Clorful – Design & Art PowerPoint Template

This colorful PowerPoint template comes with a set of multipurpose slide layouts. You can use it to make presentations for all kinds of art-related businesses, agencies, brands, and artists. There are 43 different slides in this template.

Zinco – Art Presentation PowerPoint Template

Zinco is another modern art-style PowerPoint template that has a bold and creative design. It’s most suitable for presenting your art and designs to potential clients. The template includes 15 unique slides.

Halmahera – Creative & Pop Art PowerPoint Template

Halmahera PowerPoint template features a pop art-themed design with bright and colorful backgrounds. The template is ideal for modern agency and freelancer presentations. You can choose from 28 different slides to craft amazing slideshows with this template.

Painter Portfolio Free PowerPoint Template

This free PowerPoint template is made with painters and artists in mind. It has 25 unique slides where you can showcase your skills and designs in a professional manner. The template is available in Google Slides format too.

Revolver – Art Business PowerPoint Template

Create an amazing portfolio pitch piece with the Revolver PowerPoint template. It provides you with a minimalistic, yet business-efficient portfolio format presentation that will help you show off your work in a captivating fashion. One of the best arts PowerPoint templates out there.

Creative Artist PowerPoint Template

Bring a touch of artistic style to your portfolio presentation with this creative PowerPoint template. It’s a beautifully crafted portfolio presentation format, providing you with a range of custom slides, master slides, image placeholders, font options, and more!

Pop Art Resume – Free Art PowerPoint Template

Another free PPT template for crafting resumes or portfolio presentations. The template includes 19 unique slides for effectively showcasing your skills and experience.

RASTEL – Colorful & Pop Art PowerPoint Template

Rastel is a creative PowerPoint template featuring a modern and colorful collection of slide layouts. This template is ideal for creating presentations with a modern art look and feel. There are more than 40 slide layouts in this template featuring image placeholders, device mockups, editable charts, graphics, and so much more.

Master Art – Art Exhibition PowerPoint Template

A great PowerPoint template for a modern art exhibition. This PPT template comes with a simple yet elegant slide design that fits perfectly for an art gallery. The template includes a total of 150 slide designs, featuring 30 unique slides in 5 different color schemes. You can easily edit each slide to your preference as well.

Graffy – Urban Art & Graffiti PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template features an urban art-themed slide design that allows you to create slideshows for various art projects. The template also comes with multipurpose slide layouts, allowing you to use it for business and branding presentations as well. There are 40 unique slides in this template with fully editable layouts.

POPSPHERE – Pop Art PowerPoint Template

This presentation template comes filled with bright colors, abstract shapes, and overall a creative look and feel. It’s the perfect choice for creating a pop art-themed slideshow for your art project presentations. The template includes 30 unique slide layouts that you can customize however you like.

Artles Art – Creative PowerPoint Template

You can use this PowerPoint template to create a presentation with a modern art-inspired design. It features a simple slide layout with plenty of space for you to show off visuals as well as text content. There are 30 slides in this template with a custom-made infographic. You can edit them to your preference to change colors and layouts.

Elsie – Free Artistic Powerpoint Template

Elsie is a free PowerPoint template you can use to craft artistic presentations. It’s ideal for both business, branding, and freelancing-related slideshows. The template design is also available in dark and light color themes.

Ethan – Free Art PowerPoint Template

This creative presentation template is perfect for making slideshows for business presentations. It includes art-inspired slides for showcasing products and services. The template is free to use with your personal projects.

Limitless – Pop Art & Graffiti PowerPoint Template

A colorful and creative PowerPoint template that works for both art and fashion presentations. This template includes creative shapes and a stylish art-themed slide layout that gives it a unique look and feel. The template includes a total of 36 slides. There are also master slides, image placeholders, and device mockups included with the template.

Art And Music School PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template is made with art schools in mind. You can use it to promote various art programs or even create presentations for school exhibitions. The template lets you choose from 30 unique slide layouts and you can customize them to your preference as well.

Artwork – Interior Design PowerPoint Template

Interior design and furniture design can also be considered as art forms. They involve creative thinking and planning. That’s why this aptly named PowerPoint template is perfect for promoting projects and businesses related to interior design. It includes 25 different slide layouts with elegant and clean designs.

Visualizm – Creative Pop Art PowerPoint Template

Another creative PowerPoint template featuring pop art-themed design. This template also comes filled with vibrant colors and stylish shapes. You can use it to make presentations for various art projects, showcasing portfolios, services, and more. The template lets you choose from 33 unique slide designs, which include 3 vector icon slides and editable graphics.

Pastel – Colorful Arts PowerPoint Template

This PowerPoint template comes with more than 50 different slide layouts. Each slide in the template features pastel color-inspired designs along with lots of creative shapes and layouts. It also includes editable shapes, portfolio slides, device mockups, and more resources you’ll need to make an artistic presentation.

Butterflies – Free Art Portfolio PPT Template

A beautifully designed PowerPoint template filled with colors and shapes. This PPT template is ideal for all kinds of creative slideshows. There are 25 unique slides you can use to make an attractive presentation for free.

Brush Background – Free Art PowerPoint Template

This free PowerPoint template features a unique design with watercolor-themed brush backgrounds. There are 33 unique slides in this template. And it comes in Google Slides format as well.

Ganes – Graffiti Art PowerPoint Template

Ganes is a unique PowerPoint template that features a design inspired by urban graffiti art. It’s suitable for various presentations, including urban fashion, art projects, and exhibitions. The template includes 36 different slide layouts with editable graphics and customizable designs.

Artist – Art Portfolio PowerPoint Template

If you’re a creative professional or an artist working on a presentation to showcase your art, this PPT template is made just for you. It features a set of beautiful slides you can use to present your portfolio in a creative way. There are 30 unique slide layouts in this template with 5 different color schemes to choose from.

Modern Art Portfolio PowerPoint Template

Another PowerPoint template for showcasing your art portfolios. This template, however, features a clean and modern layout, making it suitable for all types of creatives and freelancers. The template lets you choose from 30 different slides with fully customizable layouts.

Playlist – Music Festival PowerPoint Template

Show off your original music library with the Playlist PowerPoint template. It’s a gorgeously designed modern music portfolio template, equipped with a range of smooth and trendy slide designs. A great choice for those looking to pitch their new album or music festival ideas.

Artwork Business PowerPoint Template

Make your artistic portfolio truly stand out with the Artwork Business PowerPoint template. This template is tailored towards pitch-styled presentations and uses a clean and modern slide aesthetic that exudes professionalism. The template consists of fifty unique slides, as well as a range of added features that will keep you customizing for hours.

For more great PPT designs, be sure to explore our best PowerPoint templates collection.

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National Portrait Gallery Announces “Amy Sherald: American Sublime”

On view in Washington, D.C., Beginning Sept. 19, 2025

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has announced the Washington, D.C., presentation of " Amy Sherald: American Sublime ,” the largest, most comprehensive exhibition of the artist’s work to date. Organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), “American Sublime” is the artist’s first major museum survey, bringing together paintings made from 2007 to the present. New and rarely seen work will be joined by the artist’s now iconic portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama (2018), commissioned by the Portrait Gallery for its collection, and her powerful portrait of Breonna Taylor (2020). The exhibition will also mark the return of “Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance)” (2014) to Washington, where the painting garnered first prize in the Portrait Gallery’s 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition . The Washington presentation of “American Sublime” is curated by Rhea L. Combs, director of curatorial affairs for the National Portrait Gallery. It will be on view Sept. 19, 2025 through Feb. 22, 2026. Sherald is the first contemporary Black artist to receive a solo exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

“The Portrait Gallery’s presentation of ‘American Sublime’ celebrates a full circle of sorts,” Combs said. “Sherald’s work premiered at the museum in 2016, when the artist won first prize in the Portrait Gallery’s triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Her painting then reached a global stage when she unveiled her remarkable portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama in 2018. For the past eight years, Sherald’s art has enthralled viewers with its technical astuteness. The empathy it extends to the individuals in her portraits captivates those who experience the paintings. With this mid-career survey, it is an honor to share with audiences the breadth and depth of Sherald’s practice.”  

“American Sublime” will consider the powerful impact of Sherald’s work in the art historical tradition of American realism. Gallery texts and catalog essays will elucidate Sherald’s unique artistic process—inviting individuals she meets or sees on the street to be photographed, then transforming the photos into imaginative figure paintings that act as more than representative portraits. Each with few markers of place, time or context beyond clothing, Sherald has described the resulting body of work as a more expansive vision of interiority and selfhood, inviting viewers to consider the possibilities and complexities of each individual’s story.  

The exhibition will also explore the artist’s privileging of Black American sitters, who historically have been erased from the genre of portraiture, and her choice to render faces and skin in shades of gray—a technique that dates back to the early Renaissance—to highlight race as a construct. Furthermore, “American Sublime” is the first exhibition to connect Sherald’s references to other historical precedents in visual culture ranging from the paintings of Caspar David Friedrich, and Alfred Eisenstaedt’s famous image of a sailor kissing a woman in Times Square in 1945, to the films of Tim Burton. 

“Amy Sherald: American Sublime” is accompanied by an eponymous publication—the artist’s first comprehensive monograph—representing the broad sweep of Sherald’s painting practice as well as her key influences and inspirations. Contributors include the exhibition’s organizing curator Sarah Roberts, as well as Elizabeth Alexander, Dario Calmese and Combs. “Amy Sherald: American Sublime” is published by SFMOMA in association with Yale University Press.

“Amy Sherald: American Sublime” is organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and curated by Roberts, former Andrew W. Mellon Curator and Head of Painting and Sculpture at SFMOMA.

The National Portrait Gallery is grateful to the Ford Foundation whose support has made the Washington, D.C., presentation of this exhibition possible.

About Amy Sherald

            Born in Columbus, Georgia, and now based in the New York City area, Sherald documents contemporary African American experiences in the United States through arresting, intimate portraits. Sherald engages with the history of photography and portraiture, inviting viewers to participate in a more complex debate about accepted notions of race and representation, and to situate Black life in American art.

            Sherald received her Master of Fine Arts in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and her Bachelor of Arts in painting from Clark-Atlanta University. In 2016, she was the first woman and first African American to receive the grand prize in the National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition; she also received the 2017 Anonymous Was A Woman award, the Smithsonian Ingenuity Award in 2019, the Pollock Prize for Creativity in 2018 and the David C. Driskell Prize in 2018. Sherald was selected by First Lady Michelle Obama to paint her portrait as an official commission for the National Portrait Gallery in 2018.

            Sherald’s work is held in public collections such as the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas; the Embassy of the United States in Dakar, Senegal; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Nasher Museum of Art in Durham, North Carolina; the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.; SFMOMA; the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture; the National Portrait Gallery; and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.

National Portrait Gallery

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the multifaceted story of the United States through the individuals who have shaped American culture. Spanning the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the nation’s story.                    

The National Portrait Gallery is located at Eighth and G streets N.W., Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Information: (202) 633-1000. Connect with the museum at npg.si.edu and on Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube .  

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Gallery manager ‘horrified’ by theft of Banksy artwork

Girl with balloon has been recovered after it was taken from the grove gallery in central london on sunday., article bookmarked.

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A gallery manager has said he was “horrified and petrified” after a Banksy artwork was stolen from his central London venue.

The £270,000 print, called Girl with Balloon and numbered 72 of 150, may now have “skyrocketed” in value after being taken from the Grove Gallery on Sunday but also quickly recovered by the Metropolitan Police , according to gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj.

Two men have been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with burglary.

The artwork, described by Mr Mehmetaj as “iconic”, was part of a exhibition showcasing a £1.5 million collection of Banksy pieces.

Police said it was the only item stolen and it has now been recovered and will be returned to the gallery. On Friday, Mr Mehmetaj said: “I noticed at the gallery front door, the window was totally smashed and there was loads of glass everywhere.

“Unfortunately, when I came closer to the gallery I noticed that one of our iconic Banksy pieces had been stolen.”

He said he was “horrified and petrified” when he realised it had been taken, adding: “It is quite hard to put into words what it feels like when someone has violated our gallery and stolen a piece of artwork.”

Mr Mehmetaj also noted that “historically” it can take years for disappeared artwork to be recovered, if at all.

He added that thanks to the Metropolitan Police this was not the case, and “it is so pleasing to see it again in the flesh again, so we are very lucky, but it is very unusual to have it recovered”.

Asked if he had spoken to Banksy about the theft, Mr Mehmetaj said: “No comment.”

Another version of the painting hit the headlines in 2018 when it partially self-destructed at the conclusion of an auction in which it had been sold for £1.1 million.

The canvas was passed through a secret shredder hidden inside the large frame, leaving the bottom half in tatters and only a solitary red balloon left on a white background in the frame.

The partially-shredded piece, entitled Love Is In The Bin, was sold for £18,582,000 in London by auction house Sotheby’s in October 2021.

Mr Mehmetaj said the fact that the gallery’s version of the artwork has been stolen and recovered is now part of its story and may have added some value to it.

Stating that the theft has “just added a new dimension to this particular artwork”, he said: “Historically you do find that there are some fine art pieces that have gotten stolen and have been recovered.

“If you go back in history there are Da Vinci’s which are stolen and are in Paris now.

“Typically when fine art and masterpieces are stolen, the financial value can skyrocket.

“Hopefully, it is going to be the same for this Banksy, in my professional opinion.

“Prior the actual robbery, I would argue that the limited edition signed print by Banksy was valued at around £270,000.

“Fine art is quite subjective and it is all about the kind of eyes which get to see this artwork and the kind of demand for this artwork – whether it has doubled in value or tripled or quadrupled, we have to wait and see, but typically that is what occurs when art is stolen.”

The gallery has taken down all of its Banksys for safety and security and the recovered artwork will now “probably have to go into storage for security purposes”, according to Mr Mehmetaj.

He said that “full security” may now been needed at the gallery in future to step up protection of the artworks.

The artwork was recovered on Thursday afternoon.

Gallery chief executive James Ryan said: “To say this theft was devastating and heartbreaking is an understatement.”

Larry Fraser, 47, and James Love, 53, were charged with non-residential burglary and remanded in police custody.

An investigation was launched after a burglary at the gallery in New Cavendish Street at around 11pm on Sunday.

Fraser, of Evelyn Denington Road, Beckton, east London, and Love, of Elvin Drive, North Stifford, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where they were bailed ahead of appearing at Kingston Crown Court on October 9.

According to court documents, the pair allegedly entered Grove Gallery as trespassers and stole the “Girl With Balloon print to the value of £270,000”.

A representative for Banksy declined to comment.

Earlier this summer, several pieces in Banksy’s animal-themed series were moved for safekeeping, with one defaced just hours after it went up.

Banksy’s silhouette of a howling wolf on a satellite dish in Peckham was taken less than an hour after it was confirmed as authentic.

Another piece in his collection, a silhouette of a rhino, was defaced by a man wearing a black balaclava just hours after it went up.

His piece at London Zoo, which shows a gorilla lifting up a shutter and allowing a number of birds and a seal to escape, was removed for “safekeeping” and replaced with a replica in August.

Banksy’s artwork of piranhas in a police sentry box was moved temporarily to Guildhall Yard to keep it safe, the City of London Corporation announced, after the piece appeared on Ludgate Hill.

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