Brain Sparks - How to Submit Artwork

To submit work to the Brain Sparks art show you must be part of the program, and the art must be created through use of the Brain Sparks materials.

Send an image of your work to teendept@buffalolib.org

Below are some tips, examples, and requirements for submitting artwork.

Tips:

Always make sure the main light source is not behind the subject. If the light source is a window, don’t prop the subject against the window. This can make for an image with low contrast.
Watch out for shadows on the subject! If a shadow of your phone/camera shows up, try moving the subject higher up or leaning it against a wall or shelf rather than lying it flat.
Watch out for anything distracting that might distract from the picture, like materials you used or brightly colored/detailed backgrounds (unless that’s part of the art). Putting the subject on a plain wall, floor or bedspread will give more attention to the subject than putting it on something with a complicated pattern or bright color.
Be careful of warm lighting. It can make things look orange. If it is not possible to take a picture with neutral lighting, we may be able to edit it for you and turn the warmth down.
Flash is rarely necessary if your area is well-lit. As flash can make some parts of a picture look too bright and others too shadowed, it is usually better to opt for turning flash off. However, you might want to try it out both ways.
The angle of the picture matters. Especially with a flat piece of art like a painting or a drawing, taking the photo from above when you have the subject at a vertical angle (e.g., taped to a wall or against an easel) can distort the perspective of the image and make certain parts look shorter than they are. Make sure the angle of your phone or camera matches the angle of your subject.
If there is something distracting in the background, or a small shadow that doesn’t cover the subject itself, try cropping the image. If you’re not sure how to do this, we can do it for you.
If you’re not sure which way will look best, take a few different photos from different angles, with flash on and off, if possible. Keep an eye out for shadows, distracting background imagery, and distorted perspectives. Then pick your favorite from that selection. Or, send a few to us and we’ll choose what we think will look best on the site!

Please keep in mind that we may need to crop your photo to fit on our website, so leave a border around your picture if possible.

Picture taken with the light source behind it. Gives a glow behind the paper.

Picture taken with a shadow falling on it.

Picture taken with flash on.

Picture taken from above, at the wrong angle. The top of the paper looks bigger than the bottom, and the mermaid's tail looks shorter than it actually is.

Picture taken with good lighting and enough of a border to crop if needed.

Art photography tips and art by Indi Inki.

The only requirement is that you must be part of the Brain Sparks program, and the art must be created through use of the Brain Sparks materials. We also request no profanity or nudity, and that the content is respectful to all parties and people.