Unique Online Global Community Launches for Visual Artists, Writers, Collectors and Fans of the Fantastic

Online, June 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Illustrator, designer and writer Rene Carson wondered why he couldn't find an online community for artists that provided a network for creators in all areas of the Fantastic Arts, and at the same time offered collectors, art fans, students and those involved in related areas of interest, a place where they too would feel just as welcome. He found that while all of the professional and fan communities had much to offer segments of the Popular and Fantastic Art community, few seemed to encourage the very premise of art itself -- inspiration and collaboration amongst varying styles, genres and techniques. He was looking for a place where artists could inspire other artists, and at the same time promote their own work to a community of art lovers, as well as writers they might collaborate with.

The fantastic and popular arts encompass a wide variety of genres, including the visual arts of fantasy, science fiction, futurism, horror, comics, manga, entertainment storyboards, steampunk, surrealism, and neo-surrealism, as well as the written arts of speculative fiction, literary science fiction & fantasy, cyberpunk, magical realism, psychological horror, slipstream and fan fiction. The many genres and sub-genres include creators working digitally as well as those using traditional mediums such as paint, clay, charcoal and even found objects.

"I thought about a website where artists could promote themselves and their work. But also a space where artists could marvel at projects being created by others developing in completely different styles and mediums, and from different points of view," says Mr. Carson. "I often ask myself questions like 'How would M. C. Escher's work have been influenced if he had struck up a dialogue with H. P. Lovecraft' and 'What if an artist as naturally talented as Frank Frazetta, became an ardent admirer of Max Ernst' or 'What if Stephen King collaborated with H.R. Giger on a graphic novel?'" So, using skills acquired over 15 years as a multimedia designer, he decided to create a place where this type of collaboration could actually happen organically. Six months later MyFantasyArt.com was born.

"I guess you could say MyFantasyArt.com is itself a piece of experimental art. However, we don't want that aspect of the website to overshadow its potential as a networking and promotional tool for talent as well. We're trying to build a reputation for quality and true inspiration, and that can also lead to exciting opportunities for creators as well. We simply want people who visit to understand that there's much more going on here than just another online portfolio website," he continues.

MyFantasyArt.com is part of a larger project -- The Museum of Fantasy Art -- which will begin as a series of global traveling art exhibits that will reside primarily within non-traditional venues, including colleges, independent movie theaters, popular culture conventions, and similar settings. The exhibits will help fund an eventual home for the Museum, which will focus on fantastic and popular arts of all kinds, and from around the globe.

These are some of the current features that creators, professionals and fans can take advantage of on MyFantasyArt.com at no cost:

Detailed Profile Pages with complete user-level content privacy controls
Free image album for visual art and photo presentation
Moderated Art Showcase to spotlight the best work submitted to the website
Sync activity updates with other Social Networking websites
Arts event calendar
User Groups and Community Forums
Regular sponsored art contests for cash and prizes

"I'm a firm believer in the theory that art isn't a painting or a book, it isn't commercial versus fine, or how it was created. Art is about generating emotion - first from the artist, and then from their audience. It's about having fun. It's about creating something that will outlast today's ideas, and then finally sharing it. I'm hoping MyFantasyArt.com gives more talented artists and potential artists a chance to do just that."

The website can be found at www.myfantasyart.com.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF FANTASY ART
The Museum of Fantasy Art will begin as a series of global traveling art exhibits that will stop primarily at non-traditional venues, including colleges, independent movie theaters, popular culture conventions, and similar settings. The exhibits will help fund an eventual home for a physical Museum of Fantasy Art, which will focus on fantastic and popular arts of all kinds, and from all over the globe.

ABOUT BY HAND MEDIA
By Hand Media is a design and communications consultancy based in Northern New Jersey, owned and operated by Rene Carson, a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City. The firm brings real-world multimedia design and marketing solutions to artists, independent filmmakers and small businesses.

For more information, please contact Rene Carson at (201) 417-3852 or [email protected].