Artistic Endeavors: An information letter to Artists like me

Artistic Endeavors: An information letter to Artists like me (the first six issues were titled, "Endeavors, Artistic") is a 1990s publication for fan artists. The editor was Diana Harlan Stein, with much help from Heather Bruton.
This publication was described in several ways: a fanzine, a newsletter, and on one occasion, an apa, though the latter is not correct.
This zine contains letters of comment from fans about the zine itself as well as their experiences with art shows. Many issues contain flyers and progress reports for cons (the latter with a focus of the art show), detailed write-ups from concoms about money and sales. It is a very casual, chatty zine.
Each issue has a section where it lists full names of artists and their home contact info including phone numbers. Most of the initial membership was procured from a mailing list out of an old ASFA membership roll.
NOTE: When fans use the word "panel" in this newsletter, they are not talking about discussions in rooms, they are instead describing physical space in which to display art.
==Some Hot Topics==
* how long it took for some cons to pay the artists money owed them
* mailing art to cons (cost and difficulties)
* sexually explicit art at cons, censorship
* ego, hurt feelings as they related to fans being frank about how much money they made at cons
* media art: morals and legalities
* art vs. fine art
* much about very specific art techniques
* what sort of art sells at which cons ("pretty boys," "fantasy," "American Indian themes and owls," "Tolkien")
* which cons "treated artists well"
* much about The Team, Eh?
* detailed info on how many art pieces sold and for how much money
* difficulties for Americans getting art across the Canadian border
* plagiarism
* art archival
* one's art being uploaded to computers and BBS with and without consent, some of it even being seen on screens in Scotland!
==Cost==
The newsletter was initially free of charge. During the first year or two, the editor would ask fans to send her stamps and/or SASEs, but did not seem to be draconian about compliance. Fans' contributions to the newsletter was in itself, a currency. Fans who did not acknowledge receiving the newsletter in some fashion were dropped from the roster.
As of issue #16, this changed, as the newsletter hit a roster of 100, and the editor did not want to absorb the costs. At that point, the subscription cost became $10 a year: 
Also from the editor in issue #16: 
==Name Change==
The name of the first six newsletters was "Endeavors, Artistic," and with the seventh issue became "Artistic Endeavors." The editor explained in issue #8: "Sure the "Endeavors, Artistic" looks good on paper, but it's hard to say aloud. I decided to call it Artistic Endeavors so I don't look like a fool while talking."
==Fan Comments==
From a fan in early 1992: 
==Comments in Specific Issues==
The comments excerpted below from specific issues were chosen to illustrate style, flavor, and general feel.
They are only a tiny fraction of the many, many comments about individual conventions (both factual and opinions), as well as the many letters fans wrote into regarding technique, marketing, and other topics.
==Issue 1 ==
Endeavors, Artistic 1 was published in March 1992.
==Issue 2 ==
Endeavors, Artistic 2 was published in April 1992.
This issue has an extensive Worldcon con report with a focus on the art show, a section from the San Diego Comic Con Progress Report 1 (emphasis on the art show), a Boskone report art report roundup which includes a list of the artists present.
This issue has a short article/essay by Suzanne Robinson of The Team, Eh? about fans bringing fanart into Canada to sell at conventions there. See Braving the Canadian Border.
==Issue 3 ==
Endeavors, Artistic 3 was published in June 1992.
There were many, many con reports (long and short). One was for BayCon, see that page.
Other samples:
==Issue 4==
Endeavors, Artistic 4 was published in August 1992. This issue has some extensive comments on Duckon, see that page.
There were many, many con reports (long and short). One was for Toronto Trek, see that page.
Other samples:
==Issue 5 ==
Endeavors, Artistic 5 was published in September 1992.
This issue has two articles: "Presentation" by Heather Bruton and "ASFA Magicon Meeting" by Diana Harlan Stein.
There were many, many con reports (long and short). One was for MagiCon, see that page.
Other samples:
==Issue 6 ==
Endeavors, Artistic 6 was published in November 1992.
There were many, many con reports (long and short).
Some samples:
==Issue 7 ==
Artistic Endeavors 7 was published in December 1992. This issue has a long con report by April Lee for MagiCon, see that page.
There were many, many con reports (long and short). One was for Darkover Grand Council, see that page.
Other samples of reports and comments:
==Issue 8 ==
Artistic Endeavors 8 was published in February 1993. There is a con report for ConFusion, see that page.
==Issue 9 ==
Artistic Endeavors 1 was published in March 1993. This issue has an essay by Heather Bruton called Photo Files: Pros and Cons, see that page. This issue also has an essay by Mel White called GIFS and Scanned Images: Copyright issues, see that page.
==Issue 10 ==
Artistic Endeavors 10 was published in May 1993. This issue contains a lengthy comment on GIFS and Scanned Images: Copyright issues.
==Issue 11 ==
Artistic Endeavors 11 was published in June 1993.
* a reprint of an article by Joshua J. Kaufman from "The Artist's Magazine" called "Who Owns Reproductions"
* an article by Heather Bruton called "Painting Fur"
* this issue has con reports for MediaWest*Con, Ad Astra and Baycon, see those pages
* an article by Tom Dow called "Marbleizing Mat Board"
* there are some lovely comments about Elizabeth Pearse of The Team, Eh?, see that page
* many comments below are responses to the essay GIFS and Scanned Images: Copyright issues
==Issue 12 ==
Artistic Endeavors 12 was published in July 1993. This issue has an article called "Pricing Your Work" by Terri Jones (Necronomicon Art Show). It also has an essay by Donna Barr called How to Fantasy.
==Issue 13 ==
Artistic Endeavors 13 was published in September 1993. This issue has several con reports for ConFrancisco.
==Issue 14==
Artistic Endeavors 14 was published in November 1992.
There are several con reports for ConFrancisco. This issue has "The Care and Feeding of Artwork: Now that you've bought it, what do you do with it?" by D.C. Dedon, Mountain Regional Director ASFA, Second Edition June 1984 (reprinted from somewhere else).
==Issue 15 ==
Artistic Endeavors 15 was published in December 1993. There are some con reports for WindyCon in this issue, as well as several very technical articles about art techniques.
==Issue 16 ==
Artistic Endeavors 16 was published in February 1994. As of this issue, there were 100 people on the mailing list roster. This was also the issue where the editor said that fans would now have to pay money to get the newsletter.
* Mail-In Pet Peeves, A Director's Nightmare, article by Terri Jones, an show director for Necronomicon
* The Ten Easiest Backgrounds, article by Diana Harlan Stein
Sample comments:
==Issue 17 ==
Artistic Endeavors 17 was published in March 1994. This issue has the "1993 Chesley Award Nomination Suggestions." It also has How to Infringement, a satirical essay by Donna Barr
 
==Issue 18==
Artistic Endeavors 18 was published in April 1994.
It has art by Melody Rondeau, Heather Bruton, Joy Marie Ledet, Ruth Thompson, Sandy Schreiber, Heather Hudson, Larry DeSuza, Terrie Jones, and Lucinda Nelson Wasniak.
* an extensive list of short, factual con reports that rely what individual artists brought/sent to cons (1)
* "The Artist and the IRS," is a short article by Diana Harlan Stein (6)
* letters from artists (7)
* roster of 51 artists, their mailing addresses and phone numbers (13)
* a photocopy (from a book?) of an article called "Prismacolor Art Pencil Color and Lightfastness Guide" (14)
* a March 22, 1994 letter from Boskone XXXI Art Show organizers (Claire and Dave Anderson) that is a wrap-up of that con in regards to the art show and sales, includes summary of bidding, sales and purchases (15)
==Issue 19==
Artistic Endeavors 19 was published in May 1994.
This issue has a report on the Lunacon art show, see that page. It also has an essay in the form of a letter on art shows and conventions, see Offense, like beauty, is in the mind of the beholder. to read this, as well as comments to the essay.
==Issue 20==
Artistic Endeavors 20 was published in June 1994.
* Artist and the Taxman, article by Jennell Allyn Jaquays
* a reprint of an article (from "Western Horseman") called "Interpreting Equine Photo Copyright Laws," by Leon Patenburg
* The Comprehensive and Incomplete Fan Artist's Guide to Selling Fan Artwork, see that page
==Issue 21==
Artistic Endeavors 21 was published in July 1994.
* What Shall I Draw Now?, article by Diana Harlan Stein
* a long article about color by Tom Dow
 
==Issue 22==
Artistic Endeavors 22 was published in September 1994.
* Ya Wanna Come Up and See My Etchings by Ellen M. "Blade" McMicking, an article about etching glass
* several reports on San Diego Comic Con
* this issue's content is primarily long, long letters on technical things about art, photocopiers, color, and archival methods
==Issue 23==
Artistic Endeavors 23 was published in December 1994.
==Issue 24==
Artistic Endeavors 24 was published in February 1995. It contains the first part of "So You Want to Draw Comics."
==Issue 25==
Artistic Endeavors 25 was published in March 1995.
This issue has much about cons, and some letters.
It contains part two of "So You Want to Draw Comics."
==Issue 26==
Artistic Endeavors 26 was published in April 1995.
This issue has much about cons, and some letters.
It contains part three of "So You Want to Draw Comics."
==Issue 27==
Artistic Endeavors 27 was published in May 1995.
This issue has much about cons, but just a handful of letters. It also has extensive flyers for "Intersection," the 53rd Worldcon.
It contains part four of "So You Want to Draw Comics."
==Issue 28==
Artistic Endeavors 28 was published in June 1995.
There are con reports for Gaylaxicon and MediaWest*Con.
==Issue 29==
Artistic Endeavors 29 was published in July 1995. This issue also had reports for Duckon, Ad Astra, and BayCon, see those pages.
==Issue 30==
Artistic Endeavors 30 was published in February 1996.
There were a number of comments about 1995 Dragon*Con's disastrous art sales and show, see that page.
==Issue 31==
Artistic Endeavors 31 was published in March 1996.
==Issue 32==
Artistic Endeavors 32 was published in June 1996.
==Issue 33==
Artistic Endeavors 33, after nearly a year long hiatus, was published in April 1997. It was the last issue.
==References==
Category:Art Zines
Category:Multimedia Zines
Category:1990s Zines