They promote causes dear to their own hearts. That is what the artists featured in self-published magazine ‘’Artists Down Under’’ do. Artists Down Under is a group of artists and photographers from Australia and New Zealand who work together to raise the profile of their art and digital art. The magazine of the same name features their work and interviews with them. Athalie tells us more about this special magazine and how she uses Peecho for print on demand.

1. Can you tell us something about yourself?

‘’My name is Athalie Taylor and I live in Tasmania, Australia. I am a photographer / digital artist and editor of the “Artists Down Under – Australia and New Zealand” magazine.’’

Image by Judi Lapsley Miller

2. When and why did you start the self-published magazine Artists Down Under?

‘’I founded the nonprofit group called “Artists Down Under – Australia and New Zealand” on March 1, 2017. The first self-published magazine of the same name was published on April 1. I met the artists whose work features in every issue, along with articles and interviews, through the Photoshop Artistry and Awake courses run by internationally acclaimed Sebastian Michaels – a US-based Photographer, Photoshop Artist and online Educator. I formed the group and published the magazine as a way of promoting the artists who live down under in Australia and New Zealand.’’

3. What is Artists Down Under about?

‘’Artists Down Under is a group of (digital) artists / photographers who work together to raise the profile of their art and digital art in general. Digital artistry is a modern art form that is still relatively unknown in the fine art world. They discuss their work and ways of getting their art onto the world stage through exhibitions, their public Facebook page, their web and ArtBoja.com sites. Many artists are involved in causes. For example Dean Hohn, who works to raise awareness and funds for drilling water wells in villages supported by the Care for Africa Foundation in Tanzania. Another member, Judi Lapsley Miller, is a volunteer in the Zealandia conservation project in Wellington city, New Zealand, where there is a 500-year vision to restore a valley to a prehuman ecosystem. This project is acknowledged as one of Australasia’s top 25 ecological restoration projects. Helen Akerstrom is passionate about the endangered species of our world and regularly volunteers at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo, New South Wales in support of the programs they run. There are others too promoting causes dear to their own hearts. They all use their art to promote these worthwhile and important projects.’’

4. Why is Peecho the solution for you?

‘’I chose Issuu to publish the magazine and Peecho for printing. I was already aware of the high quality magazines and books printed by Peecho having purchased several “Living the Photo Artistic Life” hardcover books that are part of Sebastian Michaels’ Awake course. I needed a printer where the members of the group and the public could buy the magazine directly without having to go through me, and it is working beautifully.’’

5. Who are your customers?

‘’The main customers at the moment are the members of the group and their supporters but I hope that in time, as our reach grows, gallery owners, art collectors, and the general public will purchase our magazines too.’’