Pocketful Magazine.

Now these guys are a new old school concept. They're taking in the mass movement to the online pdf format and chucking it back. They want to see the work in print. And they're lovely. The work strays to traditional styles of illustration with a few contemporary twists. The published works are available on amazon. If you have confidence, like their style and their briefs set twice a year, get involved and see your work on paper. Have a gander.

The Phase Collective.

Slightly different concept here. Its more of a communal blog/showcase. They were initially installed as a magazine yet have discovered this format to be more fluid and enjoyable. It opens up further collaboration and accessibility. They have some pretty beauty stuff posted up by the editor. General idea is you submit your work/something of interest for them to feast their eyes on. Should it be a pleasure, it will be posted up. Take glance.

New Porker.

A predominantly illustrative pdf magazine. There are a few sneaks of borderline contemporary art and the odd snippet of photography. Though some is what can be described as contemporary illustration with the introduction of new media, quite a large amount of work showcased here is fairly traditional illustration. Great for those that draw or want an excuse to revisit some old school methods to create some work. They generally have a couple of calls up for specific issues with the meta word stimulus. There does not appear to be a blurb as such.. but you get the general vibe. Quite refreshing to see a magazine that has a slightly more condensed artist base in terms of contribution. See it here.

Moloko+

A showcase of contemporary visual art, predominantly illustration and photography. Their general blurb is: 'searching and promoting the works that contain deep feelings and passion and mix different styles and techniques.' There is a good mix of media here. The magazine is held together through a straight forward page layout and style. The works speak for themselves. Intricate, confident illustrations and striking photography. The contributors are talented, their practise informed by the addition of a brief biography and/or interview. They are open to new submissions. Go seek.

Shoplift.

Shoplift gallery is one of the first online/offline collectives I stumbled across. They had the typical one word stimulus brief, their output was an online posting of works plus links to the artists personal sites or contact details. They didn't profess to be one of these slick magazines I have also discovered. They simply showcase your talents through their personal means. They also do a few interesting projects away from the internet usually involving acquiring spaces for exhibitions. A great thing they've got going which has fallen a little quiet recently. Take a look.

Destructed.

A quarterly art and design magazine. But this is another treat. It also has that edge of exclusivity. Not any old art type can grace the pages. It has a message, a direction, an aim. Their resume is inspiring, it is a collective of sorts. They gather artists with 'attitude and dedication'. Destructed as a whole is a mass of talented individuals, the magazine itself is a way in which to showcase the works created. They want to unite and create something pretty beauty here. They are merely using teh web as a start point, they want to gather creatives and lives but place a strong emphasis on not being swallowed or confined by the internet. If it is your kind of thing you're welcome to apply to join. A collective of substance. Definitely worth a look.

Candy Collective.

This magazine almost strays close to the beautiful books produced by the likes of Angus Hyland and Klanten of Die Gestalten Verlag. There is a strong design element lurking behind these pages. Many pdf art magazines tend to let the work hold its own residing on some relatively shaky page layouts. This is well made and consistent throughout. It has that extra edge of something considered and therefore professional.
Their reasons in not being another one of those beautiful books I hoard in my shelves is to do with ethics and accessibility. They save the planet and let everyone peruse its well made pages. And this is not all they do. Their website holds a host of interesting sections. This is not a sideline project, this is passion and involvement and commitment. And they know it: 'In terms of hard stats we are the world’s largest, both in physical size and downloads, independently produced free downloadable creative magazine.'
And I have no idea how or if you can get your work in there. Give them a try. They sound friendly. driven. in the know. involved.

bitFUUL

This is pretty much brand new. The first issue showcases an array of beautiful photography. Their web is basic. It does all it requires. Their general call is for 'Photos, Artwork, Illustrations, Lyrics, Money, Poetry, Pictures, Fava Beans, Music, or anything.' A perfect place to submit a work simply just for the work itself. It is new, it does not have the vast amount of past editions to back up what they do, but the aesthetic, the look and feel of what they have made so far is something I want to be part of. It flows, it looks good, it has definite quality. Check it.

TXTnein.

An international pdf bad boi. These guys appear to select as they go along. If you want to get on board send them over some images of your works and they will decide if they want abit of your style. Contributing artists get their own little gallery on the web. The Magazine itself is fairly similar but physically less substantial than rojo. Its a longterm project, they have some success going down. I'm impressed. Keen. Look here.

ilustre!

A multi functional, collaborative creation. Produced from the depths of the graphic design’s bachelor degree of the Visual Arts Faculty of Goiás (UFG) the professor and students alike create this publication. It takes artworks of any medium, they have specific formatting requirements to be followed for each submission. The end results are designed to be accessible as a pdf, a print based document or as singular posters. It is a basic concept and system, and it works. There is no apparent fixed themes or steering for content, nor are there set deadlines. This may allow them to enjoy flexibility to create something of a good quality yet from the perspective of a creative it means that the magazine has no requirements or loyalty in keeping you informed. However, this trend is fairly consistent with many magazines in of this nature. It is simple down to how much you enjoy creating a self initiated brief, and the confidence you have behind your work. Get involved.

Göoo

This is a bit of a winner. A damn attractive printed publication. They send out calls twice a year and pick out what they consider to be the very best. With international distribution it is definitely a magazine to aim for in terms of spreading your images out into the world. They are professional, they know their specs, they set particular formatting requirements. They have 7 issues of the magazine to back it up. They exude some kind of confidence and with that it makes me want to create works for them. These guys know exactly how its done and my cardboard would love to live there. Go see.

20x20

This is a relatively new publication in its early days. It has a fresh take and looks for a balance between writings, visuals and all that comes between. It resides on the tried and tested method of using meta words to stimulate creative responses. Yet from their tentative start it appears these words are not quite as basic as the norm, they hold some form of mental and/or intellectual consideration. The first issue looks good. An extra challenge is its black and white format. On one level it initially appealed as it was one of a dying breed of these magazines which actually went to print... Unfortunately this is longer feasible with the current financial climate... It is regardless still one to watch and get involved in. See it for yourself.

Bak.

This has to be one of the best I have seen. It showcases work from artists at an international level. The aesthetics are slick and well considered. I often believe some magazines should just give up and simply show pretty pictures. This however, is another level to some. The interviews are informed, captivating and interesting. There are no submitted images where you honestly wonder how the hell that artist was allowed on the pages. There is a level of quality throughout, the content is varied but the overall design holds the magazine together. It would be an achievement to show work in these pages. But regardless of that aim, it is a magazine worth taking in. Have a look, take your time.

Platform58.

These guys were a bit of a haphazard mix. Not necessarily a bad thing but they had a lot of things they were trying to do. An e-zine, an interactive creative network and gallery space. A plethora! They are currently in a transition where they slim down in order to showcase creativity to the best of their abilities. This means focussing on the ezine and losing the network. Works for me. I like where they're going with this and believe they do want to make this work. They generally use a one word stimulus to create images for. Nice square format. Pleasant enough finish. Find out their current plans here.

Arriba.

I have to admit I wasn't so keen when I first lurked onto this particular website. But then I clicked on the latest issue an it has to be said, they do this pdf magazine thing damn well. They want to 'attempt to offer a global vision of today's art variety'. In my trawling experiences I have discovered that where a few magazines attempt to do this, not many succeed in doing it to such a standard. Holding such a wide catch all in media, location and style the quality becomes threatened in being lost. However, through being drawn into the pages one by one I am unable to say that the varied content is a mistake. This is a great example of what some magazines could be. Take a look.

No tears.

These guys also seem to have a lot of passion behind their cause. Promoting the less known, the unseen, the undiscovered and the brand new. The work needs meaning, a point to it, at the very least some serious love behind it. They want contemporary art which has happiness, a provocative edge, documentation, experimentation. They want the good shiz. Go see.