Dear visitors and friends.Just a short post to say that I hope you will take the time to stop and listen to this beautiful song by ‘AIR’.  Consider it my gift to you in the moment.  I love music more than anything and though accused many times over of being into weird music by those around me, I put my musical taste down to a very strong creative need (laughs). Music like this helps me tune out of my surroundings and into the place I need to be in order to concentrate. Perhaps it relaxes me.  Herbal tea does that to me too, but I can’t post that up here without making a mess! (laughs again). So sit back, press play and enjoy!

Incidentally…if music inspires creativity I wonder what painting this piece would be…any ideas?

“Somewhere between dreams & reality”

Oil on canvas

First of all many apologies to all visiting only to see I haven’t posted anything new up in over a month. I’ve had a busy month, but not one I’d want to waste your time telling you about.

I lost my father last month rather unexpectedly. It’s rather strange to one day be doing the normal things of life then the next to find yourself hopping on a plane,  meeting up with members of the family you haven’t seen for years and re-visiting places you thought you’d never go to again. I come from a family very split up geographically so it was surreal to see us all gathered again in a place that means a lot to us. Then to come home again and have to try focusing on the normal again with so many memories good and bad swilling around in my head. Sleep has been so important and so very needed but even when awake I feel caught somewhere between dreams and reality.  With my mind all over the place it amazes me that when I’ve managed to focus and get things done. So on the artistic front things have been slow:  I haven’t even ventured into my studio, where the cats spend more time than I do. The curtains are closed in that room to stop the sun shining on the unfinished works I have there, and seem to sum up my painting life at the moment…hidden, protected, abandoned.

But 2010 will see me bounce back for sure. I have purposely set myself some specific goals that I intend reaching.

New work and a change in direction in my subject for painting in general. Maybe no more stones. Definitely to take on that commission in February and to teach my workshops. Then there are the two children’s picture book proposals to send off. And for fun some designs for calendars, cards and others….I am thinking it’s time to put my work into print somehow.

And definitely more coffee….maybe less chocolate…maybe not so often. And more exercise…

What will you do in 2010?

I recently put together a very quick workshop for those interested in learning how to paint in Acrylic here in West Clare, Ireland. I ran it during the day instead of in the evening and got four very interested people who turned out to be very dedicated students. With good planning and realistic goals it was a successful workshop to say the least. Some of them had not done very much, if any, sketching before.  And some had never met a colour wheel, so they were very pleased when they started to see results appearing on canvas on the second day. For me it was rewarding and intriguing to see people just connecting with their creativity -  a part of themselves that a majority of people don’t believe they have within themselves: The Artist! So it was gratifying to say the least and why I love teaching.  I plan to do many more in the coming 6 months and will be offering gift vouchers that can be purchased in time for Christmas. The price being just €60 which pays for a two day art class in 2010. So if you would like to give the gift of an art class to someone you know please feel free to contact me through my website, or if you know me personally you can contact me on my mobile.   Details of forthcoming classes will be advertised nearer the time.

 

I make no apology for this piece of abstract work having nothing to do with anything else here on this site. It was based on something I did a while ago in charcoal and is an echo of a time in my life when my creativity was flowing like water;  compared to the present which is like a dripping tap. It was a pleasure to do because I was able to let my mind wander freely across the page…perhaps I should do more creative exercises. Colour is a wonderful doorway to creative freedom and I like the colours in this one…

What do you do to unleash your creativity? Can you see anything besides an ear in this piece? I would welcome any comments you have!

I’ve been busy at the kitchen table this week making use of four days at home and this is what I came up with. As I’ve seriously neglected the illustration side of things I wanted to delve deeply for something that has been sitting in my imagination…and hare he is! (Sorry!)

I do hope you like him!

So I succumbed to one of the biggest social networks on this gorgeous planet in the hope that someone out there might see the small ripple of my efforts in a sea of larger splashes. Or hear my tweets in a nest of larger birds, whichever way you phrase it, it boils down to one thing: I joined TWITTER.  But why?  Well, it’s all about marketing yourself really isn’t it? It’s no good being an artist, painting away in your little studio in your little corner of your little world and nobody except a scattering of good souls knows about what you’re up to.  Not that I am knocking the validity of networking with other artists, you understand, but there comes a point when it’s time to jump a little higher to see over the wall.

Twitter aside, artists have to work hard to market themselves and if using social networking sites is a way to get your profile and work out there then so be it.  I am not looking to be ‘discovered’ but it would be great if there is someone out there who is looking for something like my work.  It’s better to have tried, than to have not tried at all….or something like that.

Stay positive and have a great week

April

So you’ve learnt to paint and you’re happy giving away your paintings as gifts to friends and family. But you notice an art exhibition in town and something inside you tugs and pulls you in through the doors. Now you can paint you’re naturally curious to see what everyone else is doing and if you can get some inspiration.  There you see an assortment of wonderful paintings, a feast for the eyes.  You walk slowly round savouring every painting: you read the labels, you take note of the title, the artist and then you see the price and the penny drops. Literally, as you realise you could be taking your art a step beyond being just a gift.  Instead of being the joyful giver you could be the joyful receiver.  But how do you go from mere beginner to someone whose work is good enough for an exhibition and merit the price it’s been labelled with?

Join up with other Artists

If you’ve learnt to paint by yourself then chances are you’re on your own and need to get together with a group of artists in your local area so join an art group as that’s always the best place to start. They may ask you for a membership fee to join their group (to cover overheads for venue rental and exhibition costs) and allow you to exhibit with them at some stage in the year; though some groups might not be so flexible and insist you be a member for a period of time before allowing you to exhibit your work.  Some might insist you attend a certain number of times in one year order to exhibit, it depends.  All the same joining a group is a great way to build up confidence of working in a group.

Go Solo

If you really don’t like the idea of joining a group and want to aim your sights a little higher then the other alternative is to put a few pieces of framed work together and take them round to craft shops and cafes, restaurants etc asking if they would be interested in hanging your work in their space.  Some might ask for a small commission fee if  the work is to go on sale – I would be cautious if anyone asked above 25% which is very reasonable. Invest in having business cards printed as they are a good tool to have and you can leave them anywhere.  Ask to leave them on counters in shops and on notice boards, and always have a stash of them in your wallet/purse. Don’t hand out the dog-eared ones that have been kicking about in your wallet for months though! If your card is scuffy, what’s your art going to be like?  Tony Moffit recommends keeping a photo album of work handy to present when someone asks what you paint.  Pictures speak louder than words and it gives the potential customer a more solid image of your work to take away in his mind, when he rediscovers your business card in his jacket pocket.*

Aim for the Sky

Or you might be more ambitious and aim for a solo exhibition. But be warned. There are ways of approaching Galleries. Do your homework first. Check out the type of gallery to see if it will fit with your work. It’s no good being an abstract artist and approaching a gallery that only deals with landscapes! Don’t just drop in off the street and introduce yourself saying you have work, no matter how well you come across gallery owners are business people at the end of the day. You could be the artist they’ve been waiting for, but they’ll still expect you to do business the proper way. That is they will insist that you provide:

• Your Art C.V
• Artists Statement
  
• Hard copy Photos or slides of your work professionally presented if possible in a folder or on CD rom.
• Cover/proposal letter with the aforementioned items.

Create an on-line Portfolio

If you don’t want to do any of the above mentioned and prefer the comfort of showing your work from the comfort of your own home  and you have internet access the internet is a great platform upon which to showcase your work. You’ll get great feedback from other artists – of all genres and you may even sell a piece of work or two.  These days many artists have their own websites, but approaching a webdesign company to create one for you can be costly. Don’t dispair as there are other ways in which you can showcase your work:

• Set up a free blogsite with any company out there – eg. Google’s Blogger or one like this on WordPress.
• Join an Art site – there are hundreds out there  and most offer free membership
• Submit your work to an online gallery who will sell work for you.
• Create your own website if you have HTML know-how

For the amateur artist starting out I would strongly recommend  getting involved in what is going on in your local community. Exhibit with an art group if you can and at the same time upload your work onto a blog, to create an online presence. Look at other blogs to see how they do it and make it as pleasing as possible. Leave business cards everywhere and then keep your fingers crossed. Good luck for now!

Well I suppose it helps. But what is talent anyway? It’s incredibly hard to measure and the more you think about it, the more mind boggling it becomes particularly in relation to where it comes from. Some would say it’s something you’re born with – inherited from someone else with artistic genes. Some would say it’s a gift from God. While others have defied this and shown that all it takes is a little hard work and perserverence.

I think talent is very difficult to define and certainly to apply to yourself.  I prefer to use the phrase ‘natural ability’.  For example I have a natural ability when it comes to art because above all other things it comes easiest to me.  Ask me to add up and I’ll be reaching for the calculator. Ask me to cook something I don’t know how to and I’ll be reaching for the cookery book to guide me. Ask me to make a dress and I’ll need a pattern. In fact forget the last one, I am a hopeless case when it comes to making clothes.

Literacy and numeracy are things learnt from childhood by the left – ‘thinking’  – side of our brain. Once learnt they are hard to be unlearnt – like the old phrase ‘once you learn to ride a bike you never forget’. Damn right otherwise you fall off!! I don’t know if it’s the same with instrument playing that uses both sides of the brain, but with art you can definitely become rusty. Maybe the right side of the brain becomes lazy if not used enough? Even if you are talented. But the question is, does talent make you a better artist? I think the answer is no. Not necessarily. For some it comes easier and for others it takes more effort and longer to get up to speed, but overall I’ve seen amazing art come from people who got there in the end.  So with that in mind, is talent the magic ingredient in a good painting? I’ll let you decide.  Do post me your comments as I’d be very interested to hear your views on this subject!

Now, where is that wall I was banging my head against….photo by www.pdphoto.org

Regards

April

PS. If you post from a forum, you’ll come in as spam and your comment won’t be looked at. Sorry!

As I am keen to make this an interesting, useful and very pleasing blog to visit  I need to know what sort of arty posts you would like to read more about. So please take part in the survey below.  It only takes a minute to choose an answer and click.

Many thanks!

April

I have to confess that up until now I’ve been happily bumbling along with a paintbrush in my hand happy if selling a painting happened now and again.  But since blogging and networking with other artists out there it’s made me realise that I’ve got to work hard to earn a place in this game, and harder still to keep it. What am I talking about? I’m talking about going professional and what effort it takes to get there.

Where does that begin? Apart from putting your  artwork out there – it  begins by impressing people who are going to give you that first rung on the ladder, by telling them what your art is about.  In other words your Artist’s Statement  – the paragraph or page where you get a chance to really sell yourself.  For artists our statement tells people  that we are serious about our art. Get that wrong and it’s game over? Don’t worry if you don’t get it right first time.  Some artists don’t even have a statement which is fine, but a statement (sometimes accompanied with a brief biography about the artist) gives us something to grasp onto and helps us to understand the artist reasons for why they do what they do. It certainly gives galleries an idea of what you’re about.

I’ve put together a few lines that I call my artist’s statement and it’s a work in progress for sure, because  I know I have only just scratched the surface of understanding what my art is all about.  Artist Christopher Stott says: “stick with your subject and grow with it.” I’ve been painting stones for about two and a half years now,  and when I first began I studied their every detail and was determined to copy every line and groove in their surface as realistically as I could.  But I began  to question the way I was painting them, wondering if I how I could grow with them.  When I think I had the answer I realised I had taken a turn and so my statement clicked into place.

So how do you write your statement?  Carte blanc. Mind blanc. Invent something? No. Write something truthful even if writing in the third person helps to spark off ideas, but above all be honest.  And if you can’t write much that’s fine.  Less is more. You can always add to your statement after all, your art is something that is going to develop as you do so therefore so is your statement. Good luck!