Preparing for Art Shows

During the last two weeks of February I was busy getting some of my paintings ready for an art display at our local Chamber of Commerce. I am sharing the space with 4 other artists but I still needed around 14 pieces to hang.

The first step is to go through some of my unframed work to see if anything strikes me as 'right' for this exhibit. Once I have a selection of paintings I need to find frames and choose mats that compliment the artwork.
I always do my own matting and framing as it helps keep the cost down, for me and for customers.

I don't have a fancy framing set-up but it does the job. One neat thing is the little gizmo in the left photo - the pale blue and Plexiglas item. Although it is hard to see there are holes beside the black squiggles on the Plexiglas. The item is used for marking the 'border' on the mat before cutting . The holes go up by 1/4 " and the device is reversible so I can quickly mark standard mat sizes from 1 1/2 to 4 1/4 inches - a real time saver that my husband made for me.

 I am lucky to have a nice large table where I can work at one end while a work-in-progress takes up the other end.

 I clean glass, put frames together, seal the backs of canvases, add wires and labels to the backs of all of my paintings and, finally, figure out what price to put on the display cards.

Rocks & Icicles

Full Moon

  Here are a few of the paintings I have on display  until the end of April.

Marsh Autumn

Exploring

 This year I will be exhibiting my paintings in a number of shows with other artists. I try to have something different for every display so I will be  doing the whole preparing thing over again at the end of April and again at the end of June.

 I guess I had better get busy and do some more painting!

Good Causes

Every artist I know has been asked at one time or another to donate a piece of art to some worthy cause. With so many 'causes' now-a-days it is not unusual to be approached a number of times a year.

Mist on the Water - Art Trot

Over the years I have donated over 12 of my original paintings. Some were small, some were large but I was happy to support the different causes. I think that Art Trot has been the recipient of most of my donations in the last few years. It is a very good cause in the small community of Creston BC: fund-raising for the Therapeutic Riding Society which sponsors horse riding for the physically and mentally challenged.

Slim Pickin's - Art Trot

 Unfortunately, I am becoming disenchanted with the whole donation scene. Most of the artists who donate are trying to SELL their paintings - how can we compete with silent auctions where a painting with a suggested minimum bid of $200.00 ends up with a high bid of $40.00. Also, last year the Art Trot started accepting re-gifted items for their auctions. This year I was surprised to see a painting of mine that was donated to the Creston Art Club for their last Annual Fall Show and Sale door prize, on display at the Art Trot. Okay, the painting raised money for two different causes but, somehow, I still felt insulted.

Garden Bouquet - Art Club

 Like others, I have heard all the hype: it's for a good cause, think of the exposure, you have plenty of paintings, well, it's just a hobby etc. etc. How many plumbers or electricians get asked to donate?  Don't artists work as hard (and have as many expenses) as plumbers or lawyers?

Reaching Out - We Imagine Peace (FB)

 I don't even want to know how much (or how little) my paintings have earned for the various causes because I have seen how low the bids have been. I could probably rant more about this situation but right now the question is, do I continue to support these worthy causes while undermining my value as an artist? I am thinking more and more that a cash donation is the route I am going to follow in the future.


 

Going Overboard

I have noticed in the last few years that I have a tendency to go overboard when I find something I like doing. I think it started with the purses I sew and paint.

Bell Flower purse

Daylily & Hummingbird

I really enjoyed coming up with new designs and figuring out what to paint. The first year I made them, the bags sold well, so I made more, and more, and... well, you get the picture.

I think I was alright for a few years, just doing my normal painting, in between housework and volunteering. Then I took a mixed media workshop with local artist Win Dinn http://windinnart.blogspot.ca and discovered a new toy.

Gauze Scarves

tar gel brooches

Once again I went overboard! I was having so much fun playing with color and shapes that I made so many of these items I might never sell them all. It is a good thing that I enjoy wearing them!

There may have been a few other things between then and now, but this winter I found a new creative outlet that has (almost) taken over my life. Crocheting! I learned to crochet when I was young and over the years have made a number of afghans - useful but time consuming. Just before Christmas I saw some crocheted ornaments and I thought "I can do that".


I found a number of patterns on line and started making things, then I adapted the patterns and made more, then I started making my own patterns. Before I knew it I had gone through 2 balls of crochet cotton and now I have enough ornaments to decorate a tree. I plan to sell them at this year's Wynndel Christmas fair.

I ran out of enough of the cotton to make another ornament so I made a few earrings - white, of course. My granddaughter commented that she wished they were in color and there I was, off on a new venture.

Not content with just earrings, I have started to make some pendants to match them. I have no idea if I will be able to sell these items but they are so much fun to make I just can't help myself. I continue to make up more patterns for the earrings and the pendants.

  
  Every time I come up with one of these 'crafty' ideas my husband suggests that I wait to see if they sell before I make too many. Unfortunately, once I get started I almost always end up going overboard because I am enjoying myself and that is what counts most! 

The Matting and Framing Challenge

For an artist, the work isn't over when the painting is finished. The art has to be framed or otherwise fixed for hanging. Some methods are easier than others.

A gallery wrapped canvas mostly just needs a dust cover for the back and a wire for hanging.

Spring Poppies & the Valley

Simply painting the sides of the canvas is all that is necessary. Of course, many people want a frame on their painting but that is something that can be left to the purchaser.




More complicated to frame are artworks done on paper. My primary medium is watercolor and watercolors need mats, glass and frame unless they are finished with a varnish sealer. An established artist displaying in a high end gallery might be able to leave the matting and framing to the gallery or to a professional framer but many of us can't afford that option and do our own framing. The challenge is in the matting. Do you pick an off white as many galleries prefer or do you choose something that matches the painting? Do you double mat or single mat? I will often double mat so I can kill two birds with one stone: an inner mat that I think works well with the painting and an outer mat in a white tone.

Solitary #1

   Does one choose for subtlety or drama? I don't think that a painting or the framing materials have to match the decor but I do think that a mat can make a painting POP or it can swallow it.




I think my biggest challenges in framing have been my mixed media pieces. Many of them are done on mat board and have additions that preclude framing behind glass. I have tried a number of methods: adding matting that has been sealed so no glass is needed, framing without matting, and attaching a mixed media painting to a painted gallery wrap canvas.

Paper Flowers in Purple

Exploded

  
There are so many options and, of course, one never knows what will work best for potential buyers. I don't usually think too much about buyers when I am painting or when I am framing: I just do what I think works.

Autumn Colors #2

The finishing touch is the frame. I prefer thin frames, either metal or wood, that do not overwhelm the paintings. Others prefer ornate frames that make a statement.

Like so much in life it is really 'in the eye of the beholder' and in art there are few wrong choices.

Making things and Organizing

In the late Spring I started doing some new creative activities because my walls were too full of paintings. Many of the items I made are going to be available this coming Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Wynndel Community Center's Annual Arts & Craft sale.

  My granddaughter, Jasmine modeled some of the items so I could get some photos. On the left she is wearing one of the T-shirt scarves I made (we call them fun dangles) and one of the mixed media brooches I made last year. Below on the left, Jasmine is showing a belt and headband done by finger weaving as well as a crocheted wristband and choker. The middle picture shows more finger weaving with a hat band and a tie/belt. The final display is an infinity scarf done in crocheting. I have had a lot of fun making these items and other things - I just hope I can sell some!

 Of course, I won't have Jas available to model during the event so I had to come up with a way to display some of my product. Once again my granddaughter came to the rescue! I traced around her upper body to make some mat board figures and she traced around me. I think they look quite smart.

Now comes the organizing part! Whenever I have a show with a table display to set up, I always set the display up at home first. This gives me the chance to decide if I have too much or too little product and it makes set up on the day of the event much easier.

As you can see I have a full table full of color and variety. In addition to the items already mentioned I will have some of my little boxes, my mixed media brooches, a selection of my paintings and some Christmas type cards. I hope to see many of my friends this Saturday at Wynndel Hall.

A New Venture - Workshops

A thought that has been germinating for a few months has finally sprouted and is growing like a weed. I am now offering workshops!! I have taught workshops to the Creston Art Club and once to the Riondel Art Club but now I am open to going further afield. Details are still sketchy but I can think of a few things that might appeal to students.

In Watercolor:

It's Snowing

 This simple winter scene gives students a number of techniques to learn.

Trash or Treasure

 Painting metal and glass is always a challenge - I would have to practice a bit!

Abandoned

Atmosphere is always popular and a scene like this can teach a number of things.

Add Pen & Ink:

Fencepost and Daisies

A loose watercolor with pen & ink accents - a great way to spice up a painting

Blue Poppy

Or, just use the pen & ink techniques by themselves for a totally different look

Maybe some Acrylics:

Iris Magic

 Painting with acrylic on paper gives you options - watercolor style or acrylic or both!

Under the Skimmerhorn

 Painting a scene with just a palette knife can be fun and challenging.

These are just some of the things I have taught over the years and I look forward to sharing them as well as other techniques with aspiring artists.  If you or your group is interested in a specific technique, check with me - maybe I can help.

I try to structure my workshops so the participants each takes home a painting that is not a duplicate of my work  but something uniquely their own - it is the technique that is important not the subject.  I hope my idea of workshops will appeal to many artists in the neighboring communities. To find out more contact me at val@mellowood.ca

Busy, Busy, Busy

The month of June is always a very busy time. Between the garden, my flowers and getting art ready for the summer tourist season, I don't seem to have time for anything else.

Last week I took some art to the restaurant at the Kokanee Springs Golf Course as part of the Eastshore Art Connection which I joined this year.

Broken Trellis

Sunlight thru the Trees

I don't know how into art golfers are but I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I also have to have a painting to - possibly- display at Wynwood Winery as part of the Eastshore artdrive. It is a challenge to pick something as I have heard that the lighting there is not great.

Into the Flames

Next I will be displaying two pieces at the Wynndel Canada Day celebration art display.

M'mm Good

 These pieces will go on to the exhibit at the Ingham Arts Center in Creston on July 2 and stay there for a few days.

I have never displayed big pieces in Wynndel before so it will be interesting to see what happens.




I am still organizing the Art in the Library display for the summer so that is cutting into my time to prepare for the Artistic Visions Summer Art Market. The Art Market is a cooperative with 14 artists in a variety of styles and media. Check out our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Artistic-Visions-Summer-Art-Market/325425777508572?ref=hl

I have been painting some local scenes that I hope will catch tourist's eyes and pocketbooks but I will also display some of my other new work.

From the Viewpoint

Hidden Below

Birds over Erickson