Being an artist

Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself

I work mainly in my studio at home painting in semi abstract style such as buildings, still life, objects and places that I’ve been to. I love to add texture, collage and different mixed media to see what happens to the painting.

When did you decide to pursue art as a career?

I’ve always painted, but after my two children were born, I fell in love again with painting and decided to go to a few adult education classes to improve and learn different styles.

What training did you have?

Adult education classes only with some fabulous teachers including Hazel McIntosh, Laura Reiter and various workshops wtih different artists/teachers.

What has been the high point of your career so far?

I’ve got an exhibition on at the moment with my art group, Cygnus at the Obsidian Gallery in Stoke Mandeville. I’ve been able to exhibit lots of my work there, and so far its a great success!

General Questions

Who is your favourite artist?

Picasso, Kandinsky, Klee, Rosina Wachtmeister and many more…

What are you aiming for?

To be more creative, find new ways to evolve my paintings and to be more globally successful.

How will you get there?

Keep painting and keep evolving in my style of work.

Is anything holding you back?

Just my confidence!

You and art

What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?

I hope to make people happy to see my work and to see them enjoy what I’ve tried to achieve on canvas or paper.

From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?

Depends how stuck I get! Sometimes one week, sometimes months…

What music do you like to listen to when you work?

Jack Johnson, Nora Jones, Eliza Doolittle, classical music, radio… anything depending on how I’m feeling that day.

What are you working on next? Any future plans or projects in the pipeline that we should look out for?

I’ve been to the mediterranean last summer and working through some photos of all the wonderful cities visited.

Being inspired by art

Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?

Rosina Wachtmeister – I love all her paintings, so much details and happiness in each one
Picasso – He had so much creativity in his head, you can see his work evolve from all of his paintings
Kandinsky – How he could transform his ideas into abstract is amazing
Lots of other fabulous artists (living or dead!)

What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as an artist?

I like to painting using uplifting colours, bright and full of life.
Subject matter is inspiring depending on the shapes and details involved; I adore buildings with unusual styles/rooftops/colours – especially if its on a sunny day when everything you look at is magnified by the light.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

I have several favourites; my russian paintings, my ‘Romantic Interlude’ watercolour, my tissue paper paintings…

an artist’s advice

For those thinking about turning a passion for art into a career, could you give any advice?

Be positive and never give up! Make friends with other artists who can paint with you and offer advice to each other; make your own space at home or somewhere else where you can paint regularly – if its your career, you need your ‘office’ space like any other job.

Any tips on how to get your work seen and get the commissions coming in?

Get your own website, such as through the Artists Web, make some business cards, leaflets, pop into your local art galleries and show your work and let everyone know you’re an artist!

Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself

I grew up in Lancashire and have spent most of my life in Yorkshire. A Quaker since my 20′s.

When did you decide to pursue painting as a career?

It was always a dream, but became reality only in 2007.

What training did you have?

A degree in Physics and a career in IT. More recently, have been back to college to study art and design.

What has been the high point of your career so far?

Being invited to put on a solo exhibition at Brantwood House. Ruskin was a brilliant thinker and is one of my heroes, so it was a great privilege to exhibit there.

General Questions

Who is your favourite artist?

Recently I’ve been influenced by Julian Cooper, who paints rock better than anyone.

What are you aiming for?

To get better at painting. Which probably means learning to see more clearly.

How will you get there?

Practice.

You and painting

What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?

I hope they will be prompted to take a slow look at the natural world. I love it when someone says to me ‘I know that place but now I’ll go and look at it again’. The most surprising comment I’ve had recently was from a lady who said she was going to use my exhibition in her sermon to the Methodists (though she didn’t say how!).

From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?

I work quite fast once I start. The mixing of Indian ink and oil paint does so much to produce intricate textures, that I don’t like to put too much paint over that first layer. I often have two paintings on the go, and typically would complete them in about five half-day sessions.

What music do you like to listen to when you work?

Nothing, usually.

What are you working on next? Any future plans or projects in the pipeline that we should look out for?

The project ‘A Return to the Coast’ got me interested in the geology of Britain. So there will be more rocks, but the emphasis is constantly moving on. In each painting I try to do something that I’ve never done before.

Being inspired by painting

Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?

John Ruskin’s view of the world and our place in it was radical in the nineteenth century and is even more relevant to us today.

What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as a painter?

Connections, natural processes and patterns. I’ve worked with systems and mathematical models. The emergence of complexity from a few simple rules, the similarities in nature between large and small scales, and the hints of a mysterious underlying unity, are ideas that I keep returning to.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

‘Torrisholme Road’ (2008). It probably isn’t the most technically competent piece I’ve produced, but it was a key point in my artistic development, and involved such a lot of memories and personal feelings.

a painter’s advice

For those thinking about turning a passion for painting into a career, could you give any advice?

It’s hard to make a living out of art. If you do, there’s often a tension between what you know you can sell and what you’re really interested in. It’s crucial not to lose the latter. I think you have to reserve some time for artistic play as well as artistic work.

See more of Phil’s work at: http://www.philentwistle.co.uk/

Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself

My name is Katy Galbraith, sometimes i use Recycle Me Mosaics as a ‘business’ title, but not sure if it is worth the time and energy to have a separate name.
I live in Crieff, Perthshire, and also run a B&B and self-catering flat which I do enjoy, but more essentiallly, it pays the bills so that i can create what i want to create.

When did you decide to pursue art as a career?

I wish i had gone to art college after school, but followed a different path instead – following poorly judged (imo) parental advice.Having dabbled in various medium as a hobby over the years, I discovered mosaic about 8 years ago, and was hooked.

I took the plunge a couple of years ago and started selling and being more pro-active in promoting myself. I have done a lot of soul searching over the last couple of years, and have realised that for me, being deemed ‘an artist’ is very important, and that i want to be represented in quality galleries or ‘craft’ outlets.

What training did you have?

I was taught by a friend, Jan Kilpatrick of Wild Tiles, who used to live in the area. My first project was a table top for the garden – as my husband and i at first couldn’t decide on what table to have, but agreed on mosaic – nothing like being ambitious! When Jan moved away from the area, we started to run mosaic classes using my B&B as the venue… so over the years, i have been able to tap into her expertise.

What has been the high point of your career so far?

Being accepted into the juried exhibition of BAMM (British Assoc for Modern Mosaic) which took place at Lichfield Cathedral April 2011. Hopefully, my piece will sit alongside more experience artists.

General Questions

What’s your favourite quote?

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken, last 3 lines

Who is your favourite artist?

Klimt and Tiffany

What are you aiming for?

Striving to perfect my technique, and to continue to be able to make what i want to make, not just what is marketable.

How will you get there?

Playing in my workshop, experimenting with new materials, and hopefully getting to attend some masterclasses with other mosaic artists around the world (i also love travelling so if i can combine the two!)

Is anything holding you back?

Recognising that doing B&B does enable me to unlimited creativity, however, it does restrict my ability to attend workshops elsewhere, as they all seem to happen at the peak of our tourist season.

You and art

What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?

I hope that they enjoy my work as something lovely to look at – and in some cases, that functionality and beauty can work side by side (ie mirrors, table tops, stepping stones). I often include quirky items in my pieces, which aren’t immediately obvious, but on second glance… so hopefully these bring a smile to faces.

Mosaic tends to be seen as a Roman, square tiles, marble… I hope that those seeing my work realise that there is another way which is more contemporary, and includes many different materials.

And finally, i use primarily recycled materials – from broken car windows with a sweet wrapper collage underneath to re-fused sheets of glass from the wastage of the Caithness Paperweight factory, wine & gin bottle glass to broken ceramics. I feel that this sums up my environmental commitment, and displays that nearly everything can have a second life albeit out of context with the original purpose. Usually it is the last thing given to me that stimulates the next mosaic

From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?

It can vary!

What music do you like to listen to when you work?

I love music that mixes western style with other world music. I think my favourite is Natasha Atlas – middle eastern meets the Midlands

What are you working on next? Any future plans or projects in the pipeline that we should look out for?

I am working on my Gingerbread House piece which is going into the Opus Mosaic Gallery, Exeter for their Forest exhibition. It is just to be grouted. Then i want to make a piece for the Flotsam, Jetsom, Lagan & Derelict exhibition, for the Banff & MacDuff Coast Exhibition (juried) where the remit is to use only recycled materials.

The BAMM exhibition at Lichfield Cathedral will have not just my main piece, entitled Eden, but also a gothic miniature.

And a gallery in Aberfeldy wants to see some pieces… so i keep trying to add outlets to my list of galleries, but find it very daunting to approach them

Being inspired by art

Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?

Barbara Kingsolver – novelist and essayist. She writes about various social issues, and has a strong environmental commitment. Her work has been consistantly good, and inspires a change in our own lives. The message that you get is that you can live a good and fulfilled life, be considerate to your neighbours, have sound social and environmental ethics and still achieve what you want out of life.

What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as an artist?

In terms of subjects, I love flowers and gardens, so many of my pieces are floral representations… though occasionally other ideas do pop into my head at times. I do follow a few online mosaic forums, who have regular competitions, and so if i am stuck for an idea, then i will work towards an entry in that. My Geisha Triptych came about because of an online competition. The competitions are also a great way of encouraging you to learn new techniques or work with new materials.

As mentioned above, i am a passionate recycler, and love the use of mixed materials in creating a mosaic, and feel that it is an important part of my work to illustrate the reuse of materials.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

Heaven is to Me – Opus mosaic Gallery ‘Heaven’s Above’ exhibition 2009
My first exhibition piece, which was fun to do, really represented what i was about, was well received at the gallery, and sold!

an artist’s advice

For those thinking about turning a passion for art into a career, could you give any advice?

Get a thick skin, and learn to cope with the rejection from galleries / competitions / submissions. It can really hurt your pride and dent your confidence to get the rejection letters, as of course if we didn’t think that our work was great then we wouldn’t be doing it!

So i am learning the art of having a good moan to my husband, then picking myself up again, and writing the next submission…

Any tips on how to get your work seen and get the commissions coming in?

I am still comparitively new to this, and am working on the Facebook, website, social media, media…. but the balance of time spent on the computer and in the workshop is a bit out of sync.

I have found that submitting free pieces (to a point) – i have done a piece for an international mosaic exhibition & auction to raise money for Medicins sans Frontiers, which i was able to use as local pr too.

Being an artist

Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself

Hi. I am an artist and part time Art teacher, originally from the Midlands, but have lived in Brighton since 2000. My art practice has changed over the years; some work is more commercial than others. My most recent work is called ‘Transparency’ and is not necessarily saleable!

How and when did you start out as an artist?

If ‘artist’ is defined as selling and exhibiting work then I would say 1998. However, I have had gaps in my art career where I did not create work, and I still feel as if I am starting out in some ways.

My work has evolved through different stages, from landscape paintings to portraiture, to more conceptual work about politics. Strangely, when asked (from the age of about 4) what I would like to do as a career, I have always said, “Artist”.

What training have you had?

A BA in Art and Design from Bradford College of Art and an MA in Fine Art (Drawing) from Wimbledon College of Art.

What has been your best creative achievement so far?

The MA in Fine Art. It was a slog, but fun at the same time, and I was pleased with the final work in the end of year show.

General Questions

What’s your favourite quote?

‘Vision without Action is only a dream
Action without Vision; a means of passing time
But Vision and Action can change the world’

Nelson Mandela

Who is your favourite artist?

There are too many favourites; Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin, Jeremy Deller, Richard Billingham, Michael Landy, etc.

What are you aiming for?

To be able to exhibit my ‘commercial’ work more widely and to find a contemporary gallery to represent my practice. To show the more ‘conceptual’ work with artists in collaborative, ‘socially engaged’ art projects.

How will you get there?

By continuing to work and make contacts.

Is anything holding you back?

I believe our actions determine our own destiny and I have no regrets. The only thing that can hold me back at times is my own mind. I can sometimes over-think the practice when it is better to just be more experimental and let it evolve.

Also, procrastination and creative block can sometimes take hold, but the remedy is usually to be experimental, work through it, or visit galleries/festivals for inspiration.

You and art

What sort of reactions do you get to your work? are you ever surprised?

It is great to hear people’s reactions to my work. Different people can see completely different things in one piece of work. It is interesting how people’s subjective experiences influence the reading of art. The May Open house festival in Brighton and Hove has been a great opportunity to meet people over the years.

From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?

It depends on the piece of work; some take months, and some take a day!

What music do you like to listen to when you work?

I listen to lots of different music when I work, depending on my mood. Radiohead to Madonna and Kylie! I share a studio with two other artists, so it’s good to listen to their music collections too.

What is next in the pipeline for you? Any new directions or shows coming up?

I am very pleased to have been contacted recently about having ‘Transparency’ as part of an artist event in Yorkshire about the government spending review.

I have also just found out that my profile on RISE ART will be shortlisted by their online board of curators for the Select Artist feature.

I am also working on a new, more commercial, series of drawings based upon a recent, exciting trip to New York.

Being inspired by art

Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?

Nelson Mandela. He is inspirational because he shows no bitterness towards his oppressors and has inspired so many.

The Dalai Lama and Chögyam Trungpa for the same reasons, and for inspiring people on the Buddhist path and beyond.

Tracey Emin for being true to herself and being one of the most successful contemporary artists and a role model for women.

What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as an artist?

Documentary, the everyday, portraiture, animation, landscape, people watching, politics, love, beauty.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

The piece in my MA show, ‘Transparency’. It is a 12 metre long artwork on tracing paper about the current political agenda of rolling back the state. It is a protest piece made as a site specific work for the show space, which was very large! I recently converted it into a banner and 7 people helped me to carry it through the streets of London on the recent TUC March which was about seeking an alternative to the government’s spending cuts to public services. It was great to show the work in a public space outside of the confines of gallery walls in an environment that furthered the cause it was made about. It provoked some great reactions such as surprised people asking questions. One policeman burst out laughing when he saw it, but then tried to compose himself as he was on duty.

an artist’s advice

Have you got any advice for those starting out as an artist?

Believe in yourself. Keep working. Have discipline with your practice. Study. Network. Hold regular group critiques with your artist friends, and failing that, set up your own artist group. Have fun. (I have to take my own advice at times!)

Thanks Jackie!

Jackie’s latest news and works can be seen at www.jackieraybone-artist.com

Being an artist

Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself

Harry Stoll is a creative artist who originally trained as a studio potter making high-fired stoneware and porcelain, before later moving into Modern Figurative Sculpture and Contemporary Painting.

When did you decide to pursue art as a career?

I decided to continue a career in art at the age of 18 years. I taught part-time ceramics at Harrogate College of Art, when I was 22 years old, whilst establishing my own pottery studio.

What training did you have?

I was trained as a studio potter under the potter Jack Crisp, near Selby, Yorkshire.

What has been the high point of your career so far?

To establish my own workshops and exhibition areas in France.

General Questions

What’s your favourite quote?

Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend.

Before, we too into the Dust descend;

Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie,

Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer,

and—sans End!

Omar Khayyam

Who is your favourite artist?

Too many to name, but Moore, Hepworth, Motherwell, Soulages.

What are you aiming for?

To reflect abstract cosmic environments using spontaneous unconcious actions with paints and other materials, which ultimately are harmonious to our human senses.

How will you get there?

Probably never. It’s always only a development, during one’s own, limited life span.

Is anything holding you back?

No.

You and art

What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?

Questions mainly?? No, I am never surprised!

From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?

For me, it’s never finished!!

What music do you like to listen to when you work?

Classical, Jazz.

What are you working on next? Any future plans or projects in the pipeline that we should look out for?

The Planet Series, which has not yet been shown to the mass public.

Being inspired by art

Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?

Emilio Vedova. Just love his style of expression.

What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as an artist?

Space and Space Travel, The Universe etc., etc.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

I have no particular favourite work.

an artist’s advice

For those thinking about turning a passion for art into a career, could you give any advice?

I would say, do it for the love of it, but not for money.

Any tips on how to get your work seen and get the commissions coming in?

In my opinion and from my experience most so-called galleries are only interested in exploiting artists as purely ‘a business’, and the majority have really no taste or any serious education in what ‘Real Art’ is about.

Thanks Harry!

More of Harry’s work can be seen on www.harrystoll.com

Being an artist

Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself

Painter/printmaker making semi-abstract work influenced by everything from punk graphics to Rembrandt.

When did you decide to pursue art as a career?

After seeing a sculpture by picasso in Antibes in 1976 when I was 12.

What training did you have?

Two year foundation course at West Sussex College of Design followed by BA in Fine Art in Cardiff.

What has been the high point of your career so far?

Exhibiting at the Royal Academy in the Stowell’s Trophy exhibition in 1984 was nice as a start. These days I love it when old clients track me down on the web to say they still love the print they bought 20 years ago (even better if they want to buy a new one!).

General Questions

What’s your favourite quote?

Traveller; there is no way, you make your way by walking – (loose translation from the Spanish by Antonio Machado).

Who is your favourite artist?

Currently Richard Diebenkorn but it changes every few months. I never tire of Matisse or Picasso – especially very early and very late work. Peter Saville is sublime.

What are you aiming for?

Just to keep working, improving and increasing exposure.

How will you get there?

Hard work and planning with my agent!

Is anything holding you back?

Periodic bouts of pessimism.

You and art

What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?

I had an old woman come up to me in tears last year at an Open House saying she found my paintings ‘very moving’, which was a bit disconcerting, but she went on to explain that she had been looking at paintings all her life, often with her now deceased husband and that she was sure he would have loved them too. I hope to provoke emotional responses and for people to form their own interpretations of the work, which is more interesting than being asked what a particular piece is ‘about’. I try to leave enough space in the pictures for people to breathe in their own ideas.

From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your work?

It depends, I destroy as much work as I finish. A lot of time is spent waiting and looking when I’m painting. Printing is more straightforward as I’ve been doing it for 30 years now and I know the materials and what I want to achieve, I try to keep experimenting within the parameters of the medium. Painting can be painfully slow but you can’t rush it, I take my refuge in screen-printing when the painting stalls, which helps me work through my ideas.

What music do you like to listen to when you work?

Old punk/post punk, Arvo Pärt, Grieg, lots of Mogwai, ’70s Jamaican reggae (Misty, U-Roy, Heptones) and Radio 4. I love Jarvis Cocker’s Sunday service on BBC 6 music and listen to it on the iPlayer often, Desert Island Discs as well.

What are you working on next? Any future plans or projects in the pipeline that we should look out for?

Preparing new work for the 2011 Open Houses Festival, gallery submissions post-Easter, and a gallery submission in LA.

Being inspired by art

Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?

Patti Smith for her commitment to her vision, her belief in the redeeming power of Art, her beautiful words and music, and her incredible voice which still sounds like it did when she was 20. I see her live whenever I get the chance. Writers like Colm Toibín and William Boyd astound me with their work, I would love to be a writer but would never have the patience. All teachers worldwide. Amnesty International for having the vision years ago for what has now become a mainstream push for global human rights.

What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as an artist?

Colour and shape are what inspire me more than subject matter. You can keep your concepts – I have my own ideas thank you! Give me something to look at or listen to. Painting is such a subjective thing. I love twentieth century abstract-geometrical painting and I love Renaissance fresco artists like Massaccio who died when he was just 27, the work is completely different to look at, but makes me feel equally passionate. Who knows what that is? Art.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

The last print I completed called Legacy is about my father’s early life as a spitfire pilot. He flew over North Africa taking recconnaisance photos and I have used the cutting-room photo scraps from his diaries of the time as a basis for a print, the green spitfire-shape is to signify his naivite and youth. He was 19/20 years old flying solo missions, unthinkable today, and it was good to reflect on this in my work.

an artist’s advice

For those thinking about turning a passion for art into a career, could you give any advice?

Be prepared to be patient. You will not be an overnight success, there are too many artists these days for that to happen. David Hockney apparently used to have a note above the foot of his bed that read ‘Get up and work immediately’ – I think that about sums it up. In terms of commercial opportunities, if it sounds too good to be true – it usually is. Open exhibitions are often a way for inefficient commercial galleries to raise funds due to not selling work, so choose which ones you apply for carefully as it can be very demoralising and is more a matter of luck than judgement. Never leave work with a gallery without a signed consignement note. Be in it for the love of it, enjoy yourself, trust yourself, be true to yourself and don’t be afraid to experiment. I am happy to be able to live my life as an artist and that is enough for me, when I get more that’s great, but it’s a luxury just to be able to paint in a country where you are free to do that. Be thankful.

Any tips on how to get your work seen and get the commissions coming in?

Choose where you exhibit carefully, establish who is interested in your work and find a venue that reflects that. Watch your prices, too low can be just as off-putting as too high, be professional and make sure frames and any accompanying information are of a high standard. Never begin a commission without a non-refundable deposit to cover your materials, but if you are uncomfortable talking about money, don’t do them.

Thanks Alex!

You can see more of Alex’s work on www.alexander-johnson.com and look out for him in the Artists Open Houses Festival this year.

Please give us a few words of introduction about yourself

I currently live and work in Glasgow. I studied painting at Edinburgh College of Art and went on to complete a Masters in fine art in Barcelona. I work in a studio at home and divide my time between teaching, painting and looking after two children. I am currently working on a series of painting’s documenting all my journeys in one year and hope to show this piece in a solo show at the Howden Art Centre in December 2011.

When did you decide to pursue art as a career?

My father was a civil engineer, but he had always had a very keen interest in drawing and painting so as a child I was exposed to art at an early age. He would draw and paint whenever he had a spare moment. When I completed my A levels I was torn between studying English at university or completing a Foundation art course. My father and my art teacher helped me to decide to follow the path of becoming an artist

What training did you have?

Foundation art & design – distinction

BA hons Drawing & Painting Edinburgh College of Art – first class

MA European fine art – Barcelona

What has been the high point of your career so far?

selected for New Contemporaries by Keith Tyson & Susan Hiller in
1999

Shortlisted for the John Moores painting prize in 2010

General Questions

What’s your favourite quote?

‘only nature could free a painter from the tyranny of history’ Paul Cezanne

Who is your favourite artist?

David Hockney (his latest Yorkshire landscapes really inspire me)

What are you aiming for?

To earn a living & to gain some recognition

How will you get there?

Show my work and aim to get selected for ‘big name’ prizes

Is anything holding you back?

Time!!

You and art

What feelings or reactions do you hope to arouse in people who view your work? Are you ever surprised by reactions that you get?

Feelings of joy and sometimes sadness. Before I embarked on painting I would produce a lot of installation work, this work often had a comedy element and made people laugh.

From start to finish, how long does it take for you to create your
work?

It varies greatly depending on the piece but something like ‘Going Places’ or ‘Into the night’ took about 6 months.

What music do you like to listen to when you work?

I don’t always listen to music but if I do it is either classical or currently a band called XX

What are you working on next? Any future plans or projects in the pipeline that we should look out for?

The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London in March

Being inspired by art

Who (living or dead) inspires you? and why?

Frida Kahlo – She is such an inspirational artist, especially for women. She struggled against many things in her life but always managed to produce great art.

What feelings, subjects or concepts inspire you as an artist?

I like to reflect the changes that are happening in the modern landscape, things that are going on in our everyday lives.

What is your favourite work that you’ve produced so far and why?

‘Going Places’ This piece marked a turning point in my work. This was the painting that started getting my work noticed again

an artist’s advice

For those thinking about turning a passion for art into a career, could you give any advice?

Give it a go, it is never too late. My dad took early retirement and went to art college at the age of 50 and now paints full time.

Any tips on how to get your work seen and get the commissions coming in?

Buy artists newsletter it’s a great resource for opportunities and commissions. Don’t be afraid of approaching galleries yourself, sometimes it does work.

Thanks Jayne!

Visit Jayne’s website here: www.jaynestokes.com and feel free to make comments below!

Many of you may have a personal account on facebook but would benefit from knowing how to make a successful page that will help promote your work.

Here is the twelve step process that will help you create a useful facebook page. A facebook page does not replace your own website, but rather SUPPORTS your work and helps to build your profile.

1. Get in the right mindset – this is important!

Remember that your art does not speak for itself and it will never be able to. The best person to help build the profile of your art is you. Think about promotion activities as an extension of your art — not separate from it. Writing about your art, displaying photographs of your work and communicating with your audience are all great opportunities that shouldn’t be wasted. Good language skills put you in control of you as your art’s ‘brand leader’. Take time to think about what is important in terms of presenting yourself an artist and take the time to get the words and images right. When you do this, there will be little room for being misunderstood.

2. Create your facebook page under your professional title.

A Facebook Page, sometimes referred to as a Fan Page, is a single page separate from your personal account that people create for many different purposes outside personal sharing. Think of it as a one-page meeting place, with information, links, a message forum box, RSS and anything else you want. The way people will get to interact with your page is by ‘liking’ it or finding it. Once someone has ‘liked’ it they will receive your status updates and be able to view your photo albums, just like a regular Facebook account page.

Take action: Go here to create your facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

3. Choose a Unique Page Image

This is one of the most crucial components of a fan page. It’s a simple component yet this image is of the utmost importance. Your image can either be of the most striking examples of your work to date or great high resolution photo of you at work. This photograph has the opportunity to leave a lasting impression so make it good!
Have a look at some of the examples of ArtWeb members that we think really fit the bill: (Sorry, in this edition they all happen to be attactive females!)

4. Make a gallery of your images

A major advantage of facebook is the ability to share images. Begin to think: how is your work divided up? Do you have different collections? Would you like to show a tour of your studio or represent your artistic influences? We recommend that you create different albums and upload images periodically. When you update new content, users are insipired to revisit your page. We recommend always maintaining a strong image of yourself in your ‘profile’ picture and change it only once every couple of months (if at all).

5. Create a good bio and include relevant data for the ‘info’ section

As previously mentioned, visitors will definitely appreciate your art without the addition of words, but the right words can make critical connections between you and your audience. A well-written statement and biography is the backbone for any promotional effort you make, and a good statement takes time to incubate. Include:

Education (if you deem it relevant)
Current location
Prizes you may have won
Exhibitions you are involved in
Main web address

and anything else that you believe may be of interest for both you and your audience.

Take action: Add this information to the ‘info’ tab of your facebook page – click on the ‘info’ tab, then press edit information.

6. Interact with your fans

Always allow people to comment on your wall. That means every time someone comments on your new status, a photo, a video, a discussion thread, or anything else, you need to comment on it. You need to be talk to fellow artists and fans alike. They’ll ask you questions that you can reply to and you can ask questions as well. Ask for their feedback on your work in a natural way. This will ensure that fans keep coming back if you interact from your spectacular brand!

Take Action: To allow people to post on your wall, click the ‘edit page’ link (under your profile pic) then click ‘Wall Settings’ then check the ‘People who like this Page can write or post content on the Wall’ box.

7. Landing page

You can control which page people land on first and so you might like to ‘control’ their experience by making sure that new people arrive somewhere interesting like an album of your artwork. If you ideally want and get good feedback from your fans, then the wall is good too.

8. Import your twitter feed into your facebook page

We hope you’ve already started your twitter account. If not, join today, it takes literally five minutes. (don’t forget to go straight to TheArtistsWeb and ‘follow’ us too!) By importing your twitter feed into your facebook page you will have a continual flow of updated information, even if you are only ‘tweeting’. It also gives facebook fans an even more detailed look at the content you share.

You can do this using the ‘selective twitter’ facebook application (currently the official twitter facebook application only works with personal accounts).

Take Action: Go to http://www.facebook.com/selectivetwitter and click on ‘Add to my page’, then configure with your twitter username.

9. Publish useful, relevant content

Just like in other areas of social media (blogs, Twitter, etc) you can easily provide interesting content to your readers. Your Facebook page will be no different. Unlike a personal facebook page, you should use your facebook fan page to regularly reference content you think will be relevant to artists and buyers. Because you have taken the time to do this, your fans will keep returning to your page. A Facebook Page will give you a weekly update of how many visits you have had in one week, and a repeat visitors is one of the most effective measurements of the success of your communication!

So how do you find interesting content?

Start with your favourite blogs, websites, video clips, and other forms of content aggregators like Delicious.com and Digg.com. If you are outside of the new media industry, you’ll have to use traditional sources like Google News, Google Blogsearch, and the mainstream media.

You can also repaste content from other users! Just like a retweet in twitter, re-pasting other people’s content is complimentary to that person and will result in more exposure to what you want to present later.

10. Use widgets to get more fans

A widget a stand-alone application that can be embedded into third party sites by any user on a page where they have rights of authorship (e.g. a webpage, blog, or profile on a social media site). Widgets are fun, engaging, and useful applications that allow users to turn personal content into dynamic web apps that can be shared on just about any website.

End users primarily use widgets to enhance their personal web experiences, or the web experiences of visitors to their personal sites.

The use of widgets has proven increasingly popular allowing users of social media are able to add stand-alone applications to blogs, profiles and community pages.

You can put widgets on your website, other webpages you have to encourage people to become fans:

e.g. http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like-box

The bottom line is communicating about your art will help YOU learn more about it and thus how to share it effectively with others. Understand that defining your art gives you control and confidence. A great Facebook Page created especially for your career is definitely a step in the right direction. Remember until you know and understand the soul of your art, you can’t explain it adequately to others.

Visit the ArtWeb Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ArtWebcom/278685876393
And follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheArtistsWeb

11. Monitor your progress

Facebook makes available detailed information about the visitors to your facebook page – use this information! Click on the ‘view all’ button under the ‘insights’ box on the left column. Here you can see historic data as to when people comment, like, and remove your facebook page. Pay particular attention to when there is any significant change – maybe you are posting too much and people hide you from their newsfeed, maybe you just asked a particular engaging question and this attracted a lot of opinions.

Facebook even gives you a quality rating – this is key, the better your rating the more your page’s activity will be visible across everyone’s newsfeed, so it’s really essential you work to keep that high. Use the insights section to get a reliable picture of what works and what doesn’t.

12. Be patient

Building up to a popular facebook page can take time, you’ll probably get a chunk of friends and contacts supporting you at first and then progress may not continue with exponential growth. You might be tempted to keep repeat inviting people (that’s the ‘Suggest to friends’ link), but be very cautious about doing this more than a couple of times, it’s better not to be seen as ‘spamming people’. You might also be tempted to ‘Promote with an advert’, as Facebook often encourages you to. Rather be patient at first and watch to see what organic growth your new page will muster, once you’re been up and running for a month or so then you have a better picture as to how things may continue to grow.

And finally, be sure to follow us on facebook – we’ll be continuing with more detailed articles and tips:http://www.facebook.com/pages/ArtWebcom/278685876393.

Title: Artist/Tutor, University of Hertfordshire/Luton Cultural Services Trus
Location: Hertfordshire
Salary: £30k-£40k pro-rata
Deadline: Friday 4th December – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/artisttutor/

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Title: Mosaic Artist
Location: Bedford
Salary: £30k-£40k pro-rata
Deadline: Tuesday 8th December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/mosaic-artist/

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Title: Carnival Artist
Location: Bedford
Salary: £30k-£40k pro-rata
Deadline: Tuesday 8th December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/carnival-artist/

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Title: Celtic Arts Expert, World of Arts
Location: South East
Salary: £15k-20k pro rata
Deadline: Wednesday 9th December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/celtic-arts-expert/

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Title: Lead Artist – Alt Environmental Improvement Programme, Oldham Council
Location: North-West
Salary: £30k-£40k pro-rata
Deadline: Wednesday 9th December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/lead-artist-alt-environmental-improvement-programme/

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Title: Freelance Artist/Project Manager, Mansfield Museum
Location: East Midlands
Salary: £10k-15k pro rata
Deadline: Friday 11 December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/freelance-artistproject-manager/

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Title: Artist Commission, Stream
Location: London
Salary: £10k-15k pro rata
Deadline: Monday 14 December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/artist-commission-4/

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Title: Residency opportunity in Rome
Location: Rome!
Salary: £10-£15k
Deadline: Tuesday 15 December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/residency-opportunity-in-rome/

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Title: Art Co-ordinator, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Location: South London
Salary: £25-£30K pro-rata
Deadline: Friday 18 December 2009
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/art-co-ordinator/

Title: Creative Partner/Glass Artist
Location:South East
Salary: £10-£15k pro-rata
Deadline: Friday 18th December
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/creative-partner-glass-artist/

Title: Photographer, Logo Logo
Location: Surrey
Salary: £10k-£15k pro-rata
Deadline: N/A – see link for details
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/photographer-10/

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Title: Call for participation (Artists-Designers), The Market Estate Project
Location: London, Islington
Deadline: N/A – call for submissions is now open
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/call-for-participation-artists-designers/

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Title: Artist opportunity, Beldam Gallery
Location: London, South East
Deadline: N/A – call for submissions is now open
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/artist-opportunity-1/

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Title: Call to Artists – open submission, Folio
Location: London
Deadline: N/A – call for submissions is now open
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/call-to-artists-open-submission/

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Title: Artist, Tip of the Iceberg
Location: South East, Hertfordshire
Deadline: Tuesday 01 December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/artist-15/

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Title: Exhibit next to van Gogh, for a minute!, The New Art Gallery Walsall
Location: West Midlands
Deadline: Wednesday 2 December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/exhibit-next-to-van-gogh-for-a-minute/

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Title: Installation/Visual Artists for devised theatre piece, The Effort
Location: London
Deadline: Friday 4 December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED

http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/installationvisual-artists-for-devised-theatre-piece/

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Title: Call for Artist Submissions, Surrey Artists Open Studios
Location: South East
Deadline: Friday 11 December 2009 – DEADLINE NOW PASSED
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/call-for-artist-submissions/

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Title: Calling All Artists and Illustrators
Location: London, worldwide
Deadline: Thursday 24 December 2009
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/calling-all-artists-and-illustrators/

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JANUARY 2010 DEADLINES

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Title:   Photographer wanted for LITTLE TREASURES (Working Title)
Location:East Midlands
Salary:  £25-£30k pro-rata
Deadline:Monday 4th January 2010
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/photographer-wanted-for-little-treasures-working-title/

Title: Artists wanted to help deliver community engagement programme, Artes Mundi
Location: South West, Wales
Salary: £20k-£25k pro-rata
Deadline: Monday 4th January 2010
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/artists-wanted-to-help-deliver-community-engagement-programme-1/

Title: Artist Wanted for Pride Of Place
Location: South West, Dorset
Salary: £40k-£50k pro-rata
Deadline: Tuesday 5th January 2010
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/artist-wanted-for-pride-of-place/

Title: Dorset/Swindon/Torbay Commission 2010 (Light / sound), Torbay Council
Location: South West
Salary: £25k-£30k pro-rata
Deadline: Friday 8th January 2010
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/dorsetswindontorbay-commission-2010-light-sound/

Title: Artist Commission
Location: South East
Salary: £10k-£15k pro-rata
Deadline: Monday 11th January 2010
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/artist-commission-5/

Title: Sculptural Artist, Kidderminster Heritage Opportunities Group
Location: West Midlands
Salary: £15k-£20k pro-rata
Deadline: Friday 5th February 2010
http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-job/post/sculptural-artist/

I caught up with her in Tokyo on her third visit to Japan; she’d just been to a flea market and picked up an antique Japanese doll for next to nothing.

What led you to become an artist?

I recall a conversation with my mum when I was small where she asked me what I’d like to be when I grew up. My reply was, “I guess I’ll just be an artist, what else can I be?”.  But after a little thought I asked her “can a girl be the Prime Minister?”. So I concluded “either that or an artist”.

You have an ongoing performance collaboration with Narinda Reeders called ‘Hit And Miss’.  Is there a recurrent theme in these performances?

By pure coincidence we both turned up to a party dressed the same – roller skates, red and white. We did know each other but we weren’t particularly close friends at the time, however we both concluded we should try the same thing next weekend. So next weekend we went to a friend’s gig dressed in suits. Because we were dressed up people expected us to perform, so we started hitting an egg on the dance floor with a stick.  And so it continued.

We found we didn’t like performing though – we can’t act and we just burst into giggles, so we decided to be still.  So for pretty much every installation our bodies were presented as dead objects. There’s a movement known as tableaux vivant (still life).  Before photography, wealthy people would pay people to reenact a painting, motionless, like “the last supper” etc. We started looking into it, but found that holding a pose for more than one hour is really hard. We realised we had been meditating in these positions, because we were breathing and relaxing and started to discuss what we were thinking about. This really brought us together and was really personal.

In terms of theme, we try to keep it playful – as we have nothing to lose but we like it to be a challenge at the sametime, hence the name ‘Hit And Miss’.  We think to admit failure isn’t such a bad thing, it’s an inherent part of creativity. We’re constantly embarrassing ourselves in front of people on purpose – it’s really therapeutic and very different to our own individual work.

What kind of reaction do you get?

I think the best reaction has to be the one we witnessed at the Royal Mile, Edinburgh. We were wedged between two phone boxes, our faces pressed against each other for an hour. One little girl came up with her dad and the following conversation ensued!

Girl: “What are they doing”

Dad: “They’re wedged behind the phone box”

Girl: “Why are they doing that?”

Dad: “Guess it’s probably art, darling”

Girl:“Yes but why are they doing that?”

Dad: “Well I think just because they can”

Girl: “Coool!”

During another performance where we had to be completely still, we had one kid was shouting at us “move! – stupid girls, come on MOVE!!!”.  It was really hard not to laugh.  One person kissed us; quite hard not to react and stay there.
(You can see more about ‘Hit And Miss’ on their website here: http://www.hitandmiss.me )

Are many of your performances/projects funded or commissioned?

Not usually. I might get an invitation but it will be along the lines of “can you come and do something at an opening – material costs covered”.

However I have been funded for working with groups of people and collaborations.  For example, “New Ruins” was a funded exhibition in old jail – it paid for six Glasgow artists to come to Melbourne and six artists from Melbourne itself.  The show was open for free to public;  it was only open at night and was pitch black so all the visitors were given a torch!

Another example of funded collaborative work was when I approached a private collectors group to sponsor an ‘art in houses’ project.

The group would pool their resources and periodically commission or purchase a single new work.  However, we wanted  funding to pair up several artists with home owners and get them to produce some work especially for those houses, which would then be open to the public for viewing. I came up with the suggestion that we use about 70% of the budget to fund the artists material costs and then the private collection would be able to choose one of the artists to commission a new work for which they would receive the remaining 30% of the budget [good business thinking Tai!]. The group loved the idea and it was a great success for all involved.  For my own work I was recipient of Australia’s Runway grant. This funded me to go to Berlin to do some work in “new media”, but all I did was give a talk about my work which doesn’t really have anything to do with new media!

What advice would you have for aspiring performance artists?

Don’t worry about what people think; do what you want to do without worrying about what the audience makes of it.  Inevitably some people will love it and some hate it.  It’s key that you get what you want out of it.  As long as you don’t rely on it to make you money it really doesn’t matter what people think.

Who’s your favourite performance artist

Daniel Freakly – The Quote Generator; he only speaks in quotes and is travelling the world at the moment

You also create some equally entertaining drawings and illustrations. First up, tell us about your Hirrafes!

I guess I started drawing them out of a subconscious  love of horses and giraffes. Giraffes have an ugly face and horses have a thick ugly neck, so one day I drew a ‘Hiraffe’.  A whole range of charactars have evolved.  In fact there was a period where all I drew were Hiraffes!

They don’t have bodies. There have been suggestions that I draw other similar animals, e.g. Gronky; half-donkey, half-giraffe, a Girony; half-giraffe, half-pony – but this sounded too much like a meat product.

Amongst your collages, The Madonna/Chiwawa made me laugh my arse off.   In fact I think it’s the first image that comes to mind when I think of your work. With your collage is there any deliberate message, or are you just having fun as you make them?

The Chiwawa happened by accident.  I was cutting off the ears of  a chiwawa (not a real one!) and the head off a madonna for something else and they both were on the same table at the same time.  Then I realised what a perfect match they were!  I love collage; it’s one of my favourite things – it gives you so much freedom.  You work with these bits and they come together and make their own story; it’s like you’re a channeler.

Do you sell your work or have any of your drawing works been published?

I’ve had some of my illustrations published;

Maiden Voyage – book of illustrations, came out last month
Herding Kites – book of poetry and drawings (review)
Artichoke (my favourite review of a great performance by Post)
Curvy magazine – Annual book of female illustrations round the world

What’s next for Tai Snaith?

Thinking about having kids – and travel!

Generally I just strive to keep extending my boundaries and challenging myself rather than just staying happy.  It makes you feel alive.  I like feeling a bit nervous about things. I’d love to be able to achieve bigger things on a bigger scale, not just creating for the sake of creating, to use those skills to do something bigger.

Recently I’ve become aware of the importance of being creative and adding something critical; to work out what you are trying to express and communicate it in language;  “why have I drawn this picture?”.  To this end I spent ten hours the other day, without leaving my apartment, thinking about why I was obsessed with this particular plastic greyhound (that I was considering using for some work).  It really made me think about what’s on the inside of me,; like meditation,v it’s a way to give you time to think.

Thank you tai! you can get in touch with tai through her website www.taisnaith.com