Artist Blogs
A LITTLE GUIDE WHEN BUYING ART by Sue - ASSP-Photo / ASSP-Arts
Author: Sue Smith - Date Thu Mar 2021
Hi there, welcome to my first blog ever.
I heard the other day at one of my Art Gallery visits a couple saying "aren't this prices a bit high". I hear such often on my gallery tours and as former Art Gallery owner and being an artist myself I approached them, exchanged our thoughts to this artwork. .
After this nice chat by analysing the work I asked some questions, one was if they know how much margin Artists have to pay to galleries and sales platforms - they was shocked to hear this!
I invited this lovely couple of a cuppa and in this relaxed atmosphere I came back to the "a bit high". I had just before my gallery bought some acrylics, watercolours and paper. I put an acrylics tube on the table, playfully asking which price they guess - I can't blame them that they thought each item between $3-$5, when I showed them the invoice they couldn't believe that they were so wrong.
If you too think on low material costs think again please. Even if you do a work on cheap canvas to try a style you never did you are using high quality brushes, colours, varnish.
We all have to pay having a roof over our heads, we all need spend money on utility invoices - who doesn't whine about the high power prices, the increase in food and grocery prices since COVID-19? Even the prices of our Art Supplies have increased.
Now think of the days and hours artists spend in creating Art, the paperwork, bookkeeping, the moneys for Art Sale Platforms, adds, the weeks/months/years before a works is sold. When you add this all up I agree that we were in a better position earning a regular wage from an 8 hour job but: we like our job even when we sometimes asking ourselves why we still create Art, why we don't give up. To speak formyself: seeing the happiness in childrens faces, triggering with our works memories, emotions, hope is - at least in my own case - why we are keeping doing what we do.
What is included in my Art Prices?
I like to mention that in most of my "high" prices include the additional hours and expenses I spend to provide you with the best quality of material and finishes. I like that my works give you a smile whenever you look at them, so working with you and supervise you on the perfect finish of the work you buy IS INCLUDED. Contact Sue by email to info.ssmith@gmail.com for our free Info Pack.
In my next Blog I will give you some ideas for the soon coming Easter.
Stay safe and healthy,
Sue and her team
https://assp.suesmithphotography.com.au/
New mixed watermedia paintings
Author: Froney Ward - Date Mon Feb 2021
I have recently started painting in mixed watermedia using Watercolours, Gouche and Casein.
i used all three mediums in this painting of my garden which I painted enplein air.
First Blog
Author: Wendy Sinclairs Art - Date Wed Feb 2021
Hi there,
this is my first "blog" post. Not really sure what a blog is but I do want to show you what I am working on at present.
It's been a bit of a roller coaster journey but really enjoying the process of problem-solving, decision-making, and creeping forward step by step.
This piece started out as an acrylic background with cling v wrap added to the wet paint to add texture & interest. The plan was to go B over it with an oil & cold Wax abstract, cutting through the layers to reveal hints of the background.
Problem: I became attached to the background layer, so decided to do an abstract nature theme. I added some charcoal to the tree shapes, and added a touch of Blue to the whole painting to knock back and unify the colours.
it needed more, so I added some gum leaf prints using real leaves, and Grevillea bud prints using real buds as the template.
Still not happy - decided to add abstract Wattle using yellow dots. Loving the colours and textures of these abstract plants and leaves.
Next I added a sleeping Koala, & have sketched the outline of a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo & Kookaburra.
It needed some white/lights: stencilled my own Cricut-cut stencil of Flannel flowers, taken from one of my photos.
Reslky happy now with the colours, shapes, textures, composition.
All that is left to do now is paint in the birds 😊🎨
South Gippsland Artist's Profile Statement
Author: Gillian Carpenter - Date Wed Jul 2020
Frottage in the Cemetery
Author: Marty Hirst - Date Thu May 2020
"Frottage!" What a lovely French word. You can really feel it on your tongue when you say it. To pronounce it properly, with the deliciousness it deserves, you really have to get every part of your mouth involved. "Ffff" with the top teeth firmly biting down on the bottom lip; "rho", from the back of the throat; "t!" tongue on the top palate; the sighing "ahh" and then "ghgghghg". It is a damn sexy word and sounds a bit naughty.
But enough of that. It's also lovely word in the art world and the fun thing is that it is just that little bit dirty too.
I spent a couple of hours this week in my local cemetery taking frottages from some of the headstones.
These are test pieces for a major work in my print-making class. Because of the coronavirus lockdown school is physically closed, but we are learning virtually.
I'm not sure exactly what my final piece will be, but I think it will have a memento mori theme.
After all, I don't want to waste a trip to the cemetery.
You can see a full collection of my cemetery rubbings here.
Print-making in the pandemic
Author: Marty Hirst - Date Thu May 2020
Author: John Whittam - Date Mon Jun 2020
Love
Author: Frances Phelan - Date Mon Jul 2020
As the moon twinkles down
And touchers her fallen tears
She reaches into her mind
And searches for the divine
As the petals fall so delicately
And decorate the ground
Her heart beats lightly
Quieter than sound
Darkness of her life
Haunting but right
Her spirit so free
Her soul she can't flee
poet Frances Phelan 2012
Watercolour discussion
Author: Szczepan Urbanowicz - Date Fri Jul 2020
A recent watercolour painting of mine. I produced this as a LIVE - REAL-TIME watercolour painting session on Youtube recently. I'm really starting to enjoy landscapes. I am working with colours that harmonise my sensitivities to changing light conditions and this piece is another step along the way. regards szcz
Out of the ashes
Author: Jacqui Reid - Date Sat Jul 2020
Out of the ashes is a work in progress series that honors the wildlife that was lost during the 2019-2020 bushfires in East Gippsland. Our property was effected and the bush that surrounded us was burnt out, a handfull of kangaroos, some birds and a young female fox is all that came out of the bush during the days that followed the 31st of December 2019.
I have used charcoal and ash from the fires in each of the paintings, Iv'e also used matisse structure acrylic paints, inks and dyes. I love to use a multitude of mediums, you never know what's going to react with what.
This image is of a young female kangaroo that was badly burnt, we watched her make her way to the dam, shortly after we decided to go check on her and unfortunatly she had to be put down. This painting is to remember her, rest in peace my little friend.