Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The business of getting noticed (part 2)


The second in the series has Lisa Woolfe running a session on how to create artist websites and how to use Facebook.  I must admit I skipped this because I had attended her seminar previously – hence the website I have now created (www.mengwoo.com).

A good website is essential but where I’m not clear is how to utilise Facebook as an artist?  Lisa’s opinion is that a personal Facebook account can double up for family and friends as well as art contacts.  You just need to know how to organise it accordingly. 

The third in the series featured Sara Leonardi McGrath, Glenn McGrath’s second wife.  Sara opened a contemporary gallery in Chippendale (www.mclemoi.com) last year and came to tell us what gallerists do and how to approach a gallery.  Sara is refreshingly honest and open.  What I gathered is that a good gallery is a publicity machine for their artists.  They’re constantly on the phone, ringing up potential buyers and answering emails.  They are basically the people who chase the sale.  And if they do everything that Sara does, they more than deserve their 50% commission!

As to how to approach a gallery, her advice is to scout around and get to know the galleries and what they specialise in.  There is, for instance, no point at all for me to approach her gallery as I’m not a contemporary artist.  But if the gallery was as approachable as she was, I’d be very lucky!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

The business of getting noticed (part 1)

For Art Month March 2013, ArtEst school at Leichhardt is running a series of seminars on professional development for artists.  Bravo, Jennifer!  There are so many art schools around but most focus primarily on technique, not how to make a living from your art.  We all know that artists are not usually the most business savvy people – the delight is in making art, not to selling it. 

I must admit the business of selling art fascinates me more than most artists, mainly because my other job is management consulting.  I’m always wondering how business principles can be applied to my hobby.  So these seminars were just the thing to illuminate.

The first of the series has Todd Fuller talking about Art Prizes, Grants and how to be noticed.  Todd is 24 and graduated from NAS.  For such a young man, he has done very well to be noticed, and is in fact represented by a well regarded gallery.  It is clear from the talk that Todd understood what it takes to be a professional artist as he was applying for residencies and entering art competitions, even whilst at school. 

The first step is to build up a convincing CV.  To get an idea of what an artist CV looks like, he suggests googling your favourite artist (someone alive, preferably).  Usually, this has a practice rationale which requires some thought to put together.  A hook to get people interested.  And if you have friends who are copywriters, get them on the job!  The CV also lists prizes/ awards and education.  The first requires perseverance as art prizes are a lottery (how can any one pick a winner from a broad range of genre and mediums? Yes, eeny meeny, miny moh).  But there are lots of grass root prizes to try before entering the Mosman prize or attempting the Archibald.

 

Monday, March 4, 2013

Print making with Jane Gascoigne

Jane Gascoigne, also an inner west artist held an exhibition at the Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Camperdown. Jane offered free print workshops for adults and older kids and I brought Miss 9 along with her little friend. Which sparked off my interest in print making.


We used a real leaf for this which was rolled a red and pressed against a Lino tile in green. Nice effect but not sure how reproducible it is.


This bird is a sgraffito attempt. Oil pastels are applied then painted over in black. A toothpick was used to scratch out a design which revealed the colour underneath. Jane also showed us how to print from a Lino cut but wisely provided a precut piece. I could just imagine the blood involved otherwise! Anyway this has sparked my imagination and I thought I'd attempt some Lino printing. Soon as I can get to an art shop....