gallery

Just So You Know, I Am Still Painting

by Chavah Kinloch on November 11, 2010

It’s been a while since I posted anything about my art, so I thought I would update you all on what I’m currently working on.

Right now I have three paintings on the go. I do actually have more 1/4, 1/2 & 3/4 done paintings out in my studio but there are two huge pieces I’m working on. Here’s a glimpse at those, plus another that’s just got a few more things to add in:

So first up is this large mixed media piece. It has a looong way to go yet. As you can see I don’t even have the first layer of paint down.

A bit about the painting: One of my nicknames is Queen-C, it goes back quite a bit. I’ve recently become obsessed with the Queen of Hearts from the new Alice in Wonderland. She was so ugly and cute at the same time. I think I was one of the few in the world that adored the new version of the movie. It wasn’t the same as the classic, which I also adore, it was different story altogether which die hard fans weren’t too happy with. I, on the other hand love different. I like the fact that they carried the story on. I enjoy playing around with the Queen of Hearts because she’s so quirky and controlling. Plus she’s a queen..of hearts! Yay for hearts! Her essence really evokes fun thoughts inside me, I think we blend well together.

The next is a painting I began working on, on my birthday. You can see it progress step by step in this post. It’s based on an image of my husband and I. I love the photo because it totally captures our goofy attitudes. I’m creating this painting for Boston’s room but it will also be going on exhibition somewhere, first I have to finish it and find the right place to send it! It’s a TONNE of fun to create and actually more complex to create than it looks. I’ve had nothing but issues trying to source the materials for this project which is why it’s taking so long. I can’t wait till it’s finished.

What I really love about this painting is that it’s also a puzzle. I use it to play games with my children. Children are drawn to it, I think from a distance it looks like candy. In fact right now Boston is lying next to it touching the buttons…this is a regular occurrence. There are thousands of buttons, including buttons from ralph lauren, levis, gap and about a hundred other brands. There are even some that say Boston! There are also fun shaped buttons, for example, the children stand there trying to find the four bunny buttons or the baseballs etc. At the end of it, there will be buttons spelling out words placed around for people to try to find and put together the sentence.

The third is a painting that was started about four years ago. It’s of my oldest son at that time. He’s changed so much now! I’m glad I’ve almost finished it. Four years is a long enough time to wait.

In the past few months I’ve also been exhibiting. I had work picked up by a gallery in the Wellington area:

I helped fundraise to send women to Samoa:

My painting was used on the set of the Lifestyle show on Cue TV:

I spent the afternoon working with disadvantaged teen girls. Read that post here and here is what they sent me to say thanks.

And I took part in an exhibition in Tirau:

I also took part in an artists trading card exchange, I posted about the awesome cards I received here. I forgot to take photo’s of my own! Dang, I really liked them lol. Here’s is a shot of one that Denita shared on her blog:

So as you can see, I’m keeping pretty busy. I still have more artistic projects on the go and I’l be sure to update you on them as they draw closer. Enjoy your day! I’m now in the mood to create. :D

{ 4 comments }

How to Prepare a Painting for Hanging – The Do’s and Don’ts

by Chavah Kinloch on May 12, 2010

Lately I’ve encountered first hand and also been told of a few horror stories to do with the issue of paintings being handed over to a gallery for hanging.  There is no one way to do it but there are a few steps that just should not be overlooked. It makes you look professional and saves the handlers/gallery an awful lot of work. So if you want to put your best foot forward, use these simple tips.

Sample A

Sample A

Sample B

DO:

  • Finish your work off completely by painting the sides and sealing it when dry.
  • Write the Title and Date on the back of your painting. Don’t forget to sign it too.
  • Include all details Title, Size, Medium, Artist, Price on a tag or sticker that is easily visible on the back of your work.
  • Use D hooks.
  • Place them about 1/3 the way down on the back.
  • Insert the D hooks on the insides of the boxed canvas so that they don’t protrude and leave marks on the wall.
  • Use string or wire to  hang. Wire is best if your work is heavy as it stretches less.
  • Tape the back of the frame. You can buy framing tape at your local art supplies store for about $15.

DON’T:

  • Show up to the gallery and expect someone to do all this for you.
  • Take your art work anywhere when wet.
  • Expect unframed canvas or paper to be put on display.
  • Create a beautiful painting then not add the Title & Price to the back.

It’s honestly very simple. So simple it seems silly to write this post but I assure you, it’s very easy for people to overlook these steps. I hope you find them useful in the future. If you read this list and realise you’ve been doing these things, relax! When you know better, you do better. Move forward from today onward and you’ll be fine.

*** Don’t forget to enter my Pick Your Print Giveaway which runs till May 15th 2010

{ 11 comments }

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Sold My Art Work

by Chavah Kinloch on April 7, 2010

There are a few tips I thought others out there could use. Just a few things I, myself, wish I had known before I ventured into the big wide world of being an artist.

Photos:

I wish I’d realised how important it was to have a decent camera that took high quality images and easily reduced glare. I got my hands on photoshop this year and love it. Now I have to work through some old images of paintings long sold to bring them up to scratch. I’ll put up a post soon with some tips for photos.

Document:

Take note of everything. Size, colours used to create a painting, brushes used, medium, date created, location of painting when out of your studio, your price, commission rate, actual sale price, where it went (if possible). It makes life much easier when it comes time to answer questions from galleries and clients or when you’re working on a series of paintings.

Hanging Prep:

This is a pretty big one. I’m rather embarrassed when I look back at some of the work I sent out. I learned how to tidy up the back of my work for my first exhibition. I asked a lot of questions and Googled my life away trying to ‘get it right’. There is no one right way but there are some steps that shouldn’t be overlooked. I’ll put up an instructional post for that in the next week.

Business Cards:

Always include a business card (or two, or ten) in your packages. Whether you’re sending your work to a client or off to an exhibition, make sure you send along a business card. I’ve started doing this new thing, it came about because I wasn’t able to get my business cards shipped on time for a show. I handwrite each of my business cards and in the past 2 months I have been through over 200 business cards. They say nothing but “Find me! ChavahKinloch.com” and have a little mark on them made from either crayon or coloured pencil. I know this could be looked at as a major no-no but people seem to love the personal touch and I have to admit, so do I. My site gets direct hits from them and I’ve never been Googled so much. Clients also appreciate having somewhere to go to see more work and learn about me, the artist. It’s a fun way to interact without actually being there to talk to every single person.

Image courtesy of Nileflow.com

Mailing List:

This is by far my biggest stuff up. I really wish I could go back and get the details of every wonderful client I traded with or artist and gallery I exchanged emails with (from computers that are long dead). Contacts are your best friend in the life of an artist, you never know where your next opportunity or acquaintance will come from. Plus artists are amazing people to know, I have made some really good friends through my work. So take note of the people you interact with.


{ 11 comments }

Opening Night

by Chavah Kinloch on March 5, 2010

It’s all done! It’s looks fantastic and I really enjoyed myself chatting the night away with artists and art lovers alike. I managed to forget I had orange juice in my cup and spilt it all over the front of my dress at one stage but hey, I survived lol. I seriously enjoyed myself more than I expected to! I love it when that happens. Thank you to the people that turned up and socialised.

Special thanks to Tanya Dann, Marimba Powley, Philina Den Dulk, Kay Ward and Michelle Wallis – our local artists that all came out for the evening.

It’s been a great day in my world today and to top it off  my daughter won her athletics races – smart, sporty, creative and beautiful – what more could you ask for? She was also racing the girls a year older than her. Go you good thing you!

I’m surrounded by fantastic people. Life is great.

Sorry, this post is a bit here, there and everywhere. I am exhausted.

Time to relax tomorrow. I will not do anything. Ok, maybe I’ll clean the house, it’s looking a bit worse for wear today. No one come over ok? Hehehe. Other than that though, time to just be a Mum. I’m looking forward to that. Until Blog Idol…oh my gosh.

A few shots of the exhibition:

Opening Night

End of Hanging Day

Opening Night

A sleepy baby

Crazy girls after a long night

I love my life.

{ 6 comments }

Hanging Day

by Chavah Kinloch on March 4, 2010

Hanging all the artwork at the gallery went great today. I had a pretty good time. I’m hurting everywhere right now but at least the gallery looks great. I got a few shots to share with you. It was a long, looong day. I skipped my favourite chore of the fortnight – grocery shopping lol – so I could come home and get my sneakers off and chill for the rest of the night. After this post I’m going to get my reality tv fix and then hopefully fall into a deep sleep.

Little did I know that a photographer for the Southland Times would be showing up before lunch; so I get to feature in the newspaper in my trackpants and Champion tee haha. Not to mention the mess that my hair was in. Oh well!

Here’s us unpacking a small mass of boxes and bubble wrap though:



Don’t forget to join us if you’re in Invercargill tomorrow night! 7pm City Gallery, 28 Don St.

On a side note. My hubby spotted this article regarding Blog Idol 2 on Stuff today. Check out the awesome comments (I’m being totally sarcastic here).

{ 7 comments }

Wow, What a Year

We’re only 3 months into the year, barely that, and so much has happened already. It really makes a person sit and think about things.  I went to bed last night, still anxious but overwhelmingly happy. I felt good feelings and let them consume me. I focused on the positive and shoved the niggling little [...]

Want to Have a Nosy?

So we’re just over a week away from First Thursdays now. If you’re in Auckland, come down for the art walk/show. It’s on K Road, 4th Feb, 6pm on. Te Karanga Gallery will be showing 5 or so artists (me), there’s verona cafe, St Kevin’s arcade and I’m told there’ll be drinks flowing and a [...]

← Previous Entries