Archive for May, 2006
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May 31st, 2006
Encouraged by my sales at the LeedArt event in Chelmsford I have just signed up to exhibit with the Untitled Gallery at Throgmortons, London EC2 week commencing 6th July. There will be fifteen artists in all, and actually the Untitled Gallery space will be in place for two weeks, but I opted to do one week only.
At the weekend I headed up to Leeds to experience a bit of City living for a change. Just being nosey really, getting a feel for the City. Last time I was there I was a little girl, so I don’t remember anything. Although I am reliably informed it’s all changed anyway, and judging by the amount of construction going on I can well believe it.
Didn’t get to experience a night on the town, as I started drinking wine on a empty stomach before dinner, which basically meant that by the time I had dinner, walked back to the hotel to change I was more interested in having a nap than painting the town red. Himself was not impressed!
I launched a new competition this week to win a Bluebell print, and the response has been fantastic. People obviously like Bluebells! Follow the competition link to your right to enter.
Earlier in the year I decided to expand my business into Kids photography, and the new website for this launched this week: www.blueeyeskidsphoto.co.uk Still early days, but I am encouraged by the response. It is something slightly different to the studio experience as I am shooting using natural light and capturing the different expressions of a child and putting 40 different photographs into one montage style print. Saves the parents the indecision of knowing which print to chose! I’m also photographing the child at home, and I think it makes for more relaxed & comfortable looking photographs when the child has their own special things around them.
May 30th, 2006
Yesterday my inbox received a message about a new Publication: ‘Making it to Market: Developing the market for contemporary craft’ from a Visual Arts Officer with the Art Council England:
“This report represents the findings of a two-year-long research programme by Morris Hargreaves McIntyre into the market for craft, with a specific focus on contemporary fine craft. It was the first such study of the craft market to be undertaken in England and was commissioned by Arts Council England.
The research explores the extent to which people in England wish to buy original craft objects. The statistics are based on data derived from a population survey, with a representative sample of 7,241 adults aged 16 and over living in England, and on qualitative research with 150 people.
The report:
o analyses the factors that constrain the market for contemporary craft
o identifies substantially more potential demand for contemporary fine craft than is thought to exist
o recommends how the market for contemporary fine craft might be developed.
The full Making it to Market report is only available online.”
With interest I downloaded this, as sometimes what I do comes under the craft heading – my handmade greetings for example, and I do exhibit my prints & cards at Craft shows.
The interesting points for me are:
- The report found that there are 7.3 million people who would consider buying cutting edge work, or contemporary fine craft, 2.5 million have not so far bought. That’s a huge potential market.
- Sales are constrained by the lack of high quality distribution network, both in London and the regions. In fact most people buy direct from the designer-maker, which some dealers and Gallery owners dislike. However the report does acknowledge that Craft Fairs are a vital route to market for designers – makers which, ironically, are usually how a designer maker sells their work direct to the buyers, before they attract a dealer or gallery – if ever. Buyers too like the experience of buying direct. Net result? A much undeveloped contemporary fine craft dealer sector.
- Buyers also comment on the image of craft as an ‘amateur’ activity as holding the sector back. Price is another factor – these are essentially luxury goods, but without the brand awareness needed to command higher prices.
- The report talks about “Cultivating the desire to buy?” and goes on to say “While there is a substantial potential market, the research shows that there is little drive to buy. Potential buyers put out excuses – money, lifestyle, life-stage, and more – for not buying. To them craft lacks a symbolic aspirational quality.”
- So basically we have a sector with a large target market, but a poor image and little or no brand awareness to increase the desire to buy. And the problem isn’t an ignorant public, lacking taste and confidence, the research found no evidence of this. It’s our own practices and supply methods.
In summary the report concludes that there should be:
- A stronger role for public galleries and public collections
- Clear distinction between amateur and professional craft, through positioning and branding.
- More, high quality retail outlets
- Strong and effective marketing message
- Reasonable and realistic competitive pricing
- Efficient distribution chain
- Efficient mechanisms for producers to introduce their work to retailers
- Mechanisms for encouraging and rewarding high quality production
- Distribution and selling incorporates fine craft and design
- Image building and awareness raising.
So, not much to do then? Not!
I hope the Arts Council take on board some of the findings and take action. Otherwise the number of people motivated to create will substantially reduce. Not that we’ll know what we are missing, but that’s not the point!
May 23rd, 2006
I want my photographs to tug at your soul. To relax you mind at stressful times. I want to show you the landscape through my eyes, as I capture the wonderful moments when the light is magical that we all see and have difficult remembering.
If you like my work on this website, come and see me live!
Currently I am exhibiting a selection of my photographs on canvas with LeedArt at the Meadows Shopping centre, Chelmsford, Essex until Sunday 21st May 2006.
And then here:
SELECT British 2006 Trade show 11-13June 2006, Westpoint, Exeter.
MiniGallery East Group Summer exhibition at the Picture Craft Gallery, Holt, Norfolk - 28th July to 16th August 2006
Essex Craftsmen Guild Art Show at Ingatestone Hall, Essex 9th-13th August 2006
Parndon Mill Artists Show at the Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford 12th - 26th August 2006.
Artist & Makers Open studios at Parndon Mill, Harlow, Essex - 16th & 17th September.
May 19th, 2006
Well, they sure make some people smile.
Because for the split second it takes to capture that image, travelling to the location, setting up, a photographer has gone through months of training and planning.
Of course, that’s not what you’ll see
When you view the finished product – perhaps as a print on canvas, you’ll see an almost flawless photograph. A photographer’s vision captures and shared. What you won’t see, is all the background stuff that was needed to make this image.
Everyone believes it’s just a lucky snap
Yeah, right. I wish.
What makes a photograph is good composition – often simple, but straightforward, clarity of intent, and of course a well-executed shot (good exposure & interesting to look at). That is not achieved by clicking away – it’s achieved by vision, thought & planning. Oh yes and it’s handy to know your camera like you know your partner. They‘re not all the same.
May 17th, 2006
On Saturday I was at Lords watching Sri Lanka –v- England. Nearly every time England got a wicket I missed it – that’s why I’m not a Sport’s Photographer!
Still I really enjoyed the day. Fortunately I was surrounded by people giving me a running commentary about what was going on, and sometimes what wasn’t – handy when you know nothing about the game. Himself was very happy to be at the cricket too.
He even went and played himself on Sunday. For his Village cricket team that is.
May 16th, 2006
Stood waiting for the lift to arrive the other day, I noticed a print of a painted still life. It triggered this idea in my head. And yes those are real tulips, I planted mine very late so they have only just flowered. And no this composition looks nothing like the print I saw. As I said, it just triggered the idea.
May 15th, 2006
Spring blossom in Harlow, Essex
Originally uploaded by BlueEyesPhoto.
I spotted this location from the road as I often drive past, so one day I returned with camera and tripod and captured this classic image which screams ‘Spring!”
May 8th, 2006
From the BBC Press Office
“On BBC ONE, a major three-part factual drama series unravels the intimate history of The Impressionists.
To contemporary eyes, Impressionist paintings possess a simple and familiar beauty: the delicate hues of Monet’s water lilies and Degas’ exquisite ballerinas.
But these paintings caused riots in the art world when they first appeared in Paris at the end of the 19th century.
Viciously attacked by critics and rejected by the public, the Impressionist painters were outcasts in the art world.
Filmed in France and entirely based on an extensive archive of letters and documentary evidence, The Impressionists tells the intimate history of the brotherhood of Monet, Cézanne, Renoir, Manet and Degas in their own words.”
This was fascinating program to watch, two more episode’s to go (Sunday evening’s on BBC 1 in the U.K.)
Some of the comments & emotions I still hear and feel today when I exhibit my photographs, even though photography as an art has more recognition than these guys had at the time.
Funny to think that in the 1870’s photography was thought to be just a passing fad!
May 3rd, 2006
