common thread?

Recently, I was in a little pop-up shop in Art Central along with two other artists, Diane Kinahan and Darlene Beck.  We originally planned to be there for 3 days, February 1st - 3rd, with February 2nd being the big First Thursday event Art Central always hosts every (you got it!) first Thursday of each month.  We were so successful that day, we ended up staying for an extra two weeks!  Shaw TV even interviewed me for our little group of three - Quite the Spectacle - getting up close and personal with abstract art. 

It was a long haul though, even though I only did 5 'shifts' actually manning the store.  You see, I had laryngitis from a cold I got just days before the opening, and I pushed myself to do the interview, be 'on' for the First Thursday, and muster the energy to get through the rest of the time we were there.  It's not like it was strenuous being there.... if I was well.  But I was not.  So I got really tired.  Eventually we came to the end of our stay, and I've taken the week off from speaking (pretty much whispering really) and have taken to carrying a wee whiteboard around with me to communicate with people. 

Which means I've had a lot of quiet time to sits and thinks.  And what I'm thinking about is... what sold what I sold?  What are the elements that are appealing of the pieces I sold.  The photo above is a set of three wee paintings I did on one of the days in the studio when Diane and I worked together getting messy with paint.  They were hung for Monday morning, and sold in the afternoon.  I think the other ladies and I were thinking larger pieces would sell, as an instructor talked about large art a lot.  But the pieces that sold were all small.  One that Darlene sold was I think about 12 x 16, but it was a realism piece, not abstract (yes, she snuck that in there!)  All the ones I sold were 12 x 12 or 8 x 8 or smaller.

I do think price point was a factor, as other artists and gallery owners said I was priced too low.  But was I?  I mean, pieces sold.  Perhaps if I was higher pieces wouldn't have sold.  I don't know.  I'm really looking for some insight on what it is about pieces I make that sell, and those that stay in inventory for quite some time.  Here's all the pieces that sold during those two weeks.  What do you think?  (oh, and I don't usually do hearts, but it was Valentine's Day and I was encouraged to do them... and they sold.)  I'd really appreciate any insights, as I'm about to do another show at Art Central - for the entire month of March!

almost

Almost.  I'm almost done my stay in London.  I think I'm going to visit the British Museum and then maybe Waitrose one last time... or Burough Market one last time.  Monday and Tuesday and then Wednesday I'm flying towards home.  It's amazing how fast time moves.  And how quickly one adapts to ones surroundings.  I thought it would stay all cool and interesting in London for the entire time but this past week it's slowly just become where I am, and not some ancient spot... just the spot where I am right now.  Weird.  Unanticipated.  But telling.

It tells me that it doesn't really matter where I live, it's more what I do when I'm there.  Even a super cool place like London could be small if one chooses to live that way.  And although I am not enamoured with Calgary and all of her tempermental weather patterns, she's not that bad ... especially when my husband and my puppy are around to keep me company.

slipping away

I can feel the passage of time just slipping away.  Only 1 more week in London.  I wish I had more time, but then again I wish I had my husband with me. I think I would be having more fun with him here - mainly because things are so much better when I share them with him.  And I miss my dog.  I keep petting every dog I see and the small one (K) asked me yesterday "why do you pet every single dog you see?"  Well.  Because I miss my dog. 

I'd like to say I went somewhere wonderful today and did something wonderful as well, but in truth I had a headache and I spent most of the day doing laundry and making banana bread and feeling sorry for my damn headaches.  But then it went away, I picked up the small one from school, the bigger one came home, we all had dinner, and we all had showers, and we all ended the day on a good note - with a sleeping song featured in the Jungle Book and done oh so well by Holly Cole.

"trust in me, just in me, close your eyes, and trust in me.  you could sleep, safe and sound, knowing I am around.  slip into silent slumber, sail on a silver mist.  slowly but surely your senses will cease to resist.  trust in me, just in me, close your eyes.  and trust in me." 

slipping away

Tate

Finally I went to the Tate Modern.  I guess there are 4 Tate Museums...Tate Modern looks like something out of George Orwell's 1984, but no matter.  It was very cool.  I was also impressed at the number of students taking photos with their phones for their courses.  I missed out on an artist I wanted to see; his exhibit closed last Sunday, and I'm sad I missed it.  Gerhard Richter http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/gerhardrichter/default.shtm

But I did manage to see the entire rest of the place and by the time I made it to the shop I was toasted and only bought a pencil, a sharpener, and a post card.  And then I had to make the trek back to the flat, and I was famished so I stopped at Burough Market and picked up a couple things.  Then I had a well deserved nap on the couch.  And finally I downloaded the day's photos.

Tate Modern - looking up the smoke stack

warhol

lichtenstein

picasso

pollack - I was surpised

ernst

monet

kandinsky

sea of glass

I haven't really planned this London trip very well - the day to day activities at least.  So I typed into google 'things to do in London' and up popped and exhibit of Dale Chihuly' at the Halcyon Gallery.  Holy Moly!  So off I went to check it out.  I wrote down the directions to get there and headed out.  Off the tube at Bond Street and up at street level I realized I'd gone the wrong way (there were two exit choices) but at some point I see New Bond Street, which is the one I wanted - yay me!  I kept wandering down and found the gallery, which thankfully let me take photos (no flash). 

Each piece is multiple thousands of dollars, and to date I had only seen 2 of his works up close: Minnesota's Children's Museum and Calgary's Salt Lik restaurant.  I only took one glass blowing class (oh, maybe you didn't know - Dale Chihuly is the best glass artist in the world - see more here)... okay so I've only taken one glass blowing glass and I wasn't very good at it but it did open my eyes to the beauty of glass, not just for the look but the form as well.  I am usually left wondering "how did he do that?" when I see anything of his.  I still don't know.  The sculptures are incredibly massive, and delicate, and intricate.  Shipping them must be a total nightmare.  (yes, I always end up thinking of the practical side of things).

One of the installations was like a sea of glass, and make me think of 'Ship of Fools' by Robert Plant, so why don't you play that song while you check out the photos of the exhibit.

Enjoy!

not for the faint of heart

After 2 days in London nursing a bad headache, finally it gave up the ghost and I went out with Z & the boys the Borough Market.  It was so cool.  I think it was about the most massive market I've ever been too.  I sampled some sausage made with Red Deer meat (which is a little weird since I grew up in Red Deer Alberta!) 

We wandered around a bit and found this little photo-op.  Who knew hares and ducks were still sold like this?  I'm not too fussed about it, since my Dad is a hunter, but I can just imagine some vegan tourist taking issue. 

Anyway, we came back on the tube and stopped at Waitrose, which is an amazing grocery store.  It's tempting to buy so many things right at the beginning of my trip but that would be a big mistake - since I only have so much room in my suitcase and I think my sister has dibs on some of the space!

We had chicken wings (parsley, garlic & lemon - yum), and now Z is making a cake while the boys watch Toy Story 2.  A pretty good 3rd day in London.