Very Nice, Shiny and Black

Martyn Brewster

I am sat with 4 half empty wine bottles. I didn't drink the first halves, although I am tempted as they are just sat there taunting me. Had a really nice Opening Night of the Life Drawing exhibition. Lots of great comments about the work and my hanging skills.

I am the proud new owner of a brand new printer. It does come to something when you think that you feel like you need some formal qualification just to set these new printers up. This is coming from someone who is quite clued up on that kind of thing. It is very nice, shiny and black. (A bit like me, I'm not quite as shiny though).

I was given a bag full of magazines called 'Art & Craft Education' they date back to the late 60's and early 70's. I have to tell you that it gave me real food for thought. In a time when Art is battling to stay in the curriculum it is hard to believe that there was a time that it warranted it's own magazine. I have to say having speed read a few of them. They were spot on about the importance of art .

'We must develop in each child an awareness and an appreciation for the visual world, texture and form so that they may grow up gaining confidence in their own ability though their own achievements.'

Having taught in many schools over the last 20 years there is a decline in dedicated art rooms and art teachers. The equipment that is on offer is woefully inadequate. The irony is that art is possibly the only subject in the whole curriculum that does not have to be driven by being 'good at it'. The freedom of expression is available to all. It surprises me that there are Special Ed schools that don't have an Art Department. Surely, that would be one of the groups that art would greatly benefit.
Anyway, I am trying to get into schools to teach teachers who teach art who aren't trained to do that. Wish me luck.

I Only Wanted To Get To Work Early!

Bonnie Brown

Oh the frustration! That is not the way I wanted my day to start. But apparently my day had other ideas. I thought I'd get a head start and get to work early. My first mistake, there was absolutely nowhere to park. So then I had to drive home and park the car and then walk into work. I cleverly dropped off my heavy rucksack beforehand. I should also add here that I was then in fact late to work.

I went out yesterday to try and get people to sign up to my map and it was fairly successful. But there people that I missed so I thought I'd print out the info with a copy of the map and drop it into them so they can see it. But apparently my printer had other ideas. So nearly £150 later a new printer with inks.
(Just incase anyone is reading this and thinking that I'd made a hasty decision to replace it, well in order to get someone to look at it was £50 and then the whole printhead thingy needed taking out and replacing. It's out of warranty and the parts also come to £25, that's if it could actually be fixed)

During the printer debacle of September 6th whilst swearing, slapping and poking a piece of electrical equipment more than you probably should. I had some customers come in. I am very good at replacing bad words with good ones. Phew!

Two couples one after the other, very keen on the artists' work and wanting to know more etc. I worked that shizzle with both lots of people. They are going away to 'think about it'. I could weep. So frustrating, I would like to make a sale today. But apparently my potential buyers had other ideas.

There is just a few hours left today and all of tomorrow to see Kims exhibition and you should definitely try and do exactly that.

It's the Folk Festival in Swanage and I think that it should be nice and busy so jump on the ferry, (look out for my sign) and come to Swanage.

I am going to be featuring the work of the seven members of Group 7 in my blog over the next couple of weeks so that you can get a feel for it and also Stephen Bishop who is up next after the Life Drawing exhibition.

Stephen Bishop

Putting All Swanage Galleries On The Map!

I  have been painting a brighter and more accurate gallery map it has only taken me two days. The shaky hand of doom was hovering yesterday. I have no idea why that happens but it does from time to time. I have to just get on with it usually but as my handiwork is up for public consumption then I'm guessing that I should be a little more careful as I will be judged.

I have now just got to get everyone on board and hope that together we can get more people coming to Swanage the arts capital of the South West. Well that's what I am working on it being called.
There is so much art to see here all year round. The wealth of talent has extended to the cafes, bars and pubs. So if you haven't checked Swanage out in a while then you know what to do. The sun is out and the sky is blue and the beaches are now empty and are waiting for you.

The gallery has been getting some nice feedback, it does seem that people who have not visited Swanage in the last couple of years are coming in and letting me know that I am doing a good job. It is always nice to hear that. I would love to pay return visits on some of the galleries that I keep hearing about.

Owning and working in a gallery during a recession is a real test of faith. You can believe in what you are doing until the cows come home but if you cant't pay the bills and the rent, it really is 'Game Over'. Who would of thought that the teaching qualification that I took on a whim nearly 20 years ago would end up paying my way long after I left lecturing. Certainly not me.

I have been opening earlier in order to try and catch the people heading to the beach before they actually get there. It is kind of working.

I have a filler exhibition that starts next week hence the poster in this blog. I hope that you can pop in and see it. It takes artists a lot of courage to put themselves out there and exhibit their work and this local Life Drawing group are no exception. It starts next week so please do come and take a look.

Normal Service Is Now Resumed!

 I have been remiss but the truth is that today is my first day at the gallery all week. I have been taking advantage of people who need a quiet office space to work in. The gallery is perfect for that. It just means that I am now currently a little ahead when it comes to home chores. Thank you to all of my gallery sitters you have all done a sterling job.

The current exhibition is continuing to impress and what I would really like to happen is to sell something for Kim. Number 14 is the odds on favourite to go. It has many admirers and the sooner one of them takes the leap and buys it the happier I will be. I think Kim will be too.

What's coming next? A Drawing Exhibition, he local Life Drawing Class will be exhibiting their wares for about 8 days. It should be an interesting little exhibition, I have been championing drawing this year so I am pleased that there is to be one one more drawing exhibition. After that we have Stephen Bishop followed by Group 7. So the Autumn is looking as good as the Summer. For all of you that have been avoiding the madness of the summer crowds, schools go back next week. It is time to enjoy the more mellow Swanage. Next weekend it is the Blues Festival so not only will it be mellow but there will be tunes too.

I thought that you might like to see one of my holiday snaps. The Indian Ocean is so full of life that you cannot actually see many spaces without fish. I am contemplating having an exhibition of my marine images in a gap at the gallery. I have thousands.

Proof That Social Media Works!

I am back from holiday. It was amazing and I can highly recommend the Madives if you are into snorkelling and diving. Saw some amazing things.

I have taken down Jan Dagleys' exhibition and now I have Kim De Beers' exhibition up. It is so refreshing to see someone who is listening very carefully to her inner voice and creating haunting dreamlike images. Never boring at the gallery always out there doing something new trying to find artists who are pushing the boundaries. Come and see this show it starts with the Opening Evening Event tonight at 6.00.

I have spoken so much in the past about the importance self promotion and using all the great social media platforms that are out there to get people looking at your work. It would seem that I can 'lead and artist to an easel but I can't make them paint!'. This free, accessible world is there to be used.

If you are having an exhibition it is up to you to get the word out there. Have a think about your audience and the best way to approach them. How can you get lots of people to your Private View? Inviting them is a good start. You have to speculate to accumulate. Postcards, posters, e - invites Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. To name but a few, these all have slightly different audiences and that means you have the ability to target possible visitors to your exhibition.

Why am I going on about this? Well, in my absence I obviously did not write any blogs and did not use the gallery Facebook page etc. I get an email that tells me how many people have accessed my sites etc. In just 10 days my figures fell by 98%. I'm serious the more you post the more people look. Do not underestimate the power of these tools. I have regular readers of my blog who wonder where I have gone and if I have stopped writing a blog. If I hadn't been ill just before I went I had intended to have write timed posts that would update in my absence. But unfortunately, I was way too ill to think about doing that.

Learn to love social media especially if you want to attract a younger audience to your work.

If I Get Two Weeks Off So Do You!

Jan Dagley

I would like to say that my absence can be explained by general busyness but it hasn't been. I have been struck down with the most unusual stomach bug. I seem to be over it now but it laid me up for a few days.

The gallery must go on in my absence so thank you to my various gallery sitters. It is typical that just before my holiday I get ill. 

I am leaving the gallery in the capable hands of Shirley whilst I am away. She is primed to answer any enquiries that you might have. We do a very thorough job of preparing for every eventuality.

I am going to be doing some online tutorials when I come back from my hols. I will be giving some handy hints about a wide variety of creative subjects.

So do look out for them.

I have a great line up of exhibitions booked in for next year. A good variety, but I am really after some 3D artists. I seem to be inundated with 2D artists. Come on all you sculptors and ceramacists get busy making and show your wares.

I hope that you have some great plans in place for this weekend, you get two weeks off from me. 

You should come and see this exhibition as it is vibrant and dare I say it fun. Just make it part of you planned events you know it makes sense.

Jan Dagley Exhibition Is On

Jan Dagley

I love the fact there are so many creative people out and about in Swanage. It is nice to know that it is a bed of creativity. That being said, I really wish that I had a few less visits from people wanting to show me their new work. I am a very busy person and I am also very polite. It is so difficult to say 'I'm busy' as I want to support peoples creative pursuits but I am a one woman operation and that means that I am doing everything. I am also making sure everything is to date so that I can go away knowing that Shirley has nothing to worry about.

I think I will have to operate an appointment system so that I can do both without neglecting my daily duties. How does that sound?

Well, the new exhibition is already doing well. Had a few sales on Saturday so that was a nice start to the weekend. There are some absolute bargains to be had so do pop in and see it.

 I was hoping to have my map done and dusted by now but the time is running away with me. I have done the rough draft but now I need to get everybody's details on the back I am hoping to get that sorted tomorrow.

If you weren't here for Swanage Carnival you missed out. There was some great music and a lovely atmosphere and mostly the weather behaved itself.

It is the RNLI week starting on the 9th August, so there will be more going on in Swanage. I have been making my display today so remember to have a look in the gallery window.