The Christchurch Art Show opens on Thursday night. This is a mock-up of how I imagine my paintings could look at the venue, complete with table, portfolio and business cards.
Having never exhibited my work before (apart from student exhibitions and last year’s mini market), this show is altogether unfamiliar territory. It’s a ‘cash and carry’ event which means that artists have to replace artworks as they are sold. As it is, I’ve already accidentally sold something I painted for the show, Landscape in the late afternoon (with cows), which was a totally unexpected and wonderful surprise (one of my best friends called in for a coffee and practically bought it on the spot). The sale has been a major confidence boost that couldn’t have come at a better time : ) and I do still have a few paintings waiting in the wings, just in case I need them.
Now if I can just master our new cordless screwdriver…
Friday will be the third anniversary of my little blog. My, how time flies!
Three years ago, I graduated from Design and Arts College NZ with a Diploma in Communication Arts and Design (graphic design). I started this blog as a way of putting my student projects online ― and then I wondered what to do next:
‘The Great Job Hunt’ 2012 (click on image to embiggen)
There were graphic design jobs (logos, business cards, posters), a couple of research projects (when I considered becoming a children’s book illustrator), and I even entered a few design competitions (which I didn’t win):
Love the shape you’re in – mixed media, poster design competition, 2012Lilac Wolf NZ – mixed media, logo design competition, 2012
Nothing motivated me quite like my blog, though, to experiment and really explore my options. In particular, there were the ‘Shoot it, Sketch it’ posts…
Straven Road photograph with ‘tilt shift’ effect – Christchurch, 2013A letter to my teenage self, 2012
Two years ago, I started getting more serious about painting. I taught myself about underpainting and painted on canvas for the first time:
The colour of snow – underpainting and final painting, 2013
I began my ‘In the Style of…’ posts and was inspired by some of my favourite artists and illustrators to experiment and see things differently:
Gold – acrylic on paper, 2013. Inspired by André François.Tram – ink and digital, 2013. Inspired by Fougasse.
I was thrilled when, out of the blue, I got my first commission…
Peonies triptych – acrylic on canvas, 2013
…and over the moon when someone asked to buy one of my ‘Shoot it, Sketch it’ paintings:
Sparkle and shine – acrylic on canvas, 2013
About a year ago, I opened my Etsy shop… and sold my first painting online!
Redwoods – acrylic on canvas, 2013
2014 was also, rather astonishingly, the year I passed the ‘1000 followers’ milestone on WordPress:
Thank You, 1000 followers, 2014
Since then, it’s been more of the same, really ― I’ve painted and sketched, posted ‘Wordless Wednesday’ photographs and inspirational quotes, I participated in my first craft market late last year…
Art and crafts mini market, Christmas 2014
…and I’m still happily working from home as a graphic designer:
Cashmere Road Studio Flat, business card design, 2014
Phew!
Now I’m getting ready for my first big (proper big) art show… but I’ll tell you more about that next week. Thanks for reading : )
Hi. This is not spam… this is me with a special request.
Amanda is an awesome woman who needs money to repair her van. She is a single mum with six children. She is autistic and three of her children are also on the autism spectrum. Life is an adventure for this family at the best of times but a few days ago their only vehicle was broken into by a would-be thief and damaged.
…from posting. I’ve been blogging (planning, writing, drawing and/or painting something every week) since March 2012. I’ve chalked up 325 posts and have uploaded more than a thousand images. Yes, it really does seem time for a lie down and a little nap. Don’t worry… I’ll still visit : )
My Etsy shop will stay open and I’ll be back in September (or ‘spring’ as we like to think of it here in New Zealand). TTFN
Anna Cull ~ Art & Music 