Well I’m back on the Rock and as promised last week, normal service is now resumed! The holiday was fab and despite having spent a week in the Costa del Sol with temperatures of 30 degrees plus I’m sure I’m still not as brown as Rob Jones who attributes his tan to good old Manx sunshine. Ferg (my dog) survived being looked after by the kids and I do believe she looks a bit slimmer, which I certainly do not, and the day job – it’s Sunday afternoon as I write this – is now only one sleep away. Whilst it’s back to ‘the norm’ for now, there is lots to look forward to and these are exciting times for both myself and the Artists listed on the website as from 1 October I will be reducing my hours at work to spend more time on the Directory and help Artists to promote and sell their work. Huge thanks to my current employers, Tufton Oceanic, for being so supportive and allowing me to do this.
The other exciting thing that is happening is that I have entered the Directory into the ‘Innovation’ category of the Ashgrove Creative Awards competition run by Ashgrove Marketing as the publicity will be a fantastic way to help raise awareness of the website and the Artists listed. The People’s Choice Award is sponsored by Ramsey Crookall and is your chance to have a say on the marketing campaigns submitted.
I would be really, really grateful if you could please vote for the Directory if you have not already done so (and get all your friends to vote too!). To vote, all you have to do is go to Ashgrove Marketing’s Facebook page and ‘like’ (or love if you feel so inclined) the post with the Directory on it and if you want you can also leave a comment.
To those who have already voted and commented, thank you so much! So many of your comments make me feel very humble indeed as I’m just really enjoying what I am doing. Without the support, trust and belief of the Artists in this venture the website would not be where it is at today. With your support in this competition I hope to take the website to the next stage of it’s development and to make it an invaluable resource for everyone with an interest in the Visual Arts.
I’m loving Rebecca Odessa’s latest work. If you follow this blog regularly you may remember that Rebecca spent a week at The Slade in London recently so I’m guessing that these pictures are implementing some of her new thinking. Having seen some of Rebecca’s early work, less is definitely more in her case as some of her early work seemed to be too busy. I really like the simplicity of these, but don’t get me wrong! Whilst they look simple I am quite sure that the majority of us non-artist human beings could never conceive producing something so pretty. (Click the pics to view in the Lightbox).
Colleen Corlett is busy preparing for her new solo exhibition which will be at The Sayle Gallery in October. It’s going to be a mixture of different media – watercolours, pastels, sandblasted glass, stained glass, tapestries, quilting and ceramics. Colleen posted up some pictures on FB which as you would expect were looking great, but it wasn’t those that caught my eye this week. It was another FB post of hers – a portrait of a friend. I had no idea she was such a great portrait artist but I think this goes to show just what a talented lady she is.
Check out the latest MakeMarket events coming up this week. Bethany Williams, Alice Fayle, and Lisa Angwin will be in the Market Hall Thursday/Friday this week to talk about their blossoming careers, how they are making it in the competitive fashion world, and to inspire others to follow in their footsteps. To read the full press release follow the link above.
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the Sayle Gallery is planning to hold a month long exhibition between 8 September – 7 October, celebrating the life and work of the late and much missed artist Simon Buttimore and is asking for your help. The gallery is working to track down Simon’s artworks which he produced over his 40 year career. Everything loaned will be treated with the greatest of respect, the owner will get full accreditation and the item will be safely returned once the exhibition is over. Please call Carola Rush at The Sayle on 674557 if you have any of his artwork that you would be happy to loan to the exhibition or, if immovable, you are happy to be photographed.
Dates for your Diary:
On now – Hodgson Loom Gallery – Summer Symphony of Silk
On now – The Isle Gallery – Juan Moore’s ‘Odd Days’
On now – Studio 42 – Summer Show (Win Norton and Catherine James)
On now – The Sayle Gallery – Art in the Park Display
16 August – The Isle Gallery – Children’s Workshop ‘Animal Portraits’
16 & 17 August – Silver Willow Studio (Erica Kermode) – Summer Ceramics (limited places so please book)
18/19 August – MakeMarket at Douglas Market Hall
20 August through to 19 November – Manx Museum – ‘Islands and Bridges’ The Art of Roger Dean
and, if you happen to be in Guernsey next month, Jeremy Paul’s new exhibition will be at the Coach House Gallery, St. Peters, Guernsey from 4 – 30 September.
Here are a few images I’ve saved from social media over the past week. Click on the pictures to open in the Lightbox. Enjoy.
If you enjoy these news updates, please Share them with your friends and colleagues on FB and Linkedin to help raise awareness of our very talented local Artists.
Have a great week!
Jane
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