10 Tips for Early Career Artists in Hard Times

As of late the creative industries are in turmoil over the purposed cuts in arts funding just see #artsfunding or Arts Funding and give any support you can in lobbing the government.

It is important to remember while funding is important for the creative industries in the plastic art Artists/Galleries have greater control over their own progression. Over the last week I’ve been writing up ideas for a mentoring scheme with early career artists and here are ten one line tips based on that (currently 3 pages of mostly points to expand on)

So:-

-Be professional, you profile is key.

-Always give everything you’ve got, not just making art but the boring jobs too.

-Be organized, it will help no end when working with others.

-Ensure Quality in the work, presentation, documentation & every aspect.

-Network, most people hate it but how will people get to know you otherwise?

-Keep your practice coherent.

-Target yourself in a market don’t just go for every opportunity.

-When applying for exhibitions only send the information requested.

-Don’t over price yourself early on and keep the work original.

-Love what your doing, your passion will shine through.

This also works backwards for collectors, when buying early career artists work look out for an artist following these tips.

If any artists would like advice although very busy Revolving Gallery is happy to give some pointers, we hope to help develop artists and there careers. Contact nathan@revolving-gallery.com

Nathan

Howard Hodgkin in Oxford

I have always loved Hodgkins work, it is striking. This word is apt as the work hits you, the colour; the bravado in his paintings has at times stop me in my tracks. The most notable time was the last room in his retrospective in the Tate, where his newest works were situated. So much joy had leaked out of them and upon reading the titles this sadness at the world, the war was confirmed.

However I have just read THIS ARTICLE by Jonathan Jones, from The Guardian. The title is 'Howard Hodgkin - the last English romantic painter' and not only does it talk about Hodgkin's beautiful art but Jonathan Jones writes in a beautiful way.

First he introduces the idea of how in these works you can conjure up an impression of where they are from, nearly all the works in the show are on loan from private collectors. This placing of art is by far one of the joys of collecting and how I would love to have a Hodgkin to hang. Even with a less renowned collection though placement is a joy, I particularly like a collection of small works on paper I have on my stair well (including one canvas by my 5 year old nephew)

But back to Hodgkin and the article, the images brought up give a real sence of what is on offer to see and I fully plan a trip down to Oxford before the end of the show.

DETAILS HERE

Also http://www.howardhodgkin.org.uk/ is a great resource to find out more about the artists and see more of his works.

Below is one of my many favourite works of Hodgkin, 'The Last Time I Saw Paris' 1988-1981:




Nathan

Max Richter - Infra

Just a quick blog about this fantastic new Album from Max Richter, my expertise lies in the Plastic arts so I am not going to go into music reviews. Max Richter for me has always signified how powerful art can be, his compassion's range from the orchestra to the electronic often with a bit of spoken word. I remember a few years back while house sitting for my parents having his music on while watering their garden early in the morning. The setting was so tranquil and with the combination of back to earth activity and Max Richter I felt completely transported beyond myself. I truly believe all sorts of art form have this power and some times you need to let them take you over, let the art really effect how you are feeling.

For more information and to here the album CLICK HERE.

I have only just come across this album today via Culture Critic (worth subscribing to there e-mails or following on Twitter) stand alone, again I feel transported but after reading the back story (on link above) and researching you find this amazing story of these different strands of art coming together from the music of Max Richter to the Ballet of Wayne McGregor, all set below (Infra) some of Julian Opie's art. It looks amazing see below.





The last notable thing to notice about this is the connection to T.S Eliot's 'The Waste Land', this reference seem to have been coming up for me a lot of late. I have taken this as a sign and bought the album.

Enjoy,

Nathan

Lizi Sanchez Exhibition

Yesterday I made a special journey out to Malton to catch the last day of the Lizi Sanchez Exhibition at Duckett and Jeffreys Gallery and got there with little time to spare. I was however really glad to have made it, it was fantastic to see this quality work in North Yorkshire. The presence of abstract sculpture is something rarely seen in these parts, the arrangement of materials was considered and poignant bringing a feeling of wholeness to the work.

Duckett and Jeffreys Gallery seem to share many of Revolving galleries goals, the biggest is in showing quality work from the region and beyond and the second to educate the audience. This, as with all the exhibition so far has an accompanying book including an essay about the work. Carmen Cebreros Urzaiz essay here sets the context of the work nicely and although it starts with Baudrillard quotes goes on to talk about the work in a very accessible manner.

Perhaps a bit more accessible than the Sculpture where the collage works, built from magazine pages these works still hold the structural presence of the sculptural work but with many more pictorial devices. By chopping up the magazine leaving only abstract shapes, the assemblages have a look of Malevich Suprematism but also bring up images of 1950's pop artists like Richard Hamilton. The works however only have the link to popular culture references via the use of magazine pages, the way the shapes are used is very clear and concise like the works of Tony Patterson. The picture plan has many layers with objects crossing over one another or folding back all of which is highlighted by a thin pencil border. All in all there is plenty to enjoy in each work as they seem to have there own character despite the strict use of materials and form.

So if you have a chance make sure to check Lizi Sanchez out and also the exhibitions coming up at Duckett and Jeffreys gallery.

Nathan

Philanthropy & Arts Funding

Thanks to Twitter I came across this letter (LINK HERE) and was more than happy to see the suggestion that; where we can, we should support the arts. This letter is by Stephen Deauchar from Art Fund in response to this article by Peter Bazalgette featured in The Guardian.

The one thing that they both neglect to mention is philanthropy for arts organizations big and small is all very well but another way to support the arts directly is investing in quality art. This supports the Artists/Makers directly, it supports gallery’s who are out there putting there neck on the line, finally you can stand to have a financial investment for yourself. Depending on the scale of your collecting you could later gift works, thus negating the need for Galleries and organizations to by work later (although they still need support)

I admit this is a grand plan but fully believe that if you start collecting bit by bit, educating yourself about art and building as you can you will do a great deal to support art, especially on a local level. Even if at the end there are no works in your collection a museum would want, your children might. The best part of this plan is that you can enlighten yours life and that of those around you.

Remember supporting art & culture does not have to cost millions whatever budget you are on you can be a philanthropist. So give what you can to organizations (drop £5 in donations box at the Tate or local, you can even have a cup of coffee) and buy art for yourself.

Golden rules are to educate yourself and support quality.

Nathan

Once again I need to blog more

So here I am once again feeling inspired by the Shift Happens conference.

I am going to blog more interesting stuff about art and collecting, so stay with us and interesting things will appear more often than before.

I would also like to start getting some feed back about content, what do you want to hear about? you can e-mail me nathan@revolving-gallery.com. Plus feel free to follow and leave comments, it would be nice to build a community around this blog.

So now that's over I want to talk a little about Shift Happens, this is an amazing conference that Pilot Theatre have been running for the last few years. CLICK HERE FOR LINK This is the first year I have attended and really enjoyed it. The conference covers using digital media within the creative sector and all the 'shift' this brings. There were many exciting projects presented and a hugh enthusiasm of the delegates in using digital media to share, engage and develop the creative industry as a whole. The tag line for this years event was ALT Shift [Arts | Learning | Technology]

One highlight (of many) was the work of Jonathan Harris, this blog is starting to go on but if you have a few minutes its really worth looking at his art at http://www.number27.org/.

Hope you enjoy and I will be back posting soon.

Nathan