Highlights of 2012

Another very special time this year was The Carlo Rossi Memorial Exhibition in July. Carlo passed away in 2010 at the age of ninety, painting right up to the last.

Carlo in his Studio

He was a very special artist and a special man and it was such an honour to hold an exhibition of his paintings covering the last seven decades.

Alexandra Parade

Grand Canal, Venice

La Fornacetta, Barga

The exhibition had an incredibly calm and peaceful feeling about it, and the amount of people who came to visit was overwhelming.  It was a joy for me to hear all the stories from various times in Carlo's life, they were all so positive.

The painting Carlo was working on when he passed away

It felt to me like one of the most important things I've done at the gallery and it stays with me as a very happy and rewarding time.

Carlo Rossi 1921 - 2010

Thank you again to Carlo and to Carlo's family.


This is our last blog of 2012, so I want to thank all of you for taking the time to look and for kindly supporting Smithy Gallery.

Happy holidays!

Natalie

Highlights of 2012

2012 has been a very special year for me, and there have been many special and memorable moments in the gallery.  I have two more blog posts of 2012, so I thought I might relive a few of them.

Nothing could have prepared me for the success and excitement around the Alasdair Gray and Joyce Gunn Cairns MBE exhibition which opened in April.

Alasdair and Joyce in Alasdair's Studio

Something can start as a germ of an idea, and then with a lot of enthusiasm and a little luck, it can turn into something fabulous, and it did. It was Alasdair Gray who was a fan of Joyce Gunn Cairns and he had wanted to share an exhibition with her.  She suggested it to me and it went from there.

Meeting with Joyce in her Studio

These two artists are, as people, the most interesting I have ever met.  Alasdair Gray is a huge talent, generous, entirely unique, and dare I say a national treasure. Joyce Gunn Cairns is engaging, incredibly talented, creative, and once you get to know her, you just want to know her more and more. She of course should be a national treasure too!

The artists at the opening

It was one of those incredibly positive experiences, from working with the two artists and their beautiful and intricate works of art, to the interest from the world of journalism and literature.  These two visual artists are rare because their works are so steeped in literature.

One of my favourite invitation covers

Quotations on the Invitation

The exhibition itself was received with enthusiasm and great interest, and it was one of those where every moment was a joy, from conception to, well even just now thinking about it. 

A busy opening

I don't think I've ever read so much during the course of an exhibition.   I read the many poems that have influenced Joyce's work, and of course the works by Alasdair Gray.

I was very happy to receive a signed copy of Alasdair's latest work, his autobiography.

At the end of a busy opening with my signed copy 

Thank you Alasdair Gray and Joyce Gunn Cairns, and to every one who helped to make this exhibition one of the gallery's most memorable.

Thanks for reading!


Natalie

Sarah Anderson

We have a cabinet full of beautiful jewellery by our favourite jeweller, Sarah Anderson. She creates exquisite collections of quality. But it is also affordable, which is important to us.

She studied at Glasgow School of Art where she gained her Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing, and she is now one of Scotland's most successful jewellers.

Featuring sterling silver and semi precious stones, she uses traditional chain mail techniques which involve weaving the silver link by link, an intricate process. This enables her to create a variety of beautiful finishes.

Flatmail

Byzantine

Queens Link

She is inspired by the colours and textures of the Scottish Highlands, and she often uses freshwater pearls as a contrast to her silver-work.

She lives and works in Fife and we are delighted to be exhibiting her work.  Our customers adore her work and it really does fly out the door.

Thanks Sarah!


Thanks for reading

Natalie

Pressies

It has been a busy week at the gallery and I'm glad to say that there are a lot of people who will be receiving very lovely Christmas presents!

Blue Moon by Shaun McLaren

As well as several paintings, people have been picking Christmas presents from our collection of applied arts.  We have been selling ceramics, glass and jewellery all to be opened on Christmas Day.  Lucky people!

Wee Jugs by Pauline Zelinski

The beautifully hand-painted ceramics by Pauline Zelinski are always incredibly popular. Bright, beautiful and practical too.  It's always lovely to sell work, but when you know someone has found something special to give to someone else, it adds an extra thrill.

Siamese Cat by Christine Cummings

Our finely made raku ceramic sculptures are always a big hit.  They exude charm but it's the standard of work that makes them so appealing.

Ceramic Clock by Ian Roberts

And of course the beautiful jewellery by Sarah Anderson is always a big seller. I have chosen several pieces myself, but being given a piece as a gift is even more special.

Flatmail by Sarah Anderson

We will be open in the run up to Christmas until 23rd December.

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

A Night Before Christmas

We had the loveliest night at the gallery last night.. People came out in the ice and the cold to our Night Before Christmas party.  

All Ready

Our Christmas Exhibition glowed in the surrounding fairy lights and once again thank you to all the painters, sculptors, ceramicists and jewellers for creating our best Christmas exhibition yet!

Goody Bags!

Lots of Treats

Mistletoe and Holly

The fire roared, the wine flowed and the beautiful canapes and cakes made by Kickass Cakes tasted delicious as well as being mini works of art.

Mini Christmas Tree cakes by Kickass Cakes

Thank you to all the customers and artists who came and made the night so special.  We had lots of sales and laughter, and even a little bopping to the Christmas tunes!

Artists Laura Harrison and Lesley Carruthers

A very special thank you to all the customers who purchased on the night.  This night was about the gallery treating and saying thank you to so many loyal customers, but still so many appreciated the beautiful works on display in the gallery, and many paintings, glass, sculpture and jewellery were taken home.

Happy Customers!

Cosy and Snug Inside

This special exhibition continues until 23 December.  And there are some goodie bags left over for extra special customers!

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

Countdown

It's December tomorrow and I always feel that with it comes the countdown to Christmas. It's almost impossible to avoid so we may as well wrap ourselves in tinsel and admit that a fairy light is no bad thing.

It's dark out there after all, so let's add a little more light and colour to our lives than usual!

So I'm getting in the mood with a Christmas event at the gallery on the evening of the 6th.  I'm rehanging the Winter exhibition, adding many new works and yes, I am even decking the gallery with lights and many other surprises for this special evening.

But, it's still only November, and nothing can compete for colour and light with the beautiful pieces that will be part of out exhibition.

Hope you can make it!

Thanks for reading!


Natalie

Happy Birthday

We opened the gallery seven years ago today, and I always like to celebrate this day because it has been a dream come true.

I have enjoyed every minute and every aspect of what goes into running the gallery.  Thank you to all the wonderful artists who inspired me in the first place, and of course to those who exhibit with us.  I hope they have enjoyed it too. 

I especially hope that the art-lovers who have visited have enjoyed the space, particularly those who weren't previously gallery-goers.

It was my hope to create a warm and welcoming space in which people could enjoy all types of quality contemporary art, and it's the people who have become regular visitors that have made the gallery feel like such a success.

Happy Birthday Smithy!


Thanks for reading!


Natalie

The C Word

I think it's almost now acceptable to mention the C word!

Christmas will be upon us before we know it, so we are going to embrace the spirit with a special festive event at the gallery on the evening of 6th December.

Our Night Before Christmas!

We have had a very good year and it will also be our 7th birthday at the end of November.  So we want to take this chance to thank our valued customers and of course any newcomers to the gallery this year.  

Our Winter Exhibition will be transformed into our Christmas Exhibition, with many new arrivals.

It will also be a celebration of success in challenging times.  Our artists have been producing the most beautiful works and we are always grateful to them for making the exhibitions at the gallery so special.

Please take a note of times - we would love to see you there!

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

Winter Winners!

The Winter Exhibition has got off to a great start.  We have a wonderful mix of renowned Scottish artists taking part. 

 

I'm delighted to say that there have been many sales already. And what a variety! I love to celebrate the paintings that have sold. So here are a few that couldn't be resisted!

 

 

 

The Fox - Neil MacDonald PAI

 

 

 

This is the first time that the wonderful Neil MacDonald PAI has exhibited with Smithy Gallery.  His gentle tones and skewed perspective create works of an unreal, wondrous nature.  We have three beautiful works from him.

 

 



Promenade - Stuart Buchanan

I love this seemingly simple painting by Stuart Buchanan, also new to the gallery. The solitary figure inhabitats this large empty space but for two birds.  The weight of feeling in this painting fills every inch of it up.






The Race - David Schofield



This painting by David Schofield is filled with lightness and joy.  David is also a newcomer to the gallery and we have several beautiful pieces by him.





Tulips by Laura Harrison

Laura Harrison (my mum) is a regular exhibitor at Smithy Gallery.  Her bold, expressive paintings, with their inherent love of paint, always capture the attention of art-lovers and artists alike.




Judy's Revenge - Alice McMurrough

Alice McMurrough is an exquisite painter, and I am so glad she is becoming a bit of a regular at Smithy Gallery.  There really is no-one like her.  The detail and beauty of the paintings fill you up and as you peer closer so much more is revealed, like a secret.





Fresh Snow, Dumgoyne - Gordon Wilson

The inimitable Gordon Wilson is always a success at the gallery.  His energy and joie de vivre comes through every painting.  We love him so much, we are having a solo exhibition with him in March next year!

We have many more works by these artists and others, and the sales are coming every day.  We also have a large selection of jewellery, glass and ceramic work.

The exhibition runs until 23 December.


Thanks for reading!


Natalie




A Trove of Treasures

To add to our wonderful collection of paintings and to make this year's Winter Exhibition extra special, we also have works by a group of well known applied artists.

Sculpture by Shaun McLaren

I love Shaun McLaren's work.  He works with driftwood and found objects and finesses them into fine and delightful pieces of sculpture.

Glass by Jane Charles

Jane Charles is one of the best glass artists I know.  She creates beautiful bowls and perfume bottles that appear to capture the light around them. Her work is of the finest quality.

Ceramics by Pauline Zelinski

Pauline Zelinski is also one of the finest ceramic artists I know.  She combines beautiful design with hand-painting and creates a wide range from platters, to bowls to jugs.  Each piece is practical, but ultimately a beautiful piece of art.

Ceramics by Anne Morrison

Anne Morrison is a well known ceramicist combining the ancient art of Raku firing with modern design.  The driftwood she often uses is a beautiful complement to the ceramic's dappled glaze.

Sculpture by Christine Cummings

Christine Cummings' love of animals is apparent in her expressive hand-moulded sculptures.  She charmingly captures the character of her subjects, from dogs and cats to sheep and horses.

Jewellery by Sarah Anderson

We have a fabulous collection of jewellery by Sarah Anderson.  She works in exquisite detail with sterling silver creating a variety of chains to beautiful effect.  She also works with freshwater pearls.  Her necklaces and bracelets, beautifully finished with silver charms are very popular at the gallery.

So along with our twenty five painters, I'd say we have the best Winter Exhibition in town!!

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

A Good Preview

I love a good exhibition preview.  Our Winter Exhibition opened on Sunday and the champagne flowed, the chocolates disappeared, but most importantly people were smiling and enjoying the surroundings, the company, and of course the collection of works put together by our twenty five invited artists.

It's such a lovely reward for all that goes into putting an exhibition together.

The hanging of the paintings . . . . 

a little attention to detail . . . . 

and then of course the fabulous crowd of art-lovers . . . . . !

I was of course far too busy to take photographs!! But I'm pleased to say that several paintings and many pieces of the applied art sold.


I'll be featuring our fabulous applied artists in Friday's blog.  Thanks to everyone for enjoying the show on Sunday.


Thanks for reading!


Natalie