The Opening

You never really know how well an exhibition opening is going to go.  One Private View is always a little different from the last.  This makes it exciting and a little nerve-wracking!

My thinking is this: as long as the work is exceptional - check!  The hanging is done as well as possible - check!  And you lavish your guests with champagne, canapes, music - check, check, check!  The rest is up to the atmosphere created by each and every person that comes.

And the atmosphere on Sunday was fabulous.  The moment we opened at 2pm, people arrived en masse and everyone seemed to be smiling and on and on it went.  Twenty-six pieces sold, canapes vanished, champagne ran dry (always a sign of an opening above and beyond my imagination. Don't worry, it won't happen again!).

It was a fabulous party and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Thank you to all the art-lovers who came and enjoyed the show, and of course to the artists for the beautiful and eclectic work that made for a very successful start to a very Affordable Art Show.

Here is a little celebration of some of the beautiful paintings that sold:

Emma Waine's beautiful abstract piece, Indian Details.  She's our youngest artist, fearless, and very much a rising star. . . .

The inimitable Gordon Wilson - already a star!  This is Bea and Bee . . . .

The newly appointed RSW, Sian MacQueen.  This is Midnight Rhino, I'm a huge fan of her work and we will be having a three-person show with her later this year . . . .

Our eldest artist, the highly esteemed David Martin RSW RGI.  This is Mandolin and Pears and I am always delighted that he gives me small works for our annual Affordable Art Show.  He's a very busy man . . . .



Just a small taster of the many beautiful pieces that sold.  Of course we have many more paintings from these and many more artists.  The exhibition continues until 26th February.

Thanks for reading!

Natalie

Get Ready For Sunday!

I'm almost ready for The Affordable Art Show private viewing on Sunday.  As all the paintings come together on the walls, I feel like I'm holding my breath until the very last one fits, and then. . . . . I look around and it's like finishing a Rubik's cube (I only ever got two sides, so I'm using my imagination!).  Suddenly, the whole gallery seems to come alive and it's a wonderful feeling.

You see, that's why the hanging of an exhibition is so important to me.  When it works, it's as if the gallery has had new life breathed into it - it's entirely different, and I love the effect it has on me.  It's like beautiful fresh air.

So almost one hundred paintings have been hung, from around twenty-five of Scotland's best and most interesting artists.  I can't wait to see the reaction on Sunday.  Ooh, here's a taster!

We have Margaretann Bennett RSW . . . .

Alice McMurrough (I'm thinking many many things, but it's Ghostbusters that springs to mind!) . . . . .

Gordon Wilson (I love this tender painting, but you have to see it in person) . . . . .

George Grant (esoteric, atmospheric, evocative, only words that begin with vowels!) . .. . .

And Kevin Low (digital painter extraordinaire, yes digital!  Creativity is creativity and beauty is beauty) . . . . . .

 

 

There are so many more diverse paintings included in this exhibition.  Come this Sunday, 2pm to 5pm for champagne, canapes, music and then you can see for yourself.

 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Natalie

 

The Artist

I just saw the film The Artist at the cinema.  Sometimes I think we feel we have seen it all, that we almost expect to be disappointed.  Isn't is wonderful when something is even better than you expected.  The attention to detail was stunning. It was sweet, funny, uplifting.  And it was original.

As much as I like a little familiarity in my life, originality is what I'm looking for.  I have invited the artists that I admire to exhibit in The Affordable Art Show, opening this Sunday.   Around twenty-five have come to the gallery with their collections of paintings, wrapped up like secrets.

I know each artist's work well, but every so often, when I peel back the bubble wrap . . .boom!  It's like a new sensation.  Just fabulous, one of the best feelings!  And yes, I got it with this.  Kevin Low's 'The Dancer Grace Han All Done Up Like Spring'.

Captivating, beautiful, and just a little bit different from traditional painting. 

Yes, this artist has just what I'm looking for.


Thanks for reading!


Natalie

Good News!

I love this bit.  After much organisation, the invitations for the new exhibition have gone out, and the new paintings are starting to arrive!   We always vary our exhibitions throughout the year, but the first show of the year is always our Affordable Art Show.

All of my favourite artists are invited, usually around twenty-five of them, and the one stipulaton is that everything is to be under £500.  Anything else goes!  This leads to a fabulous collection of work, bursting with colour, variety, and of course, Scottish talent.



My heart skips a beat as each artist comes through the door with several new pieces.  It's also lovely for me to catch up with everyone after the new year break.  I am very lucky that all the artists I work with are people I like, many of whom I consider friends.  So a lot of coffee is drunk as we discuss the new work beginning to build up around us, and of course the art world in general. 

I'm pleased to say that so many of the artists I spoke to today are selling well and having a busy time, when all is portrayed as doom and gloom.  It's not, so spread the word!

And come to our Affordable Art Show on 22 January to see for yourselves!

Thanks for reading

Natalie

It's Affordable!

The best thing about this time of year is our jam-packed Affordable Art Show which kick starts every year, like a strong cup of coffee!

We invite all of our favourite artists to exhibit a selection of paintings under £500.  The works tend to be smaller, and we hang 'em high, so art-lovers have a lot more to choose from! 

Here's a taster from the fabulous Gordon Wilson - My Boy and The Bee - gorgeous!  I love this.  We will be showing several paintings by Gordon, and also Sian MacQueen RSW, Emma Waine, David Martin RSW RGI, Laura Harrison, Tracy Butler, Ronald Smith RSW RGI plus many many more wonderful Scottish artists.

It's also a great time to introduce new artists to the gallery.  I have invited a couple of exciting artists and can't wait to see the reactions to their work.

The exhibition opens Sunday 22nd January with champagne and canapes for those who found they didn't indulge enough over Christmas!  Please contact the gallery for an invitation.

Thanks for reading!

Natalie



With Thanks

It has been an amazing year at Smithy Gallery. 

In such unpredictable times we have had a very good year, including four very successful solo exhibitions.  Thank you so much to George Birrell, Gordon Wilson, Sandy Murphy RSW RGI and Margaretann Bennett RSW for bringing excitement, colour, beauty and drama to the gallery. 

With each show, the space was transformed into a different world and took me with it.  I loved each one.

Thank you to all the wonderful artists that have supported the gallery since we opened six years ago.  And also to the new artists who have entrusted us with their work.  We would be nothing without you, except for four very characterful old walls, wooden beams, a slate roof - a very pretty cottage - but not the contemporary and stimulating place that I had always dreamt of.

And of course thank you to the customers, old and new.  It's lovely to see the gallery being enjoyed by regularly visitors, and it's lovely to be discovered.

Lastly, thank you to the special people in my life (you know who you are!).  You amaze me with your tireless interest in all things gallery, and you help me in more ways than you realise.  I simply couldn't do it without you.

Have a wonderful New Year.  See you in 2012!


Thanks for reading!


Natalie

Warm and Cosy

I'm feeling delicate in more ways than one.  There is such a build up to Christmas and then bam, it's all over in a haze of wrapping paper, telly, food and family.  Any routines are out the window and nobody knows what day it is!  And I ate too much.

I'll be back at the gallery tomorrow, Wednesday I think.  People love to visit the gallery at this time.  It's a lovely time to relax and enjoy art in the no man's land between Christmas and New Year.



I've had a lovely Christmas, but I'm looking forward to getting back to the beautiful paintings we have for the Winter Exhibition.  These two beauties by George Grant and Gordon Wilson are just an example of the range of work we have to brighten up the winter weather.

Logs will be crackling in the wood burning stove, and all are welcome!

Thanks for reading!

Natalie