Art Scam: Abraham Lubelski NY Arts Magazine

This blog is designed to help prevent aspiring artists out there being exploited by money making scams promising valuable exposure at a high cost.

ARTISTS: Do not pay large sums upfront for your work to be shown.

This is the e-mail I received today from Abraham Lubelski:

Senders email: abraham.lubelski@nyartsbeijing.com

Dear Scott,

I am pleased to inform you of an exciting opportunity to join an international publicity program based in New York City as well as exhibition in Broadway Gallery in SoHo, New York City.

My name is Abraham Lubelski, the publisher of New York Arts Magazine, and owner of The Broadway Gallery in NYC. I would like to invite you to join our publicity program that includes an exhibition in New York City in January 2012. I am interested in your work "Storm Cloud Study" and I believe it would be an important addition to our program. The brushstrokes dance and glide across the canvas, producing a palpable energy. The contrast between the grey and teal is sharp and creates a strong ambiance. By paying close attention to the intuitive works of each artist, we are hoping to construct an exhibition of works that truly speaks to our viewers and subscribers.

With this program you will get one year of publicity, full page in NY Arts Magazine (sold worldwide in major bookstores), an exhibition in the heart of NYC, in Broadway Gallery, a spread in Art Fair International Newsletter along with a year subscription, for a cost of $1,900. This is a media driven event and offers both emerging and established artists the broadest media coverage possible.

Abraham Lubelski
Publisher
NY Arts Magazine
abraham.lubelski@nyartsbeijing.com
473 Broadway, 7th floor, NY, NY 10013 | 212-274-8993

$1900!
After much research online, I am now satisfied that this is an outrageous scam.
Here's a link to a blog by artist Helen Ansell who seems to have done plenty research on this chap.

http://www.helenansell.com/_blog/Blog/post/World_Art_Media_and_NYArts_magazine_a_scam!!/

Unfortunately it appears he's still at it nearly 3 years later.

The Expanding Miniature oil painting collection.

Since the European network of Galleries, 'Carré D'Artistes' contacted me interested in my work, I have been producing a collection of small oils on board. I've been happy with the results and have generated lots of ideas for bigger paintings to emerge later on. Normally I wouldn't sell my small working sketches which normally don't leave the sketchbook. This means I'm usually very free and experimental not worried about them being too polished, so I'm trying to keep that freedom and life to them even though these will be going to galleries.

It's great to be able to offer original work at such an affordable price. The sizes and prices will be as follows:

10cm £59

15cm £98

20cm £162

30cm £298

I took my first 2 10cm square studies to my framer Ian Kenny in Hamilton. The Images at the top show what a great job he did. I told him to frame it to the best standard he could, so he used:

Gallery-gold frame : Archivally shadow-float mounted : Hand painted bevel detail : Museum grade uv Waterwhite glass

The little studies, once framed, came in at £195 and both sold to a quick customer the same day.

So the popularity of these studies does mean that some will end up in my usual Scottish outlets. So nip in, choose a frame for it and take it home for an affordable price. Alternatively you could pick one up online by checking my facebook page (link on the border of this blog). Just leave me a note on the image you like and I'll reply with a link to a buying page and have it delivered unframed at no extra cost!

I'll be sending out a tweet when work is delivered to the galleries, so make sure to follow @scottnaismith or check my twitter feed on the home page of my website.

Buying Art: What Scottish Painting Should You Buy?

Short answer: MINE!

I recently had a request from a client who looked for advice on where to look when buying more paintings. Despite this sounding a little like walking into Tesco and asking to point you in the direction of a good supermarket, I didn't take it the wrong way! The customer was in the process of commissioning a painting from me, and any collection needs a bit of diversity, so I took it as the compliment it was intended! Thought I would publish my response on this blog in case it may help anyone else out there!

(I did list some names of artists to avoid, but thought it might be best to omit them from this blog!)

It may be a matter of personal preference, but I can give you an idea of some of the Scottish artists out there I respect and who's work I admire:

Christopher Wood

If I was to hang 1 abstract work in my house, I'd like it to be 1 from him. Great use of colour, some unusual processes. His work is great if you can afford it! (2-2.5 x price of my work). His website is excellent and regularly updated:

http://www.christopherwood.co.uk/home.html

Craig Peacock

I teach alongside Craig at Reid Kerr College Creative Arts. He has a "Wasps" artist's studio in Hanson St, Glasgow. I regularly poke fun at him for not having his own website! but you will find him on the web in various other sites. The best representation of his current work would be:

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile//11624.html

Rowena Comrie

Just been shortlisted last week for the Aspect Prize and looks likely (in my opinion) to end up winning. A mixed bag of work, some I'm not keen on, some is really striking. http://www.axisweb.org/seCVWK.aspx?ARTISTID=5243

Jim Wylie

I've always admired his clean, bold brushwork and use of colour. Based in Ayrshire, he paints mostly Scottish Landscape. Lots of his work around the web and is reasonably priced.

Peter Howson

I've always admired his work since I went to a solo exhibition in the McLennan Gallery, Glasgow when I was 15 years old. It was then I told my mum "this is what I want to do".

His figurative depictions of various grotesque characters may be a little too much for some to live with, but I really enjoy his work. Despite working in such a wildly different genre of painting, Howson remains a big influence for me.

ONES TO AVOID!

As a rule, if you're not sure who is a real prospect, make sure the artist has a degree from an Art School. There are some good self taught artists out there but they are few and far between and stand a much poorer chance of being recognised or "making it". Also do a check on what galleries they show with. I show with scotlandart.com on Bath Street and DiRollo Gallery, Dundas St, Edinburgh which are both galleries who would not hang any substandard work. Some galleries are run by owners with no clue about art or any taste... check how long the gallery has been established, these galleries don't last long!

The Glasgow Art Fair, George Square (think it will be SECC next year)

You must get down to see the Art Fair. It gives a great selection and overview of Scottish Art from Commercial Galleries. It brings Galleries from all over Scotland and beyond under one roof. Galleries need to qualify for entry by submitting which artists' work they are hanging and so the vast majority is of a good quality... some do inevitably slip the net!

Hope this is of some use to you. Good luck hunting for paintings, the most important judge of artwork you own, is you! Number 1 reason to buy is to bring you daily pleasure admiring it. Instant appeal isn't always the best sign to buy, artwork, like music can be a "grower".

All the best, back to the painting!

DeviantArt.com Coasters 15% off

Here's some images of a selection of coasters available from deviantart:

http://naismithart.deviantart.com/

They are 15% off this week for a limited time only, so now is the time to get your hands on a set. The quality is great. They have a cork backing neat black edge, gloss finish and come in sets of 4 of the same image.

2010 Calendars

There's now 3 different calendars to choose from from RedBubble. All are £14.95 +p&p. Bought some to sell at my recent exhibition and all sold out. They look great. A3 size, ring bound with hanger and plenty space to write in. Makes an ideal Christmas gift. Takes a wee while for delivery, so order soon.

Calendar 1

http://www.redbubble.com/people/scottnaismith/calendars/3771842-1-scott-naismith-scottish-contemporary-landscape

Calendar 2

http://www.redbubble.com/people/scottnaismith/calendars/3227610-4-scott-naismith-scottish-landscape

Calendar 3

http://www.redbubble.com/people/scottnaismith/calendars/4028043-1-scottish-contemporary-landscape-painting

2009 Exhibition: Scottish Contemporary Landscape Painting

Thanks to all who made it on Friday night. The evening was a resounding success. All calendars were sold out but are available at:

http://www.redbubble.com/products/configure/13017993

2009 Solo Exhibition of new Scottish contemporary Landscape Paintings

Showing for the 9th time at Ian Kenny Gallery, Scott Naismith will show a selection of work inspired by some recent trips to Barra, Skye, and Tiree. Since last year, Scott’s work has been represented at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI). In March a selection of 16 paintings were sold out at his first representation at the Glasgow Art Fair in George Square.

Further Info at

http://www.scottnaismith.co.uk/

http://www.iankenny.com/

Here's the Catalogue:

New Gallery in Morningside, Edinburgh

Life on Canvas Gallery is a brand new contemporary art gallery at 133 Comiston Road Edinburgh. They will be showing a selection of my new Scottish Landscape paintings at their Launch on the 28th August 2009.
Other artists soon to be showing include Blair Thomson, Davy Brown, Steve Johnston, Mark Holden, Karen Willis, Kirstie Cohen, Jemma Derbyshire, Alfred Allan, Lillias Blackie, Elena Kourenkova, Lynsey Ewan, Lesly Banks, Pat Kramek....

Annan Art Exhibition 2008: Scottish Landscape

Here's some photos from my joint Exhibition with Erni Upton in the West End of Glasgow. On show were around 30 oil paintings. Most were contemporary Scottish landscape with a small selection of Tuscany based paintings too. The Annan Gallery have since gone on to represent my work at the Glasgow Art fair in George square (2009) where they sold out of all 16 paintings.