As I write this blog, its half an hour before the paintings for this year's solo show are available to view and buy online. This gives an online audience the opportunity to buy or reserve paintings 2 weeks before the exhibition previews.
Buying art online from a small image on a screen is a risky prospect for most people. Owners of any of my paintings will be familiar with the quality of work 'in the flesh' and will no doubt have no concerns about committing to buy in this way. If you're unsure, just contact the gallery and you could register an interest in a painting in order to better guarantee it's availability to you at the preview night. Please note that those wishing to commit to a purchase will take priority. Hope to see you all on Friday 31st August 2012.
In the mean time, here's a few teaser images...
UPDATE: Images for exhibition are now live and available >> TRANSITION
Websites like DeviantArt and Redbubble (and many, many more) have changed the opportunities available to artists, designers and photographers to have their work available as reproduction prints.
It used to be that capital expenditure on a print run would mean you had to be sure of a mass market for any image in print. But these days anyone can be a micro-publisher of their own art and make profits without any outlay at all. Not only will in not cost to offer your prints to the world, but it will be relatively hassle-free as the site deals with everything.
DeviantArt (based in the US) and redbubble (based in Australia) are the 2 sites I use to provide prints to a worldwide consumer base. DeviantArt is the biggest online artist community in the world.
Both these sites provide prints in various forms: canvas prints, paper prints, framed prints, greetings cards, postcards and so on. In addition to this, deviantArt also offer coasters, fridge magnets, jigsaws etc. while Redbubble offers iphone cases, t-shirts, hoodies, kid's clothes and seems to add different products all the time.
Photographing Your Artwork
I often get asked about the best practice for photographing paintings so here's an at a glance list of tips for recording your paintings in digital format;
>> Use a good quality dSLR camera (full frame sensor if possible but are pricey)
>> Use a good quality lens. (I use a canon 50mm)
>> Without professional studio lighting, outside on an overcast day is best.
>> Do not shoot in direct sunlight.
>> Clean your lens
>> Use a tripod
>> Use the 2 second timer so that when you press the shutter, that force won't jolt the camera at time of shot.
>> Use 'Av' setting and set to a mid range aperture (8-11), the camera will do the rest.
>> Set the lowest ISO possible (100 is fine)
>> Post production in Photoshop or any image editing software will likely be necessary.
>>Lastly, if your going to offer the really big prints (deviantArt do a 30" canvas) then even 18 megapixels might not be enough. For this you can pan the camera around the canvas from a tripod pivot point taking 6 or more photos which overlap. These can be seamlessly stitched using photoshop (file>automate>photomerge then select the series of photos). For this, make sure the focal length of the lens is a minimum of 50mm. The more "zoomed in" the better as it reduces the lens distortion of wider angle lens which can be a nightmare to stitch. The resultant file will be as many megapixels as you want for massive prints in high detail. Sites like deviantArt and redbubble will detect the size of your file and only offer print sizes appropriate to print clearly from. Do not attempt to just upsize the pixels of a smaller image, it will not be approved as good enough quality.
example of coaster from deviant art
Marketing Your Prints
Do not rely on the traffic from other users of the artist sites to sell prints. You will sell very few this way. Instead, gain the traffic to your prints through links from your own website, blogs, twitter and other social media etc. These will be potential customers already interested in your work.
Quality
So what's the quality like of these deviantArt prints? Well I've kindly shot a couple of videos reviewing deviantArt products I recently ordered of my own paintings in print in the form of a framed print and coasters, here they are...
FRAMED PRINT
COASTERS
You can View my deviantArt and RedBubble prints here:
I recently blogged about my new miniature oil on board paintings. Now, I am happy to say that I now have an online store available from my website powered by the artists' online store 'Big Cartel'.
At any time there will be a selection of unframed oil on board paintings available exclusively from the studio. They are easy to deliver unframed so shipping is free to the UK and free for more than 1 item worldwide.
Check my previous blog post for an idea of how to frame it up when it arrives!
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.
I was recently asked to do an interview for the tailcast.com website (about to be changed to 'createtoday'. Here's a couple of the questions and answers:
What inspires you in your work ?
Final works are completed in my home studio in Glasgow. The rest of my time is spent travelling around the country looking for inspiration in the Scottish landscape. The many lochs, glens and isles of the West coast provide this inspiration for my vibrant and atmospheric oils.
Skies have become an integral part of my work. The weather changes quickly in Scotland’s Western Isles and there’s nothing better than seeing adverse weather conditions clearing as the sun casts new light. These moments of transitional skies are what my current work is about. The emerging light acts as a metaphor for hope and optimism appropriate for for someone 14 weeks into fatherhood! With a big interest in colour play and colour theory, this subject matter also interests me for it’s warm/cool colour contrasts.
Any tips for budding artists / illustrators / photographers ?
I think an unshakeable belief in yourself is necessary to achieve success. Being very critical of your own work and being able to take criticism well is a key part of this.
It’s all about confidence. Confidence is self perpetuating: If you are confident, it translates well in your work which in turn breeds confidence in the next work you do.
I suppose the key would be to stay confident. If your confidence wavers, it can often mean the avoidance of producing anything at all, like writers’ block. You would then need a strategy to get the confidence back. For an artist it might be to begin a new painting with no planning at all with your biggest roller, palette knives or brushes and just improvise and see where it takes you. Challenging yourself is a great way to a feeling of achievement and ultimately renewed confidence.
Here's the proposed billboard to advertise my upcoming show at the Riverside Inverclyde Gallery, Greenock on 2nd October 2010. Small changes to colour and correction to spelling (of enlightenment!) to happen before in gets printed and stuck up. More photos to come once it's up.
If anyone would like an invite to the opening on the 1st Oct, leave me a message on my 'contacts page of my website: http://www.scottnaismith.co.uk
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:
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:
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".
This year I have put an entry in for 'The Aspect Prize' to be held at Paisley Museum from Friday. I was keen to see the large 1 metre square painting, "Skye Crofts" once it was framed in the hand laid gold leaf frame I had chosen. So I decided to record the occasion on film for youtube, let me know what you think:
The second part of my painting demo is much better quality, don't think I'll be filming much on my phone any more!
Having difficulty getting the movie uploaded here, so you can see it at my website in the Video section.
http://www.scottnaismith.co.uk
Thursday, November 19, 2009
ENLIGHTENMENT
10 years of Painting from Scottish Contemporary Landscape Artist Scott Naismith
New 120 page Book spanning 10 years of Scottish landscape painting is out now, just in time for a perfect Christmas gift. Includes guest writing from Richard Sunderland.
Did this Interview after winning a challenge in a Scottish based RedBubble Group.
1. Firstly, tell us more about your winning image and why it was this one that inspired you to enter it for the challenge? The winning Image is a 40×40 cm painting of Sanna Bay, Ardnamurchan. Looking North out to the isles of Rum, Eigg and Muck (just below Rum). The Challenge was titled “A perfect green and blue Scottish summer”. While most would be thinking grass/trees/vegetation for green, I was thinking of the greens and Blues of the turquoise waters around the West coast. On a perfect summer day the sun really lights up the white sand and contrasts the black rock, both setting off the magnificent colours of the water.
2. Everyone can see your RB profile, but tell us a bit more about Scott Naismith and his art? In the nine years I have been a full time artist my style has evolved year on year. More recently my work has taken on more abstract qualities, as I have started to make my work more about the processes/application/colour statements etc and less about the places themselves.
3. How did you start your artistic journey and what inspires to continue? My artistic journey began when old enough to hold a crayon. All through School I was encouraged by the response I got from others which encouraged me to go to art school in Dundee. After this, all the encouragement and acknowledgement received was now in the form of people spending their hard earned money to own one of my paintings, which is the biggest reward as an artist. Without buyers appreciating what I do, I could not continue doing what I love full time.
4. What do you think is your greatest accomplishment as an artist to date? My greatest accomplishment to date may have been my representation at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) in the Mall Galleries, London last year. The accomplishment which may have been the most significant in moulding my career would be getting a solo exhibition at Ian Kenny Gallery the year I left Duncan of Jordanstone School of art. Another great achievement was the purchase and displaying of 72 original paintings at the Aviemore Highland Resort and Conference Centre.
5. Tell us a bit more about the aspirations and goals for you in the future as an artist? My daily goal is to make each painting I paint better than the last one, if I can achieve this, all other goals (which frighten me to think about aiming for) will be achievable.
6. As this is group has a wee bit of the Scots about it, what single-most thing do you think of when asked about “Scotland”? For me it’s the changing Scottish weather and light qualities that it makes possible. I have a great interest in painting skies and, more specifically, transitional skies. As a colourist, how the light changes to expose different colours in the landscape and sky is all important for me. I get so inspired when travelling to the Islands on Calmac ferries. It can be a bit wild out on the deck at times, but that’s where I’ll be the entire six hour to Barra. The changing sky can be seen in all its glory and in all directions from here. The camera can record some of it, but much of my work is done by memory.
7. If there was only one choice of location in Scotland where you could go and visit to capture images or paint a scene, where would this be and why? If I could pick a whole Island, it would be Skye, its diverse landscape inspires me in new ways every time I return. If it was only one specific location, it would be Arisaig where you get the most spectacular views out to Rum and Eigg from its sandy beaches.
8. Lastly, as this is your time in the “The Scots Are Coming” spotlight, is there any messages (inspirational, gratitude or otherwise) that you would like to share with the group? I’d just like to say how much I enjoy being part of the RedBubble community. It can be an isolating job at times, painting from my studio at the house. As an artist you don’t really mix with other fellow professionals much and it’s good to be part of something that brings us creative people together in some way. I’m now looking forward to my virtual solo exhibition on the “solo exhibition” group which has a preview on Monday 9th November where you can chat to people who come and see your work in the forum
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.
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