Solo Exhibition 2011: Catalogue Complete

My catalogue is now complete for this year's solo exhibition at Ian Kenny Gallery.

While its not even sent to the printers yet, I can reveal the designs here on my blog!

Follow me on Facebook and twitter for more about the exhibition.

Big Cartel Shop

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'.

Here's the link:

ONLINE STORE

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!

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.

Paisley Artists Live Demonstration

Here's the video showing my Demo from March and subsequent completion in the studio of 'Light Emerges, Tiree':

LIGHT EMERGES

Small Oil Painting Studies on Board

Recently I've been working on small oil studies. I have previously worked on work like this in sketchbooks, but thought it might be nice to offer these for sale on a more durable acid free conservation grade board.

These studies are really idea generators which can be painted in situ, en plein air. My work receives a lot of interest from a large audience who are not able to afford a larger canvas. These little studies will allow my work to reach those with a budget as little as £95. They can later be framed or just stored as a collectable item. Also, being light and easy to send, the postage is free to all, making it more available to a worldwide market.

There will be updates on the blog and my website when complete work becomes available.

sizes will be as follows:

10cm, 15cm, 20cm and 30cm square

Speed Painting Oil and Copic sketch Demonstration: Goat Fell, Arran Scotland

Oil Painting demonstration of latest Scottish Landscape painting of the Isle of Arran: 'Goat Fell'.

This one shows some sketchbook drawing work using Copic markers.

Please subscribe to my youtube channel for lots more videos.

Sketch and Alla Prima Oil Painting: Old Man of Storr, Skye

Oil Painting demonstration of latest Scottish Landscape painting: 'Old Man of Storr'.

This one shows some sketchbook drawing work using Copic markers

Tailcast Interview

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.

Riverside Inverclyde Exhibition, Greenock

The Ladyburn Business Centre in Greenock is showing a large collection (around 30 paintings) at the fantastic newly refurbished gallery space.

Confirm your attendance on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157212494297788&ref=mf

Hoping for a good turn out at 7pm Fri 1st Oct

thanks!

New Paintings for Devon Art Fair

Art Exposure Gallery, Glasgow are showing 4 brand new paintings at the Devon Art Fair.

http://www.devonartfair.com/

Here's a sneak preview:

A View To Rum 40 x 40cm £750

Tiree Light 40 x 40 £750

Black Cuillins from Elgol 40 x 40cm £750

Sound of Mull Lighthouse 50 x 50cm £995

See the 'Sound of Mull Lighthouse' being painted in the studio here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKZvgdMxXPc

Billboard in Greenock, Inverclyde

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

New Landscape Oil Paintings: A Walk Through The Exhibition

Just finished editing the video from the preview night of my latest exhibition at Ian Kenny Gallery, Hamilton. The show continues until 25th September so plenty time to get yourself down for a look.

WATCH THE VIDEO NOW ON YOUTUBE

Solo Ehibition 2010 Catalogue: Ian Kenny Gallery, Hamilton

Here it is!! The 2010 Catalogue and Preview exhibition invite for my 10th solo exhibition at Ian Kenny Gallery in Hamilton.

Some 24 new paintings are shown in the catalogue, while over 30 new Scottish landscape paintings will be there at the exhibition. Locations include Arran, Tiree, Barra, Skye and Glen Spean.

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!

The Aspect Prize 2010

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 Glasgow Art Fair

Having sold out all 16 paintings at last year's Glasgow Art Fair, Annan Art Gallery are showing a great new selection of work straight out the studio. Work will disappear once sold so get in early to see the paintings. Private View is Wednesday 24th March (Invite needed). Open to the public from 25th March.

Paintings on show can be seen at the following link:

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

Glen Spean Light painting demonstration PART 2

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

Painting Demonstration

Scott Naismith demonstrates the painting of Glen Spean Light.

The first part of a 2 part video