The Perks of Art Fairs

Making art is an isolating business. It's very nature means, that on the whole, art making is a sole activity spending lots of time alone creating.

Participation in art fairs is one way of meeting other artists and potential collectors, making you feel part of the community. It's a way for the general public to actually meet the person behind the art and allow the artist to communicate and show their human side.

One of the lovely bonuses for the artist, is receiving nice compliments and having some quite off the wall conversations. I am sharing some of the lovely comments I received at the Sussexwest art fair.

I appreciate each and everyone of these comments and it always gives me a lift that people have taken the time to leave one. It's also satisfying to know that my art has touched someone.

CONNECT WITH ME

website: www.artbymarion.co.uk

YES PLEASE add me to your mailing list

Keep up with my latest paintings and works in progress

on Instagram @artbymarion

A Nice Encounter

I returned home from two back to back artfairs in Newbury and Goodwood about a week and a half ago to a non-functioning internet, grrrhh which made even sending and receiving emails difficult, and forget about updating any sites and social media! The good news is, it started functioning again a couple of days ago, so fingers crossed I can now catch-up with all those things essential to being an artist.

 Art Fair Teething Problems

Both fairs were in new locations and the footfall could have been better at both. At Newbury the organisers gave out the wrong postal code and there were serious roadworks happening which also made it difficult to get to the venue. At Goodwood, the signage to the event was poor and the organisers gave the wrong closing times on some of the printed media. Such are the joys of attending art fairs. The true joy, of course, is in the comraderie of the artists and the  lovely conversations with the art lovers.

A Nice Encounter

One nice moment was when a gentleman, who was drawn to the colours in my paintings, stood in my stand looking for quite while studying them intently. I assumed he was another artist looking for clues on how I painted.

I started talking to him and he told me that he didn’t like abstract art but there was something about mine that drew him in. So we had a long discussion about what had drawn him to my paintings and that owning art is all about liking/loving what you see and wanting to live with it.

 I told him about how I try to draw the observer in and keep them ‘entertained’ on closer inspectiion. We had a lovely discussion.

He came back a couple of more times and also showed his wife. Unfortunately, no sale but, perhaps, I have created a chink into his ‘I don’t understand abstract art’ attitude and he will slowly start to appreciate it.

It’s these moments that make the hard work wothwhile.

CONNECT WITH ME

website: www.artbymarion.co.uk

YES PLEASE add me to your mailing list

Keep up with my latest paintings and works in progress

on Instagram @artbymarion

Living in Mystery

LIVING IN MYSTERY

by Marion Hedger

Acrylic and mixed media on canvas

Finished with varnish and 

a layer of wax to give a nice sheen that addes additional depth.

80x80cm x4 cm deep

AVAILABLE

"The contrasting shapes and differences between the solid and ethereal areas can be used as an analogy of the differences in rock and sky or how life works, sometimes very sure and other times more uncertain perhaps when we are trying new things."

Contrasting paint treatement

This painting uses both flat areas of paint and soft scumbled areas to give an interesting contrast.

I used to be a fan of scumbling when I first started using acrylics many years ago, but haven't done any for while. I used to attack the canvas with vigour using a bristle brush barely containing any paint. It'd take a while to get the right effect using one colour on top of another, but I was often away in the 'zone' and wore down many a paint brush. The beautiful soft effect and colours achieved was worth the time. I couldn't quite get back to the zen part with this painting but like the ethereal effect which contrasts nicely with the more opaque and trasparent paint areas.

PS
 I still have some of those paint brushes laying about - what can I say, I'm a hoarder.

CONNECT WITH ME

website: www.artbymarion.co.uk

Keep up with my latest paintings and works in progress

on Instagram @artbymarion

New Work - Going Larger

BREATHING MOUNTAIN

80X80cm (32x32inch) on 4cm deep box canvas

AVAILABLE

I am gradually adding my new paintings exhibited at the Surrey Contemporary Art Fair. This is one of the larger ones at 80x80cm. I have to be practical when working larger to make sure the painting doesn't exceed 80cm so it can fit in the car. I can go a little longer, so I might try a few longer ones for the next art fair.

In this painting I was trying to move towards using larger blocks of colour, with good contrast between the lighter areas and darks. The jewel colours of turquoise and orange intially draw your eye in but the sublety in the darks as well as the whites, keep you entertained. Here are some close-ups to show you the details:

CONNECT WITH ME

website: www.artbymarion.co.uk

Keep up with my latest paintings and works in progress

on Instagram @artbymarion

Winding Down after Surrey Art Fair

After the Surrey Contemporary Art Fair last week end, I'm taking a few days to wind down. We drove back in one hit (15hours) with my husband doing the major part of the driving. It was the first time I had driven since my hand op at the end of July so I was hesitant to drive, but I found it OK for short periods. it was all motorway driving, so not much strain on my hand. We were going to overnight near Lyon but, as that is only just over 4 hours from home, the temptation to plough on and sleep in our own be was too great.

I started attending art fairs this time last year at the same venue, Sandown Park Racecourse, and have since exhibited at Reading, Windsor and Cannes. They are large organised venues with the stands provided and prepared for the art.

The English art fairs have a great buzz to them and the comraderie between the exhibitors is great, with everyone cheering everyone else on and being happy when they make a sale (even happier when you make your own sale of course). The Cannes art fair did not have the same level of friendship between the exhibitors, but as that is the only one I've attended in France, I shall reserve judgement. One thing they all have in common is that the food is lousy and expensive but I've solved my coffee addiction by taking my own hot water and coffee.

 Last weekends fair was the worst one for me for sales out of all of them, a lot of interest. I have three more booked for the year, so I will assess at the end of the year. It seemed to be a mixed bag with some people doing OK but many also not selling much.

I do enjoy speaking to the art lovers who attend, and as the fairs are my only direct contact with potential customers, it's a good way to make contact in a friendly environment.

The amount of art and variety of art (all good as the artists are vetted first) is truly wonderful to see, so it is worth making the effort to attend as a visitor and spend a couple of hours looking at art and talking to the artists about their art and what type of art you like.

I am at Newbury and Goodwood in May and at Windsor in November. If you would like advance tickets to any of them, sign up to my newsletter as I send out invitations to all my subscribers before each fair.

Leave a comment if you would like more information about the fairs.

CONNECT WITH ME

website: www.artbymarion.co.uk

Keep up with my latest paintings and works in progress

on Instagram @artbymarion

Impromptu Studio Sale - Time limited

After the success of my gallery exhibition in December, I want to say "Thank You" and share some of the joy with my collectors and newsletter subscribers.

Sign up to my newsletter and save of 20% when you purchase any painting directly through my website -  

This offer is only available until midnight on 31st January Pacific Time

HOW IT WORKS 

1. Subscribe to my newsletter. 
2. I will send you the latest newsletter with the offer code
3. Go to the website and choose your painting.
4. Contact me, via email  or through the 'contact the artist' link on the site, with the name of the painting and the code word.
5. I will send you an invoice which includes the shipping costs.
6. Your painting will ship within two days.

Remember - This offer is only available until midnight 31st January Pacific Time (GMT +8h)
   

CONNECT WITH ME

website: www.artbymarion.co.uk

Keep up with my latest paintings and works in progress

on Instagram @artbymarion

Right onTrend

This painting is a commission I have just completed. Coincidentally I was surfing this morning and discovered that Pantone's colour of 2019 is 'Living Coral'. Nice to know I was on trend for once!

Here is their colour swatch for living coral and suggested complements

 

CONNECT WITH ME

website: www.artbymarion.co.uk

Keep up with my latest paintings and works in progress

on Instagram @artbymarion