Size matters!

Roisin Markham work sold August 2013

Towards the end of August there was great excitement in the studio. A visitor to the GasLamp Gallery in Gorey had seen my work and wanted to purchase two paintings and commission four more! Fab and Wow!
On going up to talk to Chris, the framer and a real knowledgeable guy in the business of selling art, the 'potential buyer' wanted SIX of my paintings for an alcove in his house. But they had to be a particular size.
There is a curiosity I maintain about how people buy art: will it fit, will it match my colour scheme, is it an investment? do I love it?

Roisin Markham work sold August 2013

In the studio I reviewed what lurked, framed work and unframed finished work and work that was unfinished with potential. I selected eight pieces returning to the gallery the following day, Chris and I discussed a selection of six and mounting them in the correct size for the buyer to view. A few nervous days ensued as I waited for news. Nothing is ever sold until the money is in your bank.
The work looked good, and the buyer selected six from the unframed pieces. They were the right size.
I'm glad the original two he picked were not cut down to size this would have be a disaster for one of the paintings. This all comes down to listening to what the customer wants and not being over precious about work made. That's a tightrope and artist walks if they want to sell work. For me it is important to sell.
I am delighted that a new patron now owns six pieces of my work.
That's happened before where someone buys several pieces. My painting work is colourful, energetic and has presence. It is not everyone cup of tea, patrons describe being drawn to it. So hopefully more people who like art colourful, energetic and with presence will be drawn to it and I look forward to selling more, Yay!

Heart felt

Heart Felt Art
Roisin Markham © 2012

I've been busy never even got to post that I opened a shop on Facebook which sits on my CreativeDynamix page. But if you read or have been following my main blog http://creativedynamic.blogspot.com/  you will have seen the blog post about opening the shop and about what is a hug token.
In January I needed to sit and just make practical work something small to sell. Artist make work for different reasons and this year I just needed to sell my art and have that sense that yes people liked it enough to put their hand in their pockets and part with their cash. There is something very satisfying about selling an item you have made, created - constructed with intent.
The added bonus for me was also to discover and remember what making images with a camera was like. I found myself writing poems to accompany the images I was making and the images I wanted to construct or express with the little felted hearts. They became props for a further expression.
"The heart knows
that love can
not be contained
Love demands to 
be amplified and
shared, so it is
between us.
King of care
queen of kindness
you are that to me."

Heart Felt Art
Roisin Markham © 2012

Writing this blog post I'm realising that I still get surprised by my writing - it has always been a part of my painting and in the last year or so has become more obvious with my textiles and surface stitch. My exhibition last year at the Wexford Fringe really saw the words sit on top of created background surfaces 'Of word and stitch' you can look at some of the work just before it went to framing here.

Perhaps its progress? 

The words presents themselves along side my work not layered with the visuals but taking a more even role equally beside the handmade carefully crafted visual art. Neither the words or the crafted pieces are enough by themselves. As I was putting the framed pieces together the balance in the frame was important - words, visual elements, photographing it...
mixed media creations
I see the multiple images I have made they feel illustrative. Words/images - which came firsts? I celebrate that it is no longer important all I know is that I really enjoyed this creative process although small and central to my being it made me happy to express myself freely. It made me happy that people liked the hug tokens enough to buy them.
The illustrative images with the hug tokens will and I have a feeling that they may all fall into a book to be offered and celebrated for "when my heart sings".
If you did n't catch those image head over to the Facebook page and have a look through my wall photographs, leave me a comment or ask me about when the book is due out?

Of word and stitch Exhibition open

Of word
and stitch

Roisin Markham, Artist
An exhibition of handmade textiles,
writing and mixed media
part of the Wexford Fringe
at the Irish National Heritage Park
till 6 November 2011.

by what do you set your compass? Roisin Markham 2011

I'll be there the next two Sundays 12 - 4pm. Plus other artist dialogue days to be announced. Looking forward to meeting you there.

Location: The Irish national Heritage Park is situated approximately 3 miles from Wexford Town off the Dublin (N11) Rosslare Road (N25).  Eleven miles from Rosslare Europort.

Sunday, sunday

Sunday. Roisin Markham

Art NOT chocolate for Easter 2011

Art NOT chocolate for Easter 2010 Campaign Year 3

Roisin Markham, Ballygarrett Art Studio is continuing the 'Art not Chocolate for Easter!' campaign in 2011. Now in it's third year we suggest the following reasons why everyone should be supporting this campaign:

1. Art has no calories.
2. Art lasts much longer then flowers and out lasts some relationships, it adds something to memories... 
3. Original art is affordable. Prices at Ballygarrett Art Studio start at €25 for small original paintings, prints and textiles,  Whatever the budget or occasion a piece of art is the solution you will find something to suit and take away.
4. Support and patron me as an artist, purchase a piece of my creative work  

5. Patron your local artist 

What you can do;

Instead of buying chocolate view and purchase a piece of Roisin Markham’s art work other options include commission work, gift vouchers for art and creativity coaching are also available. 

Forward this to all the people you know and ask them to forward it so that this campaign can gain support 

If you are an artist steal the idea and start your own campaign

In 2009 I started and shared this campaign with others. 2010 saw me deliver the idea through social media and some galleries and creative craft spaces in Ireland. This year  I hope this year to extend it's reach and get other artists and galleries to steal this idea, share it and garner support from their communities. 

All I ask is that you share with me how you used the idea and how it went for you. Let me know how it goes at ballygarrettartstudio[at]gmail.com or tweet me @creativedynamix follow and support the campaign progress on Facebook.

Finding a bridge

Bridge, Marlay Park Series 2007, Roisin Markham

I am posting this here as a point of departure and arrival. When we find ourselves stuck there is always a signpost even within the quagmire of being stuck.

The above image started as one of my photographs as part of the 'Footprints in my heart' exhibition. It was altered in Photoshop to give it a print process feel. My modern approach to screen printing or photo-plate etching with out the equipment, inking up process, toxic smells, registration frustrations and cleaning up. However if I had access to that equipment and process I reckon I would be making prints. I love prints and the print making process. But my studio space, computer skills and limited time in the studio produced this.

Writing about it now I see it opened the doorway to using the computer to edit what I wanted to express. Much in the same way the digital photography process removes the chemical processing and hands on printing it is my response to control over the images. The sophistication of technology means that I can take images and manipulate them further to give variations of creative expression. But is it processing and manipulation for the sake of it?
Photography has been made more accessible, democratised if you will. But as a photographer what does that mean for me if it is a basic form of visual communication. Is that why my response has been to process my images further? No, but it is a good question.
My response to process my images further is to add layers of meaning with out adding explanation. Post editing my work means I express further the context of the image for exhibition. In which it sits as a chapter of a story being told. An evolving example of this is my Legacy project.
But what of the images I take on a regular basis? Some of them would make fantastic prints in there own right. But can't everyone take great images to print and make their own for their walls? Should I be doing more with my photography?
What do you think?

#twitterartexhibit Moss Library, Norway

I think it all started with a tweet that I saw from David Sandum. 140 characters and that was it. Around the 21st of October you can read all about it here http://davidsandumart.posterous.com/call-for-artists-twitter-art-exhibit-in-moss.
For my part I had chatted via twitter with David once or twice, I liked his work and what i knew of him i liked and respected. So if he was going to organise a fundraiser to raise money for a local library in Norway by inviting artist all over the twitter-sphere to join in, well it would have been rude not to.
Postcards size was what he wanted and I do love postcards.
I was in but getting down to the brass tax of making the miniature work was more challenging. What to send? What to make that represented how I work and supported what David was trying to do.

I had just finished my successful Of earth and soul, exhibition and workshop sessions at the Wexford Fringe. I was on the creative curve that requires rest and re-cumulation of creative energy before another up cycle. So I was tired and trying to work less, walk more and play a little.
Eventually I started with a montage a map, an old girls magazine and a letter. I like the idea of the text "I told you I could do it!" as a central focus.
Montages are funny things sometimes they just need a muted layer of tracing paper and some script over them and they are perfect but this demanded that I painted with intent and send a representational piece of my style of work. So painting began and after that some stitching. The roads were re-highlighted to continue on and add definition with some beads.

 My seven year old had great fun doodling on the news paper as I was stitching. If you look at the Of earth and soul exhibition you will find the painting Trust has a link to this piece.
The work was sent off to David in Norway as soon as it was dry. He noted that it arrived on November 7th.

Now it sits on a wall in a Norwegian Library. My postcard is easily spotted second from the top technology is amazing.

This is an image shared from the Moss Library Flickr images of the exhibit.

On twitter the chat continues about the exhibit @DavidSandumArt: The coolest thing about #twitterartexhibit are the computers next to wall. People go online/twitter and look up their favorite artists.

So congratulations to David for doing such a great job and being so inspiring.

Twenty countries X 260 artists joined through twitter to raise funds for children's books in Moss, Norway. I love this story of the power of twitter, social media, one mans idea and the courage of his convictions to just 'Do it'. I love it has raised his profile as an artist, activist, solver, fund raiser and man about art. I love that Moss Library will have a fund for children's books. I love the fact that 260 artists participated with a postcard. All he asked was would we join in and we responded. 

Well Done David!

Art in the open air at Coolgreany Market

I was invited to show work at the Coolgreany Market yesterday, not my usual location for showing my creative work but I thought what the hell! It was a big contrast to business meetings the day before in Dublin.  I really enjoyed the atmosphere it is a lovely community market; everything is done on a donation basis to a local charity. Stalls are offered at no charge if you sell your welcome to make a donation. Coffee and tea are offered with complimentary home baking and a big donation box on the table. So everyone hangs out and stands around chatting. Loved it! Well done to all at the Grain store that run the market the first Saturday of every month, the next one is the fourth of September I've penciled it in.

The poultry lady looked like she was giving free birds away, the amount of people all ages walking out with cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes. The boxes had holes poked into them and wobbled very uncharacteristically.

I loved the Old Rectory's designs and hand printed products all made in County Wicklow. The Tinahely Show t-towel was just lovely. Their products have that lovely wood cut screen print feel off them although the design work is party done on a computer.

It was great to catch up with Rachel Kennedy and see her lovely pottery, looking forward to seeing more of her work. 

I was really impressed with the quality of food on offer. Especially a local woman Ciara and her first outing of delicious jellies and salad dressings. Very professional presentation and and I can see this product being stocked in nice deli's here, abroad and on tables wherever good food is being enjoyed.

From the hordes of Ballygarrett Art Studio 2

 

From season to season
Change series
Handmade paper, acrylic, oil pastels on paper.

Landscape
Acrylic on card.

Centered self
Change series
Acrylic on paper.


This work was made in the last few years, it is unframed so will ship well in a tube anywhere making it very cost effective. They are all approx 70cm x 100cm, although the first image is larger. Contact me directly on twitter, facebook or email me at creativedynamix.1 at gmail dot com if you would like more information or are interested to purchase.

Art NOT chocolate for Easter 2010!

Ballygarrett Art Studio is contiuing the 'Art not Chocolate for Easter!' campaign in 2010. Now in it's second year we suggest the following reasons why everyone should be supporting this campaign:

1. Art has no calories.
2. Art lasts much longer then flowers and out lasts some relationships, it adds something to memories...
3. Original art is affordable. Prices at Ballygarrett Art Studio start at €25 for small original paintings, prints and textiles. Whatever the budget or occasion we have something to suit or to recommend.
4. Support your local artist.

What you can do;

· Instead of buying chocolate view and purchase a piece of Roisin Markham’s art work or commission work, gift vouchers are also available.
· Forward this to all the people you know and ask them to forward it so that this campaign can gain support
· If you’re an artist steal the idea and start your own campaign

Last year I started and shared this campaign with others I hope this year to extend it's reach and get other artists and galleries to steal this idea, share it and garner support from their communities.

All I ask is that you share with me how you used the idea and how it went for you. Let me know how it goes at ballygarrettartstudio[at]gmail.com or tweet me @creativedynamix and there is always Facebook...

Open Studio: ‘out with the old and in with the new’

I am in the process of organising an open studio and sale of all existing work. The driving force is to fund a new body of work and some exciting new collaboration projects.
So I am going with the adage of ‘out with the old and in with the new’.

Time to sell, gift, donate; paintings, photography, digital prints, handmade textiles framed and unframed work. As you can imagine my studio is a treasure trove offering original art as ideas for gifts, something unique to place in that blank wall at home or in the office and there is always the chance that you will find something special to just for you.


Everything will be offered for sale:

• framed work displayed on the wall will be offered in a price range open to negotiations, if it has just one price that is the price I want
• box 1: €200 - €80, work framed and unframed of medium size
• box 2: €60 - €15, small framed paintings, and unframed paintings of different sizes, digital prints, photographs & mixed size unframed work.
• box 3: ‘Donation box’ with a suggested donation for a local St. Vincent de Paul charity [this box will have original art works, roughs, computer printouts, photos that need to be set free and find good homes]

The date is planned for the 26th of September, 11 – 4pm .

By Wednesday 23rd September all my work will be back from galleries and other exhibition venues and in the studio so if you would like to come and choose something before that date you’d be more then welcome. Call me to make an appointment to visit the studio [086]1546163.

New Work

I've just framed some work and they fit in the small, affordable, good for presents mode so I thought I might post them here so you could have a look at them.

What to do if you see some thing you like?

1. Let me know you like what you see, you can post a comment below.
   
2. If you would like to purchase a piece of work you can email me at ballygarrettartstudio (at) gmail.com to let me know which piece you would like to purchase and we can make arrangements from there.
3. If you would like to comission me to create a piece of work email me also.

These orignal framed paintings and textiles can be posted through An Post at local postage rates (I've done it before even for big pieces and it works fine). Size of frames varies the smallest being 15cm x 15cm and the largest in this range being 26cm x 26cm.

You can look at more of my work on line and order prints on line here. Or visit a selection of my work currently on show at the Enterprise Centre in the Gorey Business Park.