Open Studios. 7 Tips for Success + Extras Now it's Getting Close.

I'm on at least my 11th year of Peterborough Artists' Open Studios  so I count myself as an old hand. 

I've had some joyous times, met lots of old and new friends , made many a cup of tea and talked endlessly about my favourite subject, art, my art, the garden and several unrelated topics.

So I was quite pleased and flattered when earlier this year this email pinged into my inbox.

"Dear Mary, I'm thinking of taking part in open studios this year. Have you any advice?"

Well. I don't need much encouragement.

So this is what I wrote: 7 tips for success.

Hi Sarah,

Lovely to get your email. I love giving a bit of advice.

I've been doing Open Studios on and off for about 12 years now , and I would say YES without a doubt DO IT. 

1.It does take over your home and life for the time it's on though, so I only take part 2 weekends (usually the first 2) out of 3.

I've done it alone and with other artists. I like having someone else with me. This year it will be the mosaic artist Shelagh Hope who was with me last year.

2.Advertising I think is key. I usually make up an invitation and print it on the computer, then give it to everyone I know, and I have distributed in the neighbourhood. Any one is fair game.  There's also social media and your email list. I feel quite exhausted just typing all that!

3.I usually open 12 to 5 pm. The mornings I've opened have been slow. I serve tea and coffee and biscuits. Nothing fancy.

4.I say that the garden is open because people do like a good nosey round your plants.

5.I'm sure you know you must have someone with you, if only to make the drinks.

6.Usually my latest, best work goes in the most prominent place. I try to curate so it looks as though I meant to do it. I try not to put anything rubbish up.

7.I do mounted prints too, ideally in a size that fit standard frames. And I do LOTS OF CARDS. 3 for £5 seems to work well, because people often want to buy something even if it's not a painting.

This year I'm thinking of taking plastic payment as there are lots of devises on the market for that, otherwise it's cash or cheque.

Hope that gives you a bit of an idea. It's a lovely experience and well worth the effort in my opinion.

Best wishes

Mary"

 I wrote this back in February and now it's nearing the end of May.  

Only a few weeks to go.

And this is what I must do now:

1. Become very active on social media. Now!

2. Talk to everyone I meet about my open studio.

4. Order any printing I want done.

5. Buy a machine for taking credit/debit cards.

6. Order, buy frames. In fact that means persuading my husband who is a picture framer to make my frames between jobs.

7. Write a list of people I will invite and plan the digital and paper invitations. Get those out about 2 weeks before the event. Mustn't spam people and remember GDPR.

8. Decide how I want to display my art, and get as much on the walls as early as possible.

9. Find the visitors' book and check I have enough business cards. And a receipt book.

10. Check the lighting in the house is good for a dull day.

11. Week before: you know this one. Clean the house and tidy the garden. 

And when I've done all that perhaps I'll be ready!

Thanks for reading this and if you're taking part this year GOOD LUCK! You'll meet some wonderful people.
                   

                                                               VISIT MY WEBSITE

                                                          LIKE ME ON FACEBOOK

                                                                JOIN ME ON ETSY

                                                                     INSTAGRAM

and did I mention PINTEREST?

"Summer Holiday" an In Depth Look

Dear fellow art lovers,

Writers are always told to write about the things they know and I suppose artists are much the same, they paint or sculp or draw the subjects that are close to them.



So it's no surprise, to me at least, that I paint the seaside.
I've never lived by the sea , but we're a small island here so I've visited the coast in all it's moods very often, spring, summer, autumn and winter, all through my life, under all sorts of circumstances, happy and sad, rich or poor. Even when we go abroad I feel I must visit the sea.
My latest picture "Summer Holiday" sparks sharp memories of childhood holidays.
I can feel the cold and splash of the waves on my legs, but it was observed years later when my own children did the very same thing. Except that they are so much bolder in the sea than me.

Technical details: 

I know there are those among you who love the technical bits, the nitty gritty of it all.
Well I've painted this on a canvas panel that I primed with a couple of layers of gesso. 

I use oil paints having roughly positioned the figures in pencil. There's a transparent pale yellow wash goes on first, to give it a bit of a glow, and then I add the sky and sea. 

The figures I have painted with largely transparent colours, burnt siena is a favourite, and there's purple and magenta in there too. You might notice that I use a palette knife for the sea and the waves to bring out the splashiness of the water. 

To my oil paints I add a small amount of Liquin medium and when I want to beef it up I use Liquin Gel that holds the brush strokes. It also helps it dry quicker.

Key colours are cerulean blue and pale Naples yellow, although recently I've discovered Azure blue by Sennelier, an intense seasidey turquoise colour. I've used a lot of ultramarine violet too.

I've framed this painting very simply in a white floater frame, and it's all ready to hang in my open studio event next month.

Thanks for looking                                 

                                                               VISIT MY WEBSITE

                                                          LIKE ME ON FACEBOOK

                                                                JOIN ME ON ETSY

                                                                     INSTAGRAM

and did I mention PINTEREST?