#Artists Creating Custom Handmade Jewelry in the South of England

 

Husband and wife team, Jana Reinhardt and Ross Cutting are janareinhardt.com creating handmade jewelry in the South of England. They specialize in bespoke, or commissioned pieces, and fine jewelry.
Jana and Ross have over 40 years experience in jewelry design and micro manufacture between them, long regarding jewelry making as an art form, eschewing CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) in favor of the old methods of fabrication and wax carving.

18 ct  white oak wedding rings

 

While customers are largely concerned with the materials that constitute the finished article of jewelry they want to buy, Jana and Ross know the making process involves a much wider host of materials than you would first think.

A green wax carving.

Every item of Jana Reinhardt jewelry begins its journey when Jana carves the master pattern in hard green casting wax – this can take hours depending on how intricate the piece is. “Our brand is famed for its stylized animal pieces, which means Jana needs to use a wax that gives excellent strength, even when carved into extremely fine shapes. It is very crisp and clean to work with,” according to Ross Cutting.

Swallow Rings, 18 ct enamel

 

“She uses soft pink wax for sprues (the channels that the metal will later pour down during casting), or if she wants a softer, more organic, putty-like feel to the surface of the piece she is creating. The wax is carved with dentist tools and joined with a heat pen. To clean the waxes, she normally uses a soft make up brush and paraffin on cotton wool. This removes any filings, or fine dust and leaves the carving with a smooth, even, polished surface.”

yellow and white gold emerald bamboo rings

 

Once Jana is totally happy with the carving, it is sent off to an external company to be cast.

 

Occasionally, if something needs to be made in a hurry, Jana will carve into Fine Milliput – an air drying clay. It is super fine and trickier to work with, because you only have limited time before it starts to harden. It has the advantage of setting very hard, making it strong enough to use as a master pattern that can be cast from in the studio, using casting sand. This is a quicker process, as it can all be done in house – rather than being sent off for lost wax casting.
Once the pattern is finished and depending on whether we are making a bespoke ring, paperweight or a simple silver design, it is cast into gold, silver, platinum, palladium, bronze or brass.

The casting comes back and is processed to a fine finish, before being combined with different materials, such as semi-precious or precious gemstones, glass enamel, wood, or fabric. We sometimes use chemical patinas or plating solutions to change the color of the metal, if this is what the design requires.

 

A very complex piece might combine several of these materials, and would require a whole range of different processes to be applied to it to create the finished item. The metals and precious stones you see in a piece of jewelry are not the full story, many other materials must be used to create every item we make.

#Artists Get 50% Off Online Class: BUILD + GROW YOUR ETSY SHOP LIKE A PRO

Prettygrafik is offering our readers 50% off  the online class BUILD AND GROW AN ETSY SHOP LIKE A PRO — write “ARTIST MARKETING 99” in the note to seller when you sign up here.

Jumbo Yarn Bowls Are The Perfect Accent Piece For Yarn Loving Clients!

Mulberry Yarn Project Bowl with Sparkle Inlay

 

Every Interior designer has a list of tried and true questions to help assess the tastes and habits of their client. With the recent resurgence of fiber crafting, you might want to ask “do you knit or crochet”? If the answer is yes, you’ll know your client has a heightened love of textures, fibers and color that might make the design process a bit easier! And, when you finish that project with an Artisan Crafted, Jumbo Yarn Bowl on the coffee table in the living room or next to the easy chair in the den, you’ll have a lovely focal point and a client for life!

XXL Cherry Yarn Project Bowl #993

 

Heckathorn Turned Wood had so many requests for “bigger” Yarn Bowls from their Etsy followers, that Jumbo Wood Yarn Bowls have quickly become Lathe Artist Bob Heckathorn’s singular passion. These oversized, functional collectibles have a different purpose than smaller, (single ball) yarn bowls you’ll find on craft sites.

These Jumbo Yarn Bowls are HUGE –ranging from 10″ – 13″ in diameter; designed to hold several balls of yarn as well as the entire project, tools, etc. when the work is set aside. Discerning yarn fanatics love the organization these Jumbo Yarn Bowls provide, while an Artisan Crafted Art Bowl elevates their current work in progress to a whole new level.

Jumbo Cherry Yarn Project Bowl

 

Months in the making, Heckathorn Turned Wood’s Yarn Project Bowls are created from choice reclaimed hardwoods (Cherry, Kauri, Camphor and Pecan, etc.) as well as segmented pine for more rustic tastes. The slow drying process adds gentle warping and character to the shape of the bowl while occurring natural cracks are filled with Bob’s proprietary jewel inspired sparkling inlay. Every Jumbo Yarn Bowl is hand-sanded, buffed and finished over ten times, resulting in a silky smooth, brilliant gloss finish.

XXXL Segmented Pine Yarn Bowl

If you happen to be designing space for a yarn enthusiast Heckathorn Turned Wood is a special resource for a hand-turned accent piece, direct from the artist. Each Jumbo Yarn Bowl is unique, one-of-a-kind, signed and numbered with species by the artist. Including one of these functional collectibles in the right design project will be a special gift the owner will cherish for years to come. For more on the creative process visit Bob’s blog at HeckathornTurnedWood.com.

 

XXL Cherry Yarn Bowl

 

Find out more on the Heckathorn’s website: HeckathornTurnedWood.com

You can buy these bowls on Etsy here: HeckathornTurnedWood.Etsy.com

Follow Heckathorn Turned Wood on Instagram: Instagram.com/heckathornturnedwood 

Facebook:  facebook.com/HeckathornTurnedWoods

Pinterest:   pinterest.com/pheckathorn/crochet-away

Twitter:  twitter.com/@ptheckathorn

Colour: A Kind of Bliss, St Marylebone Crypt

Another great exhibition write-up on Andy Parkinson’s blog Patterns That Connect

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I am delighted to have been included in the group exhibition curated by Lucy Cox and Freya Purdue, Colour: A Kind of Bliss, at St Marylebone Crypt from 5 April to 30 June 2017.

Julian Brown, Tattoo Lagoon, 2017, acrylic on linen, 80x100cm

From the Catalogue Introduction, written by Lucy Cox and Freya Purdue…

“Colour is a kind of bliss … like a closing eyelid … a tiny fainting spell.”
 – Roland Barthes

Colour: A Kind of Bliss brings together six British painters concerned with different approaches to the use of intense energy and luminous qualities of colour. Through varying densities of paint and chroma, saturation and de-saturation, their paintings realise direct emotive forms resulting in both subtly and vibrancy. Painting for these artists working in the field of abstraction/non-figuration is a synthesis of ideas, drawing and colour.

In the vast expanding digital world, we have become entranced by momentary…

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Doraelia Ruiz Impresses with her Brave, Bold Solo Show at Brainworks

Art and Cake

Doraelia Ruiz “Never Yes No Me You”

Brainworks Gallery

through March 25th

by Genie Davis

Let’s start with a simple wow for Doraelia Ruiz’ “Never Yes No Me You” at Brainworks Gallery. The impressive rainbow of colors, the mix of found images with her own mark making and her use of digital art to combine these elements – this is a mind-bending visual whirl.

Using her merging and melding of a variety of media, Ruiz prints her combined images, stretches them on panels, and then paints over them. This is layering, but it is a delicate layering, her methodology forming an intimate palette to the longing she expresses for what can never be obtained and will never be fully real. The illusions she creates are dreamlike, and in coloration remind the viewer just a bit of the ethos of Peter Max if he did a Vulcan mind-meld with Van Gogh.

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Matisse/Diebenkorn Artistic Soulmates

I don’t usually post art historical articles, but I recognize that this side-by-side comparison of paintings may be important for my readers and so I didn’t want them to miss this fascinating article.

Art and Cake

Matisse/Diebenkorn Installation View at The Baltimore Museum of Art. Photographer: Mitro Hood. Matisse/Diebenkorn Installation View at The Baltimore Museum of Art.
Photographer: Mitro Hood.

Baltimore Museum of Art
Matisse/Diebenkorn Artistic Soulmates

By Jacqueline Bell Johnson

Through January 29th

Matisse/Diebenkorn is an exhibition 15 years in the making, ending this month at the Baltimore Museum and opening at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in March.

Reading biographies of Matisse and Diebenkorn side-by-side reveals both to be great students, which lead them to be great artists. They have actively viewed work from both predecessors and peers utilizing these observations in the development of their painting. In addition to looking, Matisse was known for collecting work of his fellow artists, even going into debt for it. Diebenkorn’s stint in the Marines gave him the opportunity to view the collections of Museums in New York, Philly and DC, influences he would use later in his career. Twenty years later he traveled to the Soviet…

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#Artist Apply to Exhibit at the Crypt Gallery in London 2017

Just one of the many opportunities for artists that we share here, and one of many more that you will find on our e-list of art gallery artist submission opportunities (available here), artists may apply now until February 16th 2017 to exhibit at the Crypt Gallery in London.

Factory-Art Ltd  London is organizing their  NEVERWHERE Exhibit at the Crypt Gallery to take place in Spring 2017.

Submit your art!

Factory Art Projects “NEVERWHERE” – London 2017

Factory Art invites artists from all over the world to submit their artworks for selection for their next exhibition in London, titled: “NEVERWHERE”–

“NEVERWHERE”
The Crypt gallery St Pancras is a London Below venue, that will be selecting and showing  the work of 20 artists for this upcoming exhibition opportunity.

20 artists will be selected to exhibit “Neverwhere“.

Deadline for Applications: Tuesday 16th February 2017, 10pm GMT.

apply  via online form here 

Naotaka Hiro: Peaking at The BOX, LA

Art and Cake

Naotaka Hiro: Peaking Installation View Photo Courtesy of The Box Los Angeles Naotaka Hiro: Peaking
Installation View
Photo Courtesy of The Box Los Angeles

Naotaka Hiro: Peaking at The BOX, LA

By Shana Nys Dambrot

Through January 28th

Shaped canvas paintings are not often emotionally expressive, favoring the precise curves and angles of custom frames over the bohemian flaunting of rough-edges and raw remnants. Instances of attacking, slicing, piercing, puncturing, and otherwise compromising the painted surface through draping, crumpling, reversing and ruching are more emotive, obscuring image and content in ways that can feel subversive, destructive, violent, but also risk seeming calculated for effect. Naotaka Hiro’s current exhibition at The Box literally and figuratively turns these art historical tropes inside out, presenting a series of engaging, vivacious, visceral and absolutely disruptive carved-up canvases (and related series of frenetic works on paper, surreal bronze body-cast sculptures, and performative action-painting video) that reinvigorate these practices.

Naotaka Hiro: Peaking Installation View Photo Courtesy of The Box Los Angeles Naotaka Hiro: Peaking
Installation View
Photo Courtesy of The…

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Special Discount Code for Our Readers #Artists Get 10-15% Off Printing Services on Cards, Books, Mags, Calendars, Banners

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For our readers–use these discount codes to get your art postcards, books-booklets-magazines of your art, new calendars, and retractable banner for your next open studio, exhibition or event,

Promo:10% off Postcards, Books and Wall Calendars
Promo Code: SINA10JAN
Click here for discount on postcards.
Click here for discount on books or booklets or magazines.
Click here for discount on calendars.
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Here are the promos and links for eprintfast:
Promo: 15% off Retractable Banners, Event Calendars & Business Cards
Promo Code: EP15JAN
To order Business Cards click here.
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To order Event Calendars click here.
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Click here to order Retractable Banners

Plans for Promoting Your Art in the New Year

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Maybe you’re feeling a bit rusty after taking time off during the holiday season and now you’re eager to reset and restarted in the new year with new ideas and new plans for your art. Many people have mixed feelings right now–during the first week or two of a new year–and you may too. Some may feel eager and optimistic, even wistfully hopeful for the months ahead, while others tend to be more earth-bound in their expectations.

Right now could be a good time for a reality check and a little tough love, especially when it comes to where and how best to place your efforts when it comes to promoting your art.

Here are some thoughts on getting off to a good start in 2017!

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So you want more visibility for your work in 2017! Great goal! How do you spend your time wisely to reach your goals?

While, yes, there are plenty of art magazines and blogs that will feature your work at no cost,  do you really know how and where to find all the best opportunities for your work? And, by the way, what is the best way to show your art to magazine editors? How many art galleries accepting submissions could you find on your own and how long would it take you and at what cost? What valuable opportunities are you missing out on in the meantime?

Plan to use your money and time wisely and effectively in 2017 

The internet has powerful search tools that cost you little more than your time, the cost of a computer, and the price of an internet connection. But, is spending hours and hours of your time searching online wearing you down and discouraging you? It can get pretty dull day after day, and confusing–just how do you organize what you’ve found?

The True Costs

Have you really calculated how much an hour of your time is worth and then multiplied your hourly worth and expenses by the total number of hours spent searching? Wouldn’t you rather be spending your time making more art and getting it out to the best opportunities as quickly as possible? Also the time you spend searching online may be time better spent developing your pitch and actually getting your CV, Artist Statement and artwork images out to be viewed and reviewed.

And how about your jpeg images — are they professionally labeled for submissions? That alone can take hours of your time.

We’ve understood all of these things for a very long time! Artist Marketing Resources recently celebrated its 8 year anniversary providing artists with information resources and opportunities. That’s right, we’ve spent the past eight years compiling valuable resources for artists, working with artists, and helping artists understand how best to present their work.

Now here’s where the reality check and tough love come in.

Why do what others have already done and are making available to you?

If you really think that you can go online and find hundreds and even thousands of opportunities for your art in an afternoon or two of online searching then you are just not being realistic. You couldn’t get that accomplished in weeks or months even. You may not be spending your time productively. You may be caught up in what is known as busy work. You work hard every day but you are just not sure that you are engaged in the right efforts to reach your goals. By not calculating your true cost in time and total long-term expenses you may be spending your time, energy, and resources where they are least effective. How many valuable opportunities are you missing out on while placing your efforts in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Don’t re-do thousands of hours!

We’ve already spent thousands of hours doing the research for you and we want to share that information, to help you. We want you to put your valuable time and other resources toward your creative work. We’ve already spent thousands of hours organizing resources to help you cut back on your expenses. Don’t repeat our efforts!

Calculate Your True Costs

Realistically, why not calculate what an hour of your time is worth–give yourself  an hourly salary amount of $25-35, and add your hourly internet connection cost + the cost of computer use + overhead + utilities. That’s how any business calculates their expenses.

( If you are not familiar with the term overhead–it’s just that–how much does it cost for you to use the space, or to have the roof over your head,  while you use your computer and do your research? That includes calculating the square footage of your office space, and the corresponding  percentage amount of your rent or mortgage payment, insurance, property taxes, utilities, furniture, equipment and any other expense involved for you to use that space.)

If you can immediately cut those expenses and research time down to a fraction, wouldn’t you do that?

That’s what we are offering you.

We’re sharing thousands of hours of research at a fraction of the cost of to you and at a fraction of what others would charge if they had our resources.  Yes, we’ve been told that an e-list sold by others for $150 only contains listings for art galleries in one country–Italy.

Our e-list of art galleries is a fraction of the price and contains extensive galleries listings within all 50 states in the US and extensive listings of art galleries in countries Internationally. Plus our e-list resource contains gallery submission guidelines and policies–highlighted in red so they are easy to find. Our art gallery e-list consists of over 560 pages and approximately 10, 000 art gallery listings.

We also offer an extensive resource e-list of art licensing companies and their submission guidelines, a resource e-list of art magazines and publishers, other of our resource e-lists feature print sales opportunities, photography agents and sales venues, and another on art consultants. And if you need help with your submissions we have an ebook guide, and offer one-on-one services.

Again the question we asked at the outset–How many art galleries accepting submissions could you find on your own and how long would it take you and at what cost? What valuable opportunities are you missing out on in the meantime? Plan to use your money and time wisely and effectively in 2017 by letting us help you.

 

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If you’d like to contact use, please use this form:

Artists + Photographers Submit to E-magazine Which Compiles All Contributors’ Best Work

 

Creative Kida online magazine is a community of creative people around the world.  The magazine is compiled from all contributors’ best work submitted via email.

According to the Creative Kida submission guidelines– If you are any kind of visual artist, designer, arts & crafts makers, inventors or photographer you can share your creative work with them in an email and they’ll publish and share it in their magazine.

You’ll find the Submission guidelines and email address here.

 

stack of magazines

 

Get the extensive e-list of Art Magazines, Art Blogs, and Art Publication Resources on Gumroad here and in our Webs store here.

Art Gallery With Ongoing Open Call for Artists To Submit Photography, Photo-related, Media-Related, Installation

Image courtesy of saphatthachat at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of saphatthachat at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Many artists know that the Manhattan districts of Chelsea, Soho, Tribeca and other areas of New York City are peppered with large numbers of art galleries–while newer galleries continue to spring up in nearby Brooklyn, in the neighborhoods popular with artists, such as Bushwick and beyond.  It’s about a 6 hour drive outside those city districts to Buffalo, the second largest city in the state of New York.

One of the longstanding galleries in Buffalo, CEPA GALLERY, has maintained a forty-year program of artist residencies. CEPA also has a purchase program, and periodic open calls to artists to specific exhibition projects.

Another interesting program of CEPA GALLERY and for their project space Big Orbit is an ongoing open call for artists to submit work for inclusion in these gallery spaces.
Work submitted for CEPA Gallery must be photography, photo-related, or media-related. Work submitted for Big Orbit can be in any media, though preference will be given to installation formats.

CEPA is actively engaged in numerous community arts events that they detail on their Tumblr blog here.

For the past several years, Artist Marketing Resources has been busy researching art gallery opportunities, updating current information on art galleries and adding new details for galleries currently accepting artist submissions–find out more here.

We also have an extensive resource e-list for photographic artists here.

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OPEN CALL to Emerging Artists and Mid-Career Artists to Submit for New York City Exhibition

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Field Projects gallery in New York has an open call for artist submissions.  Field Projects is an artist run project and exhibition space and online venue featuring emerging and mid-career artists. Field Projects presents monthly exhibitions at their Chelsea location in addition to pop-up exhibitions throughout New York City.

 

Read the full submission guidelines here.

Field Projects invites emerging and mid-career artist to submit their work for their Summer June-July 2017 exhibition: Show #39.

 

Many art galleries have open calls and we are tracking these on our International e-list of Art Galleries available here.

Artists Use *97* Shipping Codes on Art to Avoid VAT and Customs Holds

I first published this article in May of 2015, and the information has been in demand by many artists ever since. With the upcoming holiday season and shipping of artworks sold online, these shipping codes are as relevant and useful as ever.

I had painting held up in customs when I shipped to a buyer in Spain. A very success art dealer first provided me with these shipping codes when she sold two my paintings to an art consultant in Germany. That’s when I began adding these “97” codes to my packaging and invoices and have had no issues with my art shipments!

Yes, I’ve used the codes to ship art from the USA to European countries. Ask any FedEx shipping staff about the codes if you’d like to confirm their usefulness.

So I wanted to share these codes with artists.

Here is my original article–

Artists, below are a series of “97” codes for you to use when shipping your art internationally.

If you’ve ever had an artwork held up in customs, it becomes a series of problems for both the buyer and you the artist.

You scramble to get the details on how to get your art released from customs. Phone calls out and coming in slowly reveal the problem. The buyer on their end engaged in the same activities, as you both try to uncover the reason the shipment has been held up.

If you have shipped via FedEx, they may offer you a special certificate to verify origin of the artwork, for an additional fee. But that document has to be hand signed, and that requires a courier to come to your door to get your signature–$$$$$$$.

What can you do next time to avoid all this? Is there a protocol for sending artwork to buyers outside of the country where you are based?

Yes! Simply add the correct *97* code–listed below–to your package label before shipping.

Recently, an American artist, quite pleased with himself for selling one of his paintings to a UK buyer–as any artist would be– wanted to know where and how to pay the VAT (Value Added Tax) for the buyer. 

When I informed him of the “97” codes, he scoffed. Apparently, he’d gotten the idea to pay the VAT and that was that. Then a UK artist got into the conversation, indignantly stating that she had “never heard of such codes!”

I love artists–they are great creative people and deserve some concessions! Artists work hard and have a lot of expenses. They deserve a break–to be cut some slack.

Apparently the powers-that-be agree, for they created these special *97* series of codes (below) that signal shippers and customs agents internationally that the package contains artwork and is exempt from import duties.

Yes, I put one of the *97* export codes below, on one of my art shipments to Europe. The guy at the FedEx office, where I shipped from, was familiar with the code. 

How I came to have the *97* codes, came about when I’d shipped one of my sold paintings to Europe–without a *97* code– and the buyer unexpectedly had to pay an additional amount to get the package released. The European art dealer instrumental in the sale hadn’t liked that added expense for her client, so she did some investigating! Then she sent me the *97* series codes below.

These codes work. Some artists are glad to have them.

The trade tariff codes starting with number ’97’ alerts customs officials worldwide to the fact that the item is an original work of art and is therefore exempt from import duties.

For instance, if you are based in the UK and are sending overseas please mark your package clearly with Export code: 97011000

If you are based outside of the UK and are sending your artwork to a customer within the UK mark your parcel: Commodity Code: 9701100000.

Any other variables – say you are sending from the USA to Finland, or between any other countries, then mark you parcel: Export code: 970110

It is really important to use these codes,  otherwise items can get stuck in customs and your buyers may have to pay fees!

I first published an article on these codes, on January 2, 2013–read it here.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Gallery Call to Artists for Exhibition and Sale of Artworks Priced $199.

Arc Galley in San Francisco, California, describes itself as  “dedicated to showcasing and promoting emerging and established artists from around the country whose work embodies both skill and risk-taking.”  Arc Gallery puts on both juried and curated group exhibitions. They are interested in discovering artists. 

Arc Gallery has a current Call to Artists for works priced at $199.00, with $120.00 from the sale going to the artist.

“SNAP!” Bay Area Juried Exhibition & Off-The-Wall Sale

 

All works must be priced at $199. Submit one piece of work you are certain someone would like to own right now, priced at $199.– artist receives $120 from the sale of the artwork.

This January show is also a try out for Bay Area artists. Works that sell get their curator’s attention. Arc Gallery has put several January artists in their curated exhibitions.

DEADLINE:  January 5th, 2017

CATEGORIES ACCEPTED
Sculpture, painting, drawing, photo, printmaking, mixed media, collage, assemblage, ceramics, fiber art, artist book – Original artwork only. No giclee reproductions. (This exhibition cannot accept jewelry, video, film, performance art, installation and works requiring an external electrical source.)

ELIGIBILITY
Only artists residing in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. The Bay Area includes the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Stanislaus.

VENUE
Arc Gallery, 1246 Folsom St, San Francisco 94103

JURORS
Arc Gallery & Studios partners: Matthew Frederick, Priscilla Otani, Stephen C. Wagner & Michael Yochum

EXHIBITION DATES
January 27 & 28, 2017

“SNAP!” OPENING RECEPTION
Friday, January 27th, 7-10PM

“SNAP!” SECOND CHANCE SALE
Saturday, January 28th, 12-3PM

All works priced at $199 retail with $120 of sale going to artist.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION
January 5, 2017. Works must be submitted online before midnight Pacific Time to be considered by jurors.


CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT

 For hundreds more, thousands even, list art galleries accepting submissions click here.

ArtSocket Magazine and Gallery Accepting Film Photography Images and Articles

photo by el lobo

photo by el lobo

 

Artist Marketing Resources continues to compile and update our extensive e-lists of information for artists– such as, our e-list of art consultants available here and e-list of art magazines (as well as other resource  for artists): photography e-list, and places to sell your art here–all newly updated!

One listing in our Art Magazines resources e-list is a cross-over listing, since it is both an art magazine and a San Francisco based art gallery that accepts artist submissions. Not only that, but they are currently seeking film photography submissions of images–crossing over, yet again, into our Photography resources e-list.

ArtSocket, Art gallery and online magazine has an Open Call and is accepting submissions– Submit your work here.

 

It’s a big job, but we are at work continually researching and updating our resource e-lists for artists and photographers–when you purchase via our Webs store you have access to the iCloud share file version which is continually updated. I you purchase via our GUMROAD shop you will receive updated versions of the PDF and Word files every few months.

Right now, if you make a purchase an e-list or e-book in either of our online stores, you can get a free e-book or e-list of your choice–BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

Just let us know what you want and where to send it–using this Contact Form:

UK Artist on Island of Crete Opens Etsy Shop of Unique Sea Shell Collage Art

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For the last seven years, UK artist Michaela Raeburn has lived an amazing expatriate life on the island of Crete, funding her lifestyle by working as a professional artist and selling her artworks to the many tourists that visit the island.

 

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“As far as I can tell my Seashell Mosaic Collages are unique,” she says, and,  “I have seven years of sales history that charts their success and popularity. ” Michaela sells her seashell and sand creations 3 days a week through the 5 summer months of the year– offering her artworks from her stall at the edge of the beach at Almyrida Beach Resort. Plus she exhibits them in yearly exhibitions on the Harbour Front in Chania. She does commissioned work too and Michaela has sold her mixed media artworks to local residents and tourists from all over the world.  “The majority of my customers being British, closely followed by the Americans, Scandinavians and Europeans.  I also have the benefit of public opinion that spans 7 years of direct selling, which has all been very positive and encouraging.  I know that my art makes people smile!  I’ve had so many compliments and congratulations for my art and lots of these came from people who loved my artworks but couldn’t afford to buy one.” In once such instance, Michaela helped a local charity called Sara’s Hope Foundation by showing some of their children how to make their own seashell mosaic art.

“My seashell mosaic collages should really be viewed in reality, in order to be fully appreciated.  I believe that when seen through the internet, people don’t get the 3-dimensional effect, nor can they feel the textures that make up my designs–” however, for the first time, Michaela Raeburn offers over 80 artwork designs, made primarily with natural mixed media materials, in her new Etsy shop Seashell Beauty in Art  where you can purchase them from wherever you are in the world.

 

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All article images are of Michaela Raeburn collage art made from natural materials of sand and seashells

 

Michaela describes her art practice as “Working with Nature.” She has had a lifelong passion for art and nature– “I wanted to blend the two together, to create a unique way to showcase and preserve what we so easily take for granted.  The natural materials I use are whole seashells, sand, moss, feathers, wood, stones and other natural elements. Apart from a foundation course in Art and Design, I’ve had no formal training,” says Michaela, “Instead I have enjoyed a rewarding career in the Advertising, Design and Marketing Industry both in London and Manchester.  My career taught me the value of anything that is unique. Around 9 years ago, circumstances changed and my life started to take on a new direction.  I had some ideas for a new kind of art using natural materials blended with acrylic painting to form realistic 3-dimensional images on canvas and around the sides.

 

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To date Michaela has sold 2,261 artworks–including seascapes and beach scenes, people, animals, birds, sea life, architecture, a star sign series, and custom work.

 

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“There is a degree of skill involved in creating the mosaics as I won’t use broken shells.   This means I have had to amass a vast quantity of seashells in all sizes because I won’t break them to fit the spaces.  The seashells are sourced from all over the world and some are extremely difficult to acquire.  Apart from one or two exceptions, all the seashells in my artworks are their natural colours.  Laying the sand is also a difficult process and I am still discovering new techniques.”

 

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Michaela Raeburn currently writes a blog Wonderful New Life on Crete where she also displays some of her artworks.

 

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In order to keep up with the high demand for her collages, Michaela has to put every hour she can into producing her designs and developing new ideas!

 

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She is excited to share her new Etsy shop to broaden her marketplace beyond only the small tourist destination near Chania in Crete where tourists shop at her stall.

 

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