COTTONTAIL CRAFT & VINTAGE

September 4th, 2010

“Latest News”

My other site COTTONTAIL Craft & Vintage is now up and running.

COTTONTAIL Craft & Vintage is a blog and a place where you can purchase, unique handmade gifts,craft supplies,vintage home decor items and clothing.

COTTONTAIL  Craft & Vintage

“My handmade items are not mass- produced so each piece is unique, created by me in my studio,s in Melbourne, Australia and in Paris France where I sometimes live. Many of my items are created using natural, recycled, vintage, reclaimed or organic materials.

I also offer an unusual array of interesting supplies, vintage recycled/upcycled home decor, clothing and more.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog and browsing COTTONTAIL Craft & Vintage

Be inspired…

Enjoy your day!

Jenny Davis

SPIRIT OF THE VALLEY

August 10th, 2010

SPIRIT OF THE VALLEY


An abstract feeling ….In this painting I wanted to capture the “Spirit of the Valley” in an abstract way. The colours connect to the mood of Yarra Valley’s lively communities, rich in it’s, various cultures. The arts, food and wine intermingled with the tranquillity and soul of the surrounding landscape

To see all my work please go to my  ‘Gallery”

Funny how things seem to workout. Recently I had a fall and broke my arm.

I have been wanting for ages to update my” Gallery” but, always find it too hard to drag myself away from the studio. Since breaking my arm though, I’ve had too slow down and take it easy. Over the past few weeks I have managed to use the computer with my left hand to upload more paintings, drawings  and sculpture for you to browse.

I offer all my art at studio prices, eliminating huge gallery and agent fees. I also offer “FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING” less, customs fees.

Saving you $100′s…

Please see Buyer Info

If you have any questions or would like to see a high resolution photo of a piece, please contact me at Outlook8studio and I will do my best to help you.

Hope you enjoy !

“Stimulate your senses.Suggestive and powerful abstract art with a spark, to generate new ways of thinking, to move and inspire us. Jenny Davis award winning, Australian Contemporary artist , paint’s what she feels. Bold and stunningly colorful abstract paintings, that reveals the power and brightness of color, through the different effects of form and texture which spring from the canvas.”

Paula Trevisan, International Art,Ferrara , Italy in 2010

TPTP PROJECT SPACE PARIS

April 29th, 2010

A couple of exciting things have happened to me lately that I’d like to share with you.

My latest exhibition at TPTP Project space in Montmartre Paris, France.

ROOM OF REFERENCES invites artists to share idea-evoking images and objects, and look into the ones of others. The piece can be of any kind (art work, photo, drawing, music piece, book, magazine, letter or other object) as long as it has very special/profound meaning to you, and has worked as inspiration source for you during a longer period.

You can see more about the exhibition at the gallery’s website.

https://sites.google.com/site/roomofreferences/

This is one in a series of shots I took in the underneath
area of an apartment building in Asnieres-sur-seine, Paris 2007.
The image inspired me to create “Meet the Tenant” project.
Since 2007 I have continued the project, had an image
published in a horror magazine in Australia,created a portfolio of photographs,  a video
and sound installation which was exhibited in Melbourne
Australia, 2008. I also developed an art proposal seen here
http://www.outlook8studio.com/2010/01/24/meet-the-tenant-project/

In 2009/10 went back to Paris to photograph and video in
the same space including other other underground areas for future art projects in Paris and Melbourne.

Also ,when I was in Paris earlier this year I was selected to put in 3 of  my paintings into a new publication “Abstractions 2010″ ,New Art Review magazine, MI.USA

You can purchase the book here http://new-art-review.com/bookstore.html

Cheers for now

THE EXHIBITION-THE OPENING & POST EXHIBITION BLUES

March 30th, 2010

Welcome to my next three instalments numbers 4,5,6   in my series, “So you want to be an Artist?”

All articles in this series

1. Starting Out.

2. Preparing your work

3. Finding a Space

4. The Exhibition

5   The Opening

6    Post exhibition Blues

Hope you enjoy!

4-THE EXHIBITION

Months sometimes years or so before an exhibition I find it’s a good idea to apply for funding, sponsorship, in-kind-support if needed. Yes, it can take that long to apply for grants and sometimes galleries have waiting lists for up to 2 years. All this can come later with experience

In this article though, I will be talking about your first solo exhibition.

The contract has been signed; the day has come to take your work to the space you have chosen. Have you remembered to do everything for it to run smoothly?

Don’t worry there will always be some glitches, even when you have been doing it for years. I like to make a checklist months before an exhibition. I also have a separate folder for each exhibition. I just use the cheap manila folders to put it all in.

For example, Invites, publicity, pricelist to send to gallery before hand, labelling the works, title, name, date , bubble wrap,  cardboard, transport , will you do it ,or will the gallery? Insurance. I’m assuming the gallery is responsible for catering at the opening and taken care of mail outs, help with hanging etc…

Allow time to hang. Sitting in a room with 20-30 artworks in front of you and trying to make them work altogether can be challenge but, a wonderful learning experience. My last exhibition took me 5 hours to work out where to hang things. I’ve been to group ones that took 2 days. My very first solo exhibition I let the gallery tackle it and one of my paintings was hung upside down. They even put it in a glossy art magazine this way. So, now I put an arrow on the back of my work to show the top. I also like to be present at the gallery, if possible.

All the hard work has been done. Its now time to relax, revive and get ready for a new experience. The Opening…

5-THE OPENING

Your opening has finally come…..This can be the most exciting time in your career as an artist. Yes, it can be scary and confronting, but it does get easier as time goes on. Your friends and family will be there and new people have experienced your work, you’ve networked, received feedback, contacts from other galleries, follow ups from other artists, commissions and you may have sold a few.

Remember to follow up clients who were interested in your work. Time to add them to your mailing list for future invites to all your openings.

If works have been sold its time work out the dreaded taxes, gst, if in Australia.

I like to invite clients who have been interested in my work to my studio from time to time to see new works and works in progress. If you have a computer its now time to update your email list.

Opening night is over that wasn’t too bad, but why do I feel empty and a bit sad?

6-POST EXHIBITION BLUES

This is something I didn’t believe at first, but since writing this article it has happened to me. The Post Exhibition Blues

Some of your work has been sold; you’ve received some negative feedback or, your just exhausted and worn out.  The blues set in.

Here are some suggestions that may help and have helped me in the past.

See it as a challenge to get on with a new series of works for your next exhibition, or project.

Always invite your friends or family, so you know you will get reasonable feedback about your work.

Plan a short break, a getaway for after the exhibition.

Keep back one piece of work from the series you exhibit. It’s a reminder of what you achieved

Take time out to connect with nature go walking in the country. Pamper yourself.

Most important Congratulate yourself!!! and give yourself a pat on the back. You have passed your first hurdle. Be proud of you’re achievements. It only gets better and easier. Remember the next exhibition won’t be as overwhelming.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on the series. If you have any questions you would like to ask me, I will do my best to answer them.

Was it helpful ?

Would you be interested in reading more about my experiences as an artist?

Cheers

Jenny Davis

Copyright Jenny Davis 2010. This article may not to be copied, or reproduced in any form unless, you first, get permission from the artist to do so.

FINDING A SPACE

March 29th, 2010

Welcome to the 3rd instalment in my series “SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ARTIST?”

Please see all my articles

1. Starting Out.

2. Preparing your work

3. Finding a Space

4. The Exhibition

5  The Opening

6  Post exhibition Blues

3-FINDING A SPACE

I mostly find my galleries and other places on the net, art fairs, openings and from friends. If you don’t have a computer most libraries do. Also, looking in a phonebook, or art publications like  Art Almanac and Artguide in Australia can give you an idea of whats around.There are websites that list art galleries in your country like Australian Art Galleries .

Artist Forums are a great source of information and  for networking They can be found worldwide.  Other artists who have shows can give you an idea of spaces that may be suitable. Connect to artist co-op’s in your area and your local arts councils.

I don’t think the traditional gallery is the only way to go. Thinking out of the box is the way to go because, today there are just too many artists, for traditional galleries.

Alternative spaces are popping up everywhere. Creative Spaces is a Melbourne based website full of alternatve and traditional spaces. When I was living in Paris,I noticed the local artists opened up their apartments for a weekend or many days to show their work. Its very hard and quite expensive to have a an exhibition in most traditional galleries in Paris and most cities worldwide. In Barcelona the home is used for art installations. I created Outlook8 a virtual space in Secondlife to show and sell my work.These are just a few ideas.

Nothing beats going to a space to check it out. I like to get a feel for the environment where my work will be hung. It also helps in me decide what pieces and how many will go in the space.

Choosing the right type of gallery for your work is very important. Many years ago I entered an art exhibition. I was the only Abstract artist amongst 100’s representational artists. My work was put up in a tent at the back, where the work was not visible at all. I didn’t do my research and I was devastated. I didn’t paint again for 2 years after that. Today though, I would tell them where to…you know? if they did the same thing.

Anyway its great fun getting a bunch of friends together and going on a gallery crawls….

*My next blog entrys in this series - The Exhibition- The Opening- Post Exhibition Blues

Copyright Jenny Davis 2010. This article may not to be copied, or reproduced in any form unless, you first, get permission from the artist to do so.