Throughout lockdown I have changed my front window display in the shop most weeks so that passersby using Java for takeaway food and coffees and Swanage Bay fish (fishmongers) could have a variety of work to look at. After producing two draft pieces celebrating Pip Hare’s return to Dorset I decided today to put these …
I have always been honest with people and especially my own children that I don’t know all the answers. This means that I am open to learning new things on a daily basis. This sometimes fell on stoney ground with teenagers I worked with who wanted “learning” to stop as soon as possible. As a …
When I came to art I planned to do my own drawings, the idea that someone would ask me individually to draw something in particular for them seemed unlikely and I wasn’t sure with my damaged mental health I would cope with client demands. Then after my first sale I was commissioned to draw some …
I have spent quite a bit of time this lockdown researching publicity and marketing and now starting to put the ideas into practice. Today I have planned a month’s posts for my Courtyard Studio Instagram / Facebook accounts. So going forwards this is where you might find different sorts of information: The shop – The …
Today I have branched out to try a new platform where I am out of my depth but will learn what to do, at least roughly, going forwards. Several people have suggested that I use video more in my publicity and marketing as it gives an opportunity to get more of my character across and …
Once I decided to try and see if my art would sell in November 2016 I decided that I would need a business name that would ‘Ronseal’ i.e. ‘do exactly what it says on the tin’ (this is a reference to a paint company in the uk whose product names were to the point). Knill …
Today I read a blog post from another local gallery about people choosing art for their home. I realised I had never really thought that much about how my art fitted into people’s lives, more an assumption that if they bought a piece it was for a particular space. Customers have mentioned about colour scheme …
So I have now drawn 5 valentines cards / piece for clients and this afternoon some messaging to arrange delivery of the last two. Also late last night this morning a new commission came in from another Swanage business who I know through the Purbeck Business and Community Group. I was able to give a …
Last night I got two new commissioned valentines card orders, one will feature a landmark from London, the other a classic camper van and a popular water sport. So, the hat lost out to starting the valentines cards as they have a shorter deadline. Tomorrow the forecast is wet so more drawing time to get …
When I was a teacher I was always keen to point out to my pupils that I didn’t know all the answers and that I would always be learning. I would attend education events about teaching approaches or geography conferences where I would often add skills and update my own learning. In the interview that …