Impressions Newsletter

September 2009

 Greetings, Welcome to this September newsletter. August has been a busy month with the Arts Council Nelson Impressions Regional Art Awards. Of course, the People’s Choice awards were announced and presented on Saturday 15^th, and our special congratulations go to Nikki Huizinga for “Joie de Vivre” and to Jane Nicol for “Aotearoa – Inside Out”. We have enjoyed having the winners and runners-up artworks in our window for the last couple of weeks.

Glenys and Nikki Huizinga with the People’s Choice Winner “Joie de Vivre”At the Award Presentation.

Many of you will be aware of a complaint that was lodged with the Nelson Mail concerning my decision to display “Joie de Vivre” in-store. All artists who enter the competition know that the winning works from every section are displayed in our window at the conclusion of the Awards exhibition. We do not choose the works and remain entirely neutral, but do stand behind the decision of the organisers Arts Council Nelson to accept the entry, and the judges, which in the case of the People’s Choice, is majority of visitors to the exhibition. In this instance, the winning entry by Nikki Huizinga was confirmed as the winner of the People’s Choice section by a resounding majority of votes. 

As I write this I have personally received only two dissenting opinions – one who wrote directly to the newspaper, (and despite his statement that he would write to us we have never received any complaint from him directly either verbally or in writing). I have received one other complaint, from a lady with the courage of her convictions, who phoned me to express her opinion – which I respect. On the other side of the ledger however, I have received phone calls, emails and many visits in-store to thank us for displaying the work.

 It has been an interesting experience to watch the reactions of members of the public, adults, teens and children. Without exception, it has been the adults who have stopped to look at the picture, usually in detail, and who have then expressed huge admiration for the work, some even asking if Nikki teaches art as they would like to develop their skills to the same level. The children and teens have been totally focussed on their reasons for entering the store (in the case of youngsters, usually to play at the toy box and blackboard easel)!So thank you to all those people (and there are many,) who have stopped specifically to express their appreciation at being able to view the work close to home, and to support my decision to display the work. It is this group who have demonstrated their personal “Joie de Vivre”!

New Stock Item

In response to a number of requests for tortillions, I have now found a supplier, and have introduced these little tools to our range. They are a product of Conté of Paris and provide an additional little tool to supplement your ability to blend drawing media in small areas. You will find them with the paper stumps. A tortillion is a small pointed tool made from tightly rolled paper. They can be cleaned by rubbing the tip on a sandpaper block. Priced at just $1.50 each, they make a worthwhile addition to your drawing materials kit. 

PANZ Raffle

Pastel Artists of New Zealand (PANZ) are raffling a wonderful original pastel by Lyn Diefenbach, master pastellist  of the Australian Pastel Society and Guest Tutor for the PANZ 2010 Convention and National Art Awards. Tickets are just $5.00 for three tickets and are available at Impressions.

“Fragrant”, Lyn Diefenbach, Pastel 

Impressions Art Club – September Special

All custom* framing orders placed during September

by Impressions Art Club Members and Applicants will save:

25% - Full Members (Holding an Impressions Art Club discount card)

15% - Club Applicants (Holding an Impressions Art Club Purchase Record)

If you're not already an Impressions Art Club Member, why not join now and take advantage of this opportunity to custom frame any art - it does not need to be your own creation - during September only.

*Custom Picture Framing means any order where all framing materials and workmanship are produced specifically for that artwork, on-site at Impressions).

Picture Framing Issues

The dilemma of artists is often how to afford to frame their artwork for exhibition and/or sale, when it can be a pricey undertaking. The solution for some is to scrounge together any framing oddments they can find and pop the work into, irrespective of whether-or-not the style suits the work, or if the materials have passed their use-by date.  Obviously, as bespoke picture framers, we advocate custom picture framing. But we don’t do so just because we make a living doing this – we also have a keen interest in presenting work well, and choosing materials which are appropriate to the preservation and conservation needs of the works in question.

Amateur picture framers rarely have the knowledge base, equipment or access to materials which ensure the health of artwork in the long term. When you bring a picture in for framing we will inspect your artwork and work with you to select the best framing design, decide the most appropriate materials to use in the framing package and the best mounting process to use. In picture framing, just as one size does not fit all, neither do materials nor processes.  

As members of the Fine Art Trade Guild, we frame according to their 5 levels of framing www.fineart.co.uk 

 Museum - The ultimate protection for your artwork

Conservation - Helping preserve your artwork for future generations

Commended - Guarantees a degree of protection, with design playing an important part

Budget - Visually pleasing, but offering no long-term protection

Minimum - Putting economy first  

Original artwork should always be mounted in such a manner that the artwork can be removed at a later date, in the same condition as it was prior to framing. Anything subject to fading and discolouration should be behind conservation glass – remember our UV light rating and sunshine hours are both very high here in Nelson. Any work on paper should be behind glass. Glass should never touch the surface of photos, as photo emulsion is very fragile. No wood pulp product should be used against an artwork made from animal matter – so this includes fabric art on silk... There are lots more points to consider too. So my hint is, to have any work you value custom framed.

When framing your own paintings for sale, ask yourself if your framing choices enhance or degrade your artwork. If you downgrade your work with poor framing, you are effectively telling your customer that you do not value the work, so they need not either... 

Good design based on commonly accepted framing principles is just one of the many reasons to custom frame.

 

NB: All framing carried out at Impressions is undertaken or supervised by Lewis, our Guild Commended Framer.  

Exhibitions

“Go Figure – Drawn from Life”, drawings by forty Nelson Artists at the Refinery Artspace, 3 Halifax St, Nelson until 12^th September.

“In our Garden II” by Marilyn Andrews at Art @ 203, 203 Trafalgar St, Nelson. To quote Marilyn, the works are “A cornucopia of colour and fantasy, a close up look at nature in its full abundance. But be in quick – the exhibition ends on Saturday 5^th.

Art Tuition

 A Day of Colour – a one day colour seminar with leading colour specialist Michael Wilcox.Those readers who have expressed an interest in attending a colour workshop will be pleased to know that four workshops are to be held throughout New Zealand, with one of those being held at the Nelson Institute of Technology on Sunday 4 October. For information and registration contact Alison Dawn Eades at adeades@hotmail.com or phone 03 539 4925. This seminar is recommended to artists, craft workers, designers, interior decorators and all those who use colour in their work or leisure. Early registration is recommended as places are strictly limited. You can check out Michael’s website at www.schoolofcolour.com 

 Drawing Classes with Larisse Hall at Art @ 203 – there are a few vacancies available in these classes. If you feel your drawing skills would benefit from some formal guidance, contact Larisse on Ph027 358 2006 or 03 547 4929 – or contact her at the Gallery Ph 03 548 3961. Classes are held each Monday from 7pm to 8.30pm – Just $10 per class. 

Tasman Mapua Art Escape at Teapot Valley, Brightwater. Friday 11 – Sunday 13 September. Programme includes:

 Art Workshops

1.   Paint a Portrait with Olwyn Mulligan,
2.  Mixed Media with Susan Creedy.

Other activities on offer include an auction of “all things creative” to raise funds, an art movie, a talk and demonstration by local artist Princess Hart and a show and tell session. The cost of $100 includes 2 nights’ accommodation, all food, workshops and activities.

Contact Jackie Morrison, Ph 540 3670 to book your place.

This is a joint venture between the Tasman Visual Art Group and The Mapua Art Group.

 

Final thoughts...

 We are gradually working out the stocking levels and product range we need to have available to service all our new clients following the closure of the Betts art supply store in Nelson. We value your custom and hope you will let us know if you want something which we currently do not stock. Even if we decide not to stock the item, chances are we can get it for you on request.  

This month promises to be another busy one. I am looking forward to my visit to Marlborough Art Society Members in Blenheim on Tuesday 15^th. Regrettably, my art classes for this year finish this month. I have been learning about the potential for incorporating colour pencil, oil pastel, oil stick and collage into art work with David Stones this year. And for the last term, attending printmaking classes at Nayland College, a new class which has been hugely informative, and I’ve enjoyed seeing the wonderful images produced my class mates.

 

Best wishes for a good month,

 Glenys and the Team