Stories Behind Original Nature Artworks: A Newcastle Contemporary Artist’s Blog
The Importance of creating a Vision for Your Artistry Business
Working on your vision isn’t just about sticking some pretty pictures on a board and daydreaming.
Getting clear on your vision is about knowing what you want to create in your business and your life.
What are you actually working for?
Your vision is your north star - the thing you’re driving towards and the beginning of knowing what action you need to take.
Work through one of these exercises so you have your vision clear in your mind…
Why you need to charge more for your art (And How to Do It)
I'm looking at you - yes you, the artist who wants to 5x their income, start charging their worth, get into more galleries and finally start living the life they’ve been dreaming of.
I know it sounds too good to be true but hear me out. I used to charge £40 for my 40cm limited edition Lino prints, now I charge a minimum of £270. So what changed?
There were a number of things - artists and collectors told me I was charging too little, I wanted to sell through galleries but I was going to be losing money and (and this is the biggest thing) I started to value what I was doing and take myself seriously as an artist.
When you want to create a sustainable art business rather than a hobby that pays for itself, you have to think seriously about the numbers. It’s no good plucking a number out of the air or simply charging what someone else does. That’s not going to ensure you cover your costs and make a decent profit. Do you think that’s what the likes of Frida Kahlo or Georgia O’Keefe would do? Hell no!
Being an artist is a ‘real job’. It can pay you a comfortable income but you have to be strategic.
Does anyone else look at the world and see colour palettes?
When I was little, I assumed that everyone looked at the world the way I did. I look at a scene and I see a colour palette - turns out not many people do.
I guess that's why I love to break down my sketches into palettes for the layers in my prints - it just makes sense to me.
The main difference between what I see and what I print IS the colours though. It's like I'm turning up the vibrancy filter in my brain as I'm looking at the sea and then putting that onto paper. There is a reason I do that though...
I'm a big believer that colour has a MASSIVE impact on our mood. Take Seasonal Affective Disorder for example - it's thought that the reduced sunlight in autumn and winter causes a reduction in melatonin production. Low sun = low mood and that's how I feel when I'm in a place that lacks colour. The shops in winter bring me down with their dark colours and I am not into muted tones and minimalist white box houses (if that's what you're here for you're in the wrong place, ha ha).
Being a printmaker for the week: Emma’s diary of work experience at The Peacock & The Printmaker Studio
Hello my name is Emma, I am 15 years old and I have always loved drawing and being creative. I was in the studio of The Peacock and The Printmaker because I wanted to learn the lifestyle and different aspects of being an artist using this as a way to figure out what it means to be an artist.
My Long Term Relationship with The Coast
From an early age, I have enjoyed the great British seaside - earlier than I thought in fact.
I asked my mum for some childhood beach photos and one of them was this one of my looking awesome in dungarees and red sunnies. Apparently we were in Devon - I had no idea I even been there - and my toothy grin says it all really. What’s not to love about bare feet in the wet sand seeing parents building sandcastles and getting to knock them down?
I remember a trip to King Edward Bay in Tynemouth with my daughter at a similar age. It’s a pretty similar image except she was more adventurous and decided to sample the sand as food. Luckily the north east is home to some of the cleanest beaches in the UK.
We lived in the North West of England so most of our holidays were either in North Wales or The Lake District.
Getting to Know the Artist Behind The Peacock & The Printmaker - Heather Moore
What piece are you most proud of selling, and what story does it tell?
I remember selling one of my peacock prints to a lovely man at a local art market. He was looking for something special for his sons who had just moved into his own home. He saw the peacock and loved it. He walked around the market and came back for it. I was overjoyed at how he was pulled back to it among so many beautiful pieces and it was the first print I sold to someone outside of my friends and family group.
7 Lessons I have Learned from 7 Years in a Creative Business
7 LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM 7 YEARS IN A CREATIVE BUSINESS
A Day Out in Tynemouth - Part 2
A gorgeous gem of a beach tucked out of the way of the wind but seconds from the cafes, bars and shops, King Edward Bay is the perfect place to visit for families with small children that like to wander. Give them space without worrying that they’ll walk out of sight.
A Day Out in Tynemouth - Part 1
So called because it stretches about a mile Longsands is great for a decent leg stretch and you get the awesome scenery to go with it too. It’s a popular beach and can get really busy at a weekend - especially when the sun comes out. It’s popular with families, students and dog walkers alike and the area surrounding it has a lot to offer. Read on for some of my favourite picks.
A Day Out in Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay is a glorious part of the world that offers incredible sea views, independent shops and eateries and family entertainment by the bucketload.
The sea air is intoxicating, the family atmosphere is heart warming and the work they have done to reinvigorate the town and promenade area over the last 20 years has transformed it from a dilapidated hen and stag do venue to a celebration of all things local and northern.
Read on for some of my suggestions of fabulous places to visit on a day out in Whitley Bay and see my top picks.
3 Days in Barcelona: An Artist's Disneyland
Our first planned stop in Barcelona was Sagrada Familia - perhaps the ultimate collaborative project. The brain child of Antoni Gaudi and continued by various, sometimes controversial, architects, this impressive ongoing build is full of story and details and designed to represent all people and creatures.
It blew our mind that it only opened as a working church 13 years ago. My favourite part of it was the stained glass and how the colours spilled in and moved around with the changing light.
A Handmade Christmas with a Personal Touch: Teal and Copper for 2023
It’s that time of year again - time for the new Christmas collection.
This time I’ve gone for a gorgeous jewel green with copper print and edging.They’re classy and understated - classics that will last you years and years.
Made from a 10cm plywood base, hand painted and handprinted then finished with twine, these beautiful ornaments are hardwearing and beautiful - perfect for homes with children or pets (Last year one of my customers’ trees was knocked over by their dog and the ornaments were completely unscathed - the tree was a little worse for wear though!).
Samarivans: How Artists & Celebrities Are Raising Money And Awareness For Samaritans
Over 150 artists and celebrities are coming together lead by Sarah Graham to make a real difference to people battling mental health issues. Find out how!
What is ‘Samarivans’?
Artist Sarah Graham, who is heading up this amazing project, is very open about the fact that The Samaritans have supported her through some very dark times as she’s battled Bipolar disease. She has now be episode free for 4 years (at time of publishing) and thanks The Samritans for their support of more than one occasion.
Memorable Moments in Print: Bespoke Havana Commission to Celebrate a Trip of a Lifetime
Buying a piece of art is a very personal process. You may have fallen in love with an artist’s style but have something particular in mind that they haven’t shown on their website. That’s where commissions come in!
Commissioning a piece of art (in my case a bespoke Lino print) is a great way to get EXACTLY what you want. It costs a little more but nobody else will have it and you will be able to chat directly with the artist (me - a real human) about what you’re looking for in as much detail as you have nailed down.
here’s how it worked with my client, Raymond…
A Wedding List With A Difference: Get The Gift of Art
If you’re planning your wedding and wondering what to put on your wedding gift list then this is the article for you. Many of us already live with our other half before we get married and already have the usual newly wed gifts (the plates, toasters and towels).
What you want is something beautiful to remember the generosity of your guests by. Read on for my top three ideas to achieve this.
Gallery Wall for Newly Weds
Bespoke Commission For a Married Couple
Gift Vouchers to Choose Your Own Art
Stunning Bespoke Commissions: Miracle Baby Hot Air Balloon Linocut
Working on bespoke commissioned linocuts is a really wonderful part of what I do. Creating something truly unique to someone’s brief results in my clients getting exactly what they want and means that nobody else has anything like it. What could be better?
The New Collection of Abstract Wave Layered Lino Prints in Seasonal Hues
Step into a world where the beauty of Tynemouth Longsands and Whitley Bay Beach comes alive through art, where wavy lines and seasonal colours converge to create captivating and timeless Lino prints. I am thrilled to introduce my latest collection of limited edition Lino prints, inspired by the ever-changing seasons and the rhythmic patterns of the North Sea.
Stop Testing Primary Aged Children and Give Them More Art
Children are humans NOT numbers on a spreadsheet and I think that the government have forgotten that - so mistrusting of the professionals who actually know what they’re talking about. The Ofsted culture driven by a government mostly run by people who never worried where there next meal was coming from or how their parents would pay for the school trip renders those who control education so far removed from what children need.