Introducing Kiwi Artists - Part 1 Zoe Cromwell

As I'm not painting or creating as much as I would like at the moment (due to an increasing work load), I've decided to keep up with semi-regular blog posts by introducing some talented kiwi artists. I'm going to start with those whos amazing work adornes the walls of my house. There are a few of them ;p I'm fast running out of wall space - but that's the benefits of owning your own home, I can just put another nail in the wall!

Most of the pieces I have, have been collected in artswaps but there is the odd one that I have purchased. The first piece I ever owned I purchased off TradeMe back in 2004 for some rediculously low sum. It started it all and was the inspiration behind me begining to list and sell my own work on the same site. It is still one of my favourite pieces and sits proudly in my hallway.

"Under the surface" by Zoe Cromwell

One of the things I love about this peice is the texture. Unfortunately it doesn't show so well in the photo, but I assure you its there. The detailing on the shells is amazing and Zoe's use of colour and underpainting is delightful. I have never felt such a strong attraction to a piece as I did when I first saw this work, it was on that I just absolutely had to have.

Zoe has been quiet on the art sceen in recent years but you can check out her work on her website http://www.zoe.net.nz/ .

Sewing mission: a day of creation - New tiny bearish things available

Today I took a break from study and work and got out the sewing machine. A whole bunch of new tiny bearish things are now available.

GREAT FOR XMAS GIFTS!!!!

Tiny Bearish Things

8-12cm tall (excluding ears)

$10 NZD each

Postage with NZ $4.50 for 1 or 2 bears, free when you purchase 3 or more

Overseas postage available, please enquire for price

Contact: tanya@nzartguild.co.nz

Latest artworks

The latest 2 pieces...

 "Light fantastic"

Acrylic

300 x 300mm

Not for sale

And now for something a bit different - still sticking with the stripes (its seems its what I do best) but I'm putting a new spin on them.

"Purple rays"

Acrylic

400 x 510 mm

$320

Pencil portraits

Due to the fact that I'm a poor student, I've taken to making gifts for people. In the last few weeks I've done a couple of drawings. The first of which (shown below) is of my wee niece Carley, done in graphite pencil on watercolour paper for my father's birthday.

"Carley"

The other drawing hasn't reached it's intended recipient yet so it will be unveiled at a later date.

I am available for commissions. Please contact me via email to discuss tanya@nzartguild.co.nz

NZ Art Guild Art Swap 2010

Every year for the NZ Art Guild I organise an art swap (not unlike the personal ones I talked about a couple of posts ago - this is on a larger scale however). Basically what happens is I put the call out for interested members to submit an artwork (or 2) that they would like to swap. Once I have all the entries in members get to select their top 5 choices and I try to match everyone up with an artwork (unfortunately not everyone gets their first choice but I do try my hardest!)

This year I put in 2 pieces so got 2 pieces back - this is the first of them:

Applelicious - Jo Mallinger

I was totally blown away by this painting when it arrived! Absolutely gorgeous!!! (Thanks Jo) Its been on my walls for almost 2 weeks now and it still makes me stop and look at it every time I walk into the hallway.  

The other piece I am still waiting for (as its currently being exhibited) - it is another peice by Cath Sheard which complements the one I swapped with her a few months ago (see my earlier post) - I am really looking forward to having a pair of pears ;p

For more information about how to become a member NZ Art Guild (so you can be involved in things like the art swap, members exhibitions and dedicated venues plus our highly informative members only forum!)

go to

http://www.nzartguild.co.nz/

NEW: The ROYGBIV series

I've recently been working on a series of seven 250 x 250mm works inspired by the colours of the rainbow (final touches went on this morning).

This series I have entitled the ROYGBIV series and they will be exhibited at the NZ Art Guild "Small Packages" exhibition held at the Bruce Mason Centre in Takapuna, Auckland during the month of December.

The collection together

Roygbiv (Red)

rOygbiv (Orange)

roYgbiv (Yellow)

royGbiv (Green)

roygBiv (Blue)

roygbIv (Indigo)

roygbiV (Violet)

Each canvas will retail for $120 NZD or the whole set can be purchased for $650

Should you be interested in purchasing these works or commissioning your own work please email me for details tanya@nzartguild.co.nz

(prices exclude postage)

The joys of art swaps - giving and receiving art

After a very successful exhibition (Pocket Rockets - held here in Dunedin, which I organised and curated) I was lucky enough that 3 very talented artists agreed to do an art swap with me. I love art swaps! As a student I have very little money for anything other than the bare essentials of life - these swaps feel like little treats/rewards to myself. I give one of my pieces and get something new and exciting in return.

I am so totally in love with my newly aquired art that I just had to share with everyone!!!

The first piece is by a very talented artist/friend Cath Sheard - I've known Cath through the NZ Art Guild for probably 5+ years and we've shared many an email and discussion and I have watched her art grow from strength to strength. Earlier this year we were both exhibiting in a show in Invercargill. I was lucky enough to travel down for the opening and there hanging upstairs was one of Cath's pear series - I fell in love with it!!! It was a bit larger than the one below but just as exciting - I've been secretly hoping for one of these beauties since then and now I am fortunate enough to have my own :)

"Bleu poire" by Cath Sheard

Isla Osborne is a talented glass artist. For the exhibition she produced a series of small (180 x 180mm) framed fused glass and copper pieces. They were a definate talking point for all that came into the exhibition - everyone (including me) loved the way she had pushed the boundaries of what people have come to associate as glass art. There is an innocence and child-like quality with these pieces which I find endearing yet you can see the time and effort that was spent hand crafting each individual piece.

"On the road again" by Isla Osborne

I'm not a big jewellery wearer and it's not often I find a piece that I just have to have - let alone a whole collection! But that is what happened when the box of Holly Budge's jewellery turned up on my doorstep. If I'd been able to afford it I would have purchased 1/2 of the peices she sent for the exhibition!!! 4 of those pieces that I loved sold (I would have been surprised if they hadn't!) fortunately one of the slinky bracelets she sent didn't and I have been wearing it ever since she agreed to the swap!

"Full moon slinky bracelet" of the Spirit Midas collection by Holly Budge

I'm just hoping that all these talented ladies enjoy my pieces as much as I enjoy theirs. The NZ Art Guild has an annual art swap which I look foward to organising again - this years one is coming up at the end of next month - I will certainly be entering something again this year and I can't wait for my next artistic treat!!!

SNEAK PEAK - preliminary photos for "Pocket Rockets" exhibition

Here are some sneak peak pics from the exhibition I have been hanging today - there is still some work to do (paintings need to be straightened, price tags lined up correctly and lighting swivelled into position as well as hang the 10 pieces arriving by courier first thing in the morning!!!!) but this is the bulk of it done.

I promise to take better pics of everyones peices once I've got everything finished tomorrow which will then be loaded to the NZ Art Guild newsblog, facebook page and members only forum!!!

Very dedicated helper Ron Esplin, who stayed with me until almost 5pm getting the last things hung and sorted out. Thanks heaps to Ron and my other helpers Ginny O'Dea, Dianne Schnarr, Sue McPhee (all of whom are exhibiting their amazing work) and my poor flatmate who got roped in to help - thanks Carina :)

Off the main room is a little room where I've been lucky enough to hang some of my larger paintings (I'm considering it payment for organising 41 artists and around 250 pieces of art ;p) - the next few are of "the stripey room" :)

Ron Esplin helping out hanging his own wonderful works :)

For the love of stripes....

Latest painting hot off the easel....

"Life through the trees"

1015 x 760mm

Acrylic on canvas

comes ready to hang

$1050 NZD (excluding postage)

More tie bags - one off original wearable art pieces

Here are the last of the bunch of Tie Bags I had sitting round 1/2 done. Now I can start on some more of the smaller kids bags range, which will hopefully be done in the next couple of weeks. I also have 1 large stripey painting that will be finished by the end of the weekend - keep an eye out for my post early next week!

Tie Bag - Multi Red Shades
Burgundy lining, hand stitched
Approx 290 x 260 x 100 mm (not including handles)
$150

Tie Bag - Multi Patterns
Olive green lining, hand stitched
Approx 350 x 280 x 90 mm (not including handles)
$150

Tie Bag - Red and Blue
Burgundy lining, hand stitched
Approx 270 x 270 x 80 mm (not including handles)
$150

Tie Bag - Burgundy
Burgundy lining, hand stitched
Approx 265 x 270 x 70 mm (not including handles)
$150

My full supply of bags are available to view on my website
www.nzartguild.co.nz/tanyadann

If you are interested in purchasing one please email me
tanya@nzartguild.co.nz
Prices are in NZD and exclude postage.

I make to order so if you have something in mind but don't see what you want on the website I'm happy to make something up (subject to availability of ties, costs may vary depending on style, size plus number and cost of ties required) - email me to discuss.