No Go For Funding

I received the forms for an arts grant from the Central Hawkes Bay District Council late Monday with a deadline of 31st May. As I was wanting to mount an exhibition and this would have to be done locally I rang Creative Hastings for their input as to a venue etc. Lynn on the desk felt that the grant didn't cover solo artists but put me onto Bev who organizes the exhibitions at CH for her opinion. She was great and got me the phone number of one of the people who run Electra Gallery in Waipukurau as he'd know more than they would. I managed to ring Kevin late afternoon and he was immensely helpful. He said I wouldn't be eligible as the grant was used for projects that would benefit many people like a group exhibition. He did suggest though that I bring in some of my work when he's at Electra (on a Monday or Saturday) and if it's up to their standard they would sell it in the gallery. After selling two paintings though I would be required to become a member but this would bring me more opportunities as they hold several exhibitions throughout the year.

Finished off an order for two pendants- one a wolf and the other a horse (it's black and white so hasn't scanned in too clearly) so now able to concentrate on other work. Also finished off a landscape for my art course so onto more interesting projects there as well.

Melinda Doolittle and Other Stuff

The lady from the District Council rang back about the arts funding scheme and after speaking to me she feels I could be eligible for money to pay for an exhibition. Sounds like they can even help pay for materials. The only problem is the deadline for submissions is 31st May and I have to find a place to hold a show and I'm not really up with the galleries down this way. I think it might be an idea to ring Citizen's Advice and see if they have any ideas.

Yesterday I spent an hour getting jewellery ready to paint which involved wire, cutters/pliers and epoxy glue. Doesn't matter how careful I am I still have glue seeping out from the tubes and getting on everything. I did get four brooches and nine pendants ready plus mended a china horse Demelza knocked off the shelf.

And was anyone else shocked and angered that the immensely talented Melinda Doolittle was voted off American Idol? I assume all the Sanjaya voters turned their attentions to Blake. Melinda should have won but somehow I don't think her loss is going to harm her career. We're a week behind American in screening the show so the finale is only being screened tonight.

Funding in Central Hawkes Bay

I put some of my donkey cards up on Trademe a couple of nights ago and have a couple of watchers so hopefully they'll sell. I retail them myself for NZ $3.50 each which I think isn't too high. I tend to get a shock when I see the prices of cards in book stores as they seem terribly expensive.

A friend rang yesterday telling me about an article in the Central Hawkes Bay Mail about a scheme the local council has for funding art projects within the community. She was keen to ring the woman in charge and ask about it but I stalled as I wanted to read about it myself. Now of course I have to be the one who rings and I'm not good at that sort of thing. I was wondering if they would fund a solo exhibition? Well they can only say no so I'll bite the bullet and call.

The Patch and Cards For Sale

The managers of the NZ Art Guild have opened all the patches submitted for "Patchworks" the collaborative artwork we have all submitted to. There is a slide show showing all the member's submissions- it's amazing how many of us had similar ideas (especially regarding monarch butterflies). My idea came from something I once read. When soldiers liberated the concentration camps at the end of WWII they saw butterflies carved into the buildings. This was believed to be because of a Jewish belief that the soul is represented as a butterfly. I like the idea anyway and as the theme of Patchworks was Soul I incorporated the monarch into my design. The gold lettering is the Hebrew word Nephresh or soul.

Have also uploaded some of the art cards I sell onto one of my websites. There are cat , rabbit and donkey cards (the one shown on the latter page is my most popular item). Prices shown are in NZ dollars before postage. This week I had a couple of enquiries about them from overseas retailers so fingers crossed this works out.

Early May Work

Never got along to the craft fair in Waipukurau yesterday morning. Too cold and not enough stock to sell. I always berate myself that I don't have more stock in hand to take to these events- I usually work right up to the wire with deadlines. This week I finished two cat brooches and a pendant and have a wolf pendant half completed for an order.

Have sent in my entry for the NZ Art Guild's "Off The Brush" exhibit at the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland in August. Have paid for a half panel which is about the size of my fridge door but as I usually paint in miniature that should work out.

With winter nearly upon us here I should find more time to paint when I'm stuck inside without outside distractions. I have been naughty going out with the neighbour down the road instead of working and this has to stop.

A Tale of Two Exhibitions

I have had some major thoughts recently one being that I should sell all the books and collectables from The Menagerie and concentrate on creating and selling my own animal themed work to sell. Much as I adore books they no longer sell well so once my current stock is sold it will not be replaced. I contacted Touchwood Books who have bought most of my farming titles so I spent yesterday deleting four pages from the website. At least I'll regain some space in the house and pay off some of my shifting bills.

Tuesday my neighbour Linda came over to say she was driving to Waipukurau to do some chores and ask if I'd like to come along. Spent a lovely morning having a cup of tea and scrummy lemon and ginger slice in the sun in the main street before I looked at an exhibition at the Electra Gallery. One painting that stood out for me was a huge landscape looking across farmland towards the Ruahine Ranges. The artist captured the drama which I see every morning.

Then yesterday I went to the Creative Hastings "Birds, Books and Bicycles" exhibition. CH holds an artist's challenge every year and it was interesting to see what people came up with. My favourite was a small work- a white canvas with a beautifully rendered male sparrow in the bottom left hand corner with a fake sparrow sitting on top of the canvas. Lyn told me it sold before they even opened the exhibition. Also good news that there was $28 there for me from the sale of 10 cards and they want more donkey ones. Picked up a newsletter from Electra Gallery while I was there and found local artists can join for $15 so that's on my to do list.

After I got home my cousin Elaine rang to say that there is going to be a craft market held in Waipukurau on the 12th May. She's sussing out more info and will get back to me. She is wanting to sell some of her knitting and was thinking I could sell my jewellery there. Just have to cadge a ride.