Landscapes

This is a new series of landscapes I've done that were inspired by Autumn forests.They're done in acrylics and mixed media over a textured ground.More can be found at Cen Arte on ebay.

Still Working

I've fallen behind on my posts since little Aaron was born(My 2month old son).I recently participated in a local art/craft show.Ever since I've started working on the internet I've decided to increase my profile as a local artist as well. I think the experience as well as the exposure gained from doing the vaughan of a kind show was well worth the effort.I've also been working on a new floral that I developed for the show.These pieces are now available on ebay at Cen Arte.

We've reached 100 stars

I've reached another milestone with my ebay store.Last week we reached 100 stars,bringing us to the next tier in our ratings(turquoise star).

I decided to take a look at where most of my art was going to.It was surprising to see that almost half our sales were in Canada.Although I'm based in Toronto Canada,the common belief is that the art market in Canada is too small to support an artist,I've found to my delight that there is a strong, thriving art community across the country.The internet has allowed me to publish my work globally,but it's nice to know there are art lovers in my own backyard.

Quality of artwork online

I was browsing some of the other artist's sites on ebay today, and came across several youtube videos of them working.I noticed that the paint they were using looked like interior/exterior grade latex paints.

It's things like this that fuels the naysayers when it comes to buying quality art online. True artists take pride in their work as well as the materials used.Latex and acrylic are very different.If you've ever run your hand along a wall you can feel how chalky it feels as opposed to the smoothness of artist grade acrylic paint.Those are fillers added to stretch out the paint. Latex also has a very high water content in comparison to artist's acrylic to make it run smoother when it's being applied to a wall.It's a shame that these artists only care about saving money.I wish their clients knew what they were paying for.

Working on a website

I've been working on a website on top of the work I have on ebay.There's been alot of interest in my work outside of ebay and I'm trying to increase my online profile.I'll keep everyone posted when it's up.

Working on a commission

I've recently started working on a commission with a very enthusiastic client.It's always a great thing to work with someone that appreciates my work so much. The process of creating a piece specifically for an individual's tastes can be a daunting task.My personal approach is to gather as much information on the space,as well as the clients preferences. Colours, style,and room decor are all variables that are taken into consideration before I put brush to canvas.

I know that many artists like to create a smaller sample before they begin the final piece, but I feel that when it comes to abstract art, the spontaneity that occurs during the creative process is lost. The raw emotion and playfulness that appear in my abstract work is done on the fly , and in the end a truly original piece is born.

The revision process is also something that I try to discourage. I've worked as an illustrator/graphic designer for about 7 years now and I understand the process of revisions in the context of commercial art. The same doesn't apply to fine art.When an artist creates a piece it is a creative expression of that artist,so when he/she is commissioned it is because the patron appreciates their unique style. That's why it's important to get enough information before a piece is started.I'm reminded of what Michelangelo said about "releasing what was already within the stone". Once the whirlwind of creativity is complete the painting is what it was meant to be,and should not be retouched.

Using Quality Materials

I'd like to discuss the difference between using artist quality acrylic paints vs craft grade or student grade materials. I was taught in college to always use the best quality paint whenever possible, and it wasn't until I started working as a professional artist that I truly understood the reasoning behind it all.

The difference between good acrylic paint and bad acrylic paint is fairly straightforward. Lesser quality paint tends to have more filler than pigment.So when you paint you'll notice that you may have to go over an area several times to get opaque coverage, whereas with artist quality paints it may take only one pass. The fillers become obvious when the paint is dry, as it usually has a chalky finish. Light fastness is another obvious difference.The term lightfastness describes a pigment's ability to resist fading when exposed to low or moderate light. Low grade paint has less pigment in it to begin with so it tends to fade significantly quicker than a quality paint.

At the end of the day it doesn't mean that an artist has to use the most expensive paint on the market. It means that an artist should maintain a standard of quality when selling their art, even when it's online.

Working Online vs working for galleries

This post is in reaction to a specific gallery's reaction to some of the work I'm selling online.I don't want to rehash the old debate as to which is better, but I want to share my personal experiences since I've experienced both sides of the fence.

Firstly I want to say that after 5 months of working online, I love it.Being in the driver's seat is priceless. I also enjoy the ability to personally connect with the buyer, whereas in the gallery there is absolutely no contact with the artist only a salesperson.Seeing who and where the artwork is sold is a great feeling.

Many uninformed people will argue that selling art online devalues it. The truth of the matter is that artists make on average only 15-30% of a gallery list price. A friend of mine recently sold a piece for $2000.00, he received only $400.00 for it. $400 dollars is on par with much of the good work being sold online. By removing the middle man the artist still receives what he would have from the gallery,and the collector can buy a piece without a 700% markup.

Retaliation from a gallery is also common. A gallery may lower an artists prices or put them in a clearance section to keep artists in line. Sometimes they just won't push your work at all.At the New York art expo 2009 there was a seminar on how galleries could counter artists selling their work online.Maybe they should learn how to grow and change with the direction of art instead.

In the end there will always be artists and there will always be people that love art. What's changing is how the art is sold.

Ebay store progress

It's been nearly five months now since I've started an ebay store and i wanted to chronicle our progress. I've sold about 80 pieces in varying styles in spite of a "down economy".I'm still trying to figure out the ins and outs of selling online but I believe the store has surpassed my expectations. I haven't quite found a specific style that sells consistently but the variety of work is enjoyable to paint.

I'd like to thank all the great ebayers who've supported our store, especially all the repeat buyers.I hope we can continue to forge more relationships with other collectors in the future.

let's talk art

I wanted to talk a little about the work I do online.The lion's share of my online work is abstract( It seems to sell a little better than most other styles).The interesting thing about creating abstract art is that it is deceptively difficult to create a good piece without it looking like you randomly threw paint on the canvas.

When I'm creating a piece I start first by mentally dividing the canvas.By using proper divisions of space I can create balance and harmony in the painting.Many untrained artists add too many visual elements across the entire canvas giving it a busy crowded feeling.I like to use division of space and colour weight to achieve balance.

When I begin to paint, I visualize each subsequent phase of the process to ensure I achieve the desired surface quality. For-thought is always important and each element in the painting should have a "raison d'etre. Otherwise it will look like it was just plopped in. When a canvas is well balanced and harmonious a person may not consciously realize why the painting looks good but for some reason it feels right.

A little bit about myself

I'd like to start my story from the time i finished college and began my journey into the art world. I Graduated from Sheridan College in Oakville (Ontario Canada) in 2001 with a diploma in Illustration- Technical & Scientific. I was lucky enough to obtain work immediately as an architectural illustrator for a small company. Unfortunately my stint with these people was short lived as I was let go after 3 weeks as well as several other people. The real estate market was beginning to slow down and there just wasn't enough work to go around. This is the point when my freelance career began.

For a year I worked for companies like HMV and Home Depot, but it wasn't enough to pay the bills. I needed a part time job to supplement my art career. So i worked in an art store for 3 years while continuing to work as an illustrator on the side, until a chance encounter with my old art teacher would change the focus of my art career forever. I left the store and began working as an assistant for my old teacher who had become a very prominent artist in the last 7 years.

After 5 years as an assitant/apprentice I'm now starting my own fine art career. I have pieces in a couple of major galleries around Toronto but I've decided to launch my career online. I truly beleive that the online world is embracing artists and the old stigma of being an "internet artist" has faded. For now the lion's share of my artwork can be seen at my eBay Store . I hope to chronicle my progress as well as share some advice with other young artists that are also on the same journey. Wish me luck!