What's New

What's New - Summer 2010

Are you missing something good?

If you haven’t visited Salt of the Earth’s Downloads page, you should! All of our past offerings are there, with a wealth of helpful advice and insights into things that really matter to artists and photographers. And it’s all FREE.

Good old summertime. Long, warm days. Birdsong arpeggios. Lingering, luminous light that fades into cobalt spangled with a zillion stars. Time to relax. Head for Cornwall with photographer Mara Calvi, whose stroll by torchlight inspired this dreamlike image of an old tin mine. And wait till you see what she’s done with London – wow.

Self-confessed “horse shooter” David Sinclair invites you to choose your favourite mount – perhaps for a thundering chukka of polo. Too hot? Throw your old chapeau onto that chair and bite into a succulent piece of fruit from one of Janet Bowler’s still-lifes. Her paintings offer pure refreshment to those who love to stop and gaze…

We rarely get to see the ultimate framing treatment – or the final home – of the prints we make. So it was a real pleasure to see what Stan Clementsmith of Angus did with our canvas print of his “Glacial Ghosts”. A simple frame allows the image to be the star. “Works well in our interior,” says the artist. “Hope it meets with your approval.” Certainly does; we can see why you decided to keep this one for yourself, Stan.

Very Cool, Stan.

Does Size Really Matter?

You bet it does! Among the most asked questions we get every day are: “What size should my print be?” ,“What sizes sell best?”, “If I have a canvas print on stretchers, how wide should the borders be?” and “I only know my image size, not what paper size it should be on. Can you help?”

So… we’ve put together a new, very easy-to-use chart showing the maximum image size you can have on any given standard ISO paper or canvas size. It’s in every 2010 pack we send and also on our Free Downloads page.

Here are a few more points to remember about sizes:

There is no absolute answer to “how big should my print be”, because it’s a matter of your taste and the market’s preferences. However, in general, paintings should be printed at or near … MORE

Autumn Crop of Powerful Drawings

If you admired the outstanding drawings of ancient Spanish chestnut trees by artist Susan Milne featured in a past edition of this website (there’s one on our Home page, too), then put this date into your diary now. She will be showing a terrific group of drawings relating to trees from September 9th until November 8th at the Radnorshire Museum, Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, Wales. For full info, see: www.culture24.org.uk/wa000021

The exhibition includes this charcoal on Conte “nest” drawing, one of a series – all stunning. Susan’s website also displays her paintings and “constructions”. www.susanmilne.co.uk

Birds on the Brain

We’re used to seeing artist and flat-coat retriever breeder Ann Kilminster’s nifty portraits of her favourite dogs. But now birds have bewitched her. She writes, “I have started an art group in St. Briavels and have found the freedom on a Wednesday morning to paint what I like! I intend to do a series of birds with flowers, trees or grasses. They give me so much pleasure.” Shown here is her cheeky nuthatch.

For more about Ann’s work or the art group, visit: www.annfineart.co.uk

Windsor Goes Nude

There’s more strong drawing on show at the new Runnymede Gallery in Windsor this summer. Figurative artist Patrick Palmer will be exhibiting a series of his sumptuous nudes (another sort of “bird” on the brain?) from August 5th to September 6th. For full details see: www.runnymedegallery.com

If you can’t get there, enjoy more of Patrick’s work anytime at www.patrickpalmer.co.uk

Society of Wildlife Artists Show

The annual SWLA exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London runs from September 22nd – October 2nd. Get busy - there’s still time to enter! Receiving days are August 14th & 15th. For full information about submitting see: www.swla.co.uk

Honesty about Mental Illness

Scottish photographer Graham Miller has tackled our society’s “hidden” people and the stereotypes and stigma of mental illness in an ambitious personal project called “The Most Important People in the World: Honesty”. Miller captured photos of workers recovering from or enduring severe problems at Perth’s Murray Royal Hospital. Appropriately – given the way we often sequester such individuals in our own minds, his pictures were taken within the walled garden. Large-scale portraits will be exhibited at the Birnham Arts & Conference Centre, Perthshire from July 3rd-31st. Miller also plans to publish a book using the images and commentary.
See some examples at: www.gilmar.turnpiece.net

Busy Summer for Angela B.

The vibrant, wittily-observed works of Sussex artist Angela Brittain have been featured in a past Gallery (as well ads appearing on our Home page). If you are in the area, be sure to visit Horsham Open Studios on June 19th-20th and 26th-27th. Details from: www.horshamopenstudios.co.uk

Three of the six paintings Angela submitted to the Society of Women Artists (www.society-women-artists.org.uk) have also been accepted for their 149th annual exhibition. Including “Red Racket”, seen here.Well done! The show is at The Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1 from July 1st to 10th.

Kids and Other Critters

Emma Curtis, whose haughty roosters and winsome ducks won many hearts in a past Gallery feature, has written. “I’m starting to get more time in the studio now things have quietened down a bit animal-wise. I’m experimenting with some new styles with a view to children’s book illustrations in both acrylic and digital media. A few people have already expressed interest in having them printed as ‘stand-alone’ pictures.” Well, if they’re all as good as this one, Emma, you’ll have no problem selling them.

Solo Show in Norway

It’s great to have news from beyond the U.K.’s shores. This summer, Swedish photographer “Jöran” (no last name – sign of a superstar in the making?) will display his poetic, sometimes mysterious giclée printed images at the Oslo Universitets Sykehus in Aker, Norway. We’d love to give you dates, but these haven’t been finalised. “June” is all we know. If we hear more, we’ll pass it on!

“What’s in a name?” A Gallery.

The redoubtable Grace Newman, of Warwickshire Artists has joined forces with fellow-artist Mary Partridge in a fine new venture. Together, they have opened the oddly-named “A Gallery” in the Bard’s backyard - Stratford-on-Avon - to show off the varied talents of visual and applied artists in the area, such as David Godfrey’s “Yellow Treescape” at right. For more information, see: www.warwickshireartists.co.uk/a-gallery.html"

And Finally….

Artist and illustrator Zoe Preston has outdone you all for sheer creativity. On May 2nd, 2010 out popped Meredith Dawn Preston, a confection in pinks, sporting lots of dark hair and already striking a suitably aesthetic pose. Congratulations Zoe and family.

Travel Poster Competition

"Coast" mamgazine - from the same upmarket magazine stable as "Country Living", is running a seaside travel poster design competition. The prize is a £500 coastal break, and there also prizes of gift vouchers, watercolour sets etc. Judges include artists Angie Lewin, Andy Tuohy, Barbara Hulanicki and others. Go to: www.allaboutyou.co.uk and click on the "Coast" magazine cover for full details.

As if that were not enough, Angela invites you to consider a working holiday at her lovely old house in Abruzzo, Italty. Her painting and drawing courses in September are for beginners who want to build both confidence and ability painting nearby mountains and seascapes.
www.angelabrittain.co.uk