Back home exhausted!

Phew! It certainly knocks it out of you at the Spring Fair.

A frantic week getting ready, last minute panics about things not done, final arrangements getting van and driver, double parking and loading in the dark and cold, early morning suitcase packing, long drive up country, park and walk to set-up chaos at the show, unload van, disgorge much too much stuff onto a tiny booth/stand, [why are booths always much smaller in real life than when you plan them on paper or mock up?], paint walls, fix lights, hang pictures, stand back and take photo.

And that is before we start.

Then turn up up every day and live on strong coffee and very expensive snacks from the catering facilities who have you by the short and curlies. A cup of hot water for £1.80 so we could use our own teabag for a cuppa.

But the buzz, and adrenalin surge, and the networking, and the orders, and the feedback, and meeting old friends makes it all worth while.

I did my seminar on Tuesday on 'The Artists Role in the Art Industry'. Went down well with applause. Afterwards several artists came by our stand to ask further questions.

Now the aftermath, sorting through orders, following leads, re-appraising priorities, deciding what is next.

I must keep reminding myself that I am doing this for fame, fortune and fun.

Focus on the fun.

Todays picture shows my small section of the Artreo stand.

My new catalogue book went down well as well. The first 16 copies are now earmarked for my best galleries.

I will make a few minor changes based on suggestions from the art industry. For instance take the date of the front cover.

5Feb 2010

Phew! I am just grabbing a moment to update this blog before I whizz off to exhibit at the International Spring Fair at NCC in Birmingham.

We load the van this evening. I think everything is ready.

The past month has been hectic.

There is meant to be a recession on at the moment, but we have had a bumper start to the year.

Print, paint, print, paint.

The big fat coffee table 10 year catalogue looks superb and the first couple of galleries have already given it the thumbs up. The launch of this will be the main focus of my show at the Fair.

I am also scheduled to present a seminar on 'The Artists Role in the Art Industry' on Tuesday 9th.

I had a practice the other evening in front of the Wessex Branch of The Fine Art Trade Guild members. They seemed to like it. I had some interesting questions afterwards which have helped tweak the talk.

Here is a new painting of Hong Kong waterfront.

11JAN 2010

More and more snow and ice have kept us indoors again. There was a very brief spell when the previous snow and ice melted to allow some deliveries. And bingo! We got the first print proof copy of the new catalogue.
So for the last few days I have spent as much time as possible checking tweaking rechecking to get it correct. Last night I uploaded the new monster file to Blurb who are doing the printing, and ordered a half dozen books.
You can see the whole book, all 160 pages and over 300 pictures, here.
http://www.blurb.com/books/1134148

Most of the prints featured in the retrospective catalogue have come from original paintings which have been sold. If you have a Ruffell original, have a look through the catalogue to see if it is in there. If it is, please let me know.

1st Jan 2010

Crikey! I am so slack. It is a month since our last blog post.
However, December 2009 was not wasted. I spent a deal of time creating the definitive catalogue showing Ruffell prints over the previous decade. The book is 160 pages long with just under 300 images. Quite a few are full page [12"x13"]. There are some explanations and some quotes from happy viewers, plus the usual biography and stuff. The problem is that it costs an arm and a leg :-(
You can see it here www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1110796
However, I suggest that you control your eagerness to own one until I receive my first proof copy in a few days time because I will probably need to make final tweaks and edits after seeing it.

The 2010 catalogue book is destined for unveiling at the trade only Spring Fair in Birmingham in February where I will share a stand with the other Artreo artists again. I have agreed to deliver a seminar as well at the Fair, entitled 'The Artists Role in the Art Industry'. So I have been working on that as well. Panic.

So here is a picture of the snow that imprisoned us for several days in December, and my Christmas dinner.

Then the dreaded lurgy [man flu cold thing] hit Fran and I which has drained our reserves.
Now we are both recovering, it is a glorious day following last nights rare blue moon, the sun is shining, and all is well for the new year and next decade. Happy new year.

30 November 2009 Phew!

Phew! At last it seems that I have a moment to put up a blog message.
We have been very busy getting our Open House exhibition ready and hung. Then we opened on Sat 21st, and Sun 22nd. Then again Sat 28th and Sun 29th. And of course we now get ready for next weekend when it all happens again.
Despite the fact that the weather has been 'interesting', very wet and windy in fact, we have played host to many intrepid visitors, sold lots of prints and cards, taken commissions for originals, prepared and drank gallons of mulled wine, eaten mince pies, and run our daily prize draw during open days.
Meanwhile the retail gallery and online gallery world is waking up for Xmas and orders for prints are coming in thick and fast. Help!!
And it goes on... tomorrow I am demonstrating my painting techniques at Canary Wharf London in the afternoon, plus in the evening we will be attending a private view where we are showing in a London east end gallery. That is the Art Group show 'Lets Play'.
Todays image is the solid gold 'Trevor the Cat' pendant that Graham Hale is showing at our Open House. Anybody who has looked at our website www.crabfish.com will recognise our mascot Trevor.

11 November 2009 Poppy Day

Today is a pretty significant day.

Armistice Day, when the world remembers those who died in war.

In 1918 WW1 peace was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

WW1 was billed as 'the war to end all wars'.

Today is 11/11/09.

That is 91 years after the signing of the armistice.

But war has gone on somewhere in the world ever since.

Here is one of Shyama's prints with lots of poppies.

Click here to see more about this print.

8 November 2009 New Brighton prints

These three new Brighton originals are being shown in The Art Group 'Lets Play' exhibition in London in December.
However I am keeping the publication of the prints for myself. In preparation for the upcoming Artists Open Houses in two weeks time I have proofed new Limited Edition prints of 250 each. I have decided to publish them in two sizes, A2 [approx 38cm x51cm] and A3 [ approx 26cm x 37cm].

Lets Play on the Bandstand

Lets Play on Palace Pier

Lets Play on Brighton Beach