Ben Eckersley Exhibits at Inspire 24th July
Saturday 10th July 2010
Bluethumb artist Ben Eckersley, will be exhibiting his portrait exhibition, faceworks, at West End’s InSpire Gallery Bar in the last week of July 2010. Opening night on Saturday 24th July will be particularly exciting, with a special live performance by his band, The Wells.
Pushing the boundaries of predictability, Eckersley’s series of interesting ink on paper portraits explore the face and its physical limitations. The faceworks exhibition is a great representation of the talent and original affordable art that can be found in Brisbane. Each work will be available for sale at the gallery via internet portal to bluethumb’s site www.bluethumb.com.au.
Eckersley, a 34 year old Brisbane-based artist, musician and graphic designer, shows marvellous skill and promise in the up-and-coming generation of visual artists. Guests and the public will be able to meet Eckersley on opening night, Saturday 24th July, browse his works and enjoy a live performance by The Wells, a five piece indie rock band of which Eckersley is the lead vocalist.
To view or purchase artworks by Ben Eckersley or other emerging Australian artists, visit www.bluethumb.com.au. The faceworks exhibition will be held at InSpire Gallery Bar, 71 Vulture St, West End, from Thursday 22nd July to Wednesday 28th July 2010.
Artists Resale Royalty Scheme
Monday 28th June 2010
The Australian government's Resale Royalty Scheme came into effect on 9 June 2010.
It doesn't impact your sales here on bluethumb as they are direct from you to the buyer, but it may affect you if your work is resold in the future.
Under the artists resale royalty scheme:
- commercial resales of artworks must be reported; and
- a 5% royalty is payable on some resales.
- The Australian government has appointed Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) to manage the scheme.
Key features of the scheme:
- it applies to resales of existing as well as new works;
- it applies to a range of original artworks, included limited edition prints authorised by the artist;
- it does not apply to a private sale from one individual to another;
- a royalty is not payable on the first change of hands after 9 June, but all resales must be reported;
- a royalty is not payable on resales for under $1,000;
- the scheme will be extended to artworks from countries that have similar schemes.
For more information on how the Resale Royalty Scheme may affect you once your work leaves bluethumb, see www.resaleroyalty.org.au.
Pen Donovan Joins Bluethumb
Wednesday 17th March 2010
This month, we welcome Pen Donovan to the bluethumb community. She’s a fifty-five year old artist from Brisbane and calls herself “a late developer...either that or very, very slow!”
Since moving to Brisbane three years ago, Pen says she has realised how strongly location is linked to what she produces. Hence, the Brisbane River and sunlight playing in water has influenced her recent work.
In her spare time, she’s also having fun painting traffic boxes around the Brisbane area. It relieves the ‘no studio’ angst – and it’s getting art out there in public space. Good for morale and a great way to get work out there!
Pen cites Reg Mombassa’s biography as an inspiration. She also loves David Hockney’s work and attitude to art.
Like many artists today she continues to struggle with making a living versus producing art. In five years time, Pen hopes to be painting full-time and making a living from it. Doesn't everybody?
Check out Pen’s profile!
Olive by Pen Donovan, acrylic on canvas, 121cm x 91cm, $150
Grants and Funding Information
Saturday 6th February 2010
Applying for grants and funding can often be difficult and overwhelming, and from our own experience, very hard work! But, you've got to be in it to win it! Good luck!
The Metro Gallery Award
The Metro Gallery Award, now in its eighth year, is Australia's richest art award for emerging Australian artists. It has helped launched the careers of several past winners including Ben Quilty, Jackson Slattery and Sam Leach. Get your applications in!
Entries close May 1st, 2010.
$50,000 Metro Art Award - to find out more visit www.metrogallery.com.au/award
JUMP
JUMP directly supports the career development of artists aged 18-30, and in the first five years of their professional practice, by facilitating mentorships with professional artists regarded highly in their chosen art form.
Applications are now open and close Friday, 26 February 2010.
To find out more, visit www.jumpmentoring.com.au
Free Grant Writing Workshops - Sydney
ICE and Fairfield City Council have teamed up to provide free information sessions and a grant writing workshop/mentoring program for those interested in applying for a 2010 Community Cultural Development Grant.
Council is calling on artists and community groups to apply for funds up to $4,000 to support arts and cultural projects. Applications are being accepted until Monday 22 March 2010. Funding is provided to projects that address social issues of importance to the local community.
Free Grant Writing Workshop - Monday 22 February
* 10am – 4pm – Whitlam Library, Gough Room, Level 1, Railway Parade, Cabramatta
RSVP: Monday 15 February. Contact Mouna on 02 9897 5744
Introducing Irena Zbrankova - Bluethumb Artist
Saturday 6th February 2010
Bluethumb artist, Irena Zbrankova, lives on Brisbane’s north side, and is a single mum of two daughters (who she loves to “pamper endlessly” – lucky girls!) and an avid rugby fan.
Having studied drawing, painting, sculpture and graphics for seven years at the Zlin Graphic School of Art, in Czech Republic, she made the long move to Australia in 2008.
Her most recent work Virility in Yellow is a study of the male figure, focussing on masculinity and the male form as a result of sport and hard, uncompromising training. Using colours to complement the figure’s skin tone, she has also expressed tenderness and understanding in his facial features.
Irena describes the work as “expressing man's emotions as well as his fighting spirit, strength and courage”.
Having created many portrait pieces, she says her work is always influenced by the emotional perception of the model.
Irena’s biggest inspiration is Michelangelo, with his continuous efforts to represent perfect physical beauty.
She says that in five years time, her dream is to live in a sun-lit house, with a large garden and loving husband by her side.
Welcome to bluethumb Irena! Check out Irena’s profile.
Introducing Jane Welsh - Bluethumb Artist
Monday 25th January 2010
Jane Welsh has been a passionate artist for 8 years. Years prior, Jane had a career as a dietician/nutritionist, but says that she just knew in her bones and soul that she was an artist, and took the plunge eight years ago to support herself from her art alone.
She spent many busy years creating many commissioned portraits, and balancing these with more free abstracts and some sumptuous nudes.
After having kids, less available time saw the balance shift to commissions alone to keep the money coming in. In 2009, she broke free from her lists of commissions and got back to experimenting with colour to create vibrant paintings with a landscape feel. Since this transition, Jane has created her Bloom Series of works (see them on bluethumb!) and has gotten back to her first love – sculpture – creating her Melody and Unity series.
Most recently, she has started working on some languid nudes – females and couples, and has just photographed three models for material to work from.
She hopes to adorn people’s bedroom walls with her works to imbue a mood of relaxation and joy.
Jane Welsh lives in the country in the Noosa Hinterland of Queensland, and loves being surrounded by nature and her permaculture garden. She works out of a spacious new studio, with half the week fully devoted to her art career.
When asked what influences her work right now, she says “I create for beauty. I believe our intrinsic appreciation of beauty, our emotional reaction to it (like the “Ahhhhh” we feel when we look into a sunset) is so precious in our society of busy (even stressful) minds and bodies. I want my art to reach out into the world and help people to feel good, whether it’s the relaxed mood of my nudes, or the vibrant blossoming of my Bloom Series.”
Check out Jane’s profile!
Bluethumb World News
Friday 22nd January 2010
WHAT'S ON SHOW AROUND THE WORLD?
Masterpieces from Paris
The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra is holding one of Australia’s most important exhibitions ever -
Dates: 4th Dec 2009 to 5th April 2010
TIX: Adult $25
Find out more at the National Gallery of Australia
WHAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY?
ArtStart
BLUETHUMB ARTISTS!! Get your applications in! We want to see your name in LIGHTS!!!
The Australia Council is now accepting applications for the ArtStart grant. Individual artists from all art forms may apply for a grant up to $10,000. You are eligible to apply if you have completed accredited artist training in the last 3 years or if you will complete accredited artist training prior to the project start date for each round.
Applications open online from 25 January 2010
Closing date is 8 March 2010 (for July 2010 - June 2011)
Get more info @ The Australia Council
WHAT'S CHEAP?
Art Gallery NSW – Gallery Shop Australia Day Long Weekend Sale!
Up to 50% off a fantastic range, including selected fine art books and art-inspired merchandise - from 23 to 26 January and only available in store.
Address: Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney NSW
WHAT'S INNOVATIVE?
Post-it Notes!
David Alvarez’s portrait of Ray Charles using more than 2000 coloured post-it notes is Innovative Marketing! His follow-up piece with a portrait of Jimi Hendrix using playing card got this guy’s name onto CNN. Cool things happen when you think outside the Square…
Design Your Next Room With My Walls!
Thursday 29th October 2009
Will that painting clash with my retro pink decor? Why not try before you buy!
Bluethumb has a great feature - perfect for those home decorators or interior designers.
My Walls lets you upload photos of your walls at home or those of your design client, and test out artworks to see how they'll look.
The process is easy! Just sign into your bluethumb account and click on the "My Walls" link in the bottom menu. Upload your photos following the simple instructions. Add as many walls as you like!
Then get browsing... As you find artworks that you're into, click on the "Preview on my wall" link below the "Buy Now" button of the artwork. You can change the wall behind any
artwork and My Walls will scale each artwork proportionately to the size of your wall.
Here's a good example:
Happy decorating!
Introducing Charlotte Wensley - Bluethumb Artist
Monday 21st September 2009
Charlotte Wensley is a Queensland artist displaying a range of wonderful acrylic, oil and mixed media artworks on bluethumb.
Her most recent work is At the Water’s Edge, inspired by her childhood memories of growing up on a farm in the Vale of York in England - a farmhouse on a 300 acre property with a beautiful duck pond which she describes as "a pure oasis of physical and emotional freedom". Sounds like a perfect fairytale to us!
Charlotte lives on the Sunshine Coast with her husband and 4-year old daughter, and together they run a market stall selling calamari at the famous Eumundi markets. This allows Charlotte quality time to work on her art, and she also turns it into quality time with her daughter, who also has the creative gene! They spend hours painting and drawing together and she says that Harriet’s lines of inquiry often inform her own, resulting in the fascinating artworks she is creating.
Currently, her works are influenced by contemplating and revisiting her past experiences and the emotional responses she has to them. She wants to fully explore the important and defining moments throughout her early life, and immortalise them in a visual sense.
Charlotte's 5-year goal is to have had at least one solo exhibition, and then to be squashed into a purpose-built travel truck with her family, off on a huge adventure to explore the world, giving her precious time with her family, as well as the time and space to absorb new experiences and explore new influences on her work.
Charlotte strongly believes that all artists are heroes. She says "The commitment to observe, investigate, react and create is inherent in all creative people and that is a human quality which I very much admire."
We certainly agree. Check out Charlotte's profile!
Introducing Benjamin Eckersley - Bluethumb Artist
Sunday 13th September 2009
Benjamin Eckersley is a 33 year old artist and musician living in Brisbane, and new Bluethumb resident!
A graphic designer by day, Ben is trying to focus more on his art, working in particular on paintings, drawings and ink works. He figured Bluethumb would be a good starting point to get his artworks out there!
His most recent works, shown here on Bluethumb, are a series of faceworks and figures that push the boundaries on predictability! You'll see what we mean when you check them out.
He lists his current influences as Goya, Fred Cress, Francis Bacon, and includes Rosalie Gasciogne, Kandinsky and Matisse as his all-time heroes.
Ben hopes to be painting full time in five years time, replacing his 9-5 job with a life full of art!
We wish you luck Ben! Check out Ben's artworks at Ben's Profile.
ps. If you want to see your name in the Bluethumb lights, just send us an email!
Be Inspired!
Tuesday 18th August 2009
Artists - be inspired by something new in West End, Brisbane!
The InSpire Gallery Bar recently opened its doors to the public. The Bar is offering an upper level gallery area that can be hired for exhibition purposes by local artists wanting to get great exposure in Brisbane's West End. What a perfect opportunity for emerging artists!
Unique to InSpire is the live internet video streaming service that will allow global exposure for gallery openings, live music performances and daily life at the fully licensed bar and cafe.
Owners Marcel and Jacqueline say that they hope to make Australian art more accessible to the general public by combining Gallery and hospitality in one package.
InSpire Gallery Bar is located at 71 Vulture Street, West End QLD.
Opening hours are Sun - Wed and Thurs 11am to 10pm, and Fri - Sat 3pm to midnight.
Contact Marcel or Jacqueline on (07) 3846 3442 for more details about gallery space or visit www.inspiregallerybar.com.au
Bluethumb Celebrates the Launch of its New Website
Friday 1st May 2009
Just a week ago, the bluethumb team chilled the sparkling, and celebrated the upcoming launch of it's new website, www.bluethumb.com.au.
We'd like to thank our business partners, family and friends for joining in the fun, and for their continuing support and encouragement!
Our guests joined in to create a "communal" artwork which was truly...um...interesting! It will be hung proudly in the bluethumb halls of masterpieces.
We hope that the community finds the website valuable and fun, and we welcome any comments and suggestions that you may have to improve it now and into the future.
Aussie Government Introduces Resale Royalty Rights Scheme
Friday 1st May 2009
The Australian Government recently announced its intention to commence the Resale Royalty Rights Scheme.
Resale right legislation for Australia's visual artists is expected to be in place by 1 July, 2009.
The royalty will be applied only to re-sales of original works of visual art sold through the secondary art market where the seller has acquired the work after the legislation takes effect. It will not be restricted just to works created after the scheme starts.
The royalty will be applied only to resales of original works of visual art sold through the secondary art market where the seller has acquired the work after the legislation takes effect.
Royalties are to be paid to artists who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, or their heirs. It will cover works being resold during an artist's lifetime and for 70 years after the artist's death. Royalty is to be calculated on a flat rate of 5%, uncapped. The minimum resale price before a royalty is imposed will be $1000.
The scheme will be managed by a single collecting organisation, appointed by the Australian Government following an open tender selection process.
bluethumb supports the royalty rights of artists and will provide the collecting organisation nominated by the Australian Government any necessary information required under the Resale Royalty Rights Scheme for all applicable sales of artwork made via the bluethumb website.
