artchatter with Gaynor Leverett-Jaques & Karen George

Phew! Well, we're back. We hope you enjoyed the recommedations we offered last week. While we're on the subject, do let us know if you have any tips on what we should all be listening to (as  well as artchatter of course!).  So, thiiiiiis week, Karen and I are chattering on the back of taking part in an arts trail in Bristol. Good lawwwd our (my!) insecurities rose to the fore, (the smac...

Gah... technical difficulties have led us to postpone for week. What techincal difficulties, you ask? Well, our talented editor, Ben, is halfway up a mountain in the USA celebrating the wedding of Robert and Eliazbeth (woo hoo, congratulations and all the lovliest wishes to them both) however, wi-fi is not all we'd wish for. So, this week's episode will play out NEXT week (13th July) and the follo...

We all seriously love having a good old scroll through social media. As artists instagram can be addictive... very addictive as we see all the reels and pretty pics go floating up on our screens. But, what makes you stop? Who halts you in your tracks and grabs your attention? For us, it can be something so very different to what we would paint ourselves.  Episode Artwork - Rodion Kutsaev on U...

Is it serendipity? The people we meet, the roads we cross all lead to where we are now. Friends guide us, our heart strings tug us and we dance our way, somehow, to where we’re meant to be. If we're lucky. Many artists find their way back to working in a creative space after taking a ‘sensible option’ at some point. How did you get here or is it still a long-held dream? We decided to have a little...

Fellow artists, how do you feel about a day in public, showing your work, talking about it, explaining processes and the joy your work brings you? Now imagine a week of that; smiling beatifically. Okay. Now visualise a whole month of showing, talking and selling. Tired yet? :) It's what we have done during May, the whole month and boyyyy have we discovered lots! One thing is for sure, people are n...

A blog by the Stephanie Gibson, posted on Instagram prompted a question and conversation. Why buy original art? It's worth taking a look at Stephanie's original blog post, as its so considered and insightful. Understanding the reasons could lead to us to understand our clients and potential clients more clearly. We’ve pondered and chatted, of course, but you may well have other ideas.  Links:...

Are you free and wild, is work fun and spontaneous? Or are you uptight and too controlled? What are you doing, is your journey an easy one, (is it ever?!) or do you change direction often? It’s good for us to push ourselves, take the path less travelled and out of our comfort zone. Maybe. We talk experimenting, experiences, the value of mistakes and the lessons we can learn from children. Image cr...

Just how flexible do we need to be as artists? There's a LOT to adapt to on a regular basis. Things change, times change, we change, hopefully we learn and grow. But how? Usually we have people who inpsire us, whether we know them or not! Are we reactive or proactive..? Well, that depends. Sometimes we just have to be flexible and make the most of things, sometimes we want to change things up. How...

What to do when things don’t go to plan? Be grateful for the upgrade of course!  Things that go wrong can turn easily to opportunity, giggles or happy mistakes. Don’t believe us? There’s a lovely cliché about silver linings which we reckon is just how lovely life can be. ( No one’s turned into Pollyanna!) let us know what you think. If you’re enjoying artchatter don’t forget to subscribe!&nbs...

“I don’t need branding-I’m not a cow!” ha!! But a little bit of recognition and continuity would go amiss, right? Where to start, what to do? As always, we have ideas, some of which may even be good!! Also, Karen had a photoshoot… 😎 Episode Cover Photo credit: insung.yoon on https://unsplash.com Links: https://www.thedesigntrust.co.uk Karen George www.karengeorgeart.co.uk Gaynor Leverett-Jaques w...

Ever get stuck in the mud…too much thinking, too little thinking, frozen or frantic? We’ve all been there. We need a way to break the cycle before it becomes a spiral. Find a path out, seek a guide, stand back up. You know all the clichés. We have some ideas that could help.

What inspires you? People, artists, workshops, landscape…all of the above? Hopefully some of what gets us painting inspires you too. Stepping out of our comfort zones definitely helps, and we find other people doing well gives us something to smile about.  Image credit : Yannis Papanastasopoulos on Unsplash.com.  Links: Art2Life free workshop (Nicholas Wilton)  Bron Jones  The...

Money. We LOVE it, but we all too often squirm when the subject comes up. Ohhh the discomfort of talking prices with clients, asking for the true value of a piece, or just making it easier to buy. *sigh* Let's face it, most of us need a rethink. We've got some ideas. Cover image credit: Fabian Blank on Unsplash Links: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Karen George Worshops Klarna Your co-hosts of artchatter a...

Stop hiding? Noooo. We’re artists, darling. Hmm, time to be brave, come out of our caves, um, I mean studios and interact with the big wide world! Luckily we have been inspired by a whole host of wonderful people who can show us how. Gently does it, maybe, but there’re lots of lovely people out there to discover.  Okay, put on your dancing shoes and sing it with me… 🎵🎶🎼 Let’s get visible, visib...

New year new… nope. No dreaming here! We’re on a (moveable) track based on plans and baby steps forward. Keep on truckin’ etc ;) Some reflection and looking to our best year yet. 2022, bring it on!  Episode Cover Photo credit: Markus Winkler on Unsplash Links:  Susan McCreevy Artist  Karen George www.karengeorgeart.co.uk Gaynor Leverett-Jaques www.gaynorljart.com Original Music: ‘Strangler Fig’ Be...

What did we learn this year? Somethiiiiiinggg… maybe?! In reality, more than we all think. Time to take stock and celebrate every little thing. Links:  Virginia Kerr - Instagram Expert https://instagram.com/thisisvirginiakerr?utm_medium=copy_link Gareth Edwards Artist Róisín O’Farrell https://roisinofarrell.com Episode Cover Photo credit: Nick Page on Unsplash Karen George www.karengeorgeart....

When your podcast editor writes the note “there's a bunch of artists' names in this one, have fun lol” you know it’s a goodie! What can we say? We’re suckers for an artist community! Also, we chat about our thoughts, attitudes and plans for showing in a group.  44AD artspace http://www.44ad.net/ Episode Cover credit: Katie O’Brien at 44AD artspace Polly Gough Printmaker Shuya Cheng Silve...

A book, you say?! Yup. Yup. It’s a gem, you’ll want to know what you’re missing and get your hands on a copy!  “Painting Abstract Landscapes by father-and-daughter-duo Gareth Edwards and Kate Reeve-Edwards. This haunting book draws on the technical, historical and psychological aspects of abstract painting to help the reader develop their own intensely personal paintings.” Gareth Edwards has...

Art, painting, creating. Why can’t everyone do it? Why can’t everyone enjoy it? Well, we think anyone can, everyone should. To quote a famous* “We can do whatever we can do”  Let‘s see if we make sense to you too!  *famous maybe only to his family Nathan Lawrence Esq 😉 links that decided not to work… so do copy and paste!  44AD artspace http://www.44ad.net/ Episode Cover  Phot...

Soooo, where do you art? The hard won corner of a kitchen table, a beautiful sunlit studio overlooking the rooftops of an exotic city… or in a custom-built garden room? Nothing is ever perfect, but they’re all precious.  We’re artchattering about the benefits of our spaces, no matter what they look like. Where’s yours?  Cam Valley Arts Trail https://www.camvalleyartstrail.co.uk/2021-arts...

Is it really all about painting, creating, drawing… what do we actually need to be artists or creatives? Talent, dedication, passsssion… yeah. But more. It can be quite disconcerting to realise we may now need to be accountants, teachers, orators, publicists…blah blah and only then can we Do The Thing and sell the work.  Maybe, just maybe, we know more than we realise. We can do it ;) We all...

Ohhh boy… if you’re anything like us life is a constant whirl of to-do lists and maybe even ‘oh no, I’m late again lists‘ (reference: Gaynor). Think finding a work/life balance is sooo 90s? Think again. Let’s get our hammocks out, find a way through the daily chaos, shall we? Join Karen and Gaynor as they try to stop and smell the roses (irl and metaphorically!).  Find out more about Gaynor L...

So many delicious books around to be inspired by, others to kickstart our mojo… how could we keep them to ourselves?! Links Design Trust https://www.thedesigntrust.co.uk Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/ How to be an Artist - Jerry Saltz https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-to-Be-an-Artist/dp/B0859NGV9M/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=How+to+be+an+Artist+-+Jerry+...

aka what went wrong, what went well-and will we ever learn? ;) It’s always interesting to have a constructive conversation about the things we could have done better-so we did! After a lovely week long exhibition, it’s been fun to reflect. We’ve definitely gained valuable experience and, of course, we’re happy to share. Episode Links: 44AD artspace http://www.44ad.net/  Episode Cover Photo credit:...

https://www.russellhughesart.co.uk - Russell Hughes Instagram   instagram Yorkshire Moors pineapple weed   Links:  artchatter.blog https://artchatter.blog artchatter archives on YouTube  https://youtube.com/channel/UCg5dY70okTJZLLkWGwbJY_g Karen George www.karengeorgeart.co.uk Gaynor Leverett-Jaques www.gaynorljart.com Original Music:  ‘Strangler Fig’ Ben Leverett-Jaq...