Algorithms and shameless self-promotion
I have been shortlisted for the Artist Of The Year by SAA which I’m very excited about. There’s also a People’s Choice which you can access by clicking the link (hopefully it works) http://tinyurl.com/536pdnac
It would be amazing if you went on and voted for me xx
This week my instagram/Facebook post pushing this weekend’s event got over 3.5K views and is still rising! I have no idea why as my posts never get that many. In my excitement I checked the stats and my website to see what positive effect this might be having.
Well, not a fat lot TBF, the average view was 2 seconds so I suspect the info quickly went in one eye and out of the other and most people will be none the wiser.
My website had less hits than normal, though I doubt there’s any correlation between the two things and living in the sticks the views probably wont generate much in the way of visits to my studio. All that said I still got a very big buzz.
You might have now gathered that I’m doing an event this weekend - Open Studio (1st and 2nd August). I know it’s a bit soon after the May bank holiday one and it’s a bit close to September’s H.Art one but I’m trying out having other people to exhibit with me in my studio as well as having co working days.
A bit of a messy studio
I think I need to stop procrastinating and tidy up!
Those of you who know me will know how important I think community is and about supporting each other so I asked Beki (insta @redbeki.art ) to come and share my space for an Open Studio weekend.
I met Beki last year at a mutual friend’s exhibition ( insta @samweeks ) and it turns out that decades ago we lived about 5 miles from each other in Birmingham and him out doors was at the same secondary school as Mr Beki, just a year apart.
None of us had met and now years later we live about 5 miles from each other on the Welsh/Herefordshire border, so fate and mutual friendships have brought us together.
Do drop in and say hi.
25, Station Road. Powys. LD7 1DT. 11am - 4pm.
Beki
By nature , I'm a colourist. I work in oils and my styles range from abstract, to still life, to portraits .
I paint every day as I truly believe this improves my skills in the process of paint techniques, colour mixing and application .
My recent collections include stained glass abstracts, fruits and flowers from the hedgerows, everyday objects, still lives with food, and glassware with flowers.
Painting, for me, creates a sense of freedom, where colour becomes everything and time ceases to exist. My paintbrush becomes a magic wand , that enables me to channel the ancient power of art .
I am now represented by Lux Gallery in Birmingham
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I am now represented by Lux Gallery in Birmingham 〰️
I now have 5 pieces of work on Birmingham’s Lux Gallery website https://luxgallery.co.uk/shop/ run by Owen De Visser, photographer, gallerist, organiser of Birmingham Open Studios and thoroughly nice guy. So I’m well chuffed with that.
Finally a little plug for Art In The Pen 2026. It’s the 20th annual event this year and looks to be another corker. 15th and 16th August 2026. I’m in aisle 1, stand 47 if you’re planning a visit to Yorkshire check out using the link - https://www.artinthepen.org.uk/
That was a lot!
See you on the other side briefly before H.Art madness.
Martine
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