'Decade' exhibition work in progress

The Decade exhibition opening at the new Geoff Wilson Gallery was fantastic - a big thank you to all who attended! Here are some shots my sister took while I was busy drawing... took me the whole of the Saturday, but I was very happy to get it all done in one day.

More photos of the opening night to come soon. Some amazing artwork! It was truly an honour to be a part of this exhibition.

Something is about to happen...!

WHOOP WHOOP!! I'm so excited!!!

I have been invited to have my work included in the opening exhibition of the new Geoff Wilson Gallery at NorthTec. What a privilege!

The scary thing is that I have been requested to do a repeat of the wall drawings that I did back in 2009 for my solo exhibition, 'Once'. That means drawing directly onto the brand spanking new walls of the gallery (eek!)... which I will only be able to access a few days before the exhibition opening (eeeeek!)... AND the wall I've been asked to draw on just happens to be the gallery's "window display" (i.e. anyone wandering through the polytech will be able to watch me). EEEEEEK! But scary is good, right?

The exhibition is tentatively opening on November 10th, so that gives me a few weeks to get back into shape with my drawing skills (whew).

So believe it or not, you'll actually be seeing some ACTION from me soon! Yay!

Work for sale on Felt

I am in the process of adding several of my earlier works to Felt (a New Zealand-based online marketplace where I sell my work). The following artworks are a sample of what I currently have for sale there. If you see something that you like, click on the image to be taken directly to the Felt website. I am more than happy to ship to international addresses. :)

Keep an eye out as I will be adding more on a regular basis, with lots of clearance items!

Please feel free to leave comments!

finesse

$75.00

finesse

$40.00

finesse

$35.00

finesse

$85.00

finesse

$50.00

finesse

$35.00

finesse

$45.00

finesse

$35.00

finesse

$65.00

An amusing little diversion...

This gave me a laugh.

I just discovered this version of one of my previous posts:
(You have to be very clever to be able to read it, because... it's written in code... *wink!)

http://illustration2034.edublogs.org/2009/07/20/finesse-artwork-conclude-to-kiwi-artist-esther-griffiths-work-in-progress-book-illustrations/

(Here's my original post.)

There are some quaint sayings in there, and then some just downright confusing ones... (How did "have" become "clothed" and "get" become "annoy"???)

Isn't this sentence cute: "My sisters clothed [sic] been entirely profitable, and at all times so tickled and well-disposed to assist."

I like how "first" becomes "gold medal"...
"so far" becomes "so distant"...
"the very first thing" becomes "the entirely gold medal gismo"!!!


Awesome.

I love translators.

Sketches from 2008

A few life drawing sketches from 2008...

Left-handed exercise

My brothers and sisters don't mind sitting still for me to sketch every now and again :)

My brother, Josh

One of my favourite things to draw since I was a kid!

self-portrait

An interesting exercise... I held the paper against my stomach and drew onto it looking only at my reflection in a mirror. My hand was going in all sorts of crazy and unpredictable directions. Fun! :)

To see more, visit my Picasa web albums...!

Introducing Simeon

There is a season for everything... and right now it's baby season! Simeon Emmanuel Tattersall is now three months old, and (being the first grandbaby on both sides) is loved to bits by his grandparents and all twelve of his aunties and uncles...!

I absolutely LOVE being a mum. The only problem is... WHERE HAS ALL MY SPARE TIME TO MUCK ABOUT DOING ART GONE??? :)

Finding FREE and LEGAL Images

creative commons -Franz Patzig-

by A. Diez Herrero

I've just had one of those wonderful ahhh-so-THAT's-how, can't-believe-I-didn't-know-this-earlier, can't-help-but-share-this moments. I have always wondered how to find images that are both free and legal to use on my blog. As it turns out, it's easy. I know it's not exactly the greatest discovery on the planet, but for my fellow ignoramists, here's how...

1. Search for images with a Creative Commons License

It appears that there are many artists/photographers who like to make their work available for others to share. Awesome! Creative Commons licenses give creators a means to communicate which rights they would like to reserve, and which they are happy to waive for the benefit of others. It is like a more flexible copyright system - "all rights reserved" becomes "some rights reserved".

Here are a couple of places I've found to search for images...

• Flickr - use the advanced search and tick the "only search within Creative Commons-licensed content" box at the bottom of the page.
• Google Images - again, use the advanced search. Under "usage rights" select the option you require (for example, "Return images that are labelled for reuse" or "Return images that are labelled for reuse with modification").

(There will be others of course. If you know of or can recommend other places to search for images with Creative Commons licenses, please do let me know!)

2. Check the license details

This will determine how you can use the image. For example, some creators are happy for you to use their image as is, but are not happy for you to modify it.

Here's what one Creative Commons license looks like. This license states that the creator is happy for you to share their image, AND that they are also happy for you to modify it, SO LONG AS you attribute the work to them. Simple as that!

On Flickr, the license information for an image is found on the right hand side under "License". Click on the "some rights reserved" link to be taken to the Creative Commons license information that relates to that image. 

3. Correctly attribute the image

Once you've found an image that you like, have checked the license to make sure you can use it in the way that you want to, and have copied the image onto your site, you need to make sure that you attribute the image to the creator. Give as much information as is available, such as....

• The creator's full name or screen name. "Image by Esther Tattersall"
• A link to their site or profile. "Image by Esther Tattersall"
• The title or name of the image. "Weaving Light by Esther Tattersall"
• If you've modified the image, mention that fact, and still attribute the original image to the creator. "Original image by Esther Tattersall"

And there you have it! My discovery of the day. Any other tips, anyone?...

Skinny Artist - Market Yourself!

While I was studying at art school, something slowly dawned on me... Great artwork does NOT sell itself just because it’s great. However, great marketing DOES sell artwork... even if the artwork itself doesn’t seem as ‘great’ as some others!

I was a bit disturbed to think that I might be the most magnificent artist alive, but unless I know how to market myself, no one would even know that I exist.

How depressing... I didn’t study to be a marketer. I’m an artist.

It was in this sorry state of mind that I happened across Skinny Artist - a website dedicated to teaching artists practical marketing skills. How exciting!! I signed up for their free email course, “How the @#$&! do I Get More Traffic to my Website?!" and am LOVING it. Why? Let me count the ways...

-         Most importantly, it’s FREE!

-         It was developed by artists, specifically for artists.

-         Each week I am emailed an article with specific tasks to help improve my marketing skills, expand my knowledge base, and encourage me to think outside the box.

-         I don’t need any prior marketing skills.

-         It refers me to other fantastic websites and teaches me how to use all sorts of interesting web based tools and tricks.

-         It’s written in fun and easy-to-read language.

-        I'm not graded or marked... I get out of it what I put into it.

Thus far, I’ve learned about RSS, been introduced to StumbleUpon, received myriads of tips on how to lure people to my blog (if you’re reading this, they must be working to some extent), and have been enjoying every minute of it!

I highly recommend these guys. Whether you are a floundering artist (getting skinnier by the day) who would like some clear directions on how to sell your great artwork, or a well-established artist who would like to become more web-savvy, I would encourage you to check out Skinny Artist’s website. I’d be keen to hear what you think!

Do you know of any other sites that could help artists market themselves? Let me know in a comment below...

Thus ends 2010

Wow. The realisation has just dawned on me... this is my first 2010 post. A bit sad to have to say that on the last possible day of 2010, but never mind. The good news is, I have not dropped off the edge of the planet.

At the end of last year I purchased (with the total of my savings) a fantastic "antique" etching press. This beautiful cast-iron beast was recreated from an old mangle by Waihi artist John Mulvay, and works like a charm! I absolutely adore it. (By the way, Johnny is still making and selling etching presses... Check out his blog!)

In March Daniel and I got married (yup, we're still starry-eyed!), and I became 'Mrs Tattersall'.

I took up a part-time position alongside Dan growing orchids, kept my part-time job at the polytech library, did a spot of weekly housecleaning for a friend with baby twins, and discovered that "running the house" is harder and much more time-consuming than it looks... especially when pregnant! Yup, due in early February... Not far away now.

We shifted house in September to a beautiful place with THREE bedrooms. Us, baby, and The Press. Perfect. We felt a bit lost in the huge living room, so got ourselves a pool table to fill up the space.

I cut back my orchid and cleaning jobs a couple of months ago, and then finished up at the library last week... but in-between our siblings' birthdays (we have twelve younger brothers and sisters between us), visits with the midwife, end-of-year functions, more birthdays, and ante-natal classes, I am glad when I have just a few spare moments in order to collect myself. Surprisingly, I have still been able to sell some work in amongst it all. But I have the strangest feeling that things are NOT going to suddenly become less busy when bubby arrives...!

Currently, I am focusing on getting this blog up-to-date and cataloguing all my past artworks (check out my Picasa Web Albums). Getting there. I'll keep you posted with what's new.

So, yes, I am alive and kicking. Hopefully you'll see a bit more of me next year!

Cheerio...

'Button Thief' for sale

The children's book that I have spent the past year illustrating has finally been published, and is now available for purchase for NZ$19.99 each.

Latesha Randall, ill. Esther Griffiths, Button Thief, Button Books Ltd., Dargaville, 2009.

Button Thief is a book about friendship, forgiveness.... and buttons! It is aimed at 3-7 year-old girls - and with some trickier words it is one that is intended to be read aloud to kids.

If you would like to purchase a book, either...

- Contact me directly

- Email our newly established publishing company, Button Books Ltd., at buybuttonthief@gmail.com.

For more information, visit our website.

I will be uploading more images onto my blog over the next little while. The original drypoint prints are now for sale, for between $30 and $120 each. WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

Button Jars

Another drypoint print for the children's book that I'm illustrating... We now have a date set with the printers, so I'll have to get a wriggle on and finish off the last couple of illustrations!

Esther Griffiths, Button Jars, 2009

Drypoint print on paper, 13.5 cm x 27.0 cm

These prints will be for sale once the book has been published (hopefully the first week of December - just in time for Christmas!).

My new Felt shop

Hey everyone, check out my new Felt shop! I only have one item for sale there at the moment - one of my 'Daughter of the King' prints - but will be adding more each week or so.

Felt is an online outlet specifically for handmade things. It is the New Zeland equivalent to Etsy, where users can buy and sell handcrafted goods. The more artists that can get on board the better, I say... C'mon guys, register now – it's FREE! (Hooray!)

Have a look at my Etsy shop too...

Triumphant explorer

Esther Griffiths, Triumphant Explorer, 2009

Acrylic, graphite, and coloured pencil on MDF board, 19.5 x 19.5 cm

'Warrent of Fitness': exhibition

Come and check out our end-of-year exhibition! The last exhibition we will hold together as a class... :)

Invite designed by John Wright (painting) & Janis Webster (graphic design).

Images to come after the show, but we'd love to see you at the opening...

Opening: Saturday, 14 November 2009, 4:30 pm (light refreshments provided)

Location: Old Library building, Rust Ave, Whangarei

Exhibition runs until 28 November.

Features work by Aaron Hoskins, Esther Griffiths, Ian Pritchard, Jaymz Edmonds, Jane Blucher, Janis Webster, John Wright, Kay McGowan, Matthew Gould, Nicky Cox, Nicky Umuroa, and Trish Clarke.

Hope to see you there!

Mischief!

Esther Griffiths, Mischief, 2009

Acrylic and pencil on MDF board, 50 cm x 122.5 cm

Working on a larger scale is great fun (and for some reason seems to make it feel more important!). This latest series of works will be exhibited in November at APT, Whangarei. Details to follow.

Finding wonder in small things again

Esther Griffiths, Small Things, 2009

Acrylic and pencil on MDF board, 60 cm x 60 cm

Esther Griffiths, What IS That?, 2009

Acrylic and pencil on MDF board, 60 cm x 42.5 cm

...What could be more delightful than drawing young children totally absorbed in something small??

Playing with paisley

These two images are among my first experiments with the use of pattern. Recently I have been fascinated with the combination of fantasy and reality in artwork. These are not quite where I want to be yet, but I am having a lot of fun...!

Esther Griffiths, Doing Nothing, 2009

Acrylic and pencil on MDF board, 40.8 cm x 46.8 cm

Esther Griffiths, Wonderment, 2009

Acrylic and pencil on MDF board, 40.8 cm x 75 cm

Buttons

Part of the children's book that I am illustrating...

Esther Griffiths, Buttons, 2009

Drypoint print and watercolour on paper (digitally enhanced)

13.5 x 27.0 cm

(Please note that the coloured version of this image is digitally enhanced, and is therefore not for sale as it appears on screen! Original prints (both coloured and uncoloured) will be for sale once the book has been published.)

Colour experiments

Here are a couple of experiments with colour. The going is so slow. I'm working on the book illustrations in very short and irregular bursts... in-between assignments!

As always, feedback is greatly appreciated. Feel free to send me an email (under my profile). I'd love to hear from you!

More prints for the book

The following images are unfinished illustrations for the children's book I've been working on over the past few months. (I'm finally getting back into the swing of drypoint printing! New inks, new paper, new mull cloth - ahhhhh.... pure bliss!)

The next step is to add some colour... Experiments coming soon.