Thursday 22 September 2011

CHANDNI CHALLA WINS ARTGRAD.NET COMPETITION



De Montfort University graduate, Chandni Challa, 24, from Leicester, has won a competition based on a public vote with ArtGrad.net, an on-line gallery that showcases up and coming young artists’ work.

Over 100 artists from around the world are featured on the site, but just three were shortlisted. After two months of public voting, digital based contemporary artist, Chandni Challa’s work proved to be the clear winner.
ArtGrad.net offers a marketplace for all art graduates to exhibit and sell their affordable artwork in a professional environment, teaming with buyers, collectors and enthusiasts - all searching for contemporary art from emerging artists.
Chandni Challa, who is currently studying an MA in Contemporary Arts at Oxford Brookes University, said: “I’m delighted to be the winner of this competition. It’s reassuring to know that site visitors have enjoyed my work and felt moved enough to vote for it. ArtGRAD.net is a great concept and it’s really helped to give me the profile I need and I’m sure, will help many more like me in the future.”
Her current work explores ‘how people feel and show love’, using canvas, acrylics, spray paint and pen. Challa will be showing her work, ‘Love’ at the Meller Merceux Gallery, High Street, Oxford later this month as part of the interdisciplinary arts festival, ‘in with between’. She said: “It was the curiosity that drove me toward the topic Love, the show will include series of drawings that show the connection between people and how they show love.” Her exhibition is from Thursday 29th September until Thursday 6th October 2011.
Preview is on 1st October 2011 at 3pm at the Meller Merceux Gallery in Oxford
Her prize from ArtGrad.net was to be introduced to international artist, Graham Short to gain a greater insight into being a professional artist and to receive some ‘hints and tips’ on how to market her work more effectively. Chandni said “Meeting Graham was an honour and has made me even more determined to reach the top”
Maria Potempski, ArtGrad.net, said: “All the work you see on our site is done by people that have studied art or design at an educational establishment; they are all professionals in various stages of their career development. We are pleased that Chandni Challa has won, she has fantastic talent and I’m sure she will be a great success in the future.”Her work can be seen at www.artgrad.net/artist/ChandniChalla

Monday 12 September 2011

A Wonderful Sense of Colour and Space



Romanian artist Cristina Ficu Stan is now resident in the UK after training at the Romanian Art-school. She has exhibited in a number of exhibitions as a member of Cambridge Open Studios and has already secured commissions for commercial and public interiors.

A painter and illustrator to watch….Cristina has a wonderful sense of colour, space and lyrical approach to applying paint.
See more of her work at http://www.artgrad.net/