International Artist Graham Short Likes ArtGrad!

Famed engraver and International artist Graham Short has become a new fan of ArtGrad.

Graham recently wrote this comment on ArtGrad’s facebook page:
"Congratulations to Artgrad.net for providing a superb service, not only to art students but to buyers and investors who are always keen to buy work from emerging, up-and-coming contemporary artists. The opportunity for students to showcase their work is fraught with difficulties. Artgrad.net is to be commended for allowing students to show their work, and also for the artist to retain their independence while showing their art to a very broad market. Maria Potempski’s experience gained in PR and Marketing - at the highest level - will allow art students to concentrate on their creativity, knowing they are being guided expertly and securely towards a potentially rewarding and exciting career".
Check out Graham’s amazing work and read the comments of Kevin Roberts CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8315313/Worlds-smallest-engraving-on-the-edge-of-a-razor-blade.html

Eco design company 4G Launch Art Student Competition worth £250 in association with Artgrad.net

4G Design help retailers and their supplier’s source, manufacture, install and maintain shop-fixtures more sustainably. They are very environmentally conscious and work with many high street brands, assisting them with resource-efficient ways of designing and developing store equipment, embracing its complete life-cycle from cradle-to-cradle.

4G Design have moved into new offices in Kettering and now wish to hold a competition for graduating artists as part of their business launch.


The Competition
The competition is only open to art students who have registered on Artgrad.net and have uploaded images (which must be for sale) onto the site.

The prize is £250, to purchase the chosen piece of work.

Entrants have until the 10th of June 2011 to email maria@artgrad.net an image their chosen artwork, with details including it size, media and a short description of why you think it would be an appropriate piece to feature in the reception area of 4G Design.

The judges of the competition will be from 4G Design, The Body Shop, HSBC and E3 – a reclamation and recycling organisation.

Short-listed candidates will be emailed on the 15th June and their work will appear in a ‘virtual exhibition’ at the 4G Design launch event on 23rd of June when the winner will be announced and presented with their cheque.

The winner will also be featured on the Artgrad blog and also in associated press that accompanies the launch of the new 4G Design premises.

If you have any further questions please email maria@artgrad.net for further help.

Figuring Light 2: Colour, Shifting Boundaries - an exhibition at the Atkins Gallery

The exhibition, Figuring Light 2: Colour, Shifting Boundaries is an exhibition curated by the artist John Lancaster and writer Dr Richard Davey. The show of contemporary paintings and sculpture explores colour as the catalyst for generating light, movement and rhythm. An additional visual dynamic is also created, that of a state of constantly shifting form and boundaries. A subsidiary theme continued from the first exhibition Figuring Light, Colour and the Intangible develops the curator’s interests in abstract works that create a deeper and more rewarding experience for the viewer; a spiritual experience operating outside of traditional religious parameters and expectations, where the works provide the opportunity for meditative contemplation.

Exhibiting artists in the show
Barrie Cook explores the ground form relationship through a heightened use of colour to create a luminescent glow in his work.
Ruth Sumner explores the figure ground relationship as an energetic struggle in which both sides fight for recognition and dominance.
Oliver Barrett’s sculpture explores the figure/form relationship through three-dimensional form (sculpture) and space, using colour to challenge and question our understanding and preconceptions of how this relationship is visually interpreted.
John Lancaster’s structures are based on geometry, and he introduces colour to break down the rigid structure thereby creating a flux of shifting form, pattern and rhythm.

Private view is on Tuesday 22 March 6.30 – 9.00pm and the exhibition runs until 23rd April 2011 at the Creative Hinckley Gallery, The Atkins Building, Lower Bond Street, Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 1QU
http://www.creativehinckley.co.uk

Slovakian Photographer in Staffordshire - Tomas Kotlar

Tomas Kotlar is originally from Slovakia where he is a graduate of Social Work from Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. He is now studying Graphic and Digital Design at Staffordshire University.
“When I was studying in Slovakia, I was interested in photography and graphics. Most of my photos were taken on trips to different places, around Europe. I like to take pictures of monuments, bustling cities, statues and landscape. I am inspired by Czech photographer Jan Saudek and the Slovakian photographer Jakub Klimo. I want my photographs to bring people the kind of feelings that I felt when I was taking them so that they may see things in different ways, as I do. I have been taking photographs for 5 years and although they get better, there is always room to experiment and improve. Whenever I have a camera in my hand it still feels like the first time I have taken a picture.”Tomas is focusing his studies on typography and editorial pieces at Stafford University, but continues with his passion for photography.

Lindsay Monk - Photographer

Lindsay Monk is a recent graduate from Southampton Solent University although her interest in photography started when she was 16 years old. In her own words: “When it comes to photography I am very keen on capturing the natural moment so I tend to stay away from constructed studio work. My main interests are in landscape and architecture. I think this has come from living in Suffolk where I had a variety of interesting environments around me including seascapes, farmland and cityscapes.” Lindsay particularly enjoys working with film but digital is also part of her portfolio.“More recently I have attempted to get out of my comfort zone, focusing on an interior project, called 15.4.10. For this project I worked with a variety of different locations until I found one that I really engaged with. This resulted in working in the home of an elderly woman, who I had not previously met. I identified the kind of person and lifestyle she had by capturing the home in which she lived, digitally capturing various rooms of the house and input her belongings to get a sense of it in its natural state.”

See the results of Lindsay’s piece on www.artgrad.net

Sonnita Soand – Passionate about Colour!!!

Sonnita Soand is a recent graduate from Loughborough University in Multimedia Textiles.

She is inspired by many things in her environment particularly with unusual shapes and textures. However, her main focus in all her work is a vibrant and exciting use of colour.

Sonnita explains: “Themes I have currently been influenced by include Indian food and the structure of bird feathers.

My recent project was based on under water coral; I loved the fine detail and exciting, rich textures of them. My research consisted of photography and fine detailed drawing which I have become passionate about. From here, I developed my research further through a variety of materials and techniques; laser cut acrylic mirror, cut work, hand and machine embroidery, cording along with fabric manipulation. The fabrics I have worked with include silk organza, cotton organdie, hand made paper, acrylic paints, pvc, and many more. I am passionate about creative Textiles and love creating new colourful pieces that catch the eye. The combination of silk organza and acrylic mirror has become a key feature of work I do now and I am constantly thinking of new themes to work with.”
Sonnita’s beautiful work can be seen on www.artgrad.net

She is now available for freelance work and commission that are related to interiors, jewellery or fashion. She is also producing her own range of jewellery using acrylic mirror and regular coloured acrylic sheets which are ideal as a contemporary fashion piece.
“Colour is something I am deeply passionate about; I can never work without it!”

Stunningly Beautiful and Unique Illustrations by Clare Dolan

Clare Dolan recently graduated in Illustration from Loughborough University. Her work is quite simply stunning! She is currently seeking experience in the design industry as well as freelance work and commissions. Snap her up now whilst you still have the chance!

Her chosen subject matter is surreal, psychedelic, fantastic or unusual in some way. Clare excels when she is creating something unique and out of the ordinary, loving to create imagery of the impossible, scenes of dreams and other worlds – exploring her imagination to the full.

Her techniques involve manipulating photographs, using all sorts of materials which are moulded into desired positions. Then the photograph, scan or collage elements are combined together digitally.

“I then spend a lot of the time playing around with the layers' styles and positions until I am happy. I'm always trying new things to find more varied and unusual textures and atmospheric feels. To create more unique work, I plan out lots of layouts in thumbnails to try and capture the most unusual and intriguing angle to appeal to the viewer.”

Clare also creates short animations which see believes help improve her composition and story-telling.

“There is more pressure when creating multiple viewpoints for one scene, and animation also allows for more playfulness”.

Go to http://www.artgrad.net/ to see more of Clare’s work or commission something really unique!