Thursday 27 October 2016

Sneak preview 2016


Here is the email invitation to H.I.'s (oh, ok - Jackie's) forthcoming preview of the exhibition. I have had 50 A6 cards printed up - for select guests only - which have the text on the reverse, leaving the image unadulterated. These are being sent to people who have either bought paintings in the past, may buy in the future, or may have some influence on both.

The painting itself is of a scene which we witnessed over the garden wall of the Alhambra, on an evening walk as the sun was setting, and it is 3 feet by 5 feet. We stared at it for quite a while and H.I. asked me to take a snap of it on my phone, from which she made this painting. Blackbirds are the same all over the world, apart from the Australian version, which is twice the size and attacks the heads of anyone who comes within its territory.

She always begins with a drawing in an A3 book, then makes a slightly larger painting of oil on paper, then goes large with oil on canvas. Her paintings are ridiculously difficult to reproduce due to the sublety of the colour differences, even with professional equipment. A young man from Britsol took the photo with a good camera, and I always do all the graphics.

This year we will be offering merchandise in the form of T-Shirts, printed up by H.I.'s grandson, as seen at jackieharding.bigcartel.com

Now I have fixed the browser rack, I will be mounting the unframed small stuff on card, then covering them with acetate film. I went to buy acetate online, and found that they wanted up to £500 per roll. I went into a local shop and found what I am hoping will be a good alternative for £1 per roll, and I always thought it was less expensive to buy online.

New frames are being made for some, and others are being fitted into frames from earlier paintings. The day before the start, I will be hanging them in the gallery to H.I.'s prefferred arrangement and juxtaposition, then I will be spending many hours sitting at the desk, answering questions from all the Welsh women who drift in from the Christmas Market which will be running concurrently, just outside the door.

Since I am pretty confident that none of you will turn up on the opening night (with the exception of Cher {my garden} who came to the last one), you may treat this card as a personal invitation and yourselves as select guests.

26 comments:

  1. You have omitted to inform us of what wine will be served on the opening night.
    Other than that very best wishes to Jackie for exhibition
    sales.

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    1. There will be red, white and mineral water. Beyond that, I cannot be more specific at this stage, other than saying that a trip from Ireland would not be worth it just for the wine. I will pass on your best wishes, hanks.

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  2. I wish Jackie all the luck she deserves - beautiful picture - I hope you will show more when you have opened the exhibition! And thank you for the invitation!

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  3. Hope it all goes well, and she sells out! You may strike my name off the list; sadly it's just too far.

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  4. Wouldn't you be surprised if a bunch of us DID turn up?! Haha.

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  5. When you first showed us the image chosen for the announcement/invitation, I'd wondered how large the actual painting might be. I can imagine how beautiful the painting's subtleties must be.

    Best wishes for a fabulously successful exhibit. Thank you very much for keeping us up to date on all the preparations. Certainly, a lot goes into creating an exhibition.

    Best wishes to you and HI.

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  6. You sir, are a jack of all trades. She's lucky to have your help and expertise. Sounds like a lot of work and can't wait to hear how it went.

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  7. I love attending art previews and would certainly come if I lived anywhere near.

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  8. Enjoy it all, that sitting and people saying "did you do these?" and sell loads and have lots of fun. I can't come because Bath is just too far away but I would if it was nearer.

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    1. I like, "Where do you get your ideas?" and I like the answer, "Harrods." Works best with writers.

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  9. I would just love it if we could all turn up !!!!!
    I really love Jackie's paintings ...... such subtle colours and I love the content. ... I wish her a very successful exhibition and hope she sells many pieces so that she can keep you in the style that you are accustomed to !!! XXXX

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  10. I will be in Bath next June, could you possibly put off until then?

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  12. I would come too, I would even have a bath and then don my very best walking dead t shirt to celebrate the day

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    1. You could get on one of the coaches that all the thousands of elderly Valley Girls turn up on to visit the Christmas Market. Just wear drag so you blend in.

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  13. It's obvious you are quite proud of your H.I. Lovely to hear your devotion in your writing. And it would serve you right if I showed up from Illinois. Maybe if I could sell another of my husbands tractors...

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  14. What a great team you are...I wish you both a very successful and profitable exhibition. I am tempted to attend....we'll see.

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