Magazine Degree Art 01

OCTOBER ISSUE 01

DegreeART

AT THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIRS

in FOCUS

Hans K Clausen Seung Ah Paik Emily Macinnes Matthew Spencer

ART

UNDER £1,000

COPYRIGHT Š DegreeArt 2012 Edited and designed

by Chantelle May Purcell CONTRIBUTORS Elinor Olisa Isobel Beauchamp Anneka Soobhany Louise McNaught Chantelle May Purcell

NEWS

Signature Art Prize Winners Announced at Gala & People’s Choice Award final votes ..........................................

DegreeArt at The Affordable Art Fairs.......................................

Gift Shop coming soon ...........................................................

Featured artist: Maria Kjartans.................................................

in FOCUS

INTERVIEWS with Hans K Clausen........................................................................

Seung Ah Paik..........................................................................

Emily Macinnes........................................................................

Matthew Spencer.....................................................................

TOP PICKS

This month: Isobel Beauchamp Top Picks focus on ‘Sculptural Painting’...................................................................

NEW ART

x5 works Under £1,000 artists picked by Anneka Soobhany...........................................

ARTIST ADVICE

Louise McNaught advice & tips on commissions.....................

COLLECTORS TIP

From Elinor Olisa published in formyhome.com........................

NEWS

WINNERS OF THE SIGNATURE ART PRIZE ARE...

“It’s so important to champion bright young things and it was a great opportunity to see the talent and potential that the next generation of artists are offering the art scene.”

- Marissa Cox Art Wednesday

The winners of the accalimed Signature Art Prize are: Emily Macinnes, Seung Ah Paik, Hans K Clausen and Matthew Spencer The winners were decided by some key figures of the art scene who took part in the rigorous judging process, including; Mark Westall (Creative Director of Fadwebsite), Marissa Cox (Online Arts Editor for Art Wednesday), Chris Pensa (Owner/Founder of Love Art London), Amira Hashish (Assistant Arts Editor of The Evening Standard), Ryan Lanji (Art Curator), Michal Ohana Cole (2011 Signature Art Prize Winner in the Mixed Media category) and Carolina Piteria (2011 Signature Art Prize Winner in the Painting category).

The Signature Art Prize is becoming a significant award that represents a dynamic survey of trends and styles that are significant within contemporary practice today. This award like others that focus on graduating artists; such as Art Catlin or Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Arts, help to support emergent artists who are

Images from Signature Art Prize Gala

studying or recently graduated. Helping to harness and sustain the future of arts. DegreeArt are thrilled by this years talent and are excited to see how these artists develop.

You can see their work on display at the Execution Rooms until November 11th!

HAVE YOUR SAY AND VOTE NOW FOR THE PEOPLES CHOICE AWARDS. ENDS SOON!

HOW DO I VOTE?

browse through some stunning pieces of art and click There is still time to place the ‘Vote’ button under the your vote and participate in entrants you believe dechoosing your finalist. serve to be in with a chance of being crowned this year’s To place your vote you winner. simply need to visit and ‘Like’ our Facebook page,

You may vote for as many entrants as you deem fit, however you can only vote once for each image.

Voting closes on the 29th October at 12pm.

OFFERS - FREE TICKETS FOR THE AFFFORDABLE ART FAIRS!

We have a small number of free entry tickets available for the Autumn Affordable Art Fairs in Battersea and Hampstead.

Battersea 25th - 28th October 2012 Hampstead 1st - 4th November 2012 These will be distributed on a first come first served basis.

To apply, please email us: info@Degreeart.com with: 1) Your full name 2) Postal address 3) Which fair you would like to attend.

We will notify you if you have bagged a ticket for two!

The results are bewitching insights and stories that present the viewer with a captivating sense of discovery, honesty and empathy for her subjects.

FEATURED ARTIST MARIA KJARTANS

Elinor Olisa, DegreeArt.com Maria Kjartans is an artist/ photographer who graduated from Glasgow School of Art with a MFA in Fine Art in 2007. Kjartens lives and works in London, Paris and Reykjavik.

Dream Things that Never were £500.00 2011 Photography 59.4cm x 42cm x 0cm

As much an explorer as photographer, Maria’s fascination and obsession with life cycles and events, across cultures, dominate the subject matter of her pieces and drives her to visit often remote and unusual locations.

“To be able to capture life as it is lived is magic. It is fixing a moment of reality.

I suppose my curiosity and passion for new places and experiences is what takes me

Particularly Tidy £700.00 2006 C-type Photogaphic Print, Limited Edition of 7 83.3cm x 60.3cm x 0cm

out to explore. I am a traveler I suppose. The feeling of being scared, but do it anyway, is what makes me feel alive. To get out there and being a part of our world. It is never a solitary journey when you are collaborating with the sun.”

María Kjartans

UPCOMING NEWS & EXHIBITIONS: 1st of November 2012 Iceland: Performing at Iceland Airwaves festival with Biggi Hilmars @ Harpan Concert Hall in Reykjavík November 2012 Zurich: Solo exhibition First Part: Launch with the underground party, a 'secret' event.

Second part : Solo exhibition @ BeingKeskula space

A Sense of Solitude £850.00 North Iceland February 2011 Signed and numbered Lambda Photographic Print - Edition of 7 100cm x 70cm x 0cm

8th December 2012 Iceland: Group show @Vinnslan, Iceland. Exhibiting a performance, sound and visuals with a theatre group. Vinnslan is an exhibition of Reykjavik's most vibrant artists of all kind, exhibiting their work-in-progress.

- Performances, Music, Fine Art, Sculpture, Installations, Films and more.

Every Other Planet ÂŁ390.00 Iceland midnight in July 2006 - signed and numbered Lambda photgraphic print - ed. of 7 30cm x 40cm x 0cm

Ground Mist ÂŁ390.00 Iceland midnight in July 2006 Lambda photographic print, ed. of 7 30cm x 42cm x 0cm

EXCLUSIVE OFFER 10% OFF SELECTED MARIA KJARTANS WORK OFFERS

As our featured artist this month: we would like to bring an exclusive offer of10% discount off the selected works that have been featured All you have to do is enter in the following code at checkout MARIAKJARTANS10%OFF View her works now: http://www.degreeart.com/users/maria-kjartans

NEWS DEGREE ART IS RETURNING FOR ITS 9TH YEAR AT AFFORDABLE ART FAIR BATTERSEA AND HAMPSTEAD.

Abigail Box Abigail McDougall Amelia Humber Andrea Tyrimos Anika Manuel Anna Rothwell Bobby Patmore Carrie May Darren McPhearson Gonny Van Hulst Hannah Biscombe Hannah Lewis Davies Johannes Neilson Laura Fishman Laura Hunt Louise McNaught Mark Hayward Natalie Tkachuk Ramzi Musa Rebecca Molloy Sophie Derrick Wendy Hyde Yuki Aruga

THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR BATTERSEA LONDON 2012 FREE TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE

BATTERSEA THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR

ABIGAIL BOX, ANDREA TYRIMOS, ANIKA MANUEL, ANNA ROTHWELL, BOBBY PATMORE, CARRIE MAY, GONNY VAN HULST, HANNAH BISCOMBE, JOHANNES NEILSON, LAURA HUNT, LAURA FISHMAN, LOUISE MCNAUGHT, MARK HAYWARD, RAMZI MUSA, SOPHIE DERRICK, YUKI ARUGA DEGREEART IS RETURNING FOR ITS 9TH YEAR TO THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR, BATTERSEA TO STAND G12. ARTWORK IS PRICED BETWEEN £40 AND £4,000.

Opening times Wednesday 24 October Charity Private View 5.30pm – 9.30pm Thursday 25 October 11.00am – 5.30pm Thursday Late View 5.30pm – 9.30pm Friday 26 October 11.00am – 6.00pm Saturday 27 October 11.00am – 6.00pm Sunday 28 October11.00am – 6.00pm Charity Private View £25 Late View £20 Adult weekday Advance £10 / Door £12 Adult weekend Advance £12 / Door £15 Concessions weekday Advance £8 / Door £10 Concessions weekend Advance £10 / Door £13 Children under 16 Free

Concessionary tickets are available for senior citizens, full time students, and those in receipt of jobseekers allowance or income support. Please bring proof of concessionary status with you to the fair.

Venue Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park London, SW11 4NJ Battersea Park London SW11 4NJ

HAMPSTEAD THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR

ABIGAIL BOX, ABIGAIL MCDOUGALL, AMELIA HUMBER, DARREN MCPHEARSON, GONNY VAN HULST, HANNAH BISCOMBE, HANNAH LEWIS DAVIES, JOHANNES NEILSON, LOUISE MCNAUGHT, NATALIE TKACHUK, REBECCA MOLLOY, SOPHIE DERRICK, WENDY HYDE, YUKI ARUGA DEGREEART IS RETURNING TO NORTH LONDON FOR THE SECOND EVER AFFORDABLE ART FAIR HELD IN HAMPSTEAD ON STAND A5. ARTWORK PRICED FROM £40 - £4000.

Opening times Wednesday 31 October Charity Private View 5.30pm – 9.30pm Thursday 1 November11.00am – 5.30pm Thursday Late View 5.30pm – 9.30pm Friday 2 November11.00am – 6.00pm Saturday 3 November 11.00am – 6.00pm Sunday 4 November11.00am – 6.00pm Charity Private View £25 Late View £20 Adult weekday Advance £10 / Door £12 Adult weekend Advance £12 / Door £15 Concessions weekday Advance £8 / Door £10 Concessions weekend Advance £10 / Door £13 Children under 16 Free

Concessionary tickets are available for senior citizens, full time students, and those in receipt of jobseekers allowance or income support. Please bring proof of concessionary status with you to the fair.

Venue Lower Fairground Site East Heath Road Hampstead London NW3 1TH

GIFT IDEAS FROM DEGREEART OBJECTS OF DESIRE Original, Affordable Artwork

Photographer: Natalie Tkachuk @ DegreeArt 2012 block letters from InSpitalfields

GIVE THE GIFT OF ART THIS CHRISTMAS ART GIFT VOUCHERS

ART GIFTS THAT TRAVEL

DegreeArt offers beautiful art gift vouchers that can be redeemed online, at the gallery, or at art fairs and allow the recipient to purchase original pieces of art. The gift vouchers come in values of £25, £50, £100 & £200 and are available to purchase from www.DegreeArt. com. Vouchers can be sent directly, at no extra cost, by email. The buyer can also choose to have the piece posted to the buyer or direct to the intended recipient. Posted vouchers are sent recorded delivery and presented in lovely little reusable mini-art frames and cost £10.00.

Going away for Christmas? During the run up to festive period, we will be offering ‘Art That Can Travel’, making it easy to transport gifts to your loved ones, in your suitcase. Our curated selection includes limited edition and handmade prints, that are gently rolled up in pretty gift wrapped tubes, carefully packaged sculptures and small, but beautiful original paintings on canvas.

Artwork is available from artists including Hannah Biscombe, Carrie May, Mengsel, Alex Keating, Clare Shields, Emi Miyashita, Yuki

Photographer: Natalie Tkachuk @ DegreeArt 2012 block letters from InSpitalfields

Aruga, Anna Rothwell, Rebecca Molloy, Mary Dalton, Diana Bower, and Cath Laffan.

ART FOR ALL If your travel plans allow, then browse the website for larger works and select a gift that will undoubtedly be both a unique and considered choice. DegreeArt are happy to advise on suitable artwork to fit your budget or requirements, so do get in touch with the team at info@DegreeArt.com or call 020 8980 0395. All artwork comes with a 14 day trial and artists can be commissioned to create personalised pieces.

Louise McNaught, Pendants, 2012, coming soon

DegreeArt will be launching its new Online Gift Shop in mid-November, showcasing a varied selection of graduate artist and designers creating ceramics, glassware and jewellery amongst other desirable objects. The launch will be marked by the gallery’s Christmas exhibition ‘Objects of Desire’, showcasing the shop’s 50 founding members and incorporating an ‘Advent of Art’ wall.

Private View: 22nd November 6-9pm R.S.V.P. Hannah@DegreeArt.com Exhibition Runs: 23rd November – 23rd December 12-6pm

PAINTING WINNER

SEUNG AH PAIK

in FOCUS

Self Watchers - Signature Art Prize Winner, 2012 Painting, 300cm x 480cm x 1cm SOLD

How did you learn about the Prize and what made you want to enter?

I found out about the prize through an art opportunities web site.

When and where did you make your entry?

I made this entry right after my MFA degree show at Goldsmiths in London.

Tell us about this piece?

The basic Idea of my practice is to express my ego through paintings by representing my body as a set of objects from the perspectives that are most familiar to people. The perspectives play the most important roles in my works. They are selfportraits from the painter’s own direct view. This suggests the viewer to feel as though they are looking at their own

bodies. Moreover, by subtly combining images from diverse perspectives rather than using just one perspective, they become slightly uncanny. This is because I treat my body as a reconstructed object rather than a self-image, in order to question the distance between the artist myself and the created image. Skin and texture are another important aspects to my paintings. I have transformed the canvas into the skin and by this I tried to emphasize the intimacy between myself and the paintings.

The images in this set of 3 paintings are about a single point of viewmy point of view- which is my “signature style”. I want the viewers to have the opportunity to indulge on this perspective and experience

a complexity in their experience. I majored in oriental painting before I came to Goldsmiths, and the technique and symbolism I use for my paintings can be called “hybrid” and mixed in a very unique way. My works are very powerful and cogent while being pale and calm at the same time. They look very abstract and simple from distance but when you look at the paintings closer, you will notice that the precise and detailed description of the texture of my own body from my own perspective in enormous scale convinces the viewers to question about themselves and the conventional portrait once again.

Voluntary Self-Confinement, 2007, pigment and rabbit skin size on calico 91cm x 172cm

Where do you imagine your entry eventually being hung?

Because of the enormous size of my work, I want my paintings to be hung on a tall, wide, white wall with a high ceiling.

Tell us about where you make your work?

I am currently living and working in London. Most of my recent works were produced at the college studios at Goldsmiths, and now I am continuing my works at my own studio in New Cross.

What is your main goal for the coming year?

My goal for the coming year would be to progress on ‘Self Watcher’ series even further, and to provide people

Untitled, 2011, pigment on cotton, 86cm x 68cm

What is your key inspiration as an artist?

My key inspiration is myself ever since the subject of my works has always been myself. As my works are about my own perspective and the surface of my skin, I try to be more conscious about myself and my surroundings.

Finally, tell me something surprising about yourself?

I studied fashion design for 3 years in Central Saint Martin’s after I got my BFA in oriental painting from Seoul National University in Korea. I decided to study fashion after I started selling my own brand of fashion jewelry to several fashion concept stores in London. Although I am very much interested in all kinds of arts including fashion design, Fine art fascinates me the most.

Anything else that we should know about you - awards, exhibitions coming up, competitions etc...

I was shortlisted for the Chadwell Award this year. For the coming year, I am planning to have a solo exhibition in Nagoya, Japan. Also, I received a very positive review following my MFA degree show from ArtLyst.com

Self Watchers, ÂŁ3,000, 2011, 170cm x 138.5cm x 1cm, pigment on cotton

PHOTOGRAPHY WINNER

EMILY MACINNES

in FOCUS

Rewan, 2012, medium format photographic scans, 60cm x 43cm x 4cm

Nada, ÂŁ250, 2012, medium format photographic scans, 43cm x 60cm

How did you learn about the Prize and what made you want to enter?

I learnt about the prize through ideastap, a funding platform for young, UK artists.

When and where did you make your entry?

I made my entry both in Nottingham and at home in Scotland. The subjects I photographed, I got to know through the Nottingham Refugee Forum and documented them during my studies at Nottingham Trent University. When I moved back to Scotland I worked with the images, adding the map and text to further communicate the issues of migration and oppression that my subjects have endured.

Where do you imagine your entry eventually being hung?

I would be great if my entry was hung alongside other forms of creative documentary - perhaps in a gallery, public space or in someones home.

Tell us about where you make your work?

I make my work out in the world documenting stories of those I meet. I often choose issues which are of great interest to me and I feel need to be shared.

What is your main goal for the coming year?

My main goal for the coming year is to keep producing work - there are so many stories out there and

even with the increasing number of photojournalists and visual storytellers there are still many stories that go untold.

What is your key inspiration as an artist?

My key inspiration is the work of contemporary photojournalists such as Ed Kashi and Jim Goldberg who are creating new and exciting methods for visual storytelling. I also often get inspiration from cinema and poetry.

Dana, 2012, medium format photographic scans, 6” x 4.5”

Finally, tell me something surprising about yourself?

I’m addicted to X Factor, gherkins and Haitian Rap. Anything else that we should know about you?

This coming year has been eventful with group exhibitions in Nottingham, London and New York. I have also been shortlisted for the Magnum/ ideastap photographic award which is an exciting opportunity to have a mentoring session with a magnum photographer and have work exhibited alongside other practicing documentary photographers.

Sady, 2012, medium format photographic scans, 60cm x 43cm

Flowers, 2012, medium format photographic scans, 60cm x 43cm

SCULPTURE WINNER

HANS K CLAUSEN

in FOCUS

Enough, 2012 – Collected items from artist’s studios, ‘At the top of a jump’, 2012 - Discarded stacking chairs timber, steel cable, emulsion paint, 6.5 x 2 x 2 metres (Dimensions variable)

How did you learn about the Prize and what made you want to enter?

I heard about the Signature Art prize from a studio colleague who told me ... ‘this could be the one for you’!

When and where did you make your entry?

Through the haar of a beautiful dreich summers evening in Edinburgh.

Where do you imagine your entry eventually being hung?

The foyer of a financial institution’s head quarters would seem a fitting home for my skip sculpture.

Tell us about where you make your work?

My skip sculpture ‘Notion’(2012) was made during my final year at Edinburgh College of Art, it was constructed in a very clever man’s shed in Crieff. Since graduating I have taken up residency at the new Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, an inspiring community of clever creative people.

Hari-Up (2011) - Found ski (40cm x 32cm x 7cm

Airmiles (2011) - Shopping trolley, boiled rice (165cm x 95cm x 60cm)

What is your main goal for the coming year?

To learn Greek (I’ve made a promise). To look harder and see more.

Finally, tell me something surprising about yourself?

I’m following and recording the daily activities of a builders skip for a year.

What is your key inspiration as an artist?

The work of Jannis Kounellis. Seeing his 1993 untitled work (oak beams, hemp rope and bronze bells) convinced me to give up work and get to art school.

Anything else that we should know about you?

I have been selected for The Scottish Society of Artists annual exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy in January 2013.

Notion - Signature Art Prize Winner, ÂŁ2,400 2012, stainless steel, 125cm x 360cm x 165cm SOLD

PAINTING WINNER

MATTHEW SPENCER

in FOCUS

Fighter Jet in Woods, £1,950, 2012, hand cut MDF & household paint with matt varnish, 122cm x 122cm (Signature Art Prize Piece) SOLD

In this interview we learn about Matthew Spencer’s inspiration and reasoning behind entering in ’Fighter Jet in Woods’ which combines medium, process and aesthetics as message. The MDF, household paint and painstakingly slow hand cutting process that he uses gives the work a raw abandoned aesthetic, creating scenes which depict gritty disenchanted visions of manmade structures and waste in woods and forests. Spencer graduated from Bath Spa University with a Master of Fine Art, 2010.

How did you learn about the Prize and what made you want to enter?

I saw the Prize advertised on axisweb.org and it looked like a fantastic opportunity to get my work out there.

When and where did you make your entry?

I made it this summer in my studio Where do you imagine your entry eventually being hung?

Probably in a more contemporary building with large white walls

Tell us about where you make your work?

At the moment I work up in North Yorkshire in a converted garage What is your main goal for the coming year?

The most important is definitely to get a studio in London and move down permanently, have a solo show and exhibit my work more outside of the UK. What is your key inspiration as an artist?

Our landscape, our everyday environments, how our world is represented to us through visual information and how this influences our comprehension of the world around us, including the process’s and materials that we form our landscape with and in turn how this forms our sense of identity.

Graffitied Building in Woods, £1,950.00, hand cut MDF & household paint with matt varnish, 122cm x 122cm x 1.8cm

Finally, tell me something surprising about yourself?

When I was younger all I wanted was to join the army Anything else that we should know about you?

I won the 2011 Southwood NOAC Award for best UK artist under 25 and most recently the NEO Studio Prize.

I’ve currently got work in the Great North Art Show, Ripon, in September I will have work in the Price of Beauty Contemporary Art Auction at the Shard, and upcoming exhibitions include; Winter Pop at the Marburae Gallery and the Zillah Bell Gallery.

Pimp my Ride, £1,950, 2012, hand cut MDF & household paint with matt varnish, 122cm x 122cm SOLD

in FOCUS

British landscape no. 1, ÂŁ2950.00 2012, hand cut MDF & household paint with matt varnish, 105cm x 165cm x 1.8cm

in FOCUS

CHANTELLE PURCELL SPEAKS TO ARTIST LOUISE MCNAUGHT ON COMMISSIONS 1) Be as accurate and as upfront as you can about cost, this is normally the first thing Clients want to know - ‘How much is this going to cost me?’

2) Never be afraid to show your art whenever or wherever you can, even on your iPhone - you get commissions by people seeing your work, even people you would’t expect to commission you! (I recently got a commission from someone seeing one of my paintings on my husband computer at work as it’s his screen saver!)

3) Try to be flexible (within reason) to accommodate the Client’s expectations, this could be doing a sketch/mock-up of roughly how the piece will look, gives them some idea and gives the opportunity to become part of the process.

4) Be aware that a commission is not always going to be something you find easy or it may even turn out you don’t enjoy it for some reason, but they are always opportunities for opening yourself to new ideas, opportunities for learning from and expanding your practice (and testing your limits!!)

Mr Blue, 2012, Acrylic, spray paint and pencil on linen, 90cm x 90cm x 4cm

5) Be professional and never moan or whinge to the Client about how hard it is - they don’t need to know!

6) Try and give the commission a title, I have found Clients appreciate this as it gives the work some added importance.

Commission of a Hare, 2012, Painted drawing of a hare.

40cm x 40cm x 2cm

What advice would you offer to artist’s who haven’t made work through the commissioning process?

My advice if you have never done a commission before is that you will probably be scared and apprehensive (or even that it is beyond you, like when I was commissioned to paint a building for the Head of the BBC!) but everyone has to start somewhere - so just do it and learn from it! The more commissions you, do the easier you will find the process.

What is the most strangest or unique commission request you have taken on?

The strangest commission I had was probably to paint 2 large paintings of the New BBC Broadcasting Centre, I had never

Rabbit in the Headlight #4 2012, Pencil on rejection letter, 21cm x 29.7cm x 0.1 cm

painted a building before but they liked my style, so I just accepted the commission (as I was an art student and needed the money!) and did the best I could. They were very happy with the end result, but I did find the commission extremely challenging and many times thought it has defeated me!

What has been your favourite commission you have created, so far?

My favourite commission was one I called 'Mr Blue', acrylic, spray paint and pencil on linen (90x90x4cm), where a lovely Client via Degreeart commissioned me to do a large painting on one of my stags with blue running through him - rather than the fluorescent paints I usually use. This lead to discovering the perfect 'blue' paint, which was fun, and that I have used in other piec-

es since, and I also loved how the stag looked that large. It was virtually lifesize! It really added to my practice and made me want to do further large stag paintings!

How would you say making work through the commissioning process has developed how you approach your work?

A Commission of 3 Bees on a Golf Card in Oils 2012 Painting 15cm x 13.5cm

I have been doing commissions probably on and off for the past 10 years, but they have definitely become much more frequent since I have done my Fine Art Degree and become a Degreeart Artist.

They have challenged me to do things I would not have normally done, therefore expanding my skills and practice.

Some of them have been very challenging and there has even been the odd one I would not do again if offered - but least that is something I know now by doing it in the first place. They have made me more professional as there are always deadlines for commissions as they are often for birthdays/presents etc. But some of them have been really lovely to do and it always rewarding when you hear back how pleased the Client is :).

Commissions of bees painted on uncommon supports A commission of a bee painted on to a Victorian photography book cover in oils (13.5cm x 10cm x 0.8cm)

For more information on how to commission a piece of work please visit: http://www.degreeart.com/ commission-art

BBC Broadcasting Centre Commission 2010, Oil and Acrylic on Canvas, 80cm x 60cm x 5cm & 84cm x 119cm x 5 cm

TOP PICKS SCULPTURAL PAINTING TOP PICKS

The selection this month looks at sculptural paintings.

I am intrigued by the combination of techniques used in these works and how one medium can take on the form of another during its creation.

Paintings that go beyond the traditional 2D structure and sculpture that uses painterly

Pour No.4

by Laura Fishman ÂŁ695.00 2012 Painting 38cm x 38cm x 3cm

techniques and ideals. The experimentation and exploration of materials has resulted in often intentional, but sometimes chance collaborations of media, which results in a depth of artwork, like no other format.

- Isobel Beauchamp

The Core of a Man's Spirit Signature Art Prize 2012 Finalist ÂŁ350.00 Painting 20cm x 15cm x 3cm

Because I was born in the 80's small 2

by Sophie Derrick £950.00 2011 Digital Print on Archival Paper with Overlying Oil Paint.

Mounted on Dibond.

66.5cm x 49.5cm x 3cm

Ruched Pour

by Laura Fishman £450.00 2012 'Ruched Pour' is a mix of blue, yellow, orange and grey acrylic paint, dripped and then delicately ruched with nylon thread.

40cm x 5cm x 3cm

Étude Op. 7 It's All About You

by Subash Thebe £777.00 Oil on Mirror 2012 Painting 39cm x 49cm x 4cm

Untitled #5 (Dark Yellow / Light Yellow)

by Bryan Lavelle £1,000.00 2008 Enamel on MDF 76cm x 76cm x 2cm

Form Study

by Daniel Madeiros £1,000.00 which moves and changes 2012 28cm x 86cm x 5cm

Inside-Out

by Adrian Scicluna £700.00 2009 Materials include reinforced concrete and pigment. CBM - 0.1 54cm x 86cm x 4.5cm

Vertical Colour

by Molly Behagg £1,350.00 2010 Oil Paint and Varnish on Gesso Board. (Four individual panels).

122cm x 22cm x 2cm

Trapezoid 1

by David Watkins ÂŁ2,000.00, 2010, Gloss paint and varnish on board, Painting, 245cm x 122cm x 2cm

NEW ART UNDER £1,000

1. Nightfall, Towards Tower Bridge

by Abigail McDougall £350.00 2012 Acrylic on Board.

Overall frame size 39.5cm x 33.5cm Size of painting 15cm x 22cm

3. Sedo

by Johannes Nielsen £500.00 2012 Limited Edition of 80 Sculpture 22cm x 10cm x 5cm 2. Thunderean Revolution 1

by Sophie Derrick £850.00 2012 Painting 52cm x 39cm x 0.3cm

4. A Headscarf

by Chris Mear £21.00 Edition of 21.

2008 Photography 40 x 50 x 2 cm

5. West End Sunset

by Andrea Tyrimos £195.00 2012 Oil paint on canvas Painting 15 x 21 x 2 cm

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAVING A PERSONAL ART COLLECTION

Jessica Brown caught up with art collector Elinor Olisa from Degree Art to discuss art in the home and the benefits of having your own collection.

Why should people grow their interest in art?

Collecting original art is often consider as only something for the very wealthy, however this is far from the case. Owning art made by emerging artists has many benefits. It is more accessible than many imagine, it's

affordable, and your purchase from the artist will support their career ensuring that your artwork will appreciate in value as the artist's career develops. You will also importantly be owning something unique.

What would you say to people considering starting their own collection?

Trust your instincts. There is no need to have a degree in art history or to have re-

searched endlessly. So long as you buy from a reputable, established source such as a gallery or art fair, you can feel confident that if it caught your eye and costs within your budget you are making a good choice.

Ask questions of the person you are buying from about the artist and their career as not only will this assure you that you are buying artwork by a promising artist but will bring the work further to life for you giving you more reasons to love and understand your purchase.

Unless you are purchasing a commission, you are entitled to your statutory 14 day in which you can ensure that you love living with your purchase at home.

What are the benefits of starting a collection?

They say that once you own 5 or more pieces of artwork you will be officially considered an 'art collector' but for us it starts with your first purchase. For me personally every piece of artwork I own really does tell a story that I enjoy each time I look at it. The relative resistance of the emerging art market during the past few years is testament to the enduring value of art.

There are several schemes around that make purchasing art more affordable also such as Own Art or in house financing schemes which allow you to spread the cost of your purchase over 10 months, usually interest free.

What are the most common mistakes while collecting?

Purchasing artwork because someone has told you to or, worse, pressured you into it. You should only own art you truly appreciate. Avoid mass produced art and seek out work that is original or strictly limited in edition.

Don't assume that art = paintings. Consider sculpture, photography, printmaking and even textiles.

Like any investment, you can never be certain how much or even if it will rise in value so only spend at a level you are comfortable.

What are your top tips for beginners?

• Set your budget before you go shopping.

• Only buy from someone or somewhere you are made to feel comfortable and confident.

• Track the progress of the artists you buy from.

• If the piece you purchase is small in size, you can add a window mount and larger frame to dramatically increase the size of the piece.

• Be brave For more information on art collection visit the Degree Art website.

Published via formy home.co.uk Interviewed by JESSICA BROWN Thursday, 27 September 2012 4:18 PM