Announcing the ONLINE-STORE: SeedArtLab Studio@BigCartel

Well... its rather late ... and a peaceful night it is here.

Can't believe how long it took me to get my head around setting up an Online shop. First the thinking, then the research and looking, then more thinking, gradually the site-building and finally some lessons here and there and a crescendo of activity and wa la! Its Up!

Glad to say its getting easier and more familiar as I go... its been 9 days since I quietly launched the venture.

I decided on Big Cartel for my ONLINE STORE: http://seedartlabstudio.bigcartel.com . Gradually adding stock... a few smaller original works on paper and mostly Archival Quality prints. I have offered Limited edition prints for some time now... but the platform for selling Overseas was a necessity.

I've sorted out a square format for small prints... something affordable for purchasing with modest shipping costs seemed a good idea. I've long been drawn to squares... and circles.

20 SMALL PRINTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE: As a Special offer... before Easter Monday, APRIL 6th, any of the 21cm sq Prints on beautiful Hahnemule Photo Rag 208 Gsm ~ cotton rag paper are avilable for a special price. Visit the ONLINE STORE: http://seedartlabstudio.bigcartel.com to see the current offer and the range posted in the last week or so.

Section of Orginal Artwork.

There are larger LIMITED EDITION prints up already... and as of today small prints that will be signed but sold as affordable works on Archival Photo Rag Paper. The print above is a section of a large Limited Edition print available on Paper or Stretched Canvas.

Limited Editions Series are signed, titled and numbered by the artist ... subsequently in a different price range as larger, high quality works. 

One of my passions is the element of water... pursued in my art-practice at various times, especially in the Newcastle years 2000-2008. I've accumulated many photos taken at Ocean Baths... particularly focusing on light & movement of water.

There are 5 prints as part of the special offer with this theme ... titled 'Water Quartet'.

I will gradually post up other Limited Edition works that are available. I've more images than time to post them online it would seem. Learning the process of writing to convey crucial info, supplying all the shipping and purchasing details takes time... and I am sure there will be some finessing to do yet.

My goal is to be sharing work from my studio through this new venture whilst I focus quite intensely on a quite involved 'Homage to the Seed' book that's been started ... a writing fund is a good thing indeed.

Best wishes everyone!
Sophie

February ... 2015

I'm sure we haven't seen the last of summer in the sub-tropics but its been a most pleasant week or so here... cooler and easier for trying to concentrate on work. 

I've started work in earnest on the book that's been on the cards for ages.

Today I collected a Limited Edition print which had been ordered for a client and thought I would post it here.

The image below is a stretched Limited Edition print on canvas for a client last year. The artwork was wrapped around the wooden stretched frame... a mirror image of the artwork that is. I particularly liked the way this worked in real life. 

However this work below which was painted last winter... an unframed work on linen, 200 cm x 100 cm, required a different approach for the Limited Edition print.

“Homage to our common inheritance” by Sophie Munns, 2 m x 1 m 

 PLEASE NB: COPYRIGHT Sophie Munns

The original artwork has a frayed selvage that I stitched in natural linen to strengthen. The work was given a layer of an Atelier varnish to seal the ink and paint surface on linen in addition to the surface having been sealed as an undercoat prior to working on this piece.

On this framed print the frayed edge is revealed on the front of the work rather than attempting to wrap the design around the frame.

Making a print from a work this large required professional scanning at an extremely high resolution which thankfully has produced an excellent quality print. 

Unfortunately the lighting on the work was not ideal for taking images this evening ... it seems to have thrown a warm glow on most of the images thus affecting the authentic colours. Apologies for this somewhat annoying problem.

These close-ups give some idea of the effect of the print at least.

The image below is ironically more true to the colours... 

however its not a good image or resolution.

The other task of the moment I am very focused on is the book project that has been gestating for a few years.

The weekend just passed was spent working on a draft of sorts! The computer clearly was useless for trying to capture essential material for a book which will rely heavily on text, image and a somewhat unorthodox composition of concepts... (hopefully)!

Instead I've gone for watercolour paper ... It comes in 50 sheets per pack... 300gms, acid-free , cold pressed, 210mm x 100mm + using pigmented ink pens, lightproof, permanent + waterproof.

I've tried books of every size, cheap A4 paper, computer, a private blog, post-it stickers... you name it.

And this time it's working the way I need it to!

One of my favourite painting projects was carried out on these excellent paper sheets. Once this stage is completed and I begin to transform material into pages on my computer I could paint over work on these cards if I don't wish to save them.

I'm reminded how reliant my process can be on shifting between idea, text and image. Images are not purely illustrations and diagrams... articulating far more than words at times. It's filmic in some ways... and this is the Story-board. I can't be concerned with how it flows or comes together yet... all that matters is managing to assemble the disparate parts of something that's been long gestating.

Capturing the key themes, musing on stages of one's Art Practice over decades offers much to consider. The challenge to pare back... to lift out what is essential. The search for central motifs and the leading thoughts is everything at the moment.

I hope February is proving stimulating for you... with good challenges that are enriching.

Cheers,

Sophie