Feature in Time Out Magazine 4-11 December 2008

Carrie and I were featured in Time Out Magazine in an article about Al Quoz and how it attracts artists. You can see the article here without the picture and I have also uploaded a scan of it.

Marina Market Starting Again

So another season at the marina market beckons from this weekend onwards. I am looking forward to getting out there and seeing people face to face on a regular basis again after the summer break. It will also be good to catch up with some of the other regular traders. The market is open Fridays and Saturdays from 11am until 7pm but I will only be there on Saturdays as I think 2 days will be too much at the weekend. I will endeavour once again to have at least one or two new pieces each weekend. You can see more info about the market at www.marinamarket.ae.

Summer is busy!

So the markets at Spitalfields went well and I sold 12 paintings over the 2 weekends. Heading back to Dubai for the summer I thought things might be a bit quiet but I was wrong! In addition to the paintings I knew I had to do for a new gallery/shop opening in the Dubai Mall in August (details when all is confirmed), I have another couple of orders in the pipeline for commercial projects. These will keep me busy for at least the next 3-4 weeks which is great. I am happy to be working once again in oils as they are my preferred medium but I just don't get the time to use them in the busy market periods.

Dubai Summer Surprises usually hosts an Art Oasis week and this year it is at Wafi. Unfortunately the space we have been allocated each is only big enough for 2 of my paintings when I would usually exhibit 5 or 6 so that is a bit disappointing but I'll go for it anyway and see what happens. It is on from 29th July to 6th August.

Discount Art Materials in the UK

I am going to be in London in June where I will take part in 2 weekends at Spitalfields market (19-22 and 26-29 June). I am taking some work over with me but will need to do some when I get there. I have found a website that has really good prices for canvases and paint so I have ordered a whole bunch from there. Have a look at www.discountart.co.uk.

Good Start

So I have had a good start to being a full time artist, with one confirmed contract for paintings for a hotel and two in the pipeline. The good thing about having the studio is that we have the capacity to produce a lot of art and if needs be call other artists in to help. I also like these jobs as they are clear about what they want and having a definite brief is a good way to work. The markets are still going on though so life is pretty busy. UPtown Mirdiff had a 3 day bazaar last weekend which was OK although not as good as I had hoped but this week brings ARTE (www.arte.ae) again at Times Square which is a great venue and back to the Marina on Saturday for the outdoor market there (www.marinamarket.ae).

Here goes full-time...

So next week marks the start of me being a full time artist. I have been working about 75% as an artist for the last 18 months but at the end of this month I finish my job as administrator of the Dubai Human Resources Forum. I am really excited and optimistic about this change as I feel I am moving on to a stage where I have some really great paintings. This is as opposed to when I started trying to sell and was really not sure if anyone would like my stuff. Now I feel that if I am happy with it then other people will also like it. Anyway, this week I had a bunch of ideas and managed to get 3 new paintings finished in preparatin for the Saturday market at the marina. Next weekend I also have a 3 day market at UPtown Mirdiff so need to keep the momentum going and have a few new things for that too.

Art Dubai

So Art Dubai, the erstwhile Gulf Art Fair, is back on, and of course it is bigger and better than before. We went to the VIP opening which was a fantastic event, jam packed with people, some of whome were buying and some of whom were making the most of the free beverages and food. The setting was awesome and some additional features like a carved ice bar just added to the occasion. There were a few particular pieces I loved and some that caught you off guard like the camel stuffed in a trunk (see pic) - which I understand was sold that night.

Introduction

I am a full time artist working in Dubai and have been here since December 2004. I work in acrylics and oils and produce mostly abstract work although I was working in watercolours before I came to Dubai. I share a studio in Barsha with another artist, Carrie Wareham, called the Black Sheep Art Studio and together we supply artwork to individuals, interior designers and companies furnishing hotels. You can see all of my work on my website at www.AzureArt.com