A long and boring post about my work...

[nickimacrae]

...as I said I'd do a little update on my work and what was going on

I can't even think now how many years ago it was I was first posting on here saying 'yeah yeah I'm going to be an artist' (should do a search out of interest!) and OMG if there is ONE thing I have learned of recent years it's *once it's on the net you can't ruddy delete it* so there's some right old dodgy work from when back then that comes up now if you google my name Anyway, after slogging away at it for the past (enter no of years) I'm finally making some headway...

As far as the actual work goes it's all maturing (thank goodness!) and I'm finally producing stuff that I can say I'm as happy as I'm going to be with... Some recent abstract work I've been doing, two separate series. The darker ones are about the sea, mythology, mermaids, selkies, hidden treasure... came from stories with my girls (have had a bit of nice feeback on these from galleries, an art journalist, etc so pleased with that!). The lighter onesare concerned with the process of painting them, actually about the way I create them, which has been an interesting one to follow through...















I'm working heavily just now on stuff I'm going to be exhibiting in Sept this year (with Line's brother, who lives close to me, who she introduced me to and I'm now great mates with ). We've been working on this project together for a while now (I'm exhibiting painting and he's photography) it's called 'Ruin' and is all about decay, things rotting, rusting, weathering, ruined buidings, dumped machinary, exploring whats beautiful / ugly / sad / nice about, and ultimately our human mortality. These are a few things I've been working on recently for it...





Still working on this one just now...



As far as the studying and the business. I've deffo given up the ghost (for now) of getting my degree, I just can't justify the cost, time and major disruption to family life for the advantages I might gain. So I continue with learning as much as I can off my own back.

I'm working with a nice gallery up here now, and have another I'll be exhibiting with next year. I had a little solo exhibition up in Orkney a while back, and have had work out all over the local area over the start of the year, so that's been good. I did some interesting work last year on an archaeological project, and I've managed to get permission this year to go and do work on a major dig over the summer as a kind of visiting artist (been on the telebox and stuff ) which will be a hugely different kind of project, but I'm good for it I think! Hopefully I'll find somewhere to host an exhibition in 2013 off the back of the project. I've also got an opportunity to work on a heritage-based project at some point in the future I think, but it's on hold as I'm a bit past my eye balls . I'm really hoping I can make a name for myself in that kind of field of work. I'm also working, with a band of others , on a big old project that will come to fruition next year and involves curatorial skills, which again is pushing my boundaries, all good stuff!

Oh I'll leave you with a few from the Isle of Lewis back in feb (brrr!!)...





Oh, and YAY! I gave my studio a big make over, so it's now!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2611086&type=3





So excuse the long waffling thread - you can stop yawning now! I did warn you!

[Eumenides]

I'm making an effort to post more! I think your work is great, love the abstract work, how much would you charge for one of those pieces?

Btw, what degree, I think I missed that before x

[Jelly]

I can definitely see how your style has matured, for want of a better word. You've been busy!

Glad to hear you're well. How is your MIL?

[jamsplat]

oh wow wow wow
I am LOVING some of those, seriously WOW

(maybe I need a thesaurus thats a little wow heavy)

[nickimacrae]

Thanks ladies

Eumenides anything from £45 to £495! It's a bit of a piece if string thing as some work takes me longer than others, some requires travelling to far flung locations, so is just in the studio... I try and keep my website updated but it's a bit behind with the times just now (had so much come back from exhibitions recently, I'm working my way through slowly, getting stuff added, etc...) http://www3.clikpic.com/nickimacrae/gallery.html

Jelly, yeah, not great but not too bad either ... I think she's found the second year after loosing FIL maybe harder than the first... I could tell you more later, she's arriving for a visit tonight! It's always hard to tell how these things go down the 'phone, you know...

[One Sock]

Great to hear from you Nicki and so pleased things are taking off for you. I love how your style has developed and especially love the ones from Skye, just gorgeous.

[nickimacrae]

Thanks OS!

Eumenides sorry I missed your q about the degree - just I felt for some years I should really formally get a degree in fine art, but living where I do it's not commutable to to nearest uni art campus even for PT, and I won't uproot the kids for it I looked into online but rejected at the last min. I could get a good chunk of the course acredited, so that was good, but other than giving me a piece of paper it was kind of missing half the point of being in a room physically with other people, learning from each other, networking, etc... I did a week summer school at Edinburgh College of Art last Summer and talked to lots of tutors, etc and realised that most degrees these days seem to be project work off ones own back, not much atelier style teaching of technique and fine drawing, I did more life drawing in a week there than most under-grads get in three years! - and I work well like that off my own back in my own home, projects, working in series, getting out to courses, etc - I only loose the advantage of equipment and space and that... So anyway I'm just continuing on forging my own path with it all! There's beggar all work for anyone in the industry just now (unless you're Weiwei or someone at the top levels where prices seem healthy!) so I figure I can't be doing any worse than anyone else!

[Tara]

Nicki!! Wow, you have been so productive! Your work has developed so quickly. I particularly like the sketches. You've clearly developed your own style and it is very, very articulate. Onwards and upwards, special one!

Tara x

[winnie10]

Nikki, I used to live on Lewis and love the ones you've painted from there. Do you have any more paintings from your time there available to buy, particularly seascapes rather than standing stones? I looked on your website but I wasn't sure

[nickimacrae]

Tara, thanks I paint at a rate of hundred+++ pieces a year so I suppose why my work moves on fast! I've got about another 10-15 pieces to turn around for my Sept (joint) exhibition (so done by mid July) and then I'll be onto the archaeological dig stuff (which should be a big body of work), then 4-8 pieces for a spring exhibition, and I'll do commissions and other work in between...

Winnie I don't think I knew you'd lived on Lewis?! It was proper Feb weather when I was there last but the whole point and I was chatting with the manager of the Callanish visitor centre about how people miss out when they on't see Lewis in wind / rain / gales / etc. Had some magical light!

The Lewis stuff I'm still working through when I can - I had two weeks after getting back from the trip to prep several pieces for an exhibition, so I turned those around fast but then I was straight off to Orkney to hang another exhibition, so I didn't have chance then to pull together the other work from the trip... Inchmore Gallery currently has the ones that I did right after... http://www.inchmoregallery.co.uk/Art...%20MacRae.html I'm sure they will do mail order. I'm using some material for the ruin exhibition (the ruined crofthouse and broch staircase above are both from Lewis), which is later in the year, but I've still got tons of material to work through... I want to do a big beachscape of Bosta on Great Bernera, and have other material to work from from Ballantrushal shore. I'm happy to do commissions from material I have from the trip. I've got a thing now where I'll only paint from personal experience, so I wouldn't (say) paint a scene from someones photo of somewhere I don't know, but if someone said to me 'quote me for a 20 x 24" box canvas painting of a Hebridean beach in your style' then I would as I have material and experience to draw on

[winnie10]

Thanks Nikki, I'm off to have a nosy at your links some more. Did you spend any time on the East Coast, near Tolsta at all? There's a beach there that I would love a painting of but I've never found one.

My mum is from Lewis and I lived there after Uni when i got my first grown up job. I love the place and would move back in a flash but DH is a city boy through and through.

[ellabella]

I love the absract pieces Nicki, they are really lovely. So pleased that you are able to pursue something you love so much.

Discount for Damsels?

[Islander]

I particularly love your abstract things too. Was seriously tempted to hang a couple of pieces in my sitting room when I looked after them for you, but didn't because I knew I'd want to keep them:-)

D x

[Bop]

So pleased to see how well things are going for you - I do love your work.

Bop

['Line]

Hopefully I will be up for a week I. September for when you and my big brother have your exhibition. I have seen some of his photos and fallen in love with one in particular already

[scrobble]

It sounds like you're living the dream Keep up the great work!

[nickimacrae]

Thanks Nikki, I'm off to have a nosy at your links some more. Did you spend any time on the East Coast, near Tolsta at all? There's a beach there that I would love a painting of but I've never found one.

My mum is from Lewis and I lived there after Uni when i got my first grown up job. I love the place and would move back in a flash but DH is a city boy through and through.

I wasn't there last time Winnie, but I know the area I'm sure I could do something...

Aww what a shame, do you get back there often to visit? I bet the kids would really love it over the next few years, right ages

[nickimacrae]

Discount for Damsels?

Aye actually I can, but can't really explain here, but yes I can ...

[nickimacrae]

I particularly love your abstract things too. Was seriously tempted to hang a couple of pieces in my sitting room when I looked after them for you, but didn't because I knew I'd want to keep them:-)

D x

Donna I promised you a print or something or something as thanks, so if theres one you specifically like I'll get one done and posted x Thank you so much with your help with that, couldn't have done it without you!!

OMG reminds me I've not ordered the stove for the tent for the summer trip - unless you're organising a heatwave for me?

[nickimacrae]

Hopefully I will be up for a week I. September for when you and my big brother have your exhibition. I have seen some of his photos and fallen in love with one in particular already

Line I was hoping you would make it up! I keep telling Gavin how good his recent work is, he's doing such amazing new stuff! I'm struggling to keep up! This projects been good for us both