Posts tagged Artists

Anyone can collect art – it’s not just for the rich and famous

Posted on 4 May 2011 by Hatty Fawcett
Amanda Simmons Dark Skies Bright City range

Amanda Simmons Dark Skies Bright City range

On Friday this week Collect  – the International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects run by the Craft Council – opens. Perhaps surprisingly in the current economic climate, many people are still looking to buy art and collect original art.

There are, of course, lots of different reasons for collecting art and contemporary crafts. Some buy artwork as an investment – with a view to making money over the long (or not so long) term. Expert knowledge is pretty important here if you are going to realise that investment. Others buy art to fill a space on the wall, or a nook on the mantelpiece. Here beauty is important – and, as we all know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For still others, the desire to collect art becomes a life time passion – some might even say an obsession. Here it is the joy of following a particular maker, or discovering new and unique ways of working in a particular medium, such as pottery, ceramic or glassware, that comes to the fore.

Walking round Collect you see all these motives at play – and you spot the odd student,artist or craftsman gaining inspiration for their next work of art. It is a joy to behold – people revelling in beauty. Of course,you don’t have to go to Collect to experience that joy. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a surprising number of people wonder through the virtual galleries on Seek & Adore every day, getting their daily “fix” of beauty. Admiring new products, checking out new makers and exploring just what can be achieved with pottery, ceramic and glass. And, like the visitors to Collect, they are not disappointed.

Amanda Simmons stunning glass vessels will be gracing the galleries of Collect this year but can also be viewed online at Seek & Adore. The colours displayed in her Dark Skies, Bright City range are a feast for the eyes – but personally I am intrigued by the name of the range. I know Amanda was very struck by the stars at night when she moved from London up to Dumfries – no light pollution there!

Kate Schuricht Raku pottery

Kate Schuricht Raku pottery

Ceramic artwork always pulls a crowd and you could do far worse than browse the work of Kate Schuricht whose mastery of raku takes my breath away.

And then you have more quirky collectables such as Janice Parker. As Janice herself puts it “I am attracted to the kitsch and quirky – things that make me smile”. She works in porcelain and copper to create characters, scenes – even an entire world – all based around a story “The Thieves of time, The Magpies and The Time Machine.” Now it’s possible that Janice’s work won’t be at Collect this year but her collectable, quirky figures show that buying art is open to all. Everyone has the thing they fall in love with, their price point and – I hope – their “pride of place” for displaying art. Whilst Collect may be at the upper price end for most people, Seek & Adore believe that everyone should buy art and beauty should be in all our homes.

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Marriage is a commitment – mark it with a suitable gift

Posted on 28 April 2011 by Hatty Fawcett

The Royal Wedding is upon us. On Friday, Catherine and William will tie the knot in a very public marriage ceremony. Whilst the mounting excitement and expectation for the Royal Wedding may be getting a bit much for some – including me, if I’m honest – I still love weddings. It’s not so much the dressing up (I’d happily turn up in my jeans – clean ones, of course) or the chance for a big party. For me, it’s the fact that two people choose to make a very public commitment to each other. It’s the celebration of that commitment and all the hopes for the future that come with it that make weddings so special.

Whilst as a society we may have become a little less “throw-away” than we were pre-recession, I still sense a fear of commitment, of standing up and saying what you believe in. To promise to love someone forever is a pretty big commitment BY a, foring that has intrinsic value, something that shows you have thought about the couple and chosen the perfect gift for them. Something – even –  that will be with the couple for the rest of their life and, who knows, might even be cherished. To my mind, something lovingly hand-crafted would seem appropriate here,not something “off-the shelf” or mass produced.

It seems I’m not alone. We recently set-up a poll on our Facebook page and asked what people like to give at weddings. Ok,so it wasn’t the most statistically valid poll, but I thought it was interesting to see that “money” got only one vote, and something “unique and unusual” came top.

If you are heading to a wedding – it doesn’t have to be William and Kate’s – why not acknowledge the commitment of the happy couple by giving something unique and distinctive, something loving hand-crafted. You could do worse than check out the range of wedding gifts on Seek & Adore.

As for William and Catherine, I wish them all the best. Two days after they get married David and I celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. I wouldn’t change my commitment to him for the entire world.

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The Seek & Adore story

Posted on 13 April 2011 by Hatty Fawcett

Many of you have asked to know more about the story behind Seek & Adore. It’s funny – I didn’t really think anyone would be interested. To my mind, it’s the artists and designer makers you meet on Seek & Adore – and the unique and beautiful things they make – that are interesting, not the story of how Seek & Adore came to be. However, I’ve been asked so many times I’m happy to oblige.

Seek & Adore grew from frustration. At the end of 2009 my husband and I completed a loft conversion on our house and I was looking for unique and beautiful art and home furnishings to decorate the rooms. I was working long hours at the time (actually I still am!) and I didn’t have time to search out craft fairs or visit galleries. I did search online but found it difficult to find artists and designer makers. They didn’t seem to have a very high profile in comparison to the plethora of high street stores who popped up in my searches. In the end, I resorted to the high street.  

At the same time I was doing some consultancy for my brother who runs his own website. He was interested in increasing the range of naturally and ethically sourced products sold on his site. I talked to a number of artists and craftsmen about this opportunity. What became clear is how few avenues designer makers have to sell their work – and how much commission is taken by the intermediaries who help them. I was also surprised to discover how shy artists and craftsmen are about promoting their talents – and how nervous they were about selling online. Artists almost seemed embarrassed to promote themselves, and were concerned that their art might appear in an inappropriate environment.

To be honest, I was surprised and shocked how little profit artists and craftsmen receive for their work. I saw an opportunity to help them raise their profile, sell their work and support each other – whilst also making it easier for consumers to find personal accessories and homewares.

It took me a while to take the plunge and give up my career in marketing to focus on Seek & Adore full time but, in April 2010, I decided it was the only way to get the idea off the ground. It’s been an exciting and challenging year. Talking to designer makers and building a website (with a talented team in India). Each day there is a fresh challenge and new people to meet. I love that. It’s people that make Seek & Adore what it is. It’s been a privilege to meet and work with some very talented artists and craftsmen – some established in their careers, some just starting out. I am constantly surprised  by how generous people are with their time. We’re a start-up so “cash is king” and many people have helped by giving their time and skills for free. It’s the shared belief that designer makers deserve a higher profile that drives this generosity. You know who you are – thank you.

So, a year after giving up work,Seek & Adore is live. We have 20 talented artists on the site and I have had the pleasure of paying them for their first month’s orders. It’s exciting to see what we’ve created – and it’s only just begun.

If you know any artists,designer makers or craftsmen who you would like to see selling on Seek & Adore, please let me know. I’m particularly keen to meet makers of bags, stationery, tableware and textiles. Please pass the word on…

Browse our current makers here

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