Preparation for an exhibition is all in the planning by Helen Trevisiol Duff

June 09, 2022 6 Comments

Stella Tooth at Skylark Galleries' current Spaghetti House exhibition with her work

Preparation for an exhibition starts many months before in the artist's studio. The studio can vary from a small corner of the home to a designated space. Each artist works differently. 

At Skylark Galleries London we are currently having a pop up exhibition of over 20 artists' work in a beautiful, purpose-built gallery in Holborn below the well known Spaghetti House restaurant in Sicilian Avenue WC1. 

Varied edition collographs on show at Skylark Galleries' Holborn exhibition. "The quality of the framing and presention of my work at exhibition is incredibly important." - Helen Trevisiol Duff.

The venue was secured months ago, offered to our artists by the art-loving owner of this wonderful restaurant when he visited our gallery in Gabriel’s Wharf on London's Southbank. 

When the work is professionally curated, as it has been here by artist Richard Dickson and team, it takes time, experience and a good eye for colour, balance and medium.  The public may think it's come together in moments, however, this intentional curation directs the viewer's eyes from artist to artist in a seamless journey.  Often the months of preparation can be easily overlooked.  Even down to the nitty gritty of spacing between artworks, between artists, where labels are positioned and where explanation about artist's work sits it's all planned.  

Richard Dickson at Spaghetti House gallery exhibition with his artwork

Collating ideas, preparing canvases on which to paint, or hand pulling prints, creating ceramics etc is an almighty task. Then there's deciding which pieces to show, what prices to sell the artwork for and publicising the event. Transporting the work and hanging the work takes expertise, a team of people and hours of planning and doing. 

Heather Tobias in her studio,

The creative process can be challenging, exhilarating and frustrating, especially when trying to meet deadlines. It is however a time where the artist puts themselves out there for all the world to see - which is brave. 

Lindsay Pickett putting the finishing touches to his artwork in his studio

The best feeling in the studio, which can vary from the kitchen table to a bespoke airy space, is when the artist is in flow… forgetting about the outside world and creating without any worries at all, whether it be making a living or with a view to showing. 

Sarita Keeler at work in her home studio

I asked my dear friend and artist Stella Tooth how does she prepare for an exhibition.  "When I'm planning an exhibition it's invariably with a theme in mind, even in a general exhibition.  My theme here of digital paintings of musicians is designed to appeal to visitors from central London rich in music venues." 

We hope you have enjoyed this look at a few of our artists' studios in preparation for our current Holborn exhibition which continues until Sunday 19 June.  I will be stewarding the exhibition with Stella on Friday 17 June from 1-8pm.  Others artists will be there to greet you on other days. 

Work by many of the artists above can also be found in our Gabriel Wharf gallery which has been going for over 20 years.

Vivien Phelan in her garden ceramics studio.

 

 

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