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Featured Artist of The Month,Sarah Hill

9/14/2020

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Every month we are selecting really cool and talented artists to introduce to our supporters and art collectors.
Interview with Sarah Hill.
1.        What is your name and where are you based?
Sarah Hill, based in north London, N4
2.       What is your practice?
Drawing and creating greeting cards
3.       What is your USP?
Monochrome, abstract, unusual artwork
4.       Tells us a secret that nobody knows about your life!
I once had a job interview in a funeral parlour and had to touch a dead persons hand to see if I was comfortable about being in that environment!
5.       Has Covid 19 challenged your creativity?
 Yes and I have had ups and downs!
6.       What are your most significant achievements?
Completing an MA in Fine Art, and receiving an award at the end of that. Most recently I have completed some AAT Accounting qualifications which is out of my comfort zone because i hate maths!
7.       Whom will your clients be and what will they get from you?
My clients will be everyday public who are looking for a unique and attractive card
8.       Do you have any fascinating or unusual clients or a funny story to tell?
 I dont have clients yet really!
9.       If you were starting a career as an artist today, what would you do differently?
Im not sure, maybe have more confidence and go for things more!
10.   What has been your most significant challenge in times of Covid 19, and how did you overcome it?
Not being able to see friends and family, being stuck indoors when i am used to going out everyday, not being able to go to my studio etc.
11.   What are your plans for the future? What new projects do you have in the pipeline?
I have my greeting cards in one shop so far in Finsbury Park, London and hope to expand to other merchandising such as bags, mugs, keyrings etc.
12.   What would you like to be known for?
Unique monochrome designs
13.   How do you know Laura?
Through mentoring and exhibitions that Laura has organised.
14.   How did you hear about Laura I. Gallery?
Through social media a few years or so back!
15.   What do you think of our Mentoring programs or of the newest initiative for artists, The Society of Gold Minds?
 I have had mentoring sessions and they were very helpful and uplifting!
16.   Do you think it is important to have someone that has your back?
Yes!
17.   Do you think it is important to receive constant support? Why? 
Yes support, and some time in-between to make progress and take actions or await results.
18.   Do you think it is important to be surrounded by a community of artists?
Yes for sure.
19.   Would you recommend our mentoring programs?
Yes I have done, to Laura symes who attended.
20.   Has Laura I. Gallery inspired you or helped you in any way? How?
Yes personally, socially, professionally!
21.   Would you recommend Laura I. Art Gallery?
Yes definitely!

Click here to see Sarah`s works of art
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Featured Artist Of The Month, Anna-Maria Amato

9/1/2020

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1.       What is your name and where are you based?
Anna-Maria Amato SE London

2.       What is your practice?
Fine Artist/Painter

3.       What is your USP?
I paint dancers in action with spirit.  I suffered a break down in my late teens, before, I felt, I had found what kind of adult I wanted to be.  I felt lost, and the sense of achievement art had given me, gave me some kind of purpose in my life.  I realised I decide how I feel and that is what I can paint.  I wish one canvas to take my audience through positive emotions which they can hold onto. 

4.       Tells us a secret that nobody knows about your life!
I wish I could dance well and I have been practising.

5.       Has Covid 19 challenged your creativity?
It has increased the confidence in my resilience which has left me feeling better prepared for future hurdles. 

6.       What are your most significant achievements?
I curate a gallery founded in a social inclusion project, engaging members of the local community and beyond, in art and culture. 

7.       Whom will your clients be and what will they get from you?
People who feel that they are lacking inspiration but are seeking it. 

8.       Do you have any fascinating or unusual clients or a funny story to tell?
I was selling on a stall in my local library when the major of the borough came and looked at my fairy nudes and asked 'is this inspired my the area?'  

9.       If you were starting a career as an artist today, what would you do differently?
Structure an artwork part of my day around creating.

10.   What has been your most significant challenge in times of Covid 19, and how did you overcome it?
Lack of face to face contact with people left me seeking ways to feel connected  by engaging online and solidifying friendships via other forms of communication. 

11.   What are your plans for the future? What new projects do you have in the pipeline?
I plan to morph my current style with techniques used by the old masters to create an exciting blend of classical passion and modern excitement. 

12.   What would you like to be known for?
Inspiring people to engage with and enjoy creativity.

13.   How do you know Laura?
I had a mentoring session with her.

14.   How did you hear about Laura I. Gallery?
Through various online avenues. 

15.   What do you think of our Mentoring programs or of the newest initiative for artists, The Society of Gold Minds?
The mentoring dispelled the sense that I was painting for myself and that I have a story to tell which can bring me closer to people.

16.   Do you think it is important to have someone that has your back?
Yes.  Supportive words have such power and the need to cultivate confidence is a game changer. 

17.   Do you think it is important to receive constant support? Why?
It is helpful to know that there is someone to bounce ideas off and seek out specific pieces of knowledge when questions arise. 

18.   Do you think it is important to be surrounded by a community of artists?
I believe it is said 'you are who you spend your time with' because your influences and inspiration are important in developing yourself and your work. 

19.   Would you recommend our mentoring programs?
Yes.

20.   Has Laura I. Gallery inspired you or helped you in any way? How?
It has given me direction I was searching for and Laura's story in itself was inspiring and motivating for me. 

21.   Would you recommend Laura I. Art Gallery?
Yes

To see Anna- Maria`s artwork please click here:
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Featured Artist of the Month ,Sequin Kay

7/23/2020

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COVID 19 has affected many industries and the government has put in place good strategies to help those in need. The only ones that have been left behind are artists who have no track on getting public funds and they are left behind. The same artists who have put other people before them, invested their own time, talent and money to make a difference every day in their communities without asking anything in return. Artists who maybe never sold an art piece but they have constantly been investing in their art with the hope to inspire one day a generation of people to think beyond their imagination, a great factor in our opinion that instigates the advancement of technology, science and architecture today.
We have decided to recognise those artists and we have put together a programme that highlights the work these artists do.
Through amazing interviews, you will have the chance to get to know them and why not support their journey by purchasing one or all of their magical art.
 
This week we`re featuring a very talented artist, Sequin Kay, who we had the pleasure to work with and sell her art through our projects. Sequin is a member of the Gold Mind Society and a big supporter of the gallery. As we reward loyalty and devotion, we wanted to promote her amazing work.

What is your name and where are you based?
My name is Sequin Kay and I have a mixed media creative practice.
I am based in Peacehaven UK.
 
What is your practice?
My work for the past 15 years has used revealing aspects of history, which have a profound impact on our contemporary culture today.  In the current climate where many believe history has no relevance, I find myself continually returning to those aspects that are often hidden or misrepresented in the “official” recordings for posterity.  In my varied and diverse approaches to making art; installations; public, curatorial and web projects, the context of the work has an impact on the work’s relationship to the viewer.
 
What is your USP?
Sequin Kay was born and raised in the multicultural edges of South London and has been creating and crafting since she was 11 years old.  Her fist commission was at the age of 14, her school commissioning a large-scale mosaic for the outside of the library entrance still on display today.  Mistaken identity and cultural displacement are particular elements present in her work with traces of her Irish and Moroccan heritage are repeatedly woven into her textile art-works through the use of abstraction, pattern, embroidery and embellishment.  Originally trained as an abstract oil painter and sculptor at Camberwell College of Arts, she found the arts education system rigid and often stifling for developing her subjective style of creativity.  Renting out a studio in Brixton and exploring the creative process in solitude she self-taught herself many of the techniques visible today her present work
 
Tells us a secret that nobody knows about your life!
Sequins are an intergalactic source of life intelligence.
 
 Has Covid 19 challenged your creativity?
Covid 19 has upped and amplified my creativity and given it another dimension, fired me on even further into new realms.  I have had more time to think and muse over new projects and ideas it has given me more thinking time.
 
What are your most significant achievements? 
My Current work The Zodiac Collection is a unique and pivotal collection, which engages with each Zodiac sign along with personal interpretations.   Personal research into each star sign and their potential cultural and esoteric meaning.  The Collection’s aims is to bridge a powerful link between cosmology and the arts.
 
 Do you have any fascinating or unusual clients or a funny story to tell?
One of my clients is of 80’s years old and loves my mirror work and he is so interesting and really loves sequins ! amazing !
 
If you were starting a career as an artist today, what would you do differently?
Be organised, take more risks, ask more questions.  Getting a really good studio is important somewhere you can fully express yourself in many ways.
 
 
What has been your most significant challenge in times of Covid 19, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was the lack of social interaction and feedback an artist receives from showcasing works and going to exhibitions and private viewings, London is such an inspiring city.  I overcame it by organising Zoom connections and visiting artists’ studios in a socially distanced way.
 
 
What are your plans for the future? What new projects do you have in the pipeline?
I am currently completing a Zodiac project by the end of August, a yearlong project and looking to expand my creative abilities in the digital realm and embarking on new learnings in After Effects and Projection Mapping.
 
 What would you like to be known for?
I would love to be known for creating great artworks and changing people’s perspectives on the nature of reality and creativity.
 
 How do you know Laura?
Through exhibiting at the Gallery.
 
 How did you hear about Laura I. Gallery?
I heard about Laura I Gallery through the internet I responded to an Art call on spiritualty, submitted my work and had a successful showcase with the gallery.
 
What do you think of our Mentoring programs or of the newest initiative for artists, The Society of Gold Minds?
I think they are fantastic, enabling artists to reach out a lot more and expand their network.  Mentors are extremely important for any profession and can give so much in life into new ideas and projects.
 
 Do you think it is important to have someone that has your back?
Yes I think knowing you have a safe space to rely on can enable creatives to take more risks and some to confide in when the times get tough.
 
 Do you think it is important to receive constant support? Why?
I think regular support is important because it enables the artist to grow and flourish like a seed needs the soil, artist is the seed and the support is the soil they need each other.
 
Do you think it is important to be surrounded by a community of artists?
I think it is very important for creatives to be around each other for support and to bounce ideas and offer critical creative dialogue, this enables wider perspectives to be attained and therefore more integrated practice.
 
 Would you recommend our mentoring programs?
I haven’t taken part in the mentoring programme yet, I will do and am sure it is very inspirational and beneficial for artists and creatives.
 
 Has Laura I. Gallery inspired you or helped you in any way? How?
Laura herself is an proactive Gallery owner and artist and a motivating female force.  She has represented and sold works for me at auctions, showcased my works In her gallery and is now offering during this challenging time of Covid-19 to help sell and promote some of my available pieces.  I adore her Mothers greetings cards that she makes truly a special gift statement.
 
Would you recommend Laura I. Art Gallery?
Yes I would very much so, for support and a friendly professional outlook in the creative world.  A wonderful, inclusive gallery to work with in East London. 

See Sequin Kay`s artwork here:
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Covid-19 Support & Resources for Artists and Creatives

4/12/2020

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Coronavirus Guidance and Information for Artists and Creatives
 
We understand artists and freelancers are getting hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and we're committed to giving you the support and resources to help navigate this challenging time.
 
Being said we have put together a list of opportunities that you can benefit from to help you, challenge you and enhance your talents.
 
These lists are continually updated, but please get in touch if you know of something you think we should include.

 
Grants
​
  • A-N The Artists Information Company is offering bursaries of £500 – £1,500 to help support those whose livelihoods have been impacted by Coronavirus Covid-19 
https://www.a-n.co.uk/news/a-n-bursaries-time-space-money-open-for-applications/

  • The £1.5m Freelands Foundation Emergency Fund is supported by the Freelands Foundation, as part of a landmark commitment of £3m towards emergency funds for artists and freelance creative practitioners across the UK affected by the Covid-19 crisis
https://www.a-n.co.uk/news/freelands-foundation-emergency-fund/

  • Arts Council offering an #emergency #grant of up to £2500 for #artists affected by the lockdown.
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/financial-support-artists-creative-practitioners-and-freelancers  Deadline is soon,16th of April 2020.

  • Business-led innovation in response to global disruption (de minimis)
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £20 million to respond to new and urgent needs in UK and global communities during and following the Covid-19 pandemic. https://www.apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/covid19/overview.html?utm_campaign=11458683_London%20Culture%20Forum%20April%202020&utm_medium=email&utm_source=London%20Councils&dm_i=192K,6TLKR,WXW5PE,RCVVH,1#summary

  • Fast turnaround CPDL bursaries from Curious Minds, for cultural education freelancers and small or community-based arts organisations whose main work is with schools or children & young people.
https://curiousminds.org.uk/bridging-the-gap/?utm_source=Curious+Minds+Full+Subscribers&utm_campaign=bacda04055-CO_BRIDGING_THE_GAP_LAUNCH_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f9c36e4655-bacda04055-99907071

  • Two awards of £5,000 each for unapologetically radical and politicised ‘early career’ artists who work in Live Art and identify as disabled people.
https://www.thisisliveart.co.uk/opportunities/the-katherine-araniello-bursary-award/

  • The Prince’s Trust and NatWest have launched a £5million grant fund for young entrepreneurs affected by coronavirus. The Fund is available to entrepreneurs aged 18-30
https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/about-the-trust/news-views/princes-trust-natwest-enterprise-relief-fund

  • COVID-19 CREATIVE COMMISSIONS – GREATER MANCHESTER COMBINED AUTHORITY
https://www.englishfolkexpo.com/covid-19-creative-commissions-greater-manchester-combined-authority
 

  • Creating Sustainable Development by Creative Scotland available for Scottish artists
https://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/open-fund-sustaining-creative-development

  • The coronavirus (COVID-19) Self-employment Income Support Scheme. The HMRC will contact the eligible persons in the future.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

  • Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy responses to COVID-19 (multiple grants posted on the website)
https://artsfundraising.org.uk/news/arts-fundraising-philanthropy-responses-covid-19

  • The Eaton Fund for artists
http://www.eaton-fund.co.uk/grants-eligibility.asp

  • Universal credit for self-employed
https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-universal-credit
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Gold Mind Society Launch

11/4/2019

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Inside -Out Review

1/23/2019

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Laura Iosifescu’s Inside-out: A foreword by Gary Martin Miller : 

I have recently been very fortunate to witness the completely natural and boundary-less latest work created by visionary artist Laura Iosifescu, that is aptly and appropriately titled “Inside-Out”. This work is a commissioned piece, and it is clear Laura has taken full advantage of a “no limits” approach and this has enabled her to ramp-up her creative output even further, through technique and expression, to achieve a new depth unseen in her previous works. The piece “Inside-Out” is not a painting, but an “entity” or a “happening”, that seems to represent the intricate fabrication of one’s imagination or the stuff that is made from the subconscious state of dream.


To commission more fantastic artworks by our very own award winning artist please click here:

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"   I AM A WOMAN AND THIS IS MY LEGACY "PRIVATE VIEW

10/15/2018

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AUCTION SUCCESS BY LAURA I.

9/19/2018

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We are proud to announce that we have raised over £6000 in our exhibition - I AM A WOMAN AND THIS IS MY LEGACY - Through the Barking and Dagenham Mayors auction (which we have directly organised) and sponsorship from Western Homes, Funds have helped aid three amazing charities but has also supported women artists to pursue their careers further.    

Five artists were selected in the auction and with two pieces sold on the night.
List of selected artists:
Ashima Kumar
Kaat Stieber
Patricia Bidi
Redi
Sequin Kay

​



We are giving one more chance to women artists to win and fund their art practices. Artists are invited to apply for our Women Art Prize by the 21st September 2018.



Please don`t forget to join us at the Private View on the 4th October 2018. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Press coverage all the way

8/13/2018

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                The past few days have been amazing for us.The workshops we ran have captured a lot of attention from everyone including being featured in the Evening Standard,London Live News TV and One Borough Live TV.To see the local exhibition or to sign up for our next series of workshops please don`t hesitate to send us an email to laura@lauraigallery.com
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FREE PAINTING WORKSHOPS

6/15/2018

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           We are happy to announce that we have been successfully funded by Creative Barking and Dagenham Programme to run a series of workshops for local people who are in need of creative boost. There will be a series of two rounds of workshops, of 4 sessions each .
As it's the summer, the workshop will be held outdoors! This will provide prime opportunities to observe the world around us, and develop your landscape painting skills!
 
Witness the way clouds change shape and tone by the second. Marvel at the many thousands of tones and shades that wash through the grass, along with the wind. Understand your local history connect and celebrate it through colours and shapes.
 
This workshop is all about creativity, not only technique or training. There’s no critiquing, no analysis, no judgement, and no comparison with others. You’ll just create beautiful art!
 
Within this workshop, we’ll support you to:
Discover your own, personal, creative voice
Trust your intuition and not the nagging voices in your head
Embrace your creative energy, focussing on letting go rather than worrying about aesthetics
Examine your creative blocks and use their causes to lift your creativity to new heights
Experience your imagination like never before, revealing the path to deeper enlightenment
 
 Why do all this?
Creating art without concern for talent, skill, or accomplishment is exhilarating – Your art could take you anywhere!
We’re celebrating artistic freedom! There is no pressure to perform, produce, or succeed. Our workshop puts an emphasis on the creative process rather than the technique. Free expression is our goal!
And at the end of the series of workshops one of your art pieces will be showcased in a final exhibition at Laura I. Gallery on the 9th of August
 
 Who is this workshop perfect for?
These classes are aimed towards those with an interest in creating art but have never taken art classes, or for those who have taken art classes in the past and wish to revisit their passion. ​
 
Absolute beginners right through to experts. You don’t even need to have picked up a paintbrush before! All we ask is that you come with an open mind and a real thirst for artistic exploration and adventure
Do you need to bring anything with you?
Bring yourself and if possible a portable easel or a drawing board if you have one. All other materials will be provided.
 
Timetable: Starting time 12.00 - Finishing time about 15.30, depending on the location.
Meeting point: Laura I. Art Gallery, Abbey Road, IG11 7BT
 
First Round Workshop Dates:
  • 23rd of June-Location: River Roding, Explore the wildlife and Nature of this fantastic side of Barking
  • 28th of June: Eastbury Manor House, The Experience includes: Free historical tour of the site, some easels and stools will be provided.
  • 7th of July: St. Margaret Church .The experience includes :Free historical tour of the site, free teas and biscuits provided by St. Margaret Church .
  • 13th of July : Barking Park. Ending the series of workshops by celebrating at the BBQ Oven Turkish Restaurant with free teas sponsored by the restaurant.
 
All the bonuses are repeated in the second round too.
Second Round Workshop Dates:
  • 19th of July Eastbury Manor House
  • 21st Of July St. Margaret Church
  • 27th of July River Roding
  • 4th of August Barking Park
 
To apply you must:
  • Haven’t taken art classes for at least 6 months
  • Live in Baking and Dagenham
 
Please book your place at laura@lauraigallery.com stating in which round you are interested to participate.

We cannot guarantee you a place as first come first served!

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Laura I.Gallery CIC.
Organisation Registered in England 12876054

IceHouse Court
Abbey Road
IG11 7BT
London

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