ArtSource & Thank you's

Art Source 2025!

Hello,

Well, what another amazing weekend I had at Art Source! Despite Storm Claudia bringing biblical level rain and wind, not to mention parking issues at the RDS, art lovers continued to support the show and in turn my stand. I should of course start by saying if you are new here having signed up from Art Source or my recent shoutout on Instagram, then thank you so much for subscribing! Knowing my work resonated with you enough to stop by and join up means the world to me.

Having had such an incredible reaction last year, it was hard not to get sucked in to the anticipation of doing similarly this year. So I feel greatly relieved to know it wasn’t a fluke! Lots of my work went to new homes and I am deeply humbled and grateful.

My helpers! Sarah and son Noah in the van on the way to set up!

Putting together an exhibition like this is no small undertaking. It's not enough to simply paint some pretty paintings, turn up and hope for the best apparently! You must also put in a huge amount of thought and time behind the scenes to make sure every detail is considered and runs smoothly. I'm extremely grateful then to the people who helped me do just that. No artist is an island and behind them is usually someone peddling furiously to ensure the wheels keep turning. In this case I must thank my other half Sarah AKA Retwiggdstylist www.retwiggd.ie , who got all the boring back-end things like websites, email subscribing systems, mailings etc working. Her invaluable help in deciding which pieces were worthy of inclusion, all the photography, putting together social media posts etc; and the list goes on.

Turning blank walls in to a gallery!

Also huge thanks to our son Noah for lending his muscles and helping on set up day, hanging over 70 paintings is no mean feat. To my daughter Olivia for coming in to help set down, as well as for holding the forte at home and coping admirably with absentee parents for a week! Lastly, all the friends and family who dropped in to see the stand and wish me luck. If a man is measured on the company he keeps, I’m truly blessed.

Let the show begin!

Same as before, the sustainable approach to my art set me apart, and resonated with the zeitgeist of reuse/reimagine! It seems I’m not the only one who loves slightly gnarly, old frames, which I think, perfectly suit my style of painting. The more contemporary but simple recycled wooden black box frames offer a more contemporary appeal to those who prefer a cleaner line.

My first painting sale on opening night, bought by a very lovely repeat customer Gloria!

The new additions to the print section proved popular and I’m delighted to say the online store is now live!! So you can click here to order prints with free delivery https://www.artistgmd.com/prints 

Speaking of prints, we ran a giveaway at the show, to anyone who scanned the QR code and signed up to my mailing list. Many congratulations to Orla Condon, our winner chosen at random by AppSorteos (a very handy online app for picking giveaway winners)! I hope you enjoy your print when you receive it Orla.

Print Fundraiser for Tea Collective

We also ran a fundraiser for the Tea Collective via Irish Visual Artists for Gaza, selling bookmarks and giving €10 from every print sold at the show. I'm delighted to say we handed over €250 to Tea Collective, going to fund their on the ground work in the region. Thank you so much to everyone who donated. Check out their amazing work here... https://www.teacollective.ie/about-us

New to the show this year, I launched a Birthday calendar which proved popular! An idea I've long admired from the Dutch. You hang it in the downstairs loo or on the fridge; my art, acting as the perfect reminder so you never miss a birthday again. Yearly calendars end up in recycling, but this is one you keep forever. They proved popular but I do have a couple left and will be adding it to the website shortly.

The ArtistGMD Birthday Calendar!

As always the show was filled with amazing artists and galleries I follow and admire, the list too long to add, but you can see everyone who exhibited at the Dublin show here: https://www.artsource.ie/artists-galleries/

I loved seeing Marcel Lindsay at the show, a former colleague who is going from strength to strength. Congratulations Marcel your work is beautiful! Have a look at his work here: https://marcellindsay.com/

Marcel Lindsay beautiful work...

So, after all the excitement of Art Source, what’s next? Well, a few paintings have been added to my collection for The Doorway Gallery in Dublin https://www.thedoorwaygallery.com The gallery is preparing to move to its new premises on Wicklow Street and I can’t wait to see it.

New piece 'Work in Progress' now in The Doorway Gallery...

 Also, some commission paintings to work on which were ordered at the show. I probably ought to get back to family life at some point, having taken a slight back seat in the run up to the exhibition. Of course, gearing towards Christmas and fulfilling any orders as my art always makes a great gift - hint-hint!

Thanks again for being here, would love to hear your feedback on the ArtSource show in the comments below if you were there.

Chat soon,

Gavin