Own Art @ Christmas 2013
Looking for the perfect gift for the art lover in your life this Christmas? Are the prices involved a little too high, given all the belt-tightening and budget-planning we've had to endure this year? The Skinny has a recession-proof solution – here is our handy guide to new work available under the Own Art scheme, which allows you to buy any art piece priced over £100 with an interest-free loan. In a genius stroke, the Own Art scheme doesn't just apply to paintings, sculpture and other visual art, but also to jewellery, crafts and other unique pieces.
Firstly, lets take a look at Brazen Studios in Glasgow. Selling bespoke jewellery and engagement rings, the company specialise in creating one-off pieces. "We feel that individual design doesn’t need to be defined by pre-existing aesthetics, and when it comes to important life markers, there is nothing more special than injecting your individual style and design choice into an engagement ring or special commemorative piece," says Brazen's Sarah Raffel. "Jewellery is such a personal thing and carries a lot of meaning – that is what we try and inject into our process."
How do Brazen go about designing these unique pieces? "We take clients through a design process which starts off with their personal visual references," Raffel explains. "We match that up with the right stones and feel, so it becomes a beautiful piece to wear for a very long time." So if you are planning to pop the question under the mistletoe, but can't afford more than a ton upfront, Brazen is the place to go. Visit their site at www.brazenstudios.co.uk for a look at some of their beautiful work.
Meanwhile, over at Edinburgh Printmakers, they have just begun exhibiting new works by Andrew Mackenzie, whose thrilling architectural take on pastoral themes provides some interesting contrasts of mathematical form and natural beauty. His new River prints are "based upon a visit I made to the river Findhorn in early 2013, near a well-known place called Randolph’s Leap," says Mackenzie. "I spent a day exploring, scrambling, observing, making notes and photographing the gorge. It is a beautiful and potentially dangerous place, prone to spate." Buy before Christmas, and there's £50 off.
They will also be holding a very special Christmas Multiples Market on 14 Dec, where they invite you to browse a range of stalls for unique Christmas gifts, including original mini-prints, jewellery, tote bags, tea towels, cards and much more. They promise mulled wine and mince pies too.
Over at the Glasgow Print Studio, you can visit their new exhibition Living Proof, inspired by Charles Darwin's famous voyage on the HMS Beagle. The pieces on show will be for sale, and the exhibition features new work by Alasdair Gray, Ashley Cook, Helen Fay, Elizabeth Blackadder, Eileen Cooper, Murray Robertson and John Byrne amongst others, and sculptural work by Kenny Thompson. Living Proof runs from 6 Dec to 2 Feb preview 5 Dec). They also have their annual Christmas Show running concurrently, featuring new work by their members, with fine art prints, cards and gifts.
The Ingleby Gallery in Edinburgh are currently exhibiting work by David Austen, Thomas Joshua Cooper, Ian Hamilton Finlay and others in Once Upon A Time and a Very Good Time It Was. The show runs until 21 December, and also includes antiquities from Europe, China and Eurasia. Visit their site for more details www.inglebygallery.com.
If that's not enough to whet your festive whistle, check out our previous features on galleries and shops who participate in the Own Art scheme in our Art section online, and have a look at the Own Art website for more brilliant gift ideas!