May 2022 Newsletter
EXCITING NEW ART
Clearing Storm
Mike Glover
Pastel on paper
Tēnā koutou
Hello again to all our customers and supporters! It’s been an exciting few months at the gallery and we would like to thank everyone who has visited and also bought some stunning artwork. For an online art experience, do check out our website and shop page for a great selection of art available to buy online, and shipped directly to your door if desired.
As we head into winter, we’d like to tell you about some events coming up at the gallery. We’ve also included a few handy tips about hanging artwork in your home or office.
Wine and Art Evening
Thursday 9 June · 5:30-7:30 pm
Yes, it’s time for one of our popular wine and art evenings. We would like to invite you to enjoy some of the fabulous new art we’ll have on display at the gallery from 9 June. Our last evening in February was well attended and guests enjoyed delicious refreshments (courtesy of Nourish Catering) as well as viewing some wonderful new art.
For June’s event, we will be showcasing the art of four fabulous artists new to the gallery: Mike Glover (Christchurch), Harry Day (Nelson), Melanie Drewery (Nelson), and Fiona Bryant (Tairawhiti Gisborne). We will also have new work by our very talented current artists: Maxine Burney, Emma Panting, Jane Riley, Clare Wilcox, and Ross Lee.
If you’re keen to come along, just email r.s.v.p to Sue at info@proteanart.co.nz Drinks and nibbles are complementary and it would be awesome to see you.
Nelson Magazine
Nelson Magazine recently included a promotional piece about the stunning new Ocean View apartments in Tahunanui, Nelson. We have been pleased to supply some of the lovely apartment owners with art from Protean. One of our delightful customers recently bought one of Clare Wilcox’s artworks and it was great to see Clare’s eye-catching work hanging in the very stylish apartment. Doesn’t original art add that extra panache to a living space!
Intermediate School Student Art Exhibition
We’re thrilled to announce that in November we’ll be hosting an exhibition of artwork by Waimea Intermediate students. The best of the student’s work will be on display, with 30% of sales going toward charity.
The student’s art teacher, Emma Panting, herself an extremely talented artist, exhibits regularly at the gallery. Her students have been creating some amazing work all year and we can’t wait to showcase their art.
We will keep you posted with regards to specific dates and more details about the student exhibition.
How to choose the right size artwork for your space
Size
Aim to fill about two-thirds to three quarters of your available wall space
If you are looking to hang a focal point above a piece of furniture—such as your couch, headboard, or dresser—follow the same proportions and find a work two-thirds to three-quarters smaller than your furniture.
For instance, if your headboard is 150cm wide, you should find a work around 100 to 115cm wide.
If in doubt, go big. You want your artwork to stand out and complement your space—empty wall space can overwhelm a work that is too small. Imagine that your artwork connects the dots in your room, tying together the couch, lamps, and other works of art—a piece that is too small will float between the dots, rather than connect them into a cohesive space.
2. Orientation
When deciding on orientation, consider the shape of your available wall space—do you have a sliver of vertical space between two windows? Go for a work in portrait orientation to create a sense of height and openness.
Is there a yawning expanse of blank wall space behind your dining room table? Go horizontal, or landscape, to fill the visual field.
3. Placement
In gallery spaces, two-dimensional works are typically hung so that the center of the piece falls at eye level (142 to 150cm from floor). This standard is a useful rule of thumb for hanging works on blank walls.
When there’s a couch, headboard, fireplace mantel or other piece of furniture involved, you will need to make sure the work has some breathing room while keeping the objects cohesive. Generally, this means hanging the work about 10 to 30cm above the top of the piece of furniture.
For a work serving as a focal point on a blank wall behind your dining room table, follow the same 10 to 30cm rule.
We do hope you find these guidelines useful, and remember they’re not hard and fast rules, just a few handy tips to guide you as you consider where to hang an artwork.
At Protean Art, we’re always happy to give advice on how and where to hang your artwork. And of course, we provide an ongoing service where you can ‘try before you before buy’. We can bring a selection of artworks to your home so you can see what art looks best in your space.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the team who provide valuable ongoing support to Protean Art. A very big THANK YOU to Margaret Cable, Louis Roughton, Emily Ramsay, Helena Roughton, Jo and Richard Townsend, and Ruth Lever from Rule Design.
Look forward to seeing you in the gallery soon.
Warm wishes,
Sue and Erin Roughton
Meet the owners
We (Sue and Erin Roughton) are the owners of Protean Art Gallery. Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter.
Make sure you stick around for more updates, newsletters, and resources for art lovers!