Running FADD 2019

At the end of last year/start of this year, I became engrossed in Fun A Day Dundee. This year was different as the number of participants who took part increased (dramatically for the ones in January… went from looking over 60 people to 90), we got funding (super yay, thanks Creative Scotland), and I had an amazing wee team of helpers that varied over the course of the project and event.

Because of these changes to Fun A Day, it meant I had to figure out the new challenges of this quaint project becoming a bigger deal. New experiences with management, delegation, time management, budgeting, etc. It felt hectic, confusing, inspiring and fun all in one! It was a little bit of a shock at first, as in previous years, I was able to chill out, and chat with everyone who took part, and take all the time in the world to set up. Due to other work commitments and increase in participants, this year I was working on fewer hours, and more people, leaving me to face the reality of the project changing! It is exciting though, to be rewarded with the popularity, good wishes, help, and positive attitude towards the project this year.

I have already begun planning Fun A Day Dundee 2020, and am adamant about certain changes, and cannot wait to roll it all out, and spread the fun yet again! Check out this blog post on the fun a day dundee website for the results of the exhibition.

Much love to everyone who helped this year 🙂

Photos by JillyJillyDesign

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Pet Portraits 2018/2019

I’ve had a really busy few months, and I’m only now getting a chance to update my blog! After the Etsy Christmas Market, I did another one (The Gate Church Cafe Christmas Craft Fair). I enjoyed selling at these markets, I look forward to more this year! In the run up to Christmas my diary was jam packed with pet portraits over 1-2 months. This post is a selection of the portraits I drew & painted over that time.

After all this painting and sketching over the festive season, I jumped back into the busy planning and organising that is Fun A Day Dundee. This year, I applied for funding in order to continue running the exhibition as the numbers of participants grow each year. I am so pleased that Creative Scotland are funding us, and it’s very exciting planning and delivering all the new elements in the run up to the show. We’re looking at around 70 people exhibiting. It’s such a rewarding and inspiring project, with so many different people, with different skill sets, all bringing their own take to the same project.

I look forward to the exhibition, but am also looking further through the year and planning commissioned work, personal projects, markets, as well as Fun A Day Dundee 2020 can you believe it!

1. Acrylic on paper (A4) This may be one of my favourite paintings I’ve done!

2. Beautiful ginger cat! A2, coloured pencil on paper.

3. This adorable wee Scottish terrier. Acrylic paint on paper, A4.

4. I did love drawing this dog! Coloured pencil on paper, A4.

5. A3 acrylic painting. I think this was the first painted dog (on this scale, on canvas) I had done in a while, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

6. Set of 3 postcard sized paintings on paper. Acrylic paint. I enjoyed painting this wee trio!

7. Little pup, acrylic paint on canvas A4. I’m keen to create a few drawings and paintings this year directly onto a bold colour/coloured paper.

8.  This double act, acrylic on canvas, A2. 🙂

9. Another acrylic on canvas, A2.

10. & an acrylic on paper horse 🙂

 

CCChat, Etsy Made Local, Xmas

Another busy month! Thanks to Ryan McLeod for giving me the chance to discuss Fun A Day Dundee, my own art practice, and Dundee’s culture on the Creative Chit Chat podcast this month. It was fun to go through some thoughts as well as advertising FADD, as we come to the end of the year already. You can listen to this episode here. 

Dundee’s first Etsy Made Local Market was organised by the fantastic Etsy Made Local Dundee Team; Jilly, Jennifer, Leighann, and James. A new community which shares advice for local Etsy sellers, as well as building a successful supportive group with social meets. Their Christmas Market was very successful, and I enjoyed selling my work in person, complete with a new look and my new work.

This Christmas I am fully booked with a variety of commissions to be given as gifts. This has also extended into February. It’s great to be working on a selection of work at the same time (acrylic paintings, pencil drawings, and my mini wooden paintings). Many thanks to people who have been supporting my work, it’s always exciting making a sale from something you’re passionate about. Following Christmas, I’ll be sharing the collection of commissions I’ve been working on.

Some recent commissions and mini paintings…

Above – packaging up Etsy orders

Above – mini portrait commission of an orangutan the buyer sponsors

Above – mini commission bundle of cats

Above – mini portrait commissions

Above – A collection of desired subjects my followers wanted me to paint!

Above – mini painted magnets

Above – mini paintings

Split Screen / Portraits / Christmas

This year’s been great for connecting with local artists, makers and creatives. I’m enjoying new challenges, and hoping to see Fun A Day Dundee evolve in the next two years. I am also working as an assistant in schools (primary) which is exciting, fun, challenging and creative. Loving the change in my part time work.

A few months back Creative Dundee invited me to do their Split Screen interview with the lovely Erin Farley. Great chance to find out more about Dundee’s history, Erin’s work, and get chatting about Dundee culture, including Fun A Day Dundee and my own practice. You can watch the video here.

Back in September I created this commission of the friendly, Cassie! Pencil on paper, A4.

As Christmas approaches, I have a collection of commissioned portraits to create in time for Santa’s deliveries! These include mini paintings on wooden slices, paintings, and pencil drawings. Looking forward to sharing the collection in January.

Christmas Markets

Looking forward to the Christmas markets to get in the festive spirit (& to do my own shopping!) I have new prints for sale, original art, mini paintings, and handwoven scarves. The 1st one is Etsy Made Local Dundee (wasps, meadow mills) on Sat 1st December and the 2nd is 15th December at the gate church cafe (perth road).

Etsy Workshops

Etsy Dundee Team are fantastic at organising, are very informative, and create fun, social ways of teaching sellers how to make the most out of their Etsy Stores. I still have to catch up on editing mine, but found the ‘Shape Up Shop’ social session very handy.

I got a chance to re-organise the home studio in October 🙂

Fun A Day Dundee

As the year closes in, Fun A Day Dundee creeps in, with the mission to inject fun and creativity into the dull month of January. Social meets ups are proving more popular, and these will continue into the workings of the project in Feb & March. A lot of new ideas for the project this year, I’m hoping it will grow and evolve to accommodate the demand of participants, especially for the public exhibition, which has been so successful in previous years. Watch this space… (as well as this space for all the latest with Fun A Day Dundee.)

Inktober & Mini Paintings

Inktober! After it slipped by me the past two years, I have finally managed to get a hold of this project and take part. Create an ink drawing every day in October and post online. Simple! And similar to the Fun A Day Dundee concept, which I’m used to. It’s nice to draw with ink, and I’ve found a new favourite character to draw… There will most likely be developments on her and her sidekick cat.

A selection of some recent mini paintings…

Also a new concept: Mini, wooden pet portraits! Popular so far, these little fine art depictions of your furry friend are so loveable, and perfect for decorating you and your home with (thanks to the magnet or pin fastening on the back.) For just £10 each, please message me on Facebook or email me at sambaxter10@gmail.com if you’d like one of your own, or one to gift!

Fall Fair, Podcast, & Etsy Local

 

I’ve had a crazy busy past few months in my personal and business life, but in so many good ways! One small change… my name is now Samantha Sherriff, although you can still find all my art through Sam Baxter Art! 😀
First off, I got to be a guest on a lovely, local podcast show, called The Beans Pod! On my guest episode I talked about Fun A Day Dundee, a local, community project I run in Dundee each year. I had so much fun talking with Sam, Erin, and Valerie, and even more so as I was a guest in a few more episodes after ‘Fun’. Please check out the episode here, and while you’re at it, give more episodes a listen. Funny, and informative, the Beans Pod changes content each episode, but never a dull moment.

Recently Jilly (Jilly Jilly Design) has put a lot of effort into creating Dundee’s own Etsy Local community. Because of this, and a variety of local meet ups, Dundee will now have its first Etsy Local Market! And at the best time of year… 🙂
I’m lucky enough to be there and selling original art, prints, mini paintings, scarves, and some new products! Can’t wait!

If you sell on Etsy and are local, you can get involved in future events, just join/follow the Facebook page and group.

In September I sold my art & some craft at my first market, at the Gate Church cafe in Dundee. It was a lovely afternoon, shared with an amazing selection of products, art, and home decor.

Some fun mini paintings I made for the market (above)

 

New Work – August 18

This month I’ve continued making my mini paintings of animals, have completed another pet portrait, and have got stuck into a bit of Dundee culture. More details on new work/projects in the next couple of weeks, but for now, here’s a selection of paintings i made this month!

One of my favourite animals; the fox, and everyone’s favourite; the highland cow. These mini paintings become magnets or brooches. Working on making them key chains/ ribbon pendants as well.

Prickly wee hedgehog!

You can grab yourself a cheery wee mini painting of your own by checking out my current listings on Etsy here.

And below are a few mini postcard sized paintings.

Some magnets in action 🙂