When I first visited Nakano in Reykjavík my jaw dropped. You have to understand: Iceland has many wonderful things but artistic cute stores that sell art materials and beautiful stationary is not one of them.
When browsing at the store, I could only think about the clients of this hidden gem…
Nakano is a Japanese inspired store that sells stationary and art materials tucked in Reykjavík.
These people have to know I exist! If they like these products they will probably like my work as well…
This is the mindset that gets me opportunities!
I have no shame to propose workshops, ask to sell my things in stores, apply for markets…
But why an exhibition?
I proposed an exhibition because the store has beautiful things for sale already.
I can’t be one more in the crowd: I don’t stand a chance. I don’t have experience making stationary and my products have been rejected by store owners in the past. I’m clearly doing something wrong… But I can focus on that later.
I need advantage to stand out... I need a spotlight, a wall, I need an event!
I need something I’m good at!
An Exhibition 𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡
In today’s letter I’ll tell you my process. I’ll divide my process in different posts to not bore you to death (≖_≖ )
Goals for the exhibition
With this exhibition I want to reborn and be perceived as a refined artist…
I want to sell my things at a higher price so I can work at a slower pace :)
Theme of the exhibition
The theme of my exhibition is Metamorphosis the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages. Persistence. My metamorphosis from chaotic and raw to elegant and considered. I feel this change in me and my personality and I want to expand it to my work. This exhibition is about becoming who I’ve always been, slowly and on purpose.
Since my target visitors are consumers of Nakano: lovers of Japan and all things kawaii I went looking for Japanese exhibitions for inspiration…
I like the frames this artist used, and also the fact that she doesn’t use frames sometimes. She has big format and very small illustrations put together and she occupies one wall which is about the space I have :) Her exhibition’s little book and poster are also very nice. I like that she shows a lot of her pieces in the poster.
Exhibitions I tend to love and return to, have a narrative.
I have tried to create a story for a recurrent character in my sketchbook: The Fairy. She’s curious, and sometimes quiet. She’s also me ⋆˚✿˖°
But I think I have to do something easier since a book is not coming out of me.
There is nothing wrong with doing something easier if it means I can actually have a finished project!
I want a couple of bigger pieces next to smaller ones, like that artist did on her exhibition. I want it to fall in place naturally…
The fairy can be painted in a small scale and the girl can be painted in big canvas.
I want to use this opportunity to tell a silent narrative with a few paintings hanging on a wall. I will work hard to pull this off („• ֊ •„)੭
Right now I’m in that phase of putting all in the table and selecting as I go.
Materials I will use
I will work with graphite and watercolours from Nakano store. The owner kindly offered me a beautiful set (yes you read it right, o-f-f-e-r-e-d) a beautiful set of Kuretake watercolours and a bag to organize my materials ♡
Uau! Thank you for reading this letter 𐔌՞. .՞𐦯
On my next post I will focus on the process of compositions and painting with kuretake watercolours 𓂃𓂃
I’m going to the city on friday to buy paper so let me know in the comments if there is any watercolour paper you recommend!
Say hi or ask anything you’d like to know about the exhibition ⋆˚✿˖°
I will write about it next time.
Pay a visit to Nakano’s instagram and while you’re in the app see the work of the artist featured on today’s letter
Bless bless ☕︎