Simon Casson at Long & Ryle Gallery

I first discovered Long & Ryle Gallery when I lived near Tate Britain back when it was just the plain old Tate. Is it just me, or does anyone else miss the old Tate? Anyway, the gallery occupies just one room with, what I can only assume, is a very large storage room downstairs. The first time I went in with my husband, they were exhibiting works by a Spanish painter called Ramiro Fernandez Saus. We bought a large oil painting and three small watercolors in about 15 minutes. I have been a huge fan of the gallery ever since. From 6 October to 11 November, Long & Ryle will be exhibiting works by Simon Casson. His paintings offer a contemporary twist on the staid western tradition of art. I love the way he deconstructs his formal images by swiping paint through them and disrupting the order of the canvas. Done solely in oil, this technique has a collage-like influence on the canvas. His drawing skills are masterful and his imagination is brilliant. I am really attracted to the combination of the old and new. With successful exhibits throughout North America and Europe to his credit, Casson is one to watch. Not sure at the starting price point, but the work I saw recently was £9,000. Check it out at www.longandryle.com.

Richard Sweeney -- Paper Sculpture

Wandering around the Business Design Centre the other day, I came across these amazing paper sculptures by Richard Sweeney. He creates the works by cutting and folding the paper into his desired vision. From a distance they appear to be made out of stone or even porcelain. However, on closer examination, the objects are constructed solely out of paper. Whether hanging from the ceiling or resting on a coffee table, these pieces would look fabulous in any collector’s home. The pictures don’t do the works justice, but check out the artist’s website anyway at www.richardsweeney.co.uk.

Eri Itoi at Braveart 06 -- East London

I love going to student art shows. Admittedly, it is always in the back of my mind that I could discover the next big thing and have a great story in twenty years about how I bought this work by so-and-so for £30 and now it is worth £100,000. But it really isn’t about all that – at least not for me. Mainly I enjoy these shows so much because it is the best way to stay current with the next generation of artists. I like that their work has not necessarily had any major exposure to the art market (i.e. gallery and museum shows and auctions). I am free to formulate my own thoughts without having any pressure of an impressive resume looming in the back of my mind. It allows the experience to be about the viewer and the artwork without the interferance of anyone else's opinions. This is a great exercise in developing a collector’s eye, as well as trusting your own instincts.

Last weekend I went to the Braveart 06 student show at the Atlantis Gallery in East London. The show was made up of recent graduates from Scotland’s four main art colleges. 20 students were represented at the annual event and the works included painting, sculpture, video, and instillation. My favorite artist by far was Eri Itoi from the Edinburgh College of Art. Her works easily could have been overlooked due to their diminutive size but not for any lack of beauty or skill. These delicate and intricate portraits depict young women often times with moody and extremely emotive faces. They are standing alone without a background or context to place them in. The pencil drawings are done on eggshell colored paper no larger than 4 x 6 inches and were selling for £550 each. They are truly intriguing.

At these shows, or any gallery show for that matter, I always come home and research any artists that I liked on my outings. It is usually a dead end with student shows but it doesn’t stop me from trying. Eri Itoi was first (and only) on my list for that day and I was happily surprised to find that she is currently having her first solo exhibit here in London at the David Risley Gallery. I am certain I would have liked her work just as much if I saw her beautiful drawings in the gallery context, but for my sake, I am happy that I experienced her work at the student show. Check out Eri Itoi at www.davidrisleygallery.com.

Smudge Gallery - East London

On my way to another student show last weekend, I was sidetracked by a small gallery just outside Spitalfields Market in East London. One step above a hole in the wall, Smudge Gallery couldn’t be more than 1000 square feet spread over two levels with one extremely steep staircase. We’re not talking Bond Street here, but rather London’s trendy east end, home of the local contemporary art scene. The gallery specializes in mounted photo art and posters provided by their own group of photographers. The images are young, edgy, and definitely geared towards pop culture favorites. Images of graffiti (including those done by London based graffiti artist Banksy), neon signs, and cars dominate the photographs covering the walls. The result is artwork that is accessible to the smallest of budgets and newest of collectors. For example, the prints come in many different sizes and the prices range from as low as £30 to a whopping £80. Depending on your mood, the images can be printed on wood blocks, aluminum, and canvas.

I have been collecting art for over ten years and do not consider myself a snob when it comes to my own collection. If I love the work and can’t live without it, it doesn’t make a difference if the gallery or artist is famous or a virtual unknown. While I thought about buying a few of the photos at Smudge, I couldn’t help but speculate: what would stop me from doing this myself? After all, there was a store across the street that mounted photos on poster board and canvas for you while you waited! While I normally hate this line of “why should I pay for that when my four year old does the same thing in kindergarten" conversation, I actually (shamefully) caught myself feeling like that. I am not an artist, but I have some amazing photographs from my honeymoon in Africa. Why not pick out four or so and have them mounted across the street? Would I like the work as much if it wasn't bought at a gallery? Would they feel more special and unique hanging on my wall if there weren't so many exact copies in existence? Would I feel the same if the process wasn't so transparent?

I ended up not buying any of the photos that day. Not because I thought I could do it better myself, but more because I couldn't decide which works to buy. In a perfect world, you buy a piece of art because you are drawn to it, appreciate it, and want to surround yourself with it everyday. Not solely because you couldn’t paint it, sculpt it, or photograph it yourself. It is in this case that I listen to my inner voice and realize that if I don't love anything enough to live without it, I am not going to buy it. No matter how affordable it is. Besides, if I find myself still thinking about any of the works, I can rest assured that the piece (or one of hundreds of mounted copies) would still be there in the future. Check out the Smudge Gallery at www.spitalfieldsartmarket.co.uk.