Welcome to the first official newsletter for Anna-Mair Francis’ website. They can only get better, I am sure!
I can’t quite believe that Easter is here already and although the website has been active for a few months that this is the first time that I have contributed anything to it apart from all the photographs of course!
Just to highlight a few events since launching the business: namely 2 road trips and the exhibitions, to show you that I have been working and not just enjoying myself, really. The first trip was the first of a few things, the first time I had used a camper van, the first tax deductible road trip and the first time I had really used my new digital camera (canon EOS 400D 10.2meg for those who are interested). The trip coincided with the arrival of a friend from the UK, her first trip Down-under. We headed south through Pemberton and hit the coast on the beautiful beach at Windy Harbour before driving east through Walpole, Denmark and Albany around where we spent a few days. Photographically the highlight was the perfect sunset I captured which was reflected in a mirror image on the Lower King River. See the Gallery for the results. It did mean my stopping on a cycle path to capture it but I am sure the police would have understood had they seen me! We returned to Perth through the Stirling Ranges and a plague of locusts of Biblical proportions as we drove through the
wheat belt. I was very glad we didn’t have to clean the front of the Camper but I am not sure the hire company was as thrilled!
Between Christmas and New Year I escaped down to Esperance for a few days. I had not been that way before and was amazed by the changing landscape along the route. The beaches in the Esperance area are unbelievable if you don’t know that already, long, perfect soft white sands crystal clear waters. They are so good that even the local kangaroos can be seen on some of them. I am at present still working through these images but there will be some on the gallery soon.
I exhibited at 2 shows in December at the Blend(er) Gallery in Joondalup. The first was just 1 image in a members show, and then 5 images went into a joint exhibition with 9 other local artists, it was good to be involved in this one as it gave me an idea of what one had to do in preparing for a show so I was wiser when it came to my first solo show. In both of those shows I had great responses and was able to advertise my solo event.
The exhibition aptly named ‘Maiden Voyage’ was also at the Blend(er) Gallery in January. I hung 60 images about half of which were framed and the rest just mounted with mats and back boards. Most of the images were Colour and of Australia, mainly W.A and Queensland with a few international and B+W images to add flavour. The Mayor of Joondalup, Troy Pickard, opened the show for me and said some wonderful things, it was only when he was half way through I thought, I should be taking notes this is all great stuff! I had meant to video the evening for my Son, Reuben who was in Europe at the time but will all the other preparations I forgot. Listening to people’s comments when they didn’t know I could hear them was great. It isn’t true that you wouldn’t hear anything good about yourself if you listen to others!!
At least 500 people came through and most left with one of my cards in their hands. I sold around 10% of the images on show plus numerous cards. It was great to meet so many people and hopefully they will remember me when they need fine art photography for their walls. I was very pleased with how the week went and learned a lot from the experience not least that all images should be framed and people can sneeze on them!
You can see a review of the exhibition on the news page.
I currently have pictures on display at the Lumerie Gallery in Cottesloe and The Beach House in Osborne Park. So what is next, I am researching possible road trips within West Australia, looking at the Kimberley or Coral Bay at the moment as well as somewhere nearer home. The Kimberley is the remote northwest corner of W.A a 2 or 3 day drive from Perth before you even get off the highway. I am also looking into applying for arts grants for funding for some more ambitious projects.
I am approaching local shops and galleries to see if they will take my pictures as stock, so far this has not been as scary as I thought it would be. Later this year I am joining with a friend who is an underwater photographer to exhibit at Houghtons Vineyard in the Swan Valley, so watch this space for dates.
I am still working on getting the online shop up and running, it is harder then I thought but it is coming soon.
Have a great Easter, and get out there with your camera!
Anna-Mair Francis