In This Edition:
*Here and There......
*My Magnum Opus
*Christmas in the Village
*My Art in the Real World
*Dare I Mention it?
*And Finally....
Here and There:
As many of our long standing clients know, Joyce and I usually take about 5 days during the first week of November to "refresh & recharge" after the long Spring-Summer season. As we have done numerous times in the past, we are headed to the Bahamas, which we find a very relaxing way to spend a few days off before getting back to the busy Fall season.
So, while I will not be here, the gallery will remain open during our absence with Lil taking the first days (Mon-Thurs) and Al at the helm on Friday. Regular gallery hours of 10:00 - 5:00 will be maintained. I will be back in the gallery on Saturday November 9th.
I will however be in the gallery this weekend Friday November 1st through Sunday November 3rd from 10:00 - 5:00 PM to answer any calls, questions or assist you in any way before I depart.
Oh, and just in case you think it will be total get away for me, I will have my gear with me- "just in case" an opportunity presents itself. Experience has taught me -- ".....the things you see when you DON'T have your camera...."
My Magnum Opus:
Magnum opus, from the Latin, meaning "great work", refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an artist.
I suppose you could say that I began my career by taking my very first photograph approximately 53 years ago. Okay, I was only 5 years old, but you have to start somewhere right?
Over the years I feel confident that I have become better and better at my craft. However, in every artist's life there (hopefully) comes a time when you can stand back and say "I did it", "I have created the masterwork of my career" and be not only proud, but more importantly, be satisfied. I now feel that I have achieved that with my latest work, "Fairy Tale Falls"
We recently returned from a short excursion through Watkins Glen State Park in New York where I experienced the best photographic conditions I have ever witnessed. I came away cold, wet and absolutely blown away with what transpired that day. The result is what you see here - "Fairy Tale Falls", which I consider my Magnum opus!
This , my latest work of art, is available in four sizes ranging from 12 x 20 inches, and all the way up to 30 x 50 inches. There will be a total of only 100 signed and numbered canvases produced for the entire edition. If you want to own this very special piece as a part of your collection, please call me at 905-562-0068, or toll-free 866-211-9799 for more details.
Christmas in the Village:
I have been working with a number of Jordan Village Merchants to bring the spirit of Christmas to our quaint little village. We have come up with a number of Christmas themed events such as horse & carriage rides, Christmas concert, tree lighting ceremony, candle light stroll and of course a visit from the big guy himself, Santa.
If you are in the area during the Friday November 22nd to Sunday November 24th event, please drop by and say hello!
My Art in the Real World:
Tom and Shirley, shared a picture of another brand new release which now hangs in their home in Michigan, USA. This piece has set a new personal record for me, and here's why. I have had situations where I placed a brand new release on the gallery wall and sold the very first set in as little as 3 hours after hanging them - WOW does that ever feel good! However in this case, the very first canvas was purchased even before I had printed one!
I recently installed a 55 inch flat screen TV in the gallery to electronically display the hundreds of unreleased, but not yet printed, images for clients searching for something that is not on the gallery walls. This has been quite a success because as soon as Tom and Shirley saw the piece on the screen, they immediately knew that this was the perfect piece for them. I was able to quickly mock-up a very accurate rendering on the big screen of what this piece would look like in their choice of frame and thankfully, they had the faith and trust in me to go ahead and order it for their home. I can't tell you how good that makes me feel!
So without further ado, here is "Harvest Vineyard" as it hangs in their home.
Thank you so much Tom and Shirley both for your order, and for the confidence you have shown in my work!
Dare I Mention It?
I know you are probably still trying to "dispose" of all of that leftover Halloween candy and dare I say it, Christmas is still almost 8 weeks away. But it is coming....
Every year we are faced with the dilemma/stress/panic and concern, when it comes to producing and shipping Christmas orders in time for the big day. We have learned through years of experience that if there is ever going to be a frame that will be out of stock, a tie up with international and out-of province shipping, or any number of things that can, and do, go wrong, it is going to happen at the worst possible time - and that is usually between now and Christmas!
So, if you are considering giving one of my pieces as a Christmas gift to a friend or loved one this year, please, please, please let me know sooner rather than later if possible. That way you, and I can be assured that you will have the best selection and most importantly, it will arrive on time. Hey, less stress is good for all of us, right?
And Finally....:
As I send out this November email edition of our Gallery News, I am reminded that it has now been one full year (as of November 6th, 2012) since we closed the Niagara-on-the-Lake gallery and rolled all of our operations into the new Jordan Village location. The year has gone by quickly and it has been a very good one for us. I am constantly asked if this was a wise move relocating from the extremely busy Niagara-on-the-Lake location where I would sometime get as many as 1000 people a day through the gallery. The answer is a resounding YES, YES, YES! It is probably the best move I have ever made.
Even though we see less than 5% of the traffic we had in Niagara-on-the-Lake, we are much better off here when all factors are taken into consideration. One of the greatest benefits for me, is that I can finally give you, my client, the time and attention you deserve without being constantly distracted by crowds of hundreds of people. I call this "Adult Time" where I can answer your questions, show you custom framing options and where we can get to know one another. It was not always so in the previous gallery where there were days when it was absolute chaos. Thank you for your patience in the past!
I will forever be grateful for the fact that you choose to make my work a part of your home, your family and your life.
Until next time and most sincerely,
Kenneth
The Kenneth Lane Smith Gallery
Jordan Village, ON -905-562-0068
Toll-Free 1-866-211-9799
Web:http://www.kennethlanesmithgallery.com
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