Thursday 2nd July

On Thursday I compared the techniques and compositions of two artists, this was extremely helpful as I learned about how certain elements to a successful painting were achieved. I looked at the ways in which the artist had drawn the viewers eye into the focal point of the painting.
After analyzing two other portraits for myself, I was asked to complete some filing of pictures from different eras of art. I had to really study each of the pictures and their content in order to know whether they would file under Georgian, Victorian, Tudor or abstract/impressionist.

Wednesday 1st July

On Wednesday I watched as the frame was fixed to the completed stretched canvas and was asked to consider the requests of a buyer and how they should be satisfied.

The next area that I found particularly interesting and intriguing was how particular pieces of art were composed and how this affected the overall image of the portraits. I had to look at how lines for the eye to travel along had been created with either contrast of light to dark or the texture of the paint. I really enjoyed this activity and it has now made me think harder when I look at a picture and how it has been fashioned to lead your eye to particular areas, in some cases ignoring others.

Referring back to the marketing strategies I had been researching on Monday when I was asked to give some ideas about how the company could increase its publicity.
Facebook, Myspace and Twitter are all social networks that have become increasing popular at present, so we decided to use these devices to our advantage, as have so many other companies. Although admittedly fairly unfamiliar with Facebook, my ICT skills paid off and I managed to create a more business orientated Facebook page that gave links to the Richard Bostock website, gave details on the location and most importantly held albums of photographs of some of the paintings and portraits Mr Bostock had created. I also created an album of studio pictures.

Tuesday 30th June

Tuesday was also an eye opener when considering the responsibility taken on when running a small organization. I filed invoices, vouchers and receipts and recognised how organization is vital in such a business. I was then encouraged to study several artists and to question why their paintings were successful. Mr Bostock gave me a greater insight into the marketing and control strategies needed for an independent business and it also increased my background knowledge of artists techniques. I then saw how a canvas stretcher was created and looked at the sorts of techniques used. We discussed how the prospect of being able to make it from scratch yourself meant that you knew that it would be high quality and would not come at such high prices.

Monday 29th June

I found my first day invaluable in terms of understanding more about how an independent business operates and what sort of research has to be out into it. I was given the task of searching the web for competitors of Richard Bostock Fine Art. I needed to see how they were marketing their buisness in comparison with Bostock's. I also learned about the process of finding possible buyers as well as looking at the background knowledge necessary to make such artwork. I looked at the difference in portrait painting throughout the Tudor, Georgian, Victorian and impressionist periods which I found extremely interesting and informative.