‘It’s Art Call Prize’ – what have the three winners' artists from 2019 been doing since their success in the competition?
An Art Prize competition we organize since 2016. |
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It might feel like a decade ago, but it was January 2020 when we had our It’s Art Call Prize winner’s exhibition at Blacks Club, London, celebrating the great artworks of Amy Lague, Brian Reinker and Evi Antonio, surrounded by an incredible audience of buyers and art lovers.
Sadly, with the current COVID19 world pandemic, we had to cancel the 2020 Edition while still deciding on the 2021 Edition. In the meantime, we came up with a set of questions to let you know what the winners of the 2019 Edition have been doing since.
Sadly, with the current COVID19 world pandemic, we had to cancel the 2020 Edition while still deciding on the 2021 Edition. In the meantime, we came up with a set of questions to let you know what the winners of the 2019 Edition have been doing since.
Amy Lague is a young self-taught landscape, abstract artist that likes to fuse her paintings with her passion for music, using lots of colour and movement.
Tell us a bit about your artistic journey so far - some highs, lows, a real-life situation that inspired you?
I started painting professionally after returning from travelling and being in a position where I was relying on solely selling art for my living. It felt like a big step and a very challenging but very rewarding one. The lows for me are definitely managing my work and the price of selling work and getting your name out there. Spending a lot of money on getting my work presentable for art fairs and exhibitions, only just covering the costs. It is very hard when relying on profit for living costs, nearing losing money when you exhibit, makes starting very difficult. My highs are receiving good feedback from people that see my art and making that connection with someone that has specifically found me as any artist and wants me to paint a commission for them from seeing my works. It is very rewarding and what has kept me motivated and kept me going on.
What is the best feedback you’ve ever had on your work?
That my work was better than Frank Auerbach's - a notion that obviously is ridiculous but a compliment I received in art college which I will always remember.
How did you find out about the Its Art Call Prize?
I was exhibiting at Sussex Art Fair at Goodwood, where I met the organizers Oliver, Leah, and Neto. I stayed in touch and saw it advertised on Instagram once they are directly involved in the prize.
If you had one piece of advice to give participating artists about their careers in the arts, what would it be?
Don’t give up! Know what makes you authentic and true to your own work and stick to it. Be influenced by other artists to an extent and take on all the advice and support you can get but don’t let it take over your individuality.
What are your goals for 2021/2022?
Get better and stronger at marketing and getting a larger client base online and on social media, as we are no longer able to fully rely on exhibitions and networking due to the pandemic.
Tell us a bit about your artistic journey so far - some highs, lows, a real-life situation that inspired you?
I started painting professionally after returning from travelling and being in a position where I was relying on solely selling art for my living. It felt like a big step and a very challenging but very rewarding one. The lows for me are definitely managing my work and the price of selling work and getting your name out there. Spending a lot of money on getting my work presentable for art fairs and exhibitions, only just covering the costs. It is very hard when relying on profit for living costs, nearing losing money when you exhibit, makes starting very difficult. My highs are receiving good feedback from people that see my art and making that connection with someone that has specifically found me as any artist and wants me to paint a commission for them from seeing my works. It is very rewarding and what has kept me motivated and kept me going on.
What is the best feedback you’ve ever had on your work?
That my work was better than Frank Auerbach's - a notion that obviously is ridiculous but a compliment I received in art college which I will always remember.
How did you find out about the Its Art Call Prize?
I was exhibiting at Sussex Art Fair at Goodwood, where I met the organizers Oliver, Leah, and Neto. I stayed in touch and saw it advertised on Instagram once they are directly involved in the prize.
If you had one piece of advice to give participating artists about their careers in the arts, what would it be?
Don’t give up! Know what makes you authentic and true to your own work and stick to it. Be influenced by other artists to an extent and take on all the advice and support you can get but don’t let it take over your individuality.
What are your goals for 2021/2022?
Get better and stronger at marketing and getting a larger client base online and on social media, as we are no longer able to fully rely on exhibitions and networking due to the pandemic.
Brian Reinker, a former architect, working with collage now for three years, he would call it exacting, precise and quite architectural.
Tell us a bit about your artistic journey so far - some highs, lows, a real-life situation that inspired you?
My art practice has been going full time now for 4 years, and it was the best thing I ever did. After leaving architecture, I have been able to explore my creative side and have been fortunate enough to start a successful business. At first, it was very daunting, but with patience, things fell into place. The winning of the It’s Art Call Prize was amazing, and the first competition that I in. It has opened up a lot of doors, and I have met some great people. For inspiration, I think that when I get a commission for a work, I become super inspired to make sure the client is as excited as I am.
What is the best feedback you’ve ever had on your work?
The best feedback is when someone purchases a work and the either buys a second one or recommends me to a friend of theirs. This is a great compliment.
How did you find out about the Its Art Call Prize?
Through social media and a friend at the studio. I was also able to meet Daniel Syrett from Runway Gallery, [main partner of the 2019 edition] who I am now working with, and that was a special bonus.
If you had one piece of advice to give participating artists about their careers in the arts, what would it be?
Have patience and don't be afraid to try new things.
What are your goals for 2021/2022?
With the world the way it is, I think I just want to keep working as hard as I can and try to focus on that. I have been honoured to be selected by Saatchi Art as one of their 21 Artists to watch in 2021, and I hope to be able to expand my practice going forward.
Note: Brian Reinker is having an exhibition with Alan Oliver, Time & Place, from the 18th to the 30th of May at Fitzrovia Gallery.
Tell us a bit about your artistic journey so far - some highs, lows, a real-life situation that inspired you?
My art practice has been going full time now for 4 years, and it was the best thing I ever did. After leaving architecture, I have been able to explore my creative side and have been fortunate enough to start a successful business. At first, it was very daunting, but with patience, things fell into place. The winning of the It’s Art Call Prize was amazing, and the first competition that I in. It has opened up a lot of doors, and I have met some great people. For inspiration, I think that when I get a commission for a work, I become super inspired to make sure the client is as excited as I am.
What is the best feedback you’ve ever had on your work?
The best feedback is when someone purchases a work and the either buys a second one or recommends me to a friend of theirs. This is a great compliment.
How did you find out about the Its Art Call Prize?
Through social media and a friend at the studio. I was also able to meet Daniel Syrett from Runway Gallery, [main partner of the 2019 edition] who I am now working with, and that was a special bonus.
If you had one piece of advice to give participating artists about their careers in the arts, what would it be?
Have patience and don't be afraid to try new things.
What are your goals for 2021/2022?
With the world the way it is, I think I just want to keep working as hard as I can and try to focus on that. I have been honoured to be selected by Saatchi Art as one of their 21 Artists to watch in 2021, and I hope to be able to expand my practice going forward.
Note: Brian Reinker is having an exhibition with Alan Oliver, Time & Place, from the 18th to the 30th of May at Fitzrovia Gallery.
Evi Antonio is an artist trained as a scientific natural history illustrator that embraced digital techniques on her works. Her work is a conversation, an intimate dialogue with nature and her surroundings, both urban and natural. Each piece tells a story and captures a moment in her life. Her work recently focuses on the beauty, symmetry & patterns, and colour in butterflies - a symbol of hope and transformation.
Tell us a bit about your artistic journey so far – some highs, lows, a real-life situation that inspired you?
I feel gratitude that my artistic journey so far has been successful. Some highs included getting into the Royal Academy Summer exhibition in 2012, which gave my career momentum. In 2016 I won a prize for best artist in East of England with National Open Art and in 2019 winner of The Cult House Open call. My lows have only been in that there are as many rejections as success! I am from a rural village and moved to London in 2016 for many different reasons. Since then, I began to notice and absorb London’s street art and urban textures, and I saw it as my new canvas; my work evolved to what it is now.
What is the best feedback you’ve ever had on your work?
On the artwork: Deathhawk @bricklane. “To be enjoyed from a comfortable chair, with Jack Savoretti playing in the background and a gin cocktail in hand.” Dee Gibson, Velvet Orange. And my work has also been described as “soulful” which I love as I know my art does truly come from my soul.
How did you find out about the It’s Art Call Prize?
I noticed the Art call on Instagram, and a fellow artist said I should enter. At the time, I was busy chaperoning, which finished the day before the deadline. It was hard to put all together, but I’m glad I did as it has been an amazing experience.
If you had one piece of advice to give participating artists about their careers in the arts, what would it be?
There is this say which I live by: It’s not about how many times you fall down, but how many you get up. Art is not an easy career as we are inner critics to begin with and exhibiting art can feel very exposing, but you have to believe in your practise and what you want to say with your art. Entering open calls is a good way of getting exposure but choosing ones that sound more suited to your style of work.
What are your goals for 2021/22?
My goals are to go bigger! Nature has always been my inspiration and subject, and I feel it is even more poignant in our changing world. As an artist, I feel I play a role in raising awareness by highlighting the beauty of our natural world. I am collaborating with a design company on the production of bespoke antique chairs featuring my art. I’m really excited to see these finished in the near future. And I want to do more work related to wildlife conservation after had taken part in an exhibition with ‘Explorers against extinction’.
Note: Evi is about to launch a special print collection with Runway Gallery.
Tell us a bit about your artistic journey so far – some highs, lows, a real-life situation that inspired you?
I feel gratitude that my artistic journey so far has been successful. Some highs included getting into the Royal Academy Summer exhibition in 2012, which gave my career momentum. In 2016 I won a prize for best artist in East of England with National Open Art and in 2019 winner of The Cult House Open call. My lows have only been in that there are as many rejections as success! I am from a rural village and moved to London in 2016 for many different reasons. Since then, I began to notice and absorb London’s street art and urban textures, and I saw it as my new canvas; my work evolved to what it is now.
What is the best feedback you’ve ever had on your work?
On the artwork: Deathhawk @bricklane. “To be enjoyed from a comfortable chair, with Jack Savoretti playing in the background and a gin cocktail in hand.” Dee Gibson, Velvet Orange. And my work has also been described as “soulful” which I love as I know my art does truly come from my soul.
How did you find out about the It’s Art Call Prize?
I noticed the Art call on Instagram, and a fellow artist said I should enter. At the time, I was busy chaperoning, which finished the day before the deadline. It was hard to put all together, but I’m glad I did as it has been an amazing experience.
If you had one piece of advice to give participating artists about their careers in the arts, what would it be?
There is this say which I live by: It’s not about how many times you fall down, but how many you get up. Art is not an easy career as we are inner critics to begin with and exhibiting art can feel very exposing, but you have to believe in your practise and what you want to say with your art. Entering open calls is a good way of getting exposure but choosing ones that sound more suited to your style of work.
What are your goals for 2021/22?
My goals are to go bigger! Nature has always been my inspiration and subject, and I feel it is even more poignant in our changing world. As an artist, I feel I play a role in raising awareness by highlighting the beauty of our natural world. I am collaborating with a design company on the production of bespoke antique chairs featuring my art. I’m really excited to see these finished in the near future. And I want to do more work related to wildlife conservation after had taken part in an exhibition with ‘Explorers against extinction’.
Note: Evi is about to launch a special print collection with Runway Gallery.
It's Art Call 2019 was organised in collaboration with Runway Gallery.
We want to take this opportunity to thank all our partners that supported us also with amazing prizes:
Blacks Club
Great Art
Harwood King Printmakers
Talented Art Fair
TI Media group
Very Berry Farm
We are looking forward to being together again soon.
If you missed it, see below some of the great moments we had during the selected artists' exhibition,
where the winners were announced.