Artist Gallery Services Gallery Pictures Future Events Directions to Gallery Home
Gallery Blog
Darlington South Carolina, USA
Wow I would have never in a trillion years imagined I would be doing this type of work. I honestly think about painting all the time. With 2 small children, a fantastic supportive husband and the Father above I am able to chase my dream of painting.
My background is in residential design and planning, but after 5 years of painting on the side I had decided to switch my career. If you are passionate about something I encourage you to chase your ideas or dreams. As you may have figured out I have no formal training in the world of art but have many books and study it daily. My inspiration is from nature and the artist who have blossomed after their 20 years of struggling. I am still awestruck at the brilliance of the art we have today. It would be a pleasure painting for your business and family. I truly look forward to our future together.
Heather Jordan
January 2006
I wanted to give you an update on how things are going in the studio. With the new year here I wanted to let you know I will be painting so much more than last year. The gallery at the beach does well and I am wanting to add at least one more gallery before the summer is over. I want to paint paintings that will fit well with the current decor. Drop a line if you have a colors scheme you are interested in.
April 2006
Things going well, picked up a new commercial account and things are looking good. We are looking for a building in our town to open a gallery but the red tape is truly sticky. Most of the buildings will cost an arm and a leg to get up to code I need the arms but I could do with out the leg. A lease is good but can change after a few years and I would hate to move due to the high rent. I still keep my hopes up to open a art gallery hosting great art but I never thought it would be so difficult. I am inspired with other towns that have gone through revitalization and truly see great things for us, change is hard but for the better. I hope my high energy will rub off on others and change the tide of gloom. Darlington will be a fantastic place to live and spend the evening and I want to be a part of it!
July 4th.
WE HAVE FOUND A NEW LOCATION IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF DARLINGTON SC!
After months of searching in our town we have purchased a new location for the art gallery. The building was a hair salon. We made an offer an the previous owner was supportive! The building layout is 20ft wide 80ft long. It was constructed in 1895. The major portion is gallery with studio space in the back. This will work out well when I am slinging paint and don't want to hit anybody. The hardwood floors were a true gem they are all original, they even have areas that people have walked on and worn down the wood. The ceiling is 14ft tall and will work well with the lighting. Being 10 minutes off I-95 and interstate 20 is a true plus.This is going to be fantastic. Break out the hammers and tools, I can't wait to get started!
November 14th 2006
We have been so encouraged of our local city in respect to opening the gallery. The demolition is finished and we are moving to construction. The only terrible thing is the nails, ladies don't ever try this. The glamour of construction is not good. I actually had a piece of tar paper in my hair when I picked up the children from school! The projected date is early spring but the reality date will be fall. We feel the support daily and can't wait to put up some sheet rock and paint to display art.
December 20th 2006
We have been working hard on the hardwood floors and the studio in the back. The bathroom needed to be completely reworked. Currently the "throne" is exposed.... This is not good. The neighbors at Main Street Jewelers next door have been really fantastic! We took off 5 bags of sawdust on the floors. This was due to the tar paper that had been melted to the hardwood. I would take a heat gun and scraper to get the larger pieces off. But now we are putting the walls back in and things are showing some real space. Our expected open date will be the fall due to the hot weather over the summer. The web page has been a pain in the paint but I dig every day to get some results. I sold the first painting today from the gallery window, the field dog and another last week!
March 7, 2007
The project is going very well. The electrician will start next week and the sheet rock will be after that. Our projected date is OCTOBER 1ST. We finally have a date and feel the fall months are better in the south. It is very hot in September and want a good turnout for our opening night. When the doors fly open I want everything in place! Tags on art, artist bio's and pictures. People feel a connection with a face when they purchase art. I am excited about the next few months and will keep you posted!
March 17, 2007
The electrician will be here this week to totally rewire the entire building, the paper work is just slow. The front windows are the only source of light and I will need to have task lighting on the artwork. I am aware the artist are getting antsy but this project has to be done correctly. Matt is determined to have new construction. The front door and the exterior is being approved by the review board. The sign was approved this week. Yea! The neighbors are very supportive and have decided to paint their building also, this is great due to the fact the buildings are attached.
We did loose the gallery mascot this past week. Lu Lu Bell was a Chinese pug puppy given to me by Matt as a total surprised Christmas morning with the intention to greet everyone who came in the doors. She was a dear friend that will be missed. The gold fish better wave really hard.
A special thanks to She magazine for the article. I have been waiting to be able to give a testimonial to how art has effected me in a personal spiritual way. Anything is possible if you just pray. Anything.
April 4, 2007
The electricians and security alarm group have arrived! They will be finished in a few days and then the Code Inspector can approve the mechanical portion and we can move to sheet rock and paint. The custom door will take 6 weeks from California but it will be worth it. We are still pushing to be open the first week of October. The entire week of September will be to inventory all the artwork and put everything in it's place. The entire front of the building will be done at the same time, new paint, awning, signage and exterior lighting. We are making major changes but feel that it is needed in order to get the right setting for art.
April 29, 2007
Well well well, things are really shaping up. We have new sheet rock on all the walls and boy it looks so much better. Honestly we didn't want you to see any pictures of the building before now because construction looks so horrible in the beginning! It is so much brighter than expected. We did get some great news from our neighbor, they are going to paint their building at the same time. This will really help the front of the building so much.
I hope all the artist received the first packet in the mail. I will be sending another one in a few weeks in order to get some commitments. I am strange in that respect due to having so many open doors and decisions to be made all at one time. I look forward to working with everyone.
May 9, 2007
We are moving along quickly and things are doing well. Matt and some help will be putting the molding up this weekend and hanging some doors. The painting will start inside the 4th week of May and the contractor will start the outside over the next 2 weeks. We will have the inside done in June and then the counter tops and movable walls. This is going to be a cool counter, I went to a old house we have on the property and removed the solid panel, very old solid doors. We have 2 of them and will make the counter on wheels. The glass company can cut a piece to fit the top. Very cool. The movable walls will be built then also, I want every thing on wheels due to having events to see your art and private showings. We will be ready to interview over the summer. I wanted to have the interview months over the fall but the sales are very high in October for Christmas. We will be open 30 days and then have to decorate for Christmas... Things will be a little spazo for a few months, but I'm so very excited.
June 2, 2007
Ok things getting a little hairy. I knew every thing would be closing together at the same time. The custom milled wood fir door that is over 8ft tall is in from Virginia. That thing is heavy. Matt and I moved it and with some grunting and swearing. Not me of course, but we did get it off the truck and inside. It will be installed on Saturday and we get ready to paint the inside next week. With the cooperation of our neighbors, we will have both buildings painted at the same time. This has been a little frustrating but I feel like I am pushing a rock up a hill. Contractors ect. I know you have all been wondering why we just didn't pay a contractor to do the construction. If you have had any relationships with contractors you will know one thing. "No one can do a better job than you can." Call us control freaks but I really want this place to look the best it can and with a little time it will. We have only 5 months to get it open and already the interior decorators are interested. This is good. I have been working on the marketing and it is really a big one. The results will be over the next year but worth every penny in the long run.
June 20, 2007
Ok, my index finger is a little shorter this week due to the simple idea I had to putty all of the little 4890 holes that were in the molding and plaster, I firmly believe that going up a ladder a million times a day beats any exercise class on the planet. We are in the process of painting this weekend, Matt only gets off 2 weekends a month so I get my little list every evening at around 9:30 pm before ending the day. We have gallons of paint to paint but expect to be finished before the end of the month. The floors are next and that project is going to be a major big time sweat in the eyes cuss fest with the old death do us part husband. The sander going a hundred miles per hour dust and cussing everywhere. Boy I can't wait. Construction is such bliss..SHE magazine is putting the call to artist in for July and I expect to really get busy with the gibby gabby. I am now signing off with my little list and pink drink holder heading to construction world with my pink shirt and matching jewelry. I just love construction, but somewhere in that building is my femininity I swear I'm going to wear a skirt for a year!!
August 17, 2007
It's snowing in South Carolina, boy do I wish. We have gotten though the 104 degree heat in the south, now if you are "not from around here" the air looks like cotton candy. The common term is "Dang it's hot." We have had the air conditioning installed just in time for a few weeks of hot weather. It is very quiet and works well for the space. We have the entire building painted and start the hardwood floors this weekend. I sent out the artist packets and have had some commitments already. The South Carolina artist commission is interested in speaking with us as well as 2 more newspapers. We have to Finnish the construction first, they want pictures of a building with no art! The awning is due in anytime and the sign has been ordered. The invitations and paper work is being worked on with a printer. Instead of a Grand Opening we decided to have 2 opening events. One is a "private viewing gala" this will be at night and already we have over 200 people on the guest list. So many have asked to be at this event it is scary. The second is a general grand open house drop in will be during the day. There is so much for me to do in the next few weeks I honestly feel like I have a slippery octopus in my lap and I am trying to put it's socks on! Thanks for reading.
October 1st, 2007
Ok we are about to just explode with excitement!!! Matt and I have spent a few late nights last week either painting, staining or working on invitations. We have had periods of stress one minute and total laughter the next. I have learned all of the construction lingo. I looked at my hands at church this morning and just about cried. I did have my pearls and skirt on with matching pink shirt. I am still seeing saw dust in places of that building and swear it get's a chuckle when I put the Shop Vac away. Construction is such bliss..... All of the hard work is finally paying off. I had some interviews with artist last week and honestly feel very fortunate to have had the time alone to get to know them. Each artist is so unbelievably creative! When they brought their artwork in to be hung I honestly had tears in my eyes due to seeing such fantastic artwork. It will be a honor working with them, I feel very fortunate to have this position to represent them. We will have a "Special Preview" for them to celebrate the opening and their artwork, I am looking forward to putting down the tools and taking a well deserved break after a long year!
February 21, 2008
Cheesy Petes the past few months have been a whirlwind! Christmas was a blur, I had to wrap large paintings on the floor and pottery was delivered the next morning. It was really a great Christmas ran out of boxes and pottery. We have had over 750 people in the gallery in 3 months. If you are thinking of opening an art gallery you better hold on! Your task are to be the general everything, from cleaning floors, to hanging paintings, calling clients, working on web pages, talking with decorators, getting quotes, standing on ladders way to high, sending out flyers, designing billboards, doing radio commercials, writing checks and paying bills, taxes, framing and well just plane general dang do it all, pull up your panty hose and keep going! Whew!.....I honestly do not accept failure very well and am determined to work just a little harder than most for the artist. Some nights I sleep like a rock but get up ready to go to work. This is far none the best job I have every had. Artwork sales are like a roller coaster during an election year due to the economy but far none this is the best time I have ever had at a job. We have an art show called "The Coast" it celebrates the ocean and all it entails, April 19, 2008-Saturday. A great time to see some new artwork and enjoy the coming summer season. We look forward to seeing you.
April 12,2008- THE COAST ART SHOW APRIL 19, 2008 5-8
Ok the past month has been more like a tornado. The art show is this week and I have been painting, sending out invitations, changing the layout of the gallery and on top of all of the buzz our 6 year old son breaks his leg. Now if that doesn't stop you in your tracks nothing will. My heart just stopped when the call came in and of course the gallery was full and I was wrapping a piece of pottery for a wedding gift. Things are put in our way for a reason, to slow down. I am in a doctors office looking at a little boy who is picking out a color for his cast that goes up to his hip.(Bathing has been real fun!) He decides on camo color so no one can find it. I wouldn't trade that moment for anything. See you at the art show this weekend.
Artist Gallery Services Gallery Pictures Future Events Directions to Gallery Home
http://maps.google.com
Heather Jordan 843-393-6611.
Gallery Blog
26 Public Square, Historic Darlington South Carolina 29532
Copyright © 1997 by [Chameleon Art Gallery]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 13 Apr 2008 11:57:29 -0400.
|
||