Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become an Artist Member?
If you are a professional artist, have lived within 35 driving miles of Carmel for at least one year, have been juried in to a previous competitive show, and have shown in at least one other gallery, you can apply to be an Artist Member of the Carmel Art Association. Our jury process happens once a year, usually starting in February and ending in March, with finalists chosen in April. Check this website in February for instructions and deadlines.
What is an Associate Member?
Becoming an Associate Member is a way to support the Carmel Art Association, its shows and events. As an Associate Member you will receive regular announcements of upcoming shows and events, and you will be invited to any special “member only” events throughout the year.
Why isn’t (name of artist) showing here?
The CAA gallery shows the work of our living artist members. We will show the work of an artist member who has passed away, for one year after their death, or in a special Historic Show or Memorial Show. If an artist has not been juried in for membership, you will not see their artwork here.
How often do you change your shows ?
We change the entire gallery once a month, normally on the first Wednesday of that month. Every month we have either a solo show or a group show and a gallery showcase, or a combination of those. Besides these featured artists, all the walls will be hung with new artwork from our artist members.
How do I get a value on a painting I own?
To get a true value on a painting you need to consult with an art appraiser. We do not do art appraisals at the Carmel Art Association. We recommend you search on-line for “certified art appraiser.” If you have a relatively new piece and know how much you paid for it, chances are that is what it is worth now. Art can go up in value, but it happens infrequently and slowly. Always check with a certified art appraiser to make sure.
Do your artists work in the gallery?
Although our artist members are expected to put in some volunteer hours during the year, they do not work in the gallery. We have a paid staff of non-artist members.
What is a “Monotype”?
The characteristic of this method is that not two prints are alike, although images can be similar. The appeal of the monotype lies in the unique translucency that creates a quality of light very different from a painting on paper or a print, and the beauty of this media is also in its spontaneity and its combination of printmaking, painting and drawing mediums. Also known as the most painterly method among the printmaking techniques, monoprints and monotypes are essentially printed paintings. Monotyping produces a unique, original and one-of-a-kind image.
A monotype is made by drawing or painting on a smooth, nonabsorbent surface. The surface, or matrix, was historically a copper etching plate, but in contemporary work it can vary from zinc or glass surfaces. The image is then transferred onto a sheet of paper by pressing the two together, usually using an etching press.
Monotypes can also be created by inking an entire survace and then, using brushes or rags, removing ink to create a subtractive image, e.g. creating lights from a field of opaque color. Most of the ink is removed from the matrix during the initial pressing. Although subsequent reprintings are sometimes possible, they differ greatly from the first print. A second print from the original plate is called a “ghost print” or “cognate.” Stencils, watercolor, solvents, brushes and other tools can be used to embellish the creation of a monotype. Chine colle, or the addition of Japanese or other decorative papers or images when printing the monotype, is another technique used to enhance this one-of-a-kind painting.
A monoprint is made in the same way as a monotype but has a pattern or part of an image which is constantly repeated in each print. The monotype process was invented by Giovanni Denedetto Castiglione (1609-1664), an Italian painter and etcher. The technique has gained popularity among artists since the 20th century.