There’s a new player in the Geelong arts scene and after such a short time they’re already making a name for themselves. Elise Carver is the mastermind behind artistic blog Salt Veins, which recently unleashed its first exhibition to the public.
Salt Veins first came about when Elise realised her talented artistic friends just weren’t getting the credit they deserved. “I had no intention of world domination, but I wanted to help the people I knew who were good at what they did and loved it but never got any recognition,” Elise said. “Giving credit where it’s due and opening a space up for the little guys is what Salt Veins is all about.”
Almost a year on, Salt Veins has become a popular site for like-minded creatives to discover new artists. But with their increasing popularity, Elise realised that she wanted to create something a bit more tangible. “It’s one thing to show everyone’s work online, but sometimes you just want to see it in front of you,” she says.
Though Salt Veins has mastered the digital world, creating something away from technology was a lot more challenging. Luckily, Elise was given some help undertaking the mammoth task.
“It’s a tough gig to pull off on your own but lucky for me I have a few helpful hands when it gets tough – and Stacey from Courthouse ARTS has been super helpful,” Elise says.
The exhibition featured a variety of well-known artists as well as some new faces, with Jenna Ramondo, Scarver by Design, Hey Stubby and Morgan Connoley just a few of the talented artists sharing their pieces.
And while Elise has been updating and managing Salt Veins, hanging paintings on the gallery walls and building her health and fitness business Little Bantam (facebook.com/bantamdigitalmarketing), she still keeps time on the side for the things she loves.
“I was doing body painting for a bit which is featured in the exhibition. I’m also working on a lot of vibrant water colour poems, which I’m super excited to release,” she said.
Also being an artist, Elise has a keen eye for talent in the industry and is continually finding young artists to feature on her site. “I always feel like I’m on to something special that no one has seen before! It’s like finding buried treasure,” Elise says.
With her eagerness to take Salt Veins further and the many artists that cross her path, Elise hopes to one day open a Salt Veins store for artists to sell their wares.
“I would love to offer an online gallery; like a one-stop shop for originals and print sales,” she says.“But if someone beats me to it I’ll want to go in a different direction, go against the curve. But for now it’s fun, and I want to keep it that way.”
In the meantime, Elise is content to enjoy the attention that her wonderful blog is garnering her.
To see what Salt Veins gets up to next and for details on their exhibiting artists visit saltveins.com/blog/.
Written by Amanda Sherring. Photo by Elise Carver