Monday 20 April 2009

painting and exhibiting

Still trying to paint every day. One day I couldn't get started -- didn't know what to paint, so went across the road and sat under the chestnut tree by the pond. I brought back a twig in bud and drew/painted it as it came into leaf. I also spent a long time on the picture of the pond with chestnut tree in foreground. It's on canvas and I have to get used to how the paint works on this as opposed to how it works on paper.

The art group had an exhibition and I put in six pieces. It was strange to see people looking at them, and even worse when they looked straight past them. There were some compliments about a couple of the tree pictures but my overwhelming reaction to going public was negative - it seemed a rather shameful or embarrassing thing to do, to imagine them good enough to display and to spend all that money on framing pictures that would have been better painted over and reused. (not that much money, thanks to Ikea). Gradually re-finding my equilibrium and start a new class tonight...

6 comments:

artistfriend said...

I'm sorry this seems to have been such a negative experience for you.

Lynne Cameron said...

I suppose it was good to see the pictures framed and hung. But I didn't get a sense of satisfied completion, rather dissatisfaction at their (public) insignificance after they were so important to me...

artistfriend said...

How did you select which paintings to show?

Lynne Cameron said...

I liked them; I thought they were 'finished'; I thought they were 'good' in some way, or interesting; I thought people might like to look at them.

artistfriend said...

They were all very recent I think. And they were 'good in some way', and people did like looking at them.
I wonder if their personal importance to you, and the fact that they were recent, made you especially sensitive to comment, or lack of it.
You prompt me to consider what advice I would offer on showing work:
Only show your best and strongest.
and it is probably easier to judge which those are at some distance (in time! and space)
I wonder how the experience might have been if you had shown 'Whimsical Plant' 'Wise and Foolish Virgins' 'Behind the Eyes' 'Roman Statue' 'Walk to the Woods' and 'Stag Headed Oak' or 'My Arms' or 'Tulips in Their Space'

Show where you can honour each with its own space - it makes a huge difference. Get onto the hanging committee to find a venue where you can do this.

Don't hesitate to put NFS (not for sale) on as many as you like, unless its for a charity fund raising event.

It is fascinating to consider what makes some art significant, and appeal to a wide audience - but that's a whole other question!

Meanwhile 'Bravo!'

artistfriend said...

I think you should take a little time out to study composition - fascinating, and has to be mastered. Nice balance between the intellect and instinct required!