Monday 12 September 2016

Pre-Show Jitters

Well, as of yesterday, I decided I was going to take the plunge - yep, up to the elbows in Ultramarine Blue and Quinacridone Magenta! I am going to show some of my paintings in an upcoming show at our local gallery.  No big deal. A tiny step. Going public in my home town in front of people who know me .... YIKES!

Truly, I am a little nervous about hanging my "babies" up on public display where all kinds of hurtful words could be hurled their direction. And yet, ego, according to Elizabeth Gilbert in her book, Big Magic, is like a separate little genius popping on to my "creating table" once in a while and snapping ideas into the painterly quadrant of my brain - or not. It is not my genius or ability or lack there of - it is hers! I should try to catch a glimpse of her one of these days, hovering over my right shoulder, whispering blue or red or lemon yellow into my ear as the paint brushes jump into my fingers. But alas, every time I turn around to catch her in the act, she giggles and disappears. So, I have decided to give my creative ego - I am naming her Imp - full accolades and 100% of all the downside comments as well! I am an innocent bystander just willing to get my hands dirty all for the sake of creating something that is mine - I mean, hers!

I am in a bit of a quandary as to what to hang next month. I dropped a big bundle of moo-la yesterday buying gallery-standard frames and mats and framing tape. If I hear one more person walking through our gallery poo-pooing the cost of a card or painting I may just pull out my latest cash register receipt and ask them to sign a Declaration of Understanding of the True Cost of Art. Outside of the workshops even the most amateurish of us take!

I have been picking the brains of several of my experienced artist friends and they have been so helpful. Ideas about less expensive framing, pricing and choosing have taken just a question by email to source. Thank you - each one of you!

Here are some of the pictures I am considering. I only get to choose three. Which ones would you suggest?

Winter Reflections at Vaseux Lake

Plum Delicious

Backyard Gang

Frozen Transition

Frosty Fillagree

Surely Today

Vino Rouge