I always am, after an exhibition, when I've not sold a painting. You'd have thought I'd have stopped it by now. I've had enough experience of them, for goodness sake. But I don't. I still experience that low, that dip in my good spirits. I can't help it. I know its only a small local exhibition along with other artists, and not a big important one, and that I'm a good artist, with talent (because I'm told often enough, by various people), and that its just such a small percentage of people who walk through the door to view the exhibition, who actually want to buy, and have some wall space they want to fill, and money in their pocket to pay for it. I know all that. And still I get a slight depression over it, because of all the hard work I put into a painting, a hanging of paintings, an exhibition, the expectation and feeling of excited anticipation, and then it comes to nothing ...........
.........But ............when I sell a painting............. that's a totally different feeling altogether! That feeling of euphoria is the best feeling in the world! I'm on a natural high for days, its like winning the lottery and all birthdays rolled into one! That someone likes my painting enough to want to buy it, and wants to hang it on their wall so they can own it, and view it for ever more, and don't want to spend the rest of their lives not having it around them. I love it! They're buying part of my energy - part of me, the energy I put into painting an image, the talent I have, the expertise, the effort and ability - all of that rolled up into a picture to hang on their wall.
8 comments:
I'm guessing the feeling you describe is something similar to when a writer has a story/novel rejected, so I know how you feel. It's pretty shitty, but I'm thick-skinned so I don't let it bother me now. I had a story rejected today, I'll just send it elsewhere! Hehe.
You are an excellent artist, I've seen your paintings, I have several of them hanging on my wall. Each one full of passion, you only have to see them to know how much hard work goes in to each one. To be able to take a blank canvas and produce such wonderful visions, a piece of you in every one. Keep up the good work Jackie, you're a genius.
Lucy - yes I'm sure it is the same feeling we both have. We both also know we have a talent to produce good work, and what some people reject, others will snap up greedily!
Anonymous - thankfully there's people like you in the world who appreciate me and my work! Thanks for the positive feedback too.
It's got to be difficult being in a profession where your success or failure, at least from an economic standpoint, hinges on whether someone likes your work enough to make a completely discretionary decision to purchase it. I'm sure many people like your paintings, but have already committed their money to car payments, rent or a mortgage, college education . . . the list goes on.
But there is always tomorrow!
I gotta say I love your work, you have a style I haven't seen for years, just clear n clean, it shows what art can be about, the mystery is in the lack of details, yet describes so much about the artists mind. Keep creating, and don't worry about lack of sales!
Cherrie - yes it is difficult, but I'll continue until that wonderful day when I become rich and famous through it!
Willsibob - thankyou for your positive comments. Its nice to be appreciated and I'm glad you like my style of painting.
Post a Comment