Pick a price and pick my brain

In the last two days I've had two similar conversations each with a man I don't know, and they in turn don't know me, particularly. They don't know my name. They don't know what I do. They don't know that I am an artist.  And whilst I was having these two conversations, 26 hours, and four miles apart, they both used the same phrase to me. They didn't know that, since they don't know each other, and can't possibly be related. It was a phrase that they used that they were used to using, and was the natural thing to say to me, once they had asked me what I do, and I reply, simply " I am an artist." And their reply? In unison, was "My uncle is an artist, he sells his paintings for a lot of money". "Really?" I ask, semi interested in their version of "Lot of money" and wonder what they actually mean by it, and casually ask how much of the first guy.  And the reply, was a good one "Fifty" and just as I double check that he doesn't actually mean fifty, he confirms and says those lovely words ".....thousand" and I nod in understanding. And then,  the other guy tells me his uncle is a famous artist, and the conversation returns to the same one again when they mention the famous artists name. And I've NEVER heard of them. I don't know their work, style, subject matter or anything about them. And then they both said, in this parallel conversation "He's good!" and I said "So am I!" with a grin, and they are taken aback by the quickness and directness of my response, and say "I'm sure you are" and I nod, and add, "Its just that I don't charge those sort of figures......... y .e. t...... " and they grin back. Same conversation, same message, just different days and the illustration of the way an artists life progresses, in small steps to get to the big picture.

My friend K dropped into see me yesterday afternoon, he's someone I have drawn every so often and someone whose company I like very much. He had called for a cup of tea, as he had a personal problem he wanted to discuss alone with me. He arrived full of good cheer as he always does, and we talked about various things like we always do, he admired the Royal Crescent at Bath painting, and the latest fanny painting that's half done, and then we sat down over mugs of hot sweet tea, and shortbread fingers, to discuss his dilemma. It was something he had been mulling over for some time, something he had shut away for way too long,  as he found it a huge problem. He showed it to me, revealing bits at a time, explaining as we went along what was what, and where he wanted to put it. He showed it to me at various angles, and I peered closer for a better look, intrigued with it. I could see exactly what he wanted, and I could see how he could get it. And I so wanted to get my teeth into it. But, it's not for me to do. It's for him to do. But I can lend a hand, but it's his design. And it will work as a great idea. He knows how to do half of it, what to put where, and how, its just that he needs my help for the other half, the bits that join it all together to make it complete. I know how I would do it, and I know its very do- able. I would love to do it. But in this instance, it's not for me to paint, its for him to paint, with me as artistic advisor. And I'm all fired up with it already, and I know he is too. So I really hope he can soon get it started and I shall be intrigued to see how it develops. I can see it finished in my head already and he hasn't started the first line of pencil on paper yet. The birth of an idea.......... I look forward to seeing it come to fruition, and helping to play midwife to the concept so that it sees the light of day.

How do you see colour

I should have been moving house today. But, due to problems further down the chain, it's had to be delayed for a couple of weeks or so. But fingers crossed that it can all go through soon. Until that momentous day, I continue packing......

But the days of waiting are sometimes punctuated with pleasant surprises, and today was one of them. My good friend K turned up unexpectedly as he was in the area and wondered if I was at home. And I know he likes drinking tea as much as I do, so I'm sure that had part of the pull !

We've not seen each other for a while, and it was good to catch up with him and have a chat. He's very easy company and we share a lot of interests - he talked about his new job, his wife, and kids and we got onto the usual subject of art.

And one of the things he said got me thinking. He made a comment about people being colour-blind and said he wondered what colours they saw instead? For instance, is the red that he sees, the same as the red that they see? Or blues? Or greens? Infact, are any of the colours he sees the same as the ones I see, for instance. I thought for a while, and we discussed the fact that some people have a hatred for some colours - either through something within them, or through a learnt reaction (for instance it was years after I left school before I was happy being seen in a pale blue blouse and light grey skirt, as it was my school uniform, and I obviously still had some negative reactions to it, and I enjoyed my school-days!).

I had a friend years ago who hated the colour red. She adored pink. But not red. Now, why would that be? What was in her that had created that irrational reaction? Or maybe she'd had a bad experiece with the colour in her formative years (perhaps a nasty episode with a tomato in the spin drier? Or an aversion to blood maybe?). She wouldn't have the colour in the house and certainly wouldn't buy any red clothes or lipsticks. And I know of other people who hate particular colours - K said he hated to see women in dark purple, and yet he liked dark blue, which isn't far off in tone and colour. He said he hated brown too, and I agreed, I find it a dead colour. I love it as a colour though as in natural woods, and brunette hair colouring, but not particularly for home decor colour schemes, and clothes for me.  

So, all this leaves me, as an artist, with a problem. If I like colours, I'll use them in a picture. But, if someone doesn't like them, they won't buy the picture. And what if they see a particular colour in a different way to the way I see it? How can I paint a picture for them? Or do people who are colour blind just "read" it differently? If I painted a landscape all in greens, do they see the greens? Or do their eyes just "read" it as "landscape" and the colours are immaterial?

But then, I've had people go a real "Wow" over some of the pictures I've painted, because of the really bright colours. So, it obvioulsy "works" for some people.

And all in all, probably leaves me a little confused! But then, that's the joy of art. No one really knows..........
It's just finding that bit of magic that works within the picture - whether its through colour, or not.

Letters sent from the heart

As I had expected I had a missive from Stuart this week describing his feelings about our drawing session the other day and his thoughts about the next one.... the salient points are here.....

Dear Jackie     Thankyou for the beautiful drawings you created yesterday. It was an enjoyable and interesting afternoon if rather arduous. I did not realise how exhausting posing can be. I suppose that, at my age, my stamina is not what it was. Well I am a septinagenarian......Next week I would like to concentrate on the pose concerning long johns....as this will probably be my last as a top model, I would like to make it memorable and amusing......thank you for your diligence in this matter. For me it has been a wonderful experience. I find you the most easy person to get on with making so easy the removal of clothes.    Love Stuart.  


And this followed on from an email I had this week from my usual male model who also felt the need to extol my virtues after our last drawing session...

Good morning Jackie and thank you for another wonderful drawing!!


It just makes my head spin!!!

Once again I must thank you for the fabulous emotions the picture evokes, especially on a personal level. Our meetings are so wonderfully relaxing and I always look forward to them, excited about the drawing but also to share some time with you. I wonder how the Mona Lisa felt to see her painting? The knowledge that it is you in the picture is a tremendously powerful emotion. For a normally quiet and modest person, it is a huge sense of achievement to stand before you, the focus of your attention. For such a wonderfully skilled artist to spend time with me and to be a small part of your work is such a priveledge. I enjoy every moment. When others see the pictures you have created, they see a male form, beautifully drawn and certainly there is that warmth about them - the 'feminine touch' as you said. I wonder what they see? Powerful images certainly. Do they see me as the generally reserved kind of chap that I am, or because I am naked, do they see a more brazen type of character, eager to show his 'bits'? No matter how often I look, I think they see the real me ... the drawings are so tender that there is that sense of quiet allure about them, all things showing or not.


This drawing, perhaps more than the others (because of their more explicit nature), would stand well in any gallery and it makes me immensely proud to think that it could be seen in a public gallery without any problem at all. Proud because of the quality of the work (you really should see some of the poor efforts I have seen about my travels) but especially proud of the moments we shared creating the work. Somehow "Thank you" doesn't seem enough.

I am sure I will see you soon for another drawing and I look forward to that.
K



Aw, I'm really touched by both of these letters. I sometimes forget what I do for other people when I do a drawing of them. Here I am reminded, and deeply touched at their kind words.