Chilled to the bone, but warm to the heart

It might have been a miserably cold, grey day, but the positive feedback I've had at the exhibition has kept me warmed through!

I knew there would be a lot of artwork there, there always is. And probably more there this year than in past so I knew that there would be a lot of my arty friends there, both old and new, either exhibiting their work like me, or just there to view the artwork. Smiles of greeting, and "Hello Jackies!" as I went around, knowing all the faces that spoke to me, but one - a fat faced man I knew I didn't know but he seemed to know me. I disregarded him as mistaken and carried on around the show, bumping into him again an hour or so later, as he smiled again at me, and said a clear "Hello" to my face, and I felt he felt he knew me, so wondered how he thought he did, and then I saw his wife, who it turned out was a friend of the woman I bought my house from last year, who I had met there a year ago, so he was right, he did know me, and well remembered me into the bargain!

I loved seeing the new paintings on show there, and discussed some of them with a fellow artist as we went around,  agreeing on what constitutes good art, and bad, whether quick acrylic abstracts are better than traditionally painted watercolours and discussing the merits of both.

With an other artist friend we discussed erotic art, and the difference between that and life drawing and she said I'd like the burlesque drawing session she goes to every month or so. That sound's like fun!!!

I was pleased to see I'd sold a pencil drawing, that always makes the whole hard work of exhibiting, worthwhile. But it wasn't til I chatted with the woman who runs the show and she told me it was the guy who opened the show who had bought it, the Chairman of the local County Council, no less, and I told her he'd got a good picture, as it had won an award earlier in the year when I exhibited it with another art group, also at Ticknall.

As I was packing up my artwork after the show, another art acquaintance I've known a long time,came up to me specifically and made the comment about how much my art had come on in the last few years. She said that it showed in my art, and nodded at the pencil drawing that I had sold, and said that she had thought it was a photograph when she first saw it, and could appreciate the work that had gone into it, and I nodded, and agreed, it had. She said "You've got to have to paint every day for a talent like that!" and I said that I don't paint or draw every day, but certainly every week, I do, and she nodded at me, knowing that for art to be successful, you have to hone your skill on a regular basis. 

Fond fairwells

Full of hope, as is the way of my world, that some of my most beloved and cherished items are leaving me. To move on to pastures new, well, walls really, old and new.
That the paintings I have chosen for the exhibition are delighted over,
get emotionally entwined with,
and purchased by,
those who fall in love with them.
So much so that they want to buy them, to own them themselves for ever more.

I think I've picked wisely.

There is certainly an eclectic mix, something for everyone.

So, I shall pack them up later on, lovingly.
And hand them over to the exhibition people setting up the show.
Who will hang them tonight.
For the exhibition tomorrow.
For the people to view.
(And hopefully buy)!
My paintings.
Which will then become....
Their paintings.

The exhibition is at Ticknall Village Hall, South Derbyshire. Over the bank holiday weekend, open to the public on Sunday 8am to 6pm, Monday 8am to 5pm. Its a great day out, there are many great paintings to view there and they sell the most fabulous tea and homemade cakes too!

Why I turned her down

A friend asked me yesterday if I was free one night next week. The answer was a regretful "No, sorry, can't". it's not as if I didn't want to see her, I do, but we've arranged to meet in a couple of weeks anyway. And it's difficult to say more than "I've got a lot on at the moment" and no doubt people think, oh, ok then, she's a bit busy.

But, it doesn't explain it, not at all.

For instance, this week, I am sorting out which paintings or drawings to take to the Sh! exhibition next week.
I don't know exactly which are the best ones to take with me, as I've never exhibited there before. I don't know how big the wall space is, how good the lighting is, what sort of paintings are likely to sell there. Its a new venue for me. So, I've got to take a good selection of my artwork.
And some of whichever I choose to take, may need to be re framed. So I need to sort that out.
And they will need wrapping up in bubble wrap to transport them.
And I will need to make sure that I have the painting title cards ready to take with me for them.
And I will need to make sure that I have the right equipment with me for hanging, for when I get there I don't want any conversations about "Oh, I thought YOU were bringing the hammer and nails with you".

And because I'm exhibiting at Sh! its prompted a couple of interesting conversations - one by text, one by email, regarding the possibility of other work that may come my way in commissions. I never know with commissions if people are really serious, or just like asking a few questions of a woman artist, or whether they like the idea, and may, just maybe, at sometime in the future, get back to me, if they don't go off the idea in the meantime. It happens, and I know its part of the way of an artists life. But, I treat all conversations equally as "Well, it might be a good commission for me" and "Well, I may not get it, so don't get too excited at the prospect". I try to be fair with everyone I deal with, and will explain the artistic process for them, once they have decided what sort of painting they want, subject matter, size, medium, and price range they are considering.

And, just to add to the mix, I'm still in the process of updating my new website, and that's taking far longer than I had hoped.

And I've joined Twitter this last week, and am slowly building that up.

As well as the comments I've had on Facebook for the exhibition.

AND, as if that isn't enough, I've got a big exhibition on at Ticknall Village Hall  in South Derbyshire,this weekend, that is something I enjoy being part of, as there will be about 1,000 paintings hanging there from all sorts of artists, both amateur and professional. The money raised there is for the village school fund raising, and makes a vast difference to the people involved there.

So, that's why I'm a "bit busy" this week and next, I can't see her next week, not at all.

Too much, its doing my head in!

I was part of a local art exhibition at Ticknall Village Hall in South Derbyshire over the weekend. It was the usual concentrated job to get the artwork ready, set it up, sort out the admin for it all (title cards filled out, hanging fees paid) and then go and hang them all, and catch up with the chat of all the other artists there. We are a mix of amateur and professional artists from all walks of life who have a passion for art and are supportive and helpful to each other whilst trying to promote art in the area. Some of the artists teach, some paint just in their spare time. We all paint differently, of different subjects so its certainly a good selection of artwork for any of the general public to come along and view.

I was there on the Saturday afternoon doing my stewarding stint for three hours. There were a few people through the door, but the majority come along on the Sunday and Monday traditionally, so it was as busy as I had expected it to be. I was delighted to see Stuart Haywood there with his wife who had come to see my artwork in particular since they are such big fans. I've drawn Stuart six times now, and he is most proud of the pencil drawings I have done of him and proudly shows them to most people in his life. He's a great walking advert for me. He was most interested in a pencil drawing I had there of an old man's face, and stood studying it for a long time. I tried my best to sell it to him, but he wouldn't be drawn (ha ha, artist's joke!!!!). But there was another idea that I may have talked him into, when we got talking about old potting sheds, because that was something he was excited about since he is quite the horticulturist with his huge knowledge of roses. So, that looked far more favourable for me doing a commission for him in the near future.

I also had a most interesting conversation with a youngish woman there who only got in as we were about to shut. She had been last year and wanted to come again as she knows we have a high standard of artwork there. She paid for two on the door, although she was alone "Its just you and the invisible man then is it..?" I asked cheekily and she explained that her husband was on his way, and he did duly arrive a few moments later limping heavily and leaning on a ski stick. They looked at the art, and my art in particular and asked me if there were any pictures of naked men there, which amused me, as I do erotic art, although they wouldn't have been aware of that. I went over to chat to them, as they stood by my paintings on display and she and I had an in-depth conversation about art. She liked the pictures I'd taken, of a cat, cheetah, fairy, old man, castle, flowers, an abstract of sun on water, a fantasy woman with wings painted in watercolours, acrylics, pencil, pen and ink. And I made the comment that I say alot, that I do so many subjects in different styles, with different mediums that its easier for me to put the title "Erotic Artist" to myself because by the time I've explained things otherwise everyone has lost interest in listening! I also went on to explain that galleries don't like my work either for the same reason - its too diverse, I really need a gallery for the cats, one for the fantasy subjects, one for the landscapes, one for the erotic, etc etc. She nodded, and looked back at my work and said "It's giving me a headache!" and I asked why, since she seemed to be serious,"Because there's so much to look at, and all so different, look at this one, its great, but next to that one which is so different, its not standing out as much as it would being on its own". And I could see what she meant. I know I am diverse in my subject matter and mediums, and that shows how good I am, but it also confuses my audience. I can't win!!!!!

She left at the end with a big smile, and said she'd look at my website, in which case she'll fine more to confuse her. But maybe, she'll find something to excite her. And maybe she'll find something that might set a germ of an idea off for something important in her life that I can draw for her.........maybe.....