O Magnum Mysterium
Acrylic on Canvas, 48" x 72", $2500
The aftermath of setting up a show and having an opening is full of conflicting emotions and introspection. It's an odd thing to spend the majority of your days turned inward and then turn around and display your "innards" to the public. You hang up your work with hope and an incredible feeling of vulnerability. You hope that someone will fall in love with a painting and absolutely have to have it in their house or office. The need to pay for the supplies and make a living is thrown in there for good measure or, just to mess with your head.
It was a lovely reception with a steady stream of visitors and feedback, which I really appreciate. I said a brief spiel regarding my work and my artistic journey and handed it over to Anne Makepeace who spoke for The Grand Center for Arts & Culture. They are doing wonderful things with a renovated historic hotel in New Ulm, creating a cultural arts center. This town really promotes the arts, and for that I am very thankful! The tough balance for me is whether to follow my heart and my own searching in my paintings or create paintings that might fit in your living room. I would say this exhibit has both and both are needed.
I always goes into a show with hopes of selling many, but realize there are many factors at play. I had many great comments, but only one sale on opening night. Try as I might, I find myself feeling a bit low about that, in moments, questioning my entire vocation. I understand that buying a piece of original art is a huge decision. I don't take that lightly. I, myself, would be one of those people who can only afford to compliment. So I empathize. Still I can't help but hope.
I could use a lesson in patience. The purpose of this blog is to let you into the life and mind of an artist. So, here it is in all its glory. Hope, self-doubt, joy, despair. Just like life, I guess. I will be taking a small break to refresh my heart and soul. In the meantime, I will post the paintings from the show under the Acrylics tab at the top of the page. In the pull-down menu, hit "Enigmata". I will post a video of my Gallery Talk as well, hopefully by the end of the evening.
A big thank you to the Prairie Lakes Regional Art Council and the McKnight Foundation for the Fellowship Grant that allowed me to study with Jan Sitts and helped to pay for supplies, advertising and fees for this exhibition.
It was a lovely reception with a steady stream of visitors and feedback, which I really appreciate. I said a brief spiel regarding my work and my artistic journey and handed it over to Anne Makepeace who spoke for The Grand Center for Arts & Culture. They are doing wonderful things with a renovated historic hotel in New Ulm, creating a cultural arts center. This town really promotes the arts, and for that I am very thankful! The tough balance for me is whether to follow my heart and my own searching in my paintings or create paintings that might fit in your living room. I would say this exhibit has both and both are needed.
I always goes into a show with hopes of selling many, but realize there are many factors at play. I had many great comments, but only one sale on opening night. Try as I might, I find myself feeling a bit low about that, in moments, questioning my entire vocation. I understand that buying a piece of original art is a huge decision. I don't take that lightly. I, myself, would be one of those people who can only afford to compliment. So I empathize. Still I can't help but hope.
I could use a lesson in patience. The purpose of this blog is to let you into the life and mind of an artist. So, here it is in all its glory. Hope, self-doubt, joy, despair. Just like life, I guess. I will be taking a small break to refresh my heart and soul. In the meantime, I will post the paintings from the show under the Acrylics tab at the top of the page. In the pull-down menu, hit "Enigmata". I will post a video of my Gallery Talk as well, hopefully by the end of the evening.
A big thank you to the Prairie Lakes Regional Art Council and the McKnight Foundation for the Fellowship Grant that allowed me to study with Jan Sitts and helped to pay for supplies, advertising and fees for this exhibition.