APPROACHING GALLERIES

Moss & Arbutus - 8x10 en plein air- oil panel

Finding the right fit in a gallery is an important thing.  But it does take time.  You need time to look around at suitable galleries and to have an idea about what sort of work the gallery shows.  It helps to visit the gallery and pay attention to how the work is displayed, how often it is refreshed and what the price points are in comparison to work that you make. 

When all of these things seem in alignment, a request in person or by email on whether or not the gallery is currently seeking new artists is a good idea. In person a gallery owner may say upfront they are or are not seeking new art, and often will explain how to submit if they are. 
Email is less personal, and often an email request to a gallery goes unanswered.  Don't take it personally; but do understand, some things can be learned from no reply: 
1.  They are busy.  Who isn't?  
2.  They don't think they can sell it
3.  They are not seeking new artists at this time. 

In my opinion, no reply to a simple email request tells me something else too:   It tells me that I probably don't really want to do business with that gallery anyway.  Think about it... Would you do business with someone who wasn't available or accessible about business matters?  A professional gallery has the courtesy to at least reply even a standard:  "...at this time we are not currently seeking submissions..."   

An important thing I want from a gallery is a professional gallery / artist relationship.  Make no mistake about it, artists provide a gallery their inventory, in exchange I expect a clear contract and a business approach. 

when it feels right.

Walk In The Woods
oil on panel - 12 x 16 -$450

Do you ever wish you could press "pause" and "rewind" while painting?  I do.  How to get back to those spontaneous and fresh marks full of  passion, before time allows sober second thought, reworking / tweaking until the original idea is lost somewhere in the blurred vision of your process?!  ha ha ha...  thankfully, it's only art; and what doesn't work, can teach us a lot!  I've been struggling with my paintings this month, so I like to think I'm gaining an education of sorts:)  Usually time and patience shows me the way.

This painting was completed in 3 separate sessions in oils...alla prima for the general idea.  A few weeks later when fully dry, I had a desire to paint out much of the original marks I'd done, using an abstract intuitive approach using opaque tones, which probably only took about half an hour, but it was a uniquely satisfying process, obliterating what I didn't like, and trusting my sub-conscious guide.  I put it on 'the shelf'.  I wasn't quite sure where it would go, but it felt good to let the muse take charge.  A couple more weeks passed, more time to ponder. Yesterday I took it off the shelf again..."what if?"... a few fresh marks.  "Ahh... so that's where my heart wanted to go."   I know it's out of season for posting on my blog in the winter... (after all I began it when it was autumn!) but I'm happy with this little painting.  
I think my favorite thing about working in oils is that it often forces me into a slow process which I have learned is best not to fight...somehow this slow unravelling feels right for me.







 

in a way of speaking...

Peonies - work in progress - oil on canvas

Alla Prima is a direct style of painting, and is literally translated from Italian meaning 'at once'.  Instead of building up layers of paint with glazes and underpainting, the painting is usually completed in one sitting with the paint expressively applied in a direct manner. 
I am struck by this "manner of speaking";  how easily it demonstrates the correlation between the way paint is applied to an inner voice of an artist.  It seems to me, a direct painting method can be a sure and confidant voice, like a song on a clear day...not stopping to think about consequences, just continuing until it's voice runs out.  No wonder it's alive and expressive!  Like a voice influenced by emotion, the process of painting mines an artist's nature, finding it's way to song.

Most painters employ a variety of process's to arrive at what "rocks their boat".  I always think that should be encouraged...having only one process becomes production which is a killjoy to the creative spirit.  

I'm really enjoying reading this book loaned to me by a friend; 'The Muse' by author Jessie Burton.  The plot is compelling and the writing  beautiful too...each paragraph like a fresh new peach.  It will appeal to any artist or art lover.