It’s been a spell since my last Journal entry, which is a good thing! The summer months brought many family gatherings and outings, meaning renewed and deepening connections with loved ones - as well as much needed time recovering in between visits! Meanwhile, behind the scenes, I’ve been busy painting, framing, marketing, and organizing my life around art shows and exhibitions.
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve had my share of rejections and also a few sweet wins. When it’s all said and done - the rejections and the wins help me grow as an artist, filling me with renewed determination and purpose. Because of these experiences - you could call it the “pain’ in painting - I find that I try harder, challenging and stretching myself farther than is comfortable.
Speaking of “wins”! Exceptional highlights from this year include the exhibition and sale of three of my paintings at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana. In March, two of my oil paintings were featured in the ‘Charlie’s March Roundup’ sale and exhibition:
Buckaroo, 12 inches x 12 inches, oil on linen canvas, 2023
‘Buckaroo’ sold during the Roundup silent auction event on Friday, March 17th, and my painting ‘Heading Out’ sold during the LIVE auction event - my first live auction! - on Saturday the 18th.
So exciting!! Both sales were a milestone and I was humbled and proud to be a part of it all. Truth be told, I was a bundle of nerves! Nothing like exposure and vulnerability to make a girl want to wear a paper bag over her head! (Thank Heaven for loving family, true friends and generous collectors to see me through!)
Heading Out, 16 inches x 16 inches, oil on linen canvas, 2023
And then last month my third painting, ‘True’, was welcomed into the C.M. Russell’s signature exhibition and sale event, ‘The Russell’. During the Russell’s ‘First Strike’ live auction held on August 17th, ‘True’ sold with flying colors and found a wonderful new home with an art savvy friend and collector.
True, 24 inches x 18 inches, oil on cradled panel, 2022
Thinking about the future…
There are more details and moving parts in this creative enterprise than can be imagined. With every passing day, my admiration grows for working artists who have their studio practice dialed-in and humming along with inspiration, clarity and efficiency. These are the true professionals. Slowly, though daily trial and error, I feel as if I’m joining their ranks.
One of the skills I’m developing as I lean further in to my art practice is planning ahead. There are myriad and numerous group shows and exhibitions available to artists throughout the year. Deciding which ones to submit to is an art in and of itself. Timing and preparation are everything, and there’s more than a bit of strategy involved. As an artist, you want to get your work “out there” to be seen and enjoyed, but you also need to consider that everything you turn loose into the world is a reflection of who you are - in marketing terms, this is known as your ‘brand’.
As the quality of my work improves, I find that I’m taking more thoughtful approaches with my time as well as with my associations and my community. And because the paintings I create are deeply personal and drawn from the pages of my life, the stories behind each piece are becoming more important to tell. This is a vital part of finding my “voice” as an artist. More than the skillful handling of paint, storytelling is the driver of emotion and connection. The human-ness in the experience. I’m leaning in, and committed to doing better!
Speaking of time…. I’ve gotta run!
Thanks so much for joining me here - I cherish your encouragement, friendship and support!
AND….If you have questions or ideas about topics you’d like me to explore in future posts, be sure and reach out! I’d love to know your thoughts!!
Peace & love,
Lisa