I hardly know where to begin. I guess bad news first. I have been working on a still life that has special meaning for me. I only showed you small portions of it because I wanted it to be viewed first at a show that I have been waiting for. I already have experience in this show, both getting a big award and also being rejected. So, for months I have been concentrating on getting this piece completed in time for the entry. Then those who placed an entry must wait a month until the juror has made his/her selections. October first those choices are emailed. This painting is one of my best which made it difficult to see the words on the email. I don’t mind the rejection for myself but it has been frustrating to try to figure what was it about this work that made the juror reject it. My thoughts are that it was not wildly modern, since I lean toward old masters style. Who knows? Anyway, it was painful to have to make this announcement to my students. I struggled to lift their spirits and not allow them to want to give up on their own efforts. We must realize that if we are going to participate in a procedure that gives the choices over completely to one ‘expert’, then we must be prepared to accept the results. I have never painted to try to please a juror. Rather, I strive to make a composition and painting that is good enough that it cannot be ignored! If I have reached a time in my life where I no longer have the patience to deal with this and other strange things that are happening in our art arenas then I will be glad to spend more of my time painting and less with groups and exhibitions. I enjoy the artists and viewers too much to do that at this time.
I did two days of antique shopping last week. I wanted a nice piece of copper, perhaps a tea pot or little creamer. I found a perfect piece that had been silver overlayed on copper. The copper is very apparent. I was looking for a goblet, found that. A rough clay pot, an old dirty boa with box joints, check. Unfortunately, other things, which were not art related, called out to me. I should be disposing of my stuff, not bringing more into my small house! I must tell you that in an adjoining damp dark garage, hanging on a back wall, I rescued the most beautiful, although simple, hand stitched baby gown. I will try to post a photo when I finish this blog.
OK, to wrap it up, I will tell you that the project I have been working on for almost three years is about to come to fruition. My husband always makes the things I need around the house, usually furniture. When I asked him to make an art tool, he tried, but, the edges needed to be smooth and the marks precision. After a while, I was directed to a Tech school where the first prototype was turned out. After two or three more attempts, voila! Perfect. This process included explaining the plans in detail to several different companies with months of waiting, only to be told that their machines were not able to do the job. Very aggravating! Finally, this production is now in the hands of a capable company. My daughter, a graphic artist in Ohio, is skilled at videoing. She will help me make an instruction video.
The image at the top is one I showed in the early stage. It is almost finished. These trout lilies grow on the forest floor in our area and probably most of the eastern mountains. I will now try to post another image of the little baby dress. I consider it a national treasure.
Well, I don’t have a way to show you. I will try on the next post. Enjoy your art. Diana