Friday, January 9, 2009

ALL OVER THE PLACE,

a phrase I often use to describe my work to visitors to my gallery. I greet all visitors by introducing myself and explaining that all ot the art in the gallery is mine, and I can see the disbelief and/or skepticism in their faces as they take in the wide range of art on the walls. On the left, they see this,


POWER PLANT MIXED MEDIA 18X36

on the right they see,


DARK FIELD OIL PASTEL 8X5"

and straight ahead they see,


COTTON WOODS ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 30X40 $2500

In addition, there are the watercolors, pastels, and clay mono types.


CLAY MONO TYPE


PASTEL


WATERCOLOR

I have posted before about this being a source of anxiety for me, especially when it comes to choosing what art I want to submit to galleries for their consideration. I have also questioned myself as to whether I would develope more skills and growth by narrowing my focus. But, in the end, I have chosen not to change, and I am pleased to say that my anxiety about all of this has lessened significantly. The more I work in the different mediums the more I appreciate how each evolves into a style of its own.

Underlying this issue is the elemental problem so many of us face, balancing the need to be true to our creative callings with the need to pay the bills and survive as artists.

I would appreciate hearing what others think about this and how you deal with these conflicts.

1-8-09

5 comments:

Linda said...

Bill, having been to your gallery, I would say that you should keep it up! You may use many different mediums and have many different subjects and styles, but there is a wonderful "Renzulliness" that unifies the pieces and ties it all together. Don't change.
:-)
(maybe it should be "Renzulliosity" -- what do you think?)

Jeannette StG said...

Good for you! a long time ago i decided to follow my own road and not the ones of the art-critics, jeannette
p.s. i found your follow me sign :)

dog face girls said...

I am proud to say I am honored to own 3 pieces of Bill's art, two originals and one print!

cowango said...

Bill, I can relate wholeheartedly to the anxiety, though I'm not sure whether yours stems from the same source as mine. I agree that each media has its own personality and each has its own idiosyncracies. Having committed myself to watercolor over the past 30 years I can still say that at times it scares the hell out of me. As to the galleries, some don't take it because it goes under glass, or because it's not as sale-able (so they say), or doesn't bring as big a price. There are myriad reasons that we are looked at as step children in the painting world. Yet most painters will say to me that they cannot master watercolor. So it's viewed as one of the most difficult media. Go figure.

I say you have to do what ya gotta do. I paint watercolor, some days good, some days not so good. One of my inspirations is Winslow Homer, who made painting in watercolor look simple. I keep one of his lesser-known images as my computer wallpaper to remind me where I want to go.

Cheers, and glad you're heading back into watercolor with less trepidation.

Stef

Abhijit Dharmadhikari said...

I liked Clay Monotype very much! Lovely colors and the composition!!