October 2010
9 posts
Fueling a dream
Have you met someone in need of encouragement? I’m not talking about goofy, sweet, empty encouragement. Southerners do that too easily and it becomes meaningless. I’m talking about seeing someone’s natural ability and giving them much needed feedback. I was the beneficiary of some serious encouragement when I started selling my work — and I learned first hand how we...
When will I know?
I’ve been wondering when I will know if I know what I’m doing! I’m still in the bumbling stage with encaustic — one idea works followed by two that don’t. One layer is beautiful obliterated by the next misstep. It’s a jerky way to paint — I’m up one minute and down the next.
That’s what learning is like - I know. It’s draining but...
Mean people
I met a bunch of them. Art Fairs are an excellent place to hear stuff you’d really rather not. Gallery visitors whisper — people at art fairs blurt stuff out. At one of my first shows in Naples FL, a lady passed my booth and announced that we don’t need any more “photocolors” in the world. Ouch. I still remember what she looked like. Another that comes to mind...
Outside the studio
I’m reminded how much I can learn about what I do when I’m not doing it. Yesterday we visited studios in the Asheville River Arts District. We went in all kinds of studios - pottery, glass, encaustic, painting. Seeing their work spaces was fascinating and hearing artists, all kinds of artists, talk to clients was hugely interesting. I saw the hard sell, the soft sell, the bored...
My support guy
I spent a morning totally destroying an encaustic piece — it had a chance until I got hold of it today. Now, it is teetering on the edge of the art cliff! Tonight Mark and I dropped by the studio and Mark wandered over to the encaustic table - I waited for the verdict. He said “well, this one is hanging on - you’ll get it”. I smiled. I don’t think he ever...
Lost in my work
There is painting because we want to and there is painting because we need to. Occasionally there is a day like today when I feel the need - a very different thing from being “in the mood” to paint. For me, it is an unsettled feeling that I know will ease if I concentrate on painting. There is comfort in sinking down into my center and thinking only with color, line, and design. ...
The very best part...
The best part of the Carnegie opening was seeing my encaustics OUTSIDE my studio. I’m still very new with this medium but I needed to break the barrier — and get past my ego. They could be better in every way but that shouldn’t ever stop us from sharing our work. I’ll learn more by putting them out in public than I would by continuing to hide them in the studio. ...
Carnegie Exhibition opens Friday!
Preparing for an exhibition
http://carnegiearts.org/2010/07/15/beautiful-again-works-by-dana-brown-scott-smith/
I’m working the night shift again at the studio and it feels like old times! I’m not traveling on the art fair circuit this year, so I haven’t had deadline pressure. I’m delivering thirty pieces to the Carnegie Visual Arts Center on Monday — so I’m framing, cleaning, labeling,...