Quiet January Moments2021
My professional year as a painter is defined by the weather (painting outside in the rain sucks) and entering competitions and selling my work through shows. Competitions are where the artist submits a few paintings and a selection committee or judge/s decide who goes through, the results are then carefully curated and exhibited and for sale. For example: ING Discerning Prize, Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy or my current bi-annual favourite the Self Portrait Prize. Competitions are tricky and as artist, it is important to think about which ones to enter, matching the style and level of work to the competition. There are a many things I consider when I enter a competition; one, competitions cost to enter; two, I fell they can be a bit like trying to win the lottery, not many of us get through and three, sometimes the feeling of non success is just too painful and can halt the creative practice. The shows I had lined up, I have postponed until later in the year when I hope to join the amazing Sussex Fair Art crew and show at Brighton at the end of October. As so much has changed for me this year, I have decided to sale my work on-line too. I will update my website with a few select pieces, I am excited to be giving these paintings a platform to be seen, rather than sitting collecting dust. One good thing that has come out of the pandemic is the artist pledge scheme #artistsupportpledge - set up to promote creative work for sale below £200. I will be using this medium to sell some sketches do look out on Instagram. Another reason to follow me victoria_a_r_t . That was a different kind of Christmas but still important to acknowledge What was your Best Christmas present? Mine sits between a few tubes of oil paint that where choose to match the colour of some new tea towels and a collection of small ready made canvases to do sketch paintings on. Above paintings both by William Nicolson What makes a good painting? This is often debated between artists, collectors, actually everyone can have an opinion. A group of artists including me where debating this late last year. Actually it started with what makes a painting tasteful? I feel that a painting is only good when the artist themselves thinks that the painting is good. This got expanded to 'when the artist thinks that theartist themselves thinks that the painting is good and that opinion stands up to the opinion of others". Another way to assess a painting is if they have space and air in a painting. Above are two paintings that show a painting with air and space. I am working on a series of paintings based on drying clothes, be it washing lines, tumble dryers, airers, rotary lines or cordomatics. Above is the most recent image I have received from Canada. THANK YOU TO ALL THAT HAVE ALREADY SENT ME IMAGES AND STORIES, I FEEL REALLY PRIVILEGED TO BE ALLOWED INTO YOUR LIFE FOR A SMALL DRYING MOMENT. PLEASE KEEP SENDING ME IMAGES, FEELINGS, STORIES AROUND THE SUBJECT OF LAUNDRY DRYING. PLEASE SPREAD THIS NEWS, IF YOU SEND THIS NEWSLETTER TO 5 PEOPLE, IT WILL REALLY HELP. THE MORE I CONNECT WITH THE MORE I CAN PAINT. This domestic subject of clothe washing has started a conversation irrelevant of age, sex, race, culture, class, finances, religion; it is closely connected to childhood memories of texture and smell and some people have rules and regulation that go with their neighbourhood or country, meaning they have days or even hour when they are able to hang out their washing. What a mess the lockdown is making to being able to see art in person. If I was able to these are what I would be seeing this month: Rock against racism Del La Warr pavillion As I can't, Im going to watch Grayson Perry's art club and flick through the BFI website with a huge collection of films, some are free. Watch a short one on David Hockney. GOODBYE FOR NOW STAY SAFE, STAY SANE AND TODAYS MANRA IS: I am not afraid to be wrong Comments are closed.
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AuthorI am a professional painting artist, with a passion for space, shadow, colour and balance - constantly pushing forward to express more of what I see and feel visually. Archives
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