Thursday 29 September 2016

Douze Points.

I am definitely having one of those blow you away weeks, which has been both refreshing and uplifting. Endlessly toiling away for a few pats on the head, or facebook likes gets a bit hardgoing sometimes. Not often, as I would paint anyway and I can't help but work hard, but that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate a little self gratification once in a while.

It has arrived this week. BIG TIME.

I have now sold 5 paintings this week and I am waiting to see what happens to one that is currently sitting in someones shopping basket. I hope it is comfortable in there, but not too comfortable. I also hope that the picture is remembering to shout 'LOOK AT ME' every 36 minutes - shopping basket peer pressure - tick! You need weeks like these to restore your faith a little and remember that you can do this. It was a good idea, and your dream job is there for the taking.

I also got monumental feedback today from the two purchases on Monday/Tuesday. I love it when people get enthusiastic about what I do. It makes eveything worthwhile.
"The very well packed paintings have arrived!!! I took delivery then had to frustratingly go straight out!!

Anyway, back in the office now. Unpacked. EVERYTHING perfect!!! If you ever get fed up with painting, I am sure Pickfords removals would love your packing skills!!I ADORE the paintings. Both of them. Absolutely love them. A wonderful mix of architecture and fairytale. Reality meets fantasy. They will be life-long pieces for me to cherish and admire. Already looking forward to buying my next one too!!!


You have a wonderful, rare and special talent Laura and I feel privileged to own your work".

Not much will beat praise like that! (I am also very happy that someone has finally noticed that I could win a prize for my ability to make unbreakable cardboard boxes).

Thank you art fans! :-)

Tuesday 27 September 2016

The Swallow's Nest.

Today has been an unusual day. Anyone that knows me, knows I am obsessed with the number 27. It is very much religiously my lucky number and for good reason normally. Today is no exception. It is the 27th of September 2016 and I just sold a painting. Bizarrely a painting that I created on the 27th of September 2015. Strange coincidence, yes? Even stranger as I sold it twice.

How does that work!?

Well, it doesn't, I managed to sell it through two different websites within an hour of each other. Seriously? What are the chances? I also sold a painting yesterday, and apparently another one today, so I am definitely having one of those art moments that still takes me completely by surprise.

Surprised in a happy way and also sad to see this painting go - it was one of my favourites:

The Swallow's Nest 20" x 16" 
It is based on The Swallow's Nest - a castle in the Crimea overlooking the Black Sea. I felt the rest. I could tell you why the sky is stripy, why it is snowing and why the sea is black. I could highlight the swirling wind, the steady stars and the solid castle. But I prefer you to draw your own conclusions on this one.

Monday 19 September 2016

Georgia O'Keefe

I went to see the Georgia O'Keefe exhibition the other day, at the Tate Modern. I didn't think I got a massive amount out of it, but my recent painting has made me think differently. Maybe a little bit of Georgia, got through to my soul after all.

Let me explain....

If you know anything about Georgia O'Keefe, you probably know that she painted flowers, it is what she is most famous for; Large, sensual, magnified flowers. I was expecting to see a lot of these at the exhibition, but there were only a few examples. There were far more pieces of her landscape work - both of the US and of New Mexico and her preoccupation with painting bleached animal skulls. These were interesting, in fact I saw some parallels in our work, presumably because I have also been captivated by the colours and the landscapes of the United States National Parks. But there is something about her work that I find difficult to get into. I feel like the door is there in front of me, and I can see it, but I can't open it. I seem to find it difficult to connect with her work. I don't know whether it is because it is too smooth, too perfect, too diluted, or whether the colours don't speak to me. It could simply be that I can't see the artist in the work. You can easily get a feel for some people - Miro was playful and bold, about expressing movement and joy, Klee - order, painful meticulousness, elaborate colour palettes and precision. I just don't get what Georgia O'Keefe is trying to show me.  But that is fine, she doesn't need to speak to me. Ironically, O'Keefe was an intensely private, self confessed loner, so maybe I am getting her personality exactly through her work. It was for her, and more fool the people that think her flowers are representations of female genitalia. The woman just wanted to paint a flower.


Or did she?

I think in this regard, this was why I thought the exhibition was a little disappointing. It seemed disjointed and needed more of her work - definitely more flowers. How can you understand someone, when the largest and most controversial body of her work is not present? That said, some of her work is right up my street. Some of the more serene landscapes and the city work especially. I just needed more.

When you don't understand something you need more information.

But anyway, after thinking the exhibition passed me by slightly. I just painted this:


That looks like a big flower - right in the middle and not what I intended to paint. I was meant to be painting the tree canopy from a birds eye view, leaves, tendrils, twigs and branches, but not a flower. It looks like she may have spoken to me, far more emphatically than I would have imagined.

One thing is for sure, I definitely do not know enough about Georgia O'Keefe.



Sunday 18 September 2016

Sinking Ship.

My blog post hits are falling faster than the leaves off a tree in autumn. I really need to get back on track and back on the consistent blogging horse (I am sure that is the name of a runner at Ascot) Easier said than done when I have other priorities to sort out, but I am getting there. Every weekend, I tick another few things off, add a few more bits and pieces to the website, write a potentially boring post.

:-P *blows massive raspberry*

More exciting posts are coming - about my work, about exhibitions I have visited, art inspiration I have found, but maybe not just yet. I guess that was the point of this blog anyway - to see where the art journey takes me and how it evolves. Turns out if you don't consistently work on everything, it all falls behind, and then you have to do a massive, gaffer tape job and temporarily tape a few things together, whilst you plug the massive hole that is sinking your ship.

The only plus point is that with experience comes wisdom. Having previously written many posts where I don't know what I am doing, for once I have a plan. I know what I need to do. What needs to be mended, what needs to be changed and what needs to be started. The only thing lacking is time (and sleep this week).

So I laugh in the face of falling popularity and a slow sales month, knowing that it really is, just a matter of time......Apparently, it takes ten years to become an overnight success, so I still have 4 years left to go....

Saturday 10 September 2016

Once Upon a time...

What's this? Two blog posts in the same month? Suits you sir!

Yes.

Somehow I have had a productive week this week. Work is complete (for the moment), my Friday deadline met, my Saturday chores demolished, my fridge stocked and my website worked upon. My high resolution files have also been skewed, tweaked and are waiting to be uploaded where required.

So this is better. A little more focused and a little less headless chicken. I have a time plan to finish my website and then work on the painting version. I don't know how to finish one section of the new photography website but I will sort that out when I get there. I am still working on the print shop at the moment.

Much, much better.

And then one day, my blog will be up to date and I can start working through my post list.

And outside the birds will be singing, and it will be sunny everyday, and Prince Charming will knock on my door, and I will sell all my paintings, and live happily ever after in a Castle, and I'll be able to eat copious amounts of chocolate and wine and not put on weight.

What is that? Unrealistic you say? Well yes. I will settle for selling some paintings and the birds singing outside. Hopefully I'll sell some photography prints as well otherwise this website reshuffle will be a bit disappointing.....

Saturday 3 September 2016

The Train now Approaching platform 4....

I have got to that stage where I can see how much art stuff I need to do and how much I am not doing. My sensibilities are currently probably just pulling into heart palpitation station, before heading off to heart attack central.

On a side note, I do need to say palpitation station again, as it has a nice ring to it.

But yes, I am not stressed per se, but I could be. I think it is important to remember the bigger picture here, but not look at how to get there, as then I will end up on a direct route to Shutdown Street.

I think it would help if I could finish some things off rather than my current status which is half doing lots of things. My photography website is almost complete, but isn't, my new high resolution art photos are half sorted, but not finished, my Instagram account is set up but not used. The same goes for Twitter. My ideas are mostly written down on paper but not really formalised.

'We are very sorry the delay this may cause to your journey'

I kind of wish I hadn't started thinking about this! I am excited though, if I can, or once I do, get through all of this, I think it will be a massive improvement. I should be more usable, work on Apple, be more searchable, more available, more noticeable. I currently do feel like I need a sabbatical to get there though, or at least a very good railcard.