Several weeks ago, I ‘discovered’ an antique store in my neighborhood. It hasn’t been there too long and that particular block isn’t on my usual route to and from my house. Still, I was rather surprised that I had been unaware of its presence.
My first visit, I found a wooden sign which says ‘ANTIQUES.’ I didn’t buy it that day, but decided to go back after it several days later.
That sign inspired several paintings-this one in particular.
The day I got it, the store’s owner, Sarah, was there and naturally, we struck up a conversation.
One thing led to another and I wound up showing her my blog on her computer. When she saw my paintings, she asked if I would be interested in bringing in some paintings to sell on consignment.
Would I?
Do frogs hop?
That night, instead of sleeping, I was contemplating which of my paintings I would take. Nothing seemed appropriate. That store is huge! Everything I considered seemed way too small for that setting. Finally, I remembered my monster canvas….4 feet by 5 ½ feet big!
The size seemed perfect. But the painting I had done on it didn’t. I was never really satisfied with it. In a flash, an idea came to me and I mulled it over in my mind until I finally gave up, got out of bed, went into the studio and did a quick painted ‘sketch’ of my idea.
Next morning I went at it.
This is the painting.
I took it in. Sarah loves it. We put a pretty darned high price tag on it.
It IS big, you know!
Even before I took the painting, she and I had begun discussing an idea for using a separate large room in her store as an art gallery.
Later, toward fall, (business in summertime in Tucson pretty much dies), we will invite other artists to show their work there. We want it to be for artists, like me, who have never had any gallery exposure. We want it to be a completely unintimidating process…and very affordable…for people who work really hard at their craft but just haven’t made ‘gallery’ status yet or can’t afford the wall space rent most galleries charge.
Until that time, I am going to have what is in effect, a one-woman show of my paintings.
I am over the moon!
It has been my heart’s longing for a long time to stand in a room and see many of my paintings, nicely framed and displayed.
Besides, I am running out of room in my studio to store my ever-growing stash of finished canvases! You know, if you know me at all, that I am nothing if not prolific!
So……..
I have been working my fingers to the bone preparing all these paintings to be shown. First, I had to choose which ones I would be proud to show. Lots of them did NOT make the cut!
Then, each one has to be prepared for hanging…frames, hanging wires, mats and glass…. An inventory spread sheet is needed. Information cards for titles, price, size, etc., must be made for each painting. There’s lots and lots of work to do!
There is more to tell, but my boney fingers are tired of typing and they must be saved for this days’ work.
I am so very, very GRATEFUL for this turn of events. And I am so very, very GRATEFUL to each of you who has encouraged and supported my artistic endeavors…some of you for many years now.
From the bottom of my heart, I give you thanks!
