I didn't realize until yesterday just how long it has been since I have posted a new painting on my blog. What triggered my realization was that I spent the day in my studio scraping off a multitude of old, unlovely paintings and gessoing canvas after canvas. Needless to say I have been in the doldrums and, although I have been painting consistently, I have not been happy with my recent work. I have signed up to take a portrait painting workshop in October and hope that will help to jump start my efforts. In the meantime, I will continue painting and see if I can recover some of what I have lost - I believe it is spontaneity and fearlessness that are lacking in my work. I have been through times like this in the past and my solution has always been to keep on painting, take some new instruction, watch art videos and never give up.
I received notification of sales this week from two of my galleries and that has helped somewhat to buoy my spirits. It is always encouraging when a complete stranger feels passionate enough about my work to purchase it for their home. I also sold an older painting off my website.
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| Del Mar Down the Home Stretch - This painting sold off my website and found a permanent home in Washington DC |
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| A Hint of Merriment - Sold through the Reinert Fine Art Gallery in Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Winter Cows - Sold through the Roux and Cyr Gallery in Portland, Me |
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| The new owner was kind enough to send me a photo of Winter Cows hung in her lovely home! |
Congratulations on your successes.
ReplyDeleteSorry you are in a slump, but do you want a laugh...I told my hostess in Portland we had to go to to see your work in the
Roux and Cyr Gallery and we did the whole search thing only to find out I had the wrong Portland. I was in Oregon! Duh!!!!
I was bummed.
Hope you find a way to jump start your artistic flow again. I have a lot of understanding for your situation. Portraits will be great. You are very good at them already.
Cheers, dear art friend. Sending warmest blessings.
Oh, no! I have had that happen once before when someone else thought the gallery was in Oregon! I do hope you get to see my work in person some day, Julie - I know I would LOVE to see yours!
DeleteHallo Susan, ik wens je proficiat met je succes , het is toch altijd aangenaam als anderen je werken leuk vinden !
ReplyDeleteIk hoop dat we nog vele kunstwerken van u mogen zien...
groetjes van Simonne
Thank you, Simmone. I am counting on the portrait workshop to shake me up a bit - I think that is what is needed.
DeleteYou are hard on yourself. I can hear the thunder of hoofs in all of these action paintings done with great energy and vigor. The funny thing about sold is we love it when it happens, but it's after the fact when our interests have moved on; I t's the interest, the involvement that counts. When that wans, we fidget in our cold turkey state. I've missed your work Susan. Seeing you posted was a delight.
ReplyDeleteRight you are, Linda. Both my interest and excitement have waned. I know it is a temporary state but the struggle to get back on track is so difficult and exhausting! Glad to see the photo of you from ICU - you look mahvelous, darling! Even your hair looks great! :)
DeleteHello My Art Buddy! So very sorry about the doldrums! Hate when that happens. I too have been there with my stupid shoulder! I so love all your spectacular art Susan! Always make me smile! Congratulations on your sales! (Love the photo of your beautiful "Cows" sent by your very happy client!) Take care! Keep on painting! (Me too!)
ReplyDeleteMichael Not A Fan Of The Doldrums Lover Of Susan's Beautiful Art!
I am not a fan of the doldrums either - hope you shake yours and get that shoulder healed. I am so sorry for your injury, Michael - keep on painting, Michael - you bring joy to the world!
DeleteHi Susan.
ReplyDeleteLong time no see. I have to comment on your lovely, The Hint Of Merriment. It is superb. Love it. All the best Susan.
Vic.
Many thanks, Vic - he was fun to paint and capture that joyful expression!
DeleteJust think of inspiration as cyclical, whenever I'm having a slow period, I take something else up, last year it was etching for a term. Things soon picked back up again.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent idea - I am willing to try just about anything and appreciate your suggestion!
DeleteOh my, I completely identify. No doubt there will always be good days and bad days for most of us. It is hard when the bad days last awhile. I'm so glad you are persevering.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the sales of those wonderful paintings! It completes the creative process when a piece has a good home and the artist realizes others out there are being blessed by it on a daily basis.
Thanks for your kind encouragement, Diana - it is greatly appreciated.
DeleteAll of these works have your elan and fearlessness, and I love them all! I am so happy to read that they all have gone to loving homes. Congradulations, Susan!!!
ReplyDeleteAs for the slump, I am going through the same thing, really not liking anything I am painting, but keeping on, and waiting for that brilliance to reappear.
Kathryn
I am sorry you are in the midst of the doldrums too, Kathryn. I really think that persevering through this time is the only solution - having tried almost everything else I can think of. It seems that it ends when it ends - and hanging in there is the best way through.
DeleteHi there Susan!... I see that you visited my blog today. Hopefully... its content addresses your own "doldrums"... and as well... I hope that it inspires you to get back on "the horse" that you ride ever so well... and to brush your way out of your becalment.
ReplyDeleteLIfe is not always kind to artists... and when it isn't... they seem to take it the most personally because... it is passion-driven from the inside.
Good luck with it!
Happy Summer!... and Chin up!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
Many thanks for your warm words and encouraging thoughts, Bruce. Happy summer to you as well!
DeleteFirstly, these paintings are beautiful! I love that dog in particular, he really made me laugh! Secondly, it's not just you, I have noticed a significant decrease in blog activity across the board... Maybe there is something in the water! But there are always ebbs and flows and we just have to go with it. I'll bet you'll be on a high again in no time! :0)
ReplyDeleteMaybe there is something in the water! I shall try one of your delightful martinis with an olive - perhaps that will cure these doldrums!
DeleteFirst of all, Congratulations on the sale of your paintings Susan! And I really think we all get into a "slump"...I know I have but when I do I just take a lot of photos until the desire comes back again to paint. I find it harder in the summer months since friends and family comes first...as they should. I am so glad to see you back!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Hilda, the sales have boosted my spirits and you have encouraged me to go through some of my old photos in search of inspiration - and so the wild burro painting. I owe you a nod of thanks!
DeleteCongratulations on the sales, Susan! I know the 'slump', it happens to all of us, and it is the road to new discoveries.
ReplyDeleteI will hold onto that idea, Judy! Thank you so much!
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