The Opening in Asheville

The opening of my show was last Saturday evening, at the 16 Patton Gallery in Asheville. It was actually a dual show - with a North Carolina artist, Mase Lucas, who paints and photographs horses, which are all very striking. I want to thank all who took the time to come and especially took a moment to talk to me. I appreciate all of it.

As I was driving home Sunday, I realized a couple of things about how much I have benefited from the opening night. It's not often I get to talk with other artists, and there were a lot of them there. The feedback I get from other painters is so crucial, and I find myself learning more and more. Mostly I find I may be odd - in my choices of paint, my brushes, my medium, that I paint on black, etc. Chalk that up to no formal training - which I sometimes think is a good thing. You tend to find your own preferences and your own way and maybe your own place in the big world of art.

Another huge benefit to having a show is that I can see a collection of my own work in one place - I can see how they all relate to each other - and how people relate to the work. Painting one at a time, framing them, sending them off - I don't get that perspective otherwise. It really blows my mind when I step into the gallery and see the whole presentation. You learn a lot from that. It gives you an idea of how consistant you may or may not be, or how you favor certain colors, or even what may be really right (or wrong) about individual pieces. It also gave me the opportunity to step back and really enjoy all of them as a body of work. That's a cool thing.

It's a commitment, no doubt, to agree to having a show - but the motivation trumps the pressure. I think the benefits are far more than just the sales - it gives you a goal, a push and hopefully some recognition in the end. Anyways...... I'm back at it again today. Thanks again - for all the good wishes and the feedback along the way. I appreciate it all.