Opening Night at DaVinci Gallery

Deadlines over, a visible calm showed on the artist's faces. The gallery looked so fresh with a dramatic arrangement and new work. The crowd was smaller than last month, but took their time and I had a chance to speak with many patrons who attended. I know you will be glad to hear I did frame three new pieces and hung them for the opening.

The evening's most memorable moments were sharing ideas and work with young artists thinking of joining the gallery at some future date. This tradition of dialogue among artists is longstanding. Long before we ever hang work for the public many years of study, struggle, and self criticism accompany the creative acts. Artwork from the heart feels like a child. It is so hard to sell it. Talking with Heidi who brought her personal collection of beautiful work expressed those sentiments. She shared her fear of releasing these paintings she loved. Each new work was accompanied with the fear that she couldn't reach that level or excellence with the new work. I gently smiled and shared that even I begin each new work with that same fear. We artists are very hard on ourselves! This "stage fright" can become our friend. Welcome it, and the adrenalin rush will help you reach heights you've only dreamed of.

Another young artist from NY brought photographs of his new paintings completed over the holidays. I was blown away! His work was totally unique from anything I have seen. As I watched and listened the hair on my arms levitated. His sincerity and passion were evident as he described his methods, of scratching into the paint to alter the edges slightly and painstakingly building up texture as a first step before he started the actual image. These first marks on the surface carry the artist into that space where time disappears and the mind becomes blind to the labor. His line and pattern layered like vines. These small reproductions barely hinted at the power of the large paintings.

My blog has even generated dialogue...Jinson, a young artist with his MFA, from India has sent images of his work to me to get feedback. I look forward to our discussion on line. Technology has opened up the world for all of us. Feel free to join in through your comments. How do you feel about selling or buying an artist's work?