Blog

HI There,

I remember my first solo show way back in 1969. I was so scared. There they were, all of my pen and inks, matted ( I couldn't afford to frame them) . The opening reception was about to start. My art was hung.... All I had to do was walk into the room and stand among my creations. I was terrified. Questions swirled around in my head.

        What if no one comes?

What if they don't like my art? (Will they still like me?)

Did I do the right subject matter?

Did I price them right?

Will any of them sell?"

The general public typically doesn't realize the feeling of standing there with your precious creations, hoping they will like them. You feel very exposed. That feeling never goes away.

So, that was 50 years ago. Now, tomorrow, I am doing my first Solo Show reception in Arkansas. Again, it is all of me. But after all these years, all of me has become much broader ( okay, I am not talking about weight right now ). All of the subjects that I love to paint now; all of the mediums (oils, watercolors and mixed medium) that I love to use now; all of the colors I love to use now; AND all of the styles that I paint from traditional, representation to contemporary  to abstract, now.... all of me will be on display.

Will everyone be drawn to every subject, no. Will everyone relate to every style, probably not. But there they are, all of me, for all of the guests to look at, and listen and respond. It is a fascinating experience to be an artist and I would not trade this for anything. I love it!

And those questions, yes, after all of these years, as the reception approaches, these old questions are barely there. They are still rolling and bumping about in my head, but now they are tiny whispers and I can laugh at them. After all these years of experience, years of talking to my collectors, entering shows, getting rejections AND getting acceptances. Those questions don't bother me. They are part of the package of being an artist. They are part of my growth and journey as an artist.  

What I have found is that the public is cheering me on, telling me what they love about the paintings that catch their eye. The public is my best way to discover if my paintings are communicating the feelings that I am attempting to put into paint each time I pick up my brush. 

Why am I writing this? Well, I teach many many artists. Many of them have never entered an art competition or had a one person show. This is too scary and yet, this is where the artist really begins to improve. 

If you are an artist, I encourage you to get your art out there! Enter a show, have a show in your home ( clear out your living room). Invite your friends to bring their friends. This gets your art to fresh eyes that don't even know you. ( I remember the first time I sold one of my pen and inks to a total stranger, I was thrilled. I even asked the nice lady, "Do you know my parents?"  and with a question on her face she replied  "No, who are your parents". I was thrilled, finally someone bought my art that wasn't family or a friend of the family. Finally someone bought my art because the art spoke to them. You will be amazed at the excitement and knowledge that you will gain. 

Now, about those annoying questions that haunt artists. Think of yourself as a duck in the water. When they get water on their back, they arch high in the air, shake their tail feathers and let the water roll right off their backs. Actually they love doing it and so will you. Sure, you will get all kinds of rejections, negative thoughts, fears, worries ( we are human after all)  but be a duck, know that they are there, then have fun letting them roll off your back. 

Side note: Picasso was rejected plenty until he learned to shake off the doubt and go with his own expression. 

Embrace the whole experience of being an artist. Remember Michael Angelo... the Agony and the Ecstasy. We live in a world of visions, use your abilities to vision the challenges as strengths. The finger is always pointing back at me. As I am writing this to you, I am reminding myself as well, be a duck!

So, if you find yourself in the northwest corner of Arkansas tomorrow afternoon get over to the Rogers Experimental House at 121 W. Walnut Street in Rogers, AR . The reception is from 4:30 to 7:30 and let me show you my creations. I would love to know which ones touch your heart. 

Hope you can come.

If you can not attend the show, then go to my web site for the link to the paintings in the show.

The link to my Solo show is on this Home Page.

www.susanblackwood.com

Here is the official invitation