Being in a gallery has a lot of benefits. While it is a lot of work in many ways, it provides a unique opportunity to see what kinds of things are selling. While my second quarter at the gallery showed a 36% increase in sales (by pieces sold), my focus for third quarter paintings was the creation of small and affordable paintings that might find a home with a tourist. Luckily, I had just the ticket lying around my room: panels. American Easel (great company) brings very small panels to each Watercolor Society of Oregon show. I have always painted something on each one, but there were a lot of little “meh” paintings lying around. I grouped them up and gessoed over the previous painting to create some blanks.
Of course, it doesn’t end there. I worked up a few larger, more intricate pieces, also on panels.
At some point (I forget when) I had to order a few more art supplies. I was having so much fun with panels that I decided to order some aquaboards. Somehow my finger slipped, and I ordered some VERY small boards. I was pondering what to do with them and I tossed them into my think pile. Other things in my think pile include rocks, leaves, feathers, paper scraps, and sticks. Something in the mix triggered an idea. After determining it was a good idea (always some doubt) I set about figuring out how to accomplish my idea. This led to weeks of failures, but I think I got there in the end.
So much for the smalls. I wouldn’t want you to think that I didn’t work on some bigger pieces for the October re-hang.
In addition to these pieces, I added a couple “older” pieces, though one was finished only in July.
Finally, in a last burst of excitement, I got a bin. This means that I can sell matted, flat pieces at a lower cost. This is what I loaded up for starters.
The opening reception is Friday, October 3rd (yes, tomorrow) from 5-7pm. I’ll be doing a demo on liquid charcoal. I hope some of you can show up! When I dropped off my pieces there was a LOT of great art around!