Today was such a wonderful day. I got to spend some time this afternoon visiting the Springville Art Museum with a great friend. I was in awe at the talent of the artists in the Spring Salon. There were about 200 accepted out of over 1000. Mine wasn't one of them. I couldn't believe downstairs in the room with all the rejected art was a giant landscape that was one of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen. I felt so bad that everyone wasn't going to get the chance to see it. A woman working down there said there were so many incredible pieces and phenomenal talent and she felt that way about all of them. I would really love to volunteer there each spring so I could get a chance to see them all.
I entered the show like a kid in a candy shop. I was so excited to see all the beautiful artwork. We were shocked that a very uninspiring (ugly really) painting was chosen while that beautiful landscape sat downstairs unappreciated. But it was evident why the rest of them were chosen.
My favorite painting was titled "The Summer Cottage" A figurative/landscape oil painting by Trent Austin Gudmunsen that I fell in love with and had to revisit several times. It was a painting of a woman walking out in a field with her little boy on her hip. It was so beautiful it made me want to cry - or it made me want to cry because I wish I could paint like that.
Well, this week I made a decision to stop trying to finish one painting a week. I will continue to paint and write a post of what I've done every week, but I will finish a painting when I like it and feel it's done. The purpose of my goal to begin with was to get me painting and I am. It was to help me overcome my fear of painting and it has, but now, I want to do better and feel better about what I'm doing. The unfinished picture of Christ keeps staring at me, as it sits above my fireplace, and I want to work on it some more.
One night as I was going to bed after painting and feeling good about it I checked in on my son who was sleeping and I thought to myself, "Sure your painting looks good, but what did you do to help him prepare for his future today?" I felt determined to change that. Now I will do what I can and let you know how it's going.
Next Friday I won't be able to post anything because I'll be in the hospital with my son. He has his skull surgery. I am so dreading it, but so ready for it to be done.
This weeks painting is of my daughters friend. She has the most gorgeous big black eyes you've ever seen. I had to paint her.
I really had fun going with you . I agree at how incredible it was that such an "ugly, unfinished, uninspiring' work received a place and an incredible( and I'm sure there were more than that landscape)work will go un-noticed.
ReplyDeleteI commend you on your decision to not rush thru your works and only display when you are finally satisfied. And I'm very proud of you that you even entered....most people would not have had the courage to do so.