Congratulations on having a friend like Anita. Yes, that is a leap of faith in your ability to offer to exhibit together before you bought your first brush. Cool!

Connie sounds like a lovely person. My friend Anita is like that too. I love her view of other people. She doesn’t judge anyone on looks; in fact she’s fascinated by different skin tones, facial features, mannerisms, how people dress… she’s always thinking about how they could be painted. She views people in a completely different way to anyone else I know. And when it comes to producing art, although her work is amazingly detailed she is so encouraging to others (although she sometimes finds it hard to switch off from teacher mode!) She doesn’t view herself as superior to others at all. In fact, she asked me to exhibit with her before I’d even bought my first paintbrush! How’s that for faith in my abilities?!

To me, that is how all artists should be - just very accepting of all kinds of people and all kinds of art (except conceptual maybe!) and all kinds of abilities. Shouldn’t artists want to share their love of art with others? Shouldn’t they want others to experience the joy they feel by producing art? Shouldn’t they be happy when you experience that joy, even if what you produce isn’t to their taste or (in my case) may not be very good? Maybe it’s because she’s a teacher (although she doesn’t teach art at the moment). I think as a teacher you have to be very careful not to dictate to your students which form of art is “acceptable” in your eyes, don’t you think?

Anyway, I’m waffling again! I think I have been very lucky to find people like Anita on the internet.

The main reason I am more confident to move ahead on an exhibition is because I have seen first hand (several times in fact) how Connie (the handmade paper Connie) has taken the genisis of an idea, created the artwork, infused a powerful message and turned it into an exhibition. Connie is artistically superior to many and yet completely humble (something I am striving for on both accounts.)

Also I have been in the art industry long enough that I really don’t take too much stuff personally. I sell enough artwork to live off from (have been for years) and that is all the confidence booster, I ever really need. Not being smug, it just is what it is.

I find it incredible that mixing with people with such views could actually give you the confidence to hold an exhibition!

I hope I haven’t over stepped the mark with anything I have said, I realise you feel close to the ladies at your group.

It is probably that I straddle these two art worlds, that makes it harder. I do loads of artfairs (where I make the bulk of my income) and I do gallery exhibitions (which usually produce far less $$$ BTW.) I’ve been to wine drinking, dress up affairs and I have sat in sweltering heat trying to make gas money (slight exaggeration, we always have done better than expenses. But you get the idea) I think it gives me a strange perspective, and it also keeps me humble.

I have noticed when I have been to art exhibitions and got chatting to “arty” types that there sometimes exists quite a bit of snobbery and back stabbing in the art world. That’s not a part of the art scene that I want to share in. I loath people who put themselves above others for whatever reason.

When it comes to styles, I obviously have my preferences, but although a piece may not be to my taste, I can’t deny the skill that was involved in creating it. Art has many different purposes and each purpose is as valuable as the next. Each style of art fulfills a different purpose. If we could only ever paint/draw/view abstract art then we would be missing out on so much emotional fulfillment. It would be like only ever hearing rock music. Most people listen to a variety of music genres, and although a person may prefer rock music (for example) can they truly deny the skill involved in composing and playing classical music? That would be ridiculous. I think it’s the same with art.

I agree that art for purchase is of no less value artistically than art for arts sake. The fact that people buy it shows that it is visually appealing. It’s very cathartic to be expressive and just paint what you feel, and I think that type of art is important, but other people won’t necessarily benefit from it, especially if you choose to never sell, and then where on earth would you put them all?? I’m running out of space already! The other thing is that if you love art so much that it leaves you no time to work then a girl’s gotta eat y’know! I hope I sell something eventually just to make back some of the huge sum that I have spent in recent months on art supplies! It’s ok to say “I’m painting just for my own satisfaction” but deep down every artist hopes to sell and to be appreciated by others, and whoever says they don’t is a liar!

Sorry I’ve waffled on quite a bit!

I think there was alot of pesonal issues working behind the actual artistic ones. The biggest thing that can cause conflict (that I notice because it deals directly with what I do) is the difference between art for art sake and art for sale. Two very different mentalities. For the most part, in the art circles that some of my group counterparts run in, money is a four letter word and never discussed. Creating art for the masses is at the very bottom of their artistic culture. Also realism is definatly inferior. One has even gone so far as to say she judged an event and gave awards to work that was lesser in quality but abstract in nature over a better executed pieces in realism. Chaps my cheeks a bit.

Both of these things I face whenever I enter an art event put on by major museums. Some of them love my work, others don’t. (Much like the general public in life, really) I console myself with the thought that whoever they have judging their events is making a living working in a art related field, while I make it by selling my work. I guess I like to look at it like “I win” Not slamming those who teach, BTW. I have quite a few art teachers as friends, it is a definate skill to be a teacher. I just don’t think art for purchase is less.

To be clear, I was never one who left my group, though I did stop showing with them because all of the realist artists that were in it quit for awhile. I was very out of place. All but one came back. The one who didn’t is a very good friend and we talk weekly, so no real loss. Just miss her being there.

I think despite the different artistic cultures we have become a family. A somewhat disfunctional family, but family non-the-less.

I’m not sure if I understand why artistic differences would make some not want to attend your group for a while. I think it’s great to see different styles and techniques.