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Distance enhances the view?
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Message
Posted
Do you ever rummage through your old work, in the substantial pile that didn't sell, and find something of which you can say "do you know, Petal: that's really not bad!"? More often, I find work that I have no difficulty in recognizing as a flop, but just now and then - Friday, as it happens: Saturday was spent clearing a drain (don't ask, or I WILL tell you all about it) - I find something that, if I saw it in a Gallery or shop, I might buy myself.
Well - of course, I do know my own tastes; so if I've painted something that accords with them, I suppose I'm likely to be drawn by it (and it by me: I apologize for that Boom Boom! moment: too much Basil Brush in my youth). Ahem. Serious face.
It's quite encouraging when it happens - proving that you CAN do it, if you try, and persist. The medium doesn't really matter - oil, watercolour, acrylic, pastel: I've encountered a handful from each category which I thought, through the veil of distance, not bad at all. I'm wondering if this is a common experience?
I already know about the disappointments - the obvious duds; and there are more of those. But finding a little gem hidden in the dross is encouraging, I find. How about you?
Posted
Well Robert as it happens I spent this morning going through a few boxes of paintings , there is now one box and the bin if overflowing.
I came across some I wanted to keep ax I like the scene and might have another go , there are a few that I looked at and thought that better than some you have done since painting that one . What was interesting was that I seem to have gone full circle, I deliberately change my style as several people were a bit derogatory about my painting so having tried to hard to be a better artist I failed . Well until recently, I have needed to slow down and change my grip on the brush etc , what has happened unknowingly of course is that I’ve virtually returned to how I used to paint about six or seven years ago.
What is particularly interesting is that my recent work is getting some excellent feedback, that’s very encouraging, so why the hell did I change and who did I do it for , I certainly don’t know.
Long winded reply but I’m sure you will,forgive me, the short answer of course is Yes it’s happened to me too.
Posted
Paul - I don't know, but I suspect the recent wild approbation for your work (OK, I may SLIGHTLY overstate that) is due largely to your overcoming your problems, adapting to them, and losing any reservations about your technique because - well, you've not much choice: we have to yield to our limitations.
It also could be because you've got better over time, as I'm quite sure you have; but, I think the more you fight to do what you most care about, the more people see it, appreciate it, and you make that much greater effort. This is just a theory, mind: it could just be that you've bribed us all - but no; this is persiflage and libel.
