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Failure , self worth and positivity
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Posted
I think you are such a skilled and talented artist and admire very much all your paintings. Just to add to other comments, I only ever try and paint what inspires me although one or two I've done for others has always been a struggle and with end results I don't particularly like. I think this year's judging has been different, maybe sheer number of entries or different judging criteria who knows but congrats to all those selected. Personally I think 'you and some other really good artists on this site was robbed' as they say!
Posted
I think you are such a skilled and talented artist and admire very much all your paintings. Just to add to other comments, I only ever try and paint what inspires me although one or two I've done for others has always been a struggle and with end results I don't particularly like. I think this year's judging has been different, maybe sheer number of entries or different judging criteria who knows but congrats to all those selected. Personally I think 'you and some other really good artists on this site was robbed' as they say!Thank you Heather. There are so many wonderful artists out there and I’m always really happy for successful artists. I wasn’t particularly upset about other people being selected but more that I felt I’d let myself ( and PO ) down this year. Absolutely ridiculous I know 😂. You are so right about painting for anyone else. I gave up commissions a long time ago because it was so stressful and rather unpleasant. I struggle to accept payment for my work but get a huge reward from having the opportunity to create something that makes others happy. As I said to others here, I’m going to paint for pure enjoyment for a while with no expectations or commitment. Hopefully it will bring rewards. Happy painting 👍
Posted
Just to add, it’s the same five judges that have presided over this event for several years now.
Haidee-Jo Summers disappeared from the panel a while back, leaving, in my opinion, the only true painter, that person being David Curtis, who I regard as a true professional - check out his website if you aren’t familiar with the name! He has written many excellent books also!
Posted
I m also an admirer of your lovely and skilful work Diana,, and have had the pleasure of seeing it in the flesh at the Mall Galleries on several occasions. Who knows how the mind works in those selecting for exhibition and competitions!? I personally have tried a few without success and have given up at least for the moment, and am just enjoying painting for my own pleasure and small local exhibitions. I’m sure you will be successful again in the future because your work is so very good and professional. Chin up and keep at it! xThank you Tessa. Again ,you mentioned painting for pleasure and yourself. I have been lucky in achieving success with my work but on reflection haven’t enjoyed my painting any more because of it. On the contrary. Having to work towards expectations and scrutiny is positive in enabling me to push my skills but the downside of that is that it can become a bit ‘clinical’ My favourite painting times have been ones where I let go in any medium and express myself so I’m going to allow myself the freedom without commitment. Sounds wonderful. Happy painting Tessa
Posted
I have always loved your work Diana xxHello Collette. I am an admirer of your work too. It’s been a strange year with not just self doubt but purpose. Too much thinking about the why and wherefores so now I’m going to free myself of expectations and scrutiny for a while and really enjoy mark making freedom.
Posted
Painting what inspires you is the most exciting thing, even if it doesn’t always turn out how you may have wished. If you don’t need to make a living from your art you can do what you like, just enjoy yourself. I’ve “ painted to sell” before, and done commissions and I know how that’s often not enjoyable - who really wants to paint the same popular view again and again? No, commissions are definitely in the past for me ( I don’t count a request from a friend, a “ favour”).
But I also have a question, something I’ve been musing about. Why is it that some people ( us, here ) feel the need to express our appreciation or excitement about something we see or feel in the way we do, rather than just enjoy the moment for what it is?
Posted
Painting what inspires you is the most exciting thing, even if it doesn’t always turn out how you may have wished. If you don’t need to make a living from your art you can do what you like, just enjoy yourself. I’ve “ painted to sell” before, and done commissions and I know how that’s often not enjoyable - who really wants to paint the same popular view again and again? No, commissions are definitely in the past for me ( I don’t count a request from a friend, a “ favour”). But I also have a question, something I’ve been musing about. Why is it that some people ( us, here ) feel the need to express our appreciation or excitement about something we see or feel in the way we do, rather than just enjoy the moment for what it is?That’s an interesting question Marjorie. Do you mean as artists wanting to capture that moment? We all take lots of photographs and observe beauty in places and situations where many others don’t. I like to share that image for its colour, shape, humour, composition and whatever it is that grabbed the attention As artists we express emotion through drama, music, dance, art, writing in a way that gives us pleasure in choosing techniques,, words, sounds, colours to relay emotions. Being creative is such a privilege
Posted
A very interesting question Marjorie. Diana painted a deceased bird. The image was so delicately painted, it was a powerful image. I think it was called Hollow. I think we see an aspect of an image or even a thought that we want to preserve and therefore feel the need to paint that image or translate a thought into an image.
Posted
I think we are try to express the feeling , emotions and experience of a place to others . It’s something I d thought for a while and is different to painting to please others where you paint what they want to see to please them , this is about painting what you want to share the image m feeling and hopefully the experience of the place . I’ve recently posed some work of s place I just love being in, physically and emotionally, the two I’ve completed have been better received thst I thought they possibly would be , I believe it’s because so much of my own feelings went into the work .
I hope this doesn’t come across airy fairy , pouring out emotions onto other , it’s actually difficult for me to explain but I’m sure some of you will get the point. Long winded way of saying paint what is close to you heart and invokes feeling in you , it quite invigorating and satisfying.
Posted
I agree Diana but are we expressing those emotions for others or just for ourselves?I’ve spent a few minutes thinking about that and remembering the images that inspired me most, I think it was predominantly for myself before sharing with others. It’s quite a rare occurrence to have the urge to get something down on paper with urgency but wonderful when it happens