Friday, August 13, 2010

good things and the question of balance


Let's see... Hello?
I don't think anyone reads this thing anymore, but I enjoy the routine. I think? No, I know I do, and I always like to be able to look back and see what was going on in my little corner of the art world.

First of all, the Christian Demare exhibition in the Hive Gallery is still just so dark, rich, and lovely. Yesterday, while taking a break from painting, I walked out of my studio and just looked at the work again; letting myself become absorbed into his dark worlds. I am so lucky to be able to work around such great and varied art at the Fayetteville Underground. It truly is inspiring. If you are local or regional please come to the Underground to view Christian Demare's exhibition, Ghosts in the Landscape #2. The Fayetteville Underground is open W-F 12-7 and Saturday 10-5. This world class exhibition will remain up through August 28th.

Speaking of work, I was the lucky recipient of two large 36x48" canvases from a lovely patron this week. I usually only paint 40x30" as my largest size, due to the shipping charges for over sized canvases. I am very grateful to be able to experiment with painting larger again. I haven't painted this size since art school, when I would stretch my own. So, I have been working on the behemoth this week. I love a challenge, and that is what it has been, marks that make sense on a smaller canvas don't on a larger one, and of course it takes a lot more paint. Then there is that voice that says- you are repeating yourself, this looks just like all the other ones... I just have to turn the music up a little louder to drown out that voice. I hear there is even a larger canvas coming my way soon!

In other news, some of you may remember a collaborative paper painting that artist Steven Heaton and I have been working on. "Delay before Abandon" Well, our painting is going to be in the Chaosmos 2010 exhibition as part of the Liverpool Independents Biennial. I have been friends with Steven for over three years now, and we are both very pleased to be in an exhibition together. I am very excited about this opportunity, as I have my work in many private international collections, but have never been a part of an exhibition overseas. I have seen the other pieces that Steven will have in the exhibition, and I have to say they are really exciting. I plan to do another blog feature on Mr. Heaton in the near future to share his latest and greatest works with you all. I have a lot to say about them.

Also this week, a big sale came through for me! A two panel (diptych) 40x60" painting called Stamina and Refrain from the Evidence of the Disappearance series found a good home. It serves as a reminder, that it takes time to find homes for our art, but usually a home is found. It may take years and we may have our doubts, but hopefully it will happen. Stamina and Refrain was a special painting to me for many reasons, and I couldn't be happier that it has found a place in the world. Painting sales have been picking up since April which is a wonderful feeling. I have sold sixteen paintings in the past four and a half months and I am grateful. I hope that everyone is enjoying my work, and I hope they realize how important they are to me as I continue on this path. A sale is more than just money in the bank for living and supplies, but it is the validation and encouragement that I thrive on and that helps me to continue on and make more art.

I am still thinking about the issue of balance, which has always been a concern and has popped up in numerous posts in my blog over the years. I have never been good at balance, being more of an all or nothing type of person. I know this is not healthy, and I keep trying to work it out. When I am not painting, talking or writing about my own art, I am talking with other artists, helping them with their art, sharing my resources, encouraging them to continue, curating shows, and helping at the Underground etc. I love doing this, but I do wonder if I am not hiding in my work at times. It is my passion, it is what I am here to do. I am here to tell stories, make connections, take photographs, paint paintings and then share it with the global arts community and beyond. I know this is my purpose on the planet, but I still need to remember to touch the ground on occasion. Anyway, just some thoughts.

I've become one of those people...



Thanks for stopping in, see you next week?

12 comments:

  1. Megan - just o let you know - I am reading "this thing!!" Congrats on the sales and that gorgeous work you and Steven collaborated on!
    --Sami

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  2. Megan, Thank you for bringing the Christian Demare show to the Underground. It really is luscious. Your international connections are very exciting. Congratulations on the show in England and the sale, woo hoo! Can't wait to see the new big work, turn up that music and go! xxxoooJ
    PS I read every post.

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  3. See you here next week, As always. What is Friday without the latest pourings from your brain?

    Grounding in reality sounds like a good idea. If you ever figure out how to do it, do let us all know!

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  4. I look forward to this thing every Friday! Congrats on the sales, the collaboration, the shows, the musings. About repeating ourselves- are we ever done with an image, a story? And isn't "same but different" full of the nuances that make us look longer and deeper? Looking and relooking and looking again and looking still and looking and looking...

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  5. many watchful eyes and quiet voices...

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  6. Thank you all for checking in and reading "this thing." I promise I wasn't looking for a head count, but it is lovely to see you all here.
    Thanks for your friendship and support.

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  7. We do read, we do watch, but we seldom comment!

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  8. I admire the sense of purpose and connection that comes from being so unswervingly devoted to what you do.

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  9. Thanks Alexander and Wrenna for checking in. Glad to know you are around. and thanks Wrenna- I love your choice of words in "unswervingly."

    In a small attempt to achieve some balance again, I am cutting out facebook and twitter from my daily grind and I have planned out a few more real world grounding things to do. Somehow I keep thinking the answer is a bike rack for my car. I want to hit the trails and ride for miles away from the traffic and listen to my headphones. This seems like a good balance inducer. We will see. This week back into the studio I go, to divide and conquer unswervingly. x.

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  10. 'This thing' is loved by an awful lot of people, they may not always comment....
    but they read and love.. always.

    'our painting' is already a hit, with the theory behind it alone... who else is doing something like this??? - well, maybe now they will... maybe we will inspire people across the oceans to get their arses into gear & work together...

    and look at 'our painting'... it is genius...
    i would never say that about any of my own works.. but this one...

    which brings me to the 'other pieces' I wonder if people realise that those 'other pieces' would not exist if it wasn't for Megan and her encouragement...

    they would probably still be buried in my back garden..

    Your work, your inspiration, your support & your blog is a lifeforce to many.

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  11. Thank you Mr. Supervisor.

    I do love our painting, and one of the things I love the most, is that it is not over. I hope it will keep evolving over time and be seen by more and more people.

    Your "other pieces" are some of the most beautiful and intriguing works I have ever seen, and I can't wait for them to be out in the world for others to enjoy.

    Thank you for this comment Steven. I am touched.

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