Some thoughts about my recent experiences of showing and selling my work…..

These past few weeks I have been showing and selling work. I’m quite new to this stuff so its been a big learning curve for me. So, what have I learned? I thought I’d share that this time.

I had four of my paintings from my Seasonal Noticing Series on show at The Big Art Show that was hosted by Outspoken Arts in Paisley, Scotland from 26th August to 26th November 2022. The exhibition showed a huge range of paintings from a variety of artists from the well known to children exhibiting for the first time.

For me personally, it was a fantastic chance to show my work locally and I was delighted that many of my friends visited the show and said how much they enjoyed seeing my work and indeed the sheer variety of work on show there. It is very gratifying when people enjoy and connect with work that I have made. I think there is always someone who will connect with your particular work if its been a true expression. 

One of my paintings was sold  - my first sale – which was very exciting. Its was also one of my favourite paintings that I have made so far and I’m really please it has gone to a good home and will be appreciated.

Another painting was spotted and requested to go to another Gallery. The painting “Duck Pond Corner in Late October” is currently on show in the gorgeous Firefly Design gallery in Bo’ness from 3rd December 2022 for 8 weeks and is for sale via the Gallery. I went to the opening of the exhibition and was delighted to find my painting in the window of the gallery looking fabulous. It was great to see a selection of paintings from the Big Art Show in a completely different setting.  And I got to meet some of the other artists too which is always very interesting.

It really struck me how paintings can look quite different in different settings. I paint at home and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my work looks best in intimate surroundings.  A small gallery or in a home, for me, work better than a giant brightly lit space for paintings like mine which are small to medium sized. Also, my work, even the landscapes, are quite intimate in scale. They are not grand landscapes but more of a quiet, private walk under the trees. I think from now on I will consider where a work might be shown more carefully when I try and find opportunities to show it, and also about where the paintings may end up. Hopefully on a wall in someone’s home.

I guess I have always known that part of being an artist is wanting to communicate with other people and to do that people have to see what you have made. I have really enjoyed my early experiences of that. I’m looking forward to doing it again.

Where do you like to see art?