I remember in college we used to laugh at ourselves because so many of us were willing to work very hard for a “gold star” on a paper – much as we did when we were in elementary school. – It seems that people of all ages seek recognition for their efforts.
Well, as much as I write and muse aloud that I paint because it gives me pleasure or that the effort to improve my work, “the journey”, is what it’s all about, it’s still nice when my art is juried in to a show or, -- even better – when it wins a prize.
Many thanks to all of you who wrote back on my blog to encourage me to go ahead and enter the strange new genre (for me) of painting. Guess what…!!!! ……….. (drum roll)..
Both paintings I entered into the show were juried in AND my painting, “Harbinger”, WON A FIRST PRIZE AWARD IN THE MODERN/EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ART CLUB’S “FOR THE LOVE OF ART” EXHIBITION AT THE VIVA GALLERY!!
LOCATION
136261 Moorpark Street
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 385-00080
SFVAC SHOW: February 13-March 1, 2008
Reception: Sunday, February 17th 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Opening Hours
Wednesday – Friday: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday: 12:00 to 4:00pm
CLOSED: Sunday – Tuesday
COME SEE THE SHOW!!
If you can’t come to the gallery, you can see the two paintings on my website in the Works section under Scenic. The titles are “Laundry Day” and “Harbinger”. www.marianfortunati.com
I do a lot of reading and thinking these days about art and the progress (or lack thereof) I make as I continue to study and develop my skills. A recent newsletter from Alyson Stanfield, a professional art marketer, encouraged readers to, “spend time on your career vision this week. Look for the answer to "What does success mean to you?" It won't be an easy process. Recall those times you have felt successful in the past, but don't dwell on them. You've moved beyond that and need a new vision filled with new challenges.”
Dutifully I gave it some thought and decided that basically what would satisfy me would be if my art was recognized by others as being “good”. Then I realized that no matter how much I progress, some will think it’s good and others won’t….. I’ve seen the same painting be juried in to one show and be rejected by others. I’ve had friends who have won top awards in a show with the same painting that was recently rejected by a different show. --- so my new measure of success seems a bit like quicksand.
Johanna Spinks, from whom I’m taking still life and portrait classes says that now that I have won a first place award with this type of painting, I’ll be confused about what type of art I want to do. I don’t think so… I paint what moves me at the moment. I want to develop skills so I’ll be the best I can be at whatever genre I decide to embark on.
I’d love to get to the point that my on-line artist friend from Florida, Linda Blondheim, has arrived at – both in confidence, experience and artistic excellence. In one of her recent blogs, she states, “I am never ashamed of my older paintings. To me they are a testament to the work I was capable of at the time. I put as much skill and knowledge into each work as I am capable of at any given time. I don't cheat or paint by rote. I am learning with the simplest subjects. The thousands of palm tree paintings I do still teach me. I'm a slow learner. The joy must never leave me or I will walk away from painting.
At this stage of my career I worry less and less about what some other painter may think, or whether I can measure up to another painter's work. I know I can't always. Some painters are just that much better than I am. As a young artist I could not accept that fact with grace, but now I can. I can celebrate where I am in the scheme of things, knowing that I am better than some and worse than others. I have learned that the real value in painting is the journey of discovery. http://lindablondheimartnotes.blogspot.com/
Maybe someday, I’ll be more like Linda. In the meantime, I am very excited and proud that the jurors for this exhibition, David Gallup and Pong Apinyavat juried my work in AND I'm proud of my FIRST PLACE AWARD – my gold star, so to speak.
Occasionally when something exciting happens I send a newsletter like this one to everyone I know. It is usually copied from my blog.
I do blog more frequently however.
In case some of you are interested in getting my blog or my artwork whenever something is posted, those of you who have a Google or Yahoo home page can use the RSS feed feature to request it.
For the BLOG, click on Google or Yahoo link to the left of the blog entry on the same page. When it works, it will look like this on your homepage:
For seeing new work as it is posted in Google for example, request to add Google Reader and select my website address. Whenever I post a new painting, it will come up on the Google Reader section. It will look like this (only with my painting):
Google Reader (1)
· "Foothills" ©
from A Painting A Day by Laura Wambsgans
Thanks!... Keep enjoying whatever it is that you are doing. Stay in touch.
