Painting, Often A Solitary Sport

Everybody Gather 'round For Plein Air

A Meditative Happy Painting AM!

Many artists paint at home, alone, often in a room or if lucky in a studio. Artists are solitary creatures and yet with regards to plein air I've noticed that we like to have company. Why does it take another person for us to want to go out plein air painting? Is it more motivating and inspiring?

Without my "Let's go plein air" prompt,  my friend would not have taken her equipment and gone painting. Even though she has been wanting to paint and even though the weather is nice, she wouldn't have gone out. Perhaps because it is hard to justify "You (paint)" time. After all, there will always be dishes and laundry and it is hard to pause the chores to go painting.  Having a friend ask you to come out, makes it just a little easier to gather up your equipment and go!

Today my friend could not go painting with me, which was a bummer. And yes, it was harder for me to motivate to go out alone. And yet I knew the weather would be nice for August-cooler with low humidity. I had to get outside and paint, even if just for a little while. I chose a park near my house, I hadn't been there in awhile and I was glad I went! The flowers and shrubs are colorful overgrown delights, it was a good spiritual morning - birds singing, geese honking, bees buzzing. Ah nature!

Meditative Moment: Find the Yellow Bird!

Having a Plein Air Pal is something to think about and a reason why I try to email all of my friends before I go plein air painting--for more company and in the hopes of inspiring someone to join me. Many have said they want to join me, a few have shown up, all ask to be included in the next email when I go again.


My Advice: Share with your friends when you go plein air painting! It is easy to share information via email. Here are the details that I include:
Weather:
Day:
Time:
Location:
Directions:

In conclusion, it is easy to include others -- maybe it will be the motivation that you both need to get out and paint!

Take a Breath

Show Info Board at Studio

Arranging a Group Show

Setting up a group show is quite a bit of work! Two months before the show I set up a show information board for  sharing at the studio. Then I had to manage the calendar (reminders), emails and deadlines! So much work, so much management for the creative mind!

There is so much paperwork for a group show. I had to collect from EACH artist:

• Artist Bio
• Art JPEG (image)
• Art Inventory-Signed
• Art Waiver-Signed

Every Artist should have a Bio, you can find great samples online and on websites of artists you follow. Also every Artist should have business cards, these days there are no excuses. Go to VistaPrint or online--it's easy: insert an art image (yours), type in your name and your email, and your type of art--Oil Painter and there you have it. We have a stand at the venue with our business cards in it, you never know who will call you post show to inquire about your work.

Aside from Artist PR on our Social Media and Facebook pages, we also create postcards for each show. Here I used Vistaprint and I think the postcard looks fantastic-it is not ideal to have 15 images; however, I am a peer and could not choose just one (in fairness I added an image from each artist). Again, I had to solicit for images from artists and solicit for money to pay for the postcard.

You'd think that once all of our artwork was dropped off at the venue that I could rest. No... the work had to be curated (this venue did that for us and I am grateful for it). I also had to ensure that Artists were early to the art reception and that we had money for wine and volunteers to bring refreshments.

Fantastic venue & amazing show-so vibrant!

The Reward/The Reception:

I was still fretting by the time of the reception. The art was framed and hung with care and yet I fret? Well, I knew I still had to make a speech, in front of people at the reception! Oh my! I had outlined my thank yous, a few words about our work and history and a thank you to all attending the reception. Now that the reception and speech are over---now I can relax.

The PRIDE:

The show looks amazing, my favorite thing about the show is how vibrant it is, I love the colors!  I am proud to be among these fourteen talented artists - they are my art community, my art mentors and kindred spirits. The show is in Canton at The Village Theater for all of August. Be sure to check the venue hours, I encourage you to go!