The Joys of Being an Artist
Recently I’ve experienced one of the joys of being an artist. There are many joys but one of the best is when one of my commissioned pieces is received with tremendous appreciation. Or a piece I’ve agonised over is instantly loved.
A Quiet Few Months on Social Media
For various reasons I’ve been unable to share my most recent work on social media because I don’t believe the rest of the world should see the piece until the recipient it’s meant for has got it.
I’ve been working in completely different mediums the past few months; painting two personalised watercolour maps and a dog portrait in Cold Wax Medium (CWM) and oils. My Encaustic work was put on the back burner for a little while partly due to the commissioned maps and partly because we’ve been melting in a 37C + heat wave. That was one of the main reasons why I decided to do my sister’s dog portrait in CWM for her 50th. Plus Bence’s fur cries out for the texture of this thick paint.
Bence portait in encaustic
Another one of the joys of being an artist is trying out different mediums, enjoying each and every one of them for their different characteristics. I think I enjoyed painting him (apart from his big apricot pink nose giving me lots of angst!) as much as my partner enjoyed making the teak and olive wood frame.
Gifts
Before I could personally deliver our gift to my sister in bonny Scotland I got two requests for some watercolour maps. One for a birthday, the other for a wedding. Changing from tactile oils and wax, a very messy job, to watercolours and big clean sheets of white paper was slightly daunting. This was on top of a rather tight time schedule and an obvious need to do my best work for two important, meaningful occasions.
Wedding present map of London
loved painting an area of London where some very special friends of mine live. It was such fun to research the places I was asked to include on the map. A bit of artistic licence went into squeezing them all in but it was fun painting colourful plants and double decker buses instead of goats and donkeys.
Mallorca map birthday present
As always I enjoyed painting my home island and learning about new places to visit, new wines, seeing photos of beautiful boats and homes. My tiny drawings don’t do justice to some of these amazing places but I hope they’re at least recognisable.
Nervous anticipation
When I send off photos of the finalised work I wait in nervous anticipation for the reaction. Ready to re-do anything or add some extra details. In watercolour it’s virtually impossible to erase anything but I must say I was relieved not to have cocked up and smudged that last place name or boat mast. (I’ve learnt to write the main place names and compass first ever since I messed up one map right at the very end!)
In amongst all this flurry of painting my partner proposed out of the blue and we decided not to hang around. So painting the wedding present map had an added resonance, quite emotional really, softy that I am.
Not long ago there was a series on British tv called “Home is Where the Art Is” It was a great insight into why art pieces are commissioned and the hard work that goes into planning and making the piece, whatever the medium. It also showed some of the reactions of the artists when their work is chosen and loved. It means so much to receive that happy e mail when they get the photo of the work. Or even better when you pass it over in person. When the artwork is physically in their hands and it’s exceeded expectations (probably because the colours are that much more vivid than a photo) I often get another happy e mail or phone call....or a hug
That feeling is priceless.
The nervous anticipation when you pour heart and soul into a piece of work. Whatever the reason behind making it. Whatever the medium or style. That happy, overjoyed reaction is just the best feeling in the world.
Maybe not quite as good a feeling as when I said “Yes” at the top of a mountain top a couple of months ago. Or last week or when I said “Yes, I do”. But the joys of being an artist is almost up there.
Doggy eyes in the sunlight