A reason for better record-keeping!

WORK TO DO was painted a few years back and recently has been purchased from my website. Because of a higher amount of fraud, the website asked me to verify the buyer, which I couldn’t do because the name didn’t sound familiar. So I texted the buyer, and she replied by sending two images- one of a small landscape painting , and the other the back of the painting with a business card from years back! Happily I could verify the buyer, but better yet, reconnect with a collector! Thank you in Connecticut!

Described on my website as: Contemporary and abstracted view of a figure entering a building. The sky is blue and the day is hot.

The juror didn't chose my painting and that's ok

I submitted this 24x24" oil painting titled Off Mill to the Newport Art Museum for the annual Member's Show and it didn't get in. From a field of 265 - 90 were chosen. Some years I've gotten in, other years not and I can reflect on my own growth over the years since I started submitting.
A thick skin was something I didn't have at all, and not being accepted was always taken personally back in those days. I could intellectually understand that it wasn't about ME but when you're taking a big chance to submit at all and then not chosen- it's hard to not feel hurt. I've been rejected is what just ran through my mind.
A few tips that have helped me over the years-
1. Love my work and feel it represents me in the best possible way. If I submit a piece that doesn't excite or satisfy me in some way, how can I expect it to move a juror?
2. Never paint for a specific show but look through my work to choose a painting that fits the theme. I have learned this the hard way when I once submitted to a colored pencil show and I'm not a colored pencil artist! It was a fun exercise, but not show worthy.
3. Remember that the juror is looking in a subjective way and what may not be chosen for one show can win a prize in another. So many factors go into jurying a show that are beyond my control.
4. My experience with being a juror myself and knowing how hard the choices can be. I looked for work that was technically well done and also roused some emotion in me. I picked work that touched me in a personal way. 

Inspired to paint more, see things differently and push myself to new places is always what I want when I pick up my brush.

And so too in life. There are many stumbles, and times when I didn't get what I wanted at the time. Only to find there were better things waiting for me around the next corner. Don't ever give up!

Newport Art Museum

I got into the Newport Art Museums Members Show with this 30x30 painting. I was drawn to the perspective- from the steps of my studio looking down to the street- and wanted to make the very ordinary scene into something more. The arrangement of shapes, the choices of color, the things to emphasize and the things to leave out were all part of the painting process. The show ends May 22nd, so there's still time to see the exhibit!

Another Take on Out Back

I wanted to deconstruct and abstract the plein air painting I did at the beginning of the week. The next day I started a new painting using ultra simplified shapes but I was far from happy with the outcome so I walked away from the work. I'm not posting it either!

Thinking about what I am trying to achieve for the next three days gave me some direction so today I went in and painted over, scraped and scraped and this is what came out of it.