End of show, beginning of online sales

I went to Smith & Vallee Gallery to pick up what was left of my show after sales. It was a rewardingly small collection, just a few pieces left. There is one painting that I can’t believe is still here – one of my personal favorites. It received compliments from the gallery owner, and was the favorite of many viewers. This painting must be waiting for someone.

Ruthie V, Orchids with white and grey glass, 24×36″ oil on panel

DRYPOINT PRICE POINTS

My experiment of having little drypoint prints with paintings worked. Yippee! The show looked great, won a lot of compliments, and was a financial success as well. While the paintings provided big sales in the first three days of the show, the limited edition drypoints trickled out to tourists through the month. The prints supplied smaller options so that people who aren’t ready to drop a few grand on a painting could take an original work of art home. Andrew Vallee kept one framed drypoint for his private collection, and a couple for later shows. He also kept the box of unframed editions, just in case someone came in looking for a little something.

Note to self: Do not sell, give away, paint over, destroy, or otherwise ruin a work of art that is posted for sale on a gallery website.

S&V Gallery: “Hey Ruthie, we just sold your 72×48″ painting! We have a big check ready for you. When can we pick up the painting and give you the check?”

Me (crackling noise in background): “um… I just lit it on fire 15 minutes ago. I’ll paint you another one?”

S&V Gallery: “Maybe Patty Haller has something.”

 

FREE CHAIR

While I was picking up my artworks in Edison, I saw an old green chair set outside The Lucky Dumpster. The chair was tattered, with stuffing coming out the sides, and some texture from ware, but to me it looked like it was straight out of a movie scene. It looked like it belonged in a painting. A strip of tape on the back announced in artist script “FREE CHAIR.” James came out to say hello, and told me the story of the chair. It was a nice story. Once upon a time, a cute girl loved this chair. She liked its shape. She sat in it by the fire, and was happy. I’d been looking for a chair for models. I wanted a chair with some architecture to it; a high back, and wings that would let a head lean and rest on something. The upright chairs I have make upright boring positions. I want some graceful angles. I sat in the chair myself, and wondered how I could sit in it, if I were a graceful type person, and (cough) a smaller build. I liked the idea of the chair as a co-collaborator, and with all the paintings gone I happened to have some room in the van. It’s true what they say: “The inspiration for your next artwork is found in the last artwork.” (…or picking up your last artwork.)

…Wouldn’t it have been nice for me to have taken a picture of the chair? I’d post it right here with this little story. That’d be nice, wouldn’t it? Yeah, well I didn’t. I loaded the chair and drove away, without a single thought to social media, or the fact that I just walked away from a conversation about online sales. Silly me. I guess you’ll see the chair soon enough, if all goes as I hope.