The Momment of Parting

Yesterday I completed and delivered the second of Triptych the three canvas measuring 72". This norning I said farewell to my two abstracts that have been used as examples of art in the USA for students. I also used these paibting to produce the You Tube, http://www.youtube.com/user/ralphtaylor There is always something sad about saying farewell to your art. Happy that it has been bought by somebody yet sad that your baby is leaving home. When I delivered the second of the three to the public space I saw the other one in place and it felt good that it did enhance the space and looked well.

Painting for others or painting for yourself.

I often wonder wether I paint for myself or for others. When somebody asks me to paint something just for them but leave me to paint what I think they might like it often works for me and them and the experience is a joy. I have completed a few commissions where this has been the case. Then there is those who ask for something specific. I find this so difficult I often reach the point where I feel I will never take another commission ever. So often this means that I have to try more than once to please the client. Then there are those paintings that I paint for me. The ones that give me so much pleasure where I can let the paint and I be in harmony. Some of these paintings never sell, some are painted over but ever so often I have no problems with people being interested in them. I have even had interest shown by a fellow artist and this humbles me and make me consider it something to enjoy and feel pleasure in.

One thing for sure no matter what category the painting is in it is a joy if it sells. it means others like your work. Then when the day comes to send them off there is a wrench at the heart strings as your baby leaves the nest.

The painting I have added to this blog is one of those I have been asked to to and pray it meets the requirements. It is different from the one the person liked as it would have to be I just hope enough of a similarity to bring pleasure.

A Painting that painted itself.

Every so often it happens the paint takes control and I end up with something very different from where I began. Yesterday was one such occasion. I was painting a landscape and at one point I was un happy so I removed as much of the paint as I could. The remaining paint shouted at me. At least one part of it did, this I added more paint to trying to leave it as it was as much as possible. Now I could see what I wanted to do with the rest. I kind of like the end result, not sure anybody else will but I do.