VirginiaGardner.com

I believe an artist works because they have to.  I know, if I need to be away from the studio for any length of time, I get cranky and am not nearly as effective in other areas of my life.  I’ve touched on this before, and other artists have agreed with me.  “Getting it out” is a necessary part of my being.  I think about the unsettled-ness of my earlier adult years, and I am certain that I did myself and those around me a great injustice by ignoring this need to create.  Like a child, I totally acted out.  An afternoon or evening in the studio calms me, nourishes me. 

I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to create during this time of media explosion.  I received another unsolicited critique this week from Menossi Giulio .   He saw “Secrets” come through, and he took the time to tell me, in detail actually, how he felt about the piece and how he believes I might improve upon it.  This time, I took Cristina Colli, God love her, up on her offer of translation.  His remarks were very interesting to me.  He believes the use of the stained glass background in the lower half is lacking.  He believes the choice of material would be better if not “flat”, and he would rather see much less precision in the cutting of the tesserae.  Of course, I know he doesn’t realize that I’ve created the entire piece, aside from the millefiori rope, in the same exact stained glass, only grouted in different shades from top to bottom.  He wants me to recreate “Secrets”, which isn’t going to happen.  However, this piece that I’m trying to finish right now, follows his advice.  It’s hugely different, but I will be interested in his reaction, if I receive one.  So, this was one of my rewards this week, and one of those moments that reminds me that maybe I’m doing alright.

I was rewarded on Friday with the opportunity to actually meet some of my gallery clients.  I’m so often not at the gallery when people purchase my work, but a couple from Oklahoma-moving-to-Louisiana happened to come in the gallery while I was there, and they selected two of my newest tables for their new condo.    They are both published historians, and I was delighted to have a chance to talk with them.

And, then this morning, I was talking to our administrator at the gallery, and she told me that Change just sold.  These Hope pieces are very special to me, and I don’t believe that the sale of any piece, larger or smaller, fills me with as much joy as a piece from this series.  My own personal hope is that the person who takes it home will feel the joy and benefit from the energy that is a part of each and every one of the works in this series.

It’s been a very rewarding week, and I just took delivery on 3 pounds of black smalti that are needed to finish this newest piece.  Hopefully, I will be rewarded with completion soon!

Filed under: Hope series, creative process, exhibition, growth, layers, materials, mosaic, thoughts on July 16th, 2008