This was one of the fun bits! This picture shows a tiny leaf I picked up many years ago and kept, thinking one day I’d find a use for it. Now not much more than a skeleton, and painted gold, it forms part (the central part) of a little collection of miniature paintings I did after my few days in Blackheath back in May.
Today, however, I’ve packed up a few miniature paintings to send down to Victoria, for an exhibition at the Sherbrooke Art Gallery. When I started this full-time painting gig, I was ignorant of all there is to do, apart from actually painting! But then I imagine it’s the same whatever our day jobs are – the fun bits are only part of it. In fairness, I didn’t know how my art practice would unfold, and despite all that has to be done, I do enjoy it – all of it.
Yesterday I submitted entries for another three shows, which brings the total to 26 so far this year (about one each week on average). And to give you an idea, with each one there are forms to fill out, photos to be taken, measurements to make, sale prices to be decided, sometimes a trip to the framer (and back again for pick-up). And speaking of pick-up, the exhibitions I take part in that are within a couple of hours of home mean I’m not using Australia Post, but I’m dropping the works off in person, and then (for those that don’t sell) picking them up again.
There are dates to keep track of (closing dates as well as those drop-off and pick-up dates), payments to be made, files to be corrected so they adhere to the particular competition’s Terms and Conditions (because although all these Terms and Conditions are similar, they are all unique, and so must be read carefully and adhered to exactly; when you’re as technically inept as I am, this can be a mind-numbing challenge). When it comes time to prepare the painting itself (and if it isn’t one for the framer), it means I have some reframing to do, labels to make, glass to clean … the list goes on, and on, and the time keeps ticking away.
This is why being accepted in art competitions is always exciting (there are so many of us out there trying for the same shows), and selling is even more exciting!
For now, my work will be showing at the following:
ASMA Awards Exhibition, at Willoughby Arts Centre, 33 Laurel Street, Willoughby (NSW), from Friday 12 to Sunday 28 July
Rotary Club of Upper Northern Beaches Art Show, at Mona Vale Memorial Hall, 1 Park St, Mona Vale (NSW), from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 July
KAS Awards Exhibition, St Ives Shopping Village (NSW), from Monday 22 July to Sunday 4 August
Singleton Art Prize, at Singleton Civic Centre, Queen Street, Singleton (NSW), from Saturday 27 to Tuesday 30 July
‘Small Packages’, at Sherbrooke Art Gallery, 62 Monbulk Rd, Belgrave (Vic), from Saturday 3 to Saturday 24 August
Breakfast Point Art Show, at Breakfast Point Community Hall, 50 Village Dr, Breakfast Point (NSW), Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August
ASMA ‘Small Matters’ Exhibition, at Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Abbotsleigh, Gate 7, 1666 Pacific Hwy, Wahroonga (NSW), from Thursday 5 to Saturday 28 September
Lindfield Art Show and Fair, at Mary McKillop Hall, Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Highfield Rd, Lindfield (NSW) , from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 September
Until next month.