Post-Show Hues

There are a few things no one warns you about being an artist. One is how much there is to carry. (I always seem to have a bag full of art supplies or a piece to transport!) The next is the cyclical rhythm of making and showing your work.

Starting a new piece or collection is a unique kind of challenge: finding inspiration, or waiting for it to find you? Then, trusting your process and following a path which leads in an unknown direction.

This part of the creative process is a solitary one, long days in the studio, wrestling with self-doubt, starting over again and again. Dauntingly, as the deadline for a show looms, everything has to click into place, whether willingly or by force. Finishing an artwork, framing and getting it to the venue are rarely stress-free.

Then suddenly, from all this lonesome work, to being in the spotlight for a few days. The bursts of adrenaline, endless conversations and questions, hundreds of new faces looking at your work. As suddenly as it started, it’s over. Back to the start, hopefully with some conversations to continue and a new perspective on your work.

It’s a roller coaster that I am getting used to, learning to shift gears more smoothly. I’m back at the start of the process now, taking things slower and sketching out ideas for new pieces.

I am lucky to love (almost) every part of the process, and I’m looking forward to jumping back on the ride.

In this week’s newsletter, I’ve included some reflections on the past couple of weeks, shifting from show mode to starting the process over. Plus, information about what will be happening over the next couple of months.