This morning I painted Bazan Library over on W. Commerce. The last time I went over there it was getting some renovations so I was excited to go check out the work that’s been done. The front looked newly landscaped and freshened up. It’s a pretty building with mature trees out front and nice places to sit and read. It’s a hot day, and although I love a good breeze on a hot day, my umbrella kept getting swept up and my easel got some air a few times. The elements are always the hardest part of painting outside (en plein air). So I wrestled with my umbrella a bit and, in the end, felt a little underwhelmed with my painting.
The good news is that several employees came out to see what I was doing and were very supportive and encouraging. That’s always a plus. I immediately forgot about the umbrella and counted my blessings. While I was reading a biography about Andrew Wyeth recently, I realized he was always surrounded by art lovers. He grew up with a father who was a successful and famous artist and most of his siblings were artists. But for me, it’s almost a surprise when I meet people who appreciate art. I’m taken aback. I have to remind myself that there are people out there who love art.
One of my biggest struggles as an artist is visibility. I’m an introvert and I’m really happy being alone. I love painting because it’s just me and the canvas. It’s been fifteen or twenty years since I was regularly involved in filmmaking, and although I loved collaborating with other creative people, whether actors or crew, I found it difficult to ask people to participate in my projects. I was too shy, or I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. It sounds silly when I think back on it. Why let that kind of inhibition get in the way of your creation? But that’s where I was back then.
Now I’m facing similar struggles. Putting paint on canvas isn’t the only part of being a painter. Getting your work out into the community is the other part. Being part of the community is part of being a painter. Talking and sharing with people about art, about yours and theirs, is part of being a painter. There’s only so much one can do isolated and alone. Even Andrew Wyeth, who never liked the limelight, had his family. His wife was his business partner. It didn’t sound like he always appreciated that, but it doesn’t sound like he would have been as successful if his wife Betsy hadn’t archived and organized his work the way she did.
It can seem like a burden, the business and social side of being an artist. It’s not what I’m cut out for. But learning to be more outgoing, learning to archive and organize, learning to market and promote, is a small price to pay for being able to make art full-time. I may not do all those things perfectly, in fact, I feel like a make huge mistakes all the time, but I’m working on it. That’s the best I can do. Progress not perfection. It’s a cliche, but it’s also the truth.
One of the Bazan librarians, Summer, suggested I talk to the branch director before I leave. So after I packed up my easel and gear I headed inside to the library and tracked down Hope, the director. She suggested I go to Central Library and talk to someone in marketing about my project. Take a portfolio and ask to speak with someone in the marketing department about exhibiting your series. I was excited when she made this suggestion because it made me realize I’m on the right track. That’s my plan. When I get home from my meditation course in August, I’ll head downtown and present my idea.
It all started in April during Library Appreciation Week (which I think should be Library Appreciation Month). I want to paint the libraries as a token of my appreciation. Thank you to all the libraries, and librarians, who are out there in the community, being of service. Thank you for providing us with materials, resources, and information about how to get things done, how to make things happen, and how to figure things out. It is a beautiful institution and I’m so grateful to have it.