15 January 2023 - Welcome to 2023!  I've been writing this email since November (well it's been sat as a draft version, only occasionally being added to)... and it's a bit of a meaty one! 

The morning after... 

The morning after I had clicked 'submit' when entering three pieces of artwork into the Rugby Open exhibition I am pondering whether I made a mistake.  As you do.  Not about entering, but about the titles of the paintings I submitted.  

You're thinking "does it matter?"... well, not normally... Painting titles either come very easily, or I choose from a list that I add to when hear something that might make a good title, or I have a good google: often poetry or quotes. 

But this time was different.  The exhibition, you see, is a juried exhibition - art works are shown in front of a panel and they decide if it's IN or OUT.  The work I submitted has a bit of a personal story - mum's vase near the front door, the leaves of dad's plants covering the dining room window, my parent's sugar bowl.  I asked for advice from some art friends... but I am impatient. Before waiting for replies I found "their titles": Reflected roses, The encroaching garden and The sugar bowl.

So I clicked submit. The next morning, in the shower of course, I was thinking about the work of one of the jurors, David Remfry, RA. The relationships between dogs and their owners in his People and dogs drawn together collection (and book) made me wonder if more personal titles would tell more of the story than the art work alone. At this point some really interesting suggestions were coming my way "mum's reflected roses", "mum's stained glass roses", "dad's window", "from dad's garden"... and comments along the lines of keep the personal aspects in your titles, it tells a story and adds to the meaning of the piece(s). Oh no, it's too late!

I'll never actually know whether more personal titles would have made a difference.  The sugar bowl was accepted into the exhibition (on the pink wall, no less).  The other two were not successful.  

Click the image to see more photos from the Rugby Open 2022.  Available to see in person (and buy) until 4th February.

Some other thoughts.

I have two original pieces of art that I bought in the last couple of years. I only remember the title of one of them. Nobody puts the title under the painting when hanging it in their home, do they? With both paintings it was the story behind the painting that resonated with me and the reason for making that purchase. I do remember the stories of both of my beautiful paintings.

– it still feels a bit funny to call them mine, actually.  A topic for another newsletter, perhaps.

Coming up with a good title is a creative challenge in itself. Do we always have the patience and time to set aside for this? Maybe not, especially if we are trying to finish work for exhibition, event or even a self-imposed deadline.

For an artist though, the title can be the finishing touch and if you don't give your painting a title or use "untitled" - how do you then keep track of your own work? Good filename and photo organisation, again this takes time to manage properly.

I've heard artists say that you can't make a painting to match a title, but I think I disagree. Based on the saying "storm in a teacup".  I had this in my head for years, it's a line from a song, "more like a teacup in a storm". I painted this and realised the title I'd carried around with me just needed a little tweak!

Yes, it's available.  No, it's not on my website. So email me if you're interested (12" x 12" acrylic and collage on canvas panel. £175 unframed, £195 framed in a thin white wood frame like the one on the sugar bowl in the gallery photo above).

I'd love to hear your thoughts about paintings, their titles and the importance (or otherwise) of finding JUST the right one.  And how much do you need to know the story behind the painting before you buy.  Hit reply to give me your two cents!

New year quick studio update...

New year brings the excitement of planning. I love taking the time to dream about the year ahead and what it might bring.  This year I'm devoting a whole "season" to exploring how to get more of me into my paintings.  It's quite exciting not knowing where this will take me.  A bit like a creative retreat or developing my own personalised art course!  

I have a NEW page on my website where I'm featuring a Rebel Revel every month this year.  Just like the chocolates you never quite know what you're going to get!  The idea is that I am able to spend a little more time writing a little more about pieces of work I have for sale, paintings that might not quite fit into the current organisation of the website or paintings I'd love to showcase because there is something to say about them.  Head on over to have a look.  All work is for sale!

First things this year I have a commission! 

And an instagram challenge.

And hopefully some more youTube videos.

And the Northants Open Studios Spring Open in February, where you'll be able to see Reflected roses and The encroaching garden.

More about all of this next time.

Bye for now,

Lucy