I have a question!

In my last post I related the fact that I had gotten two 4th place ribbons and one 1st place ribbon at our local County Fair.  I was pleased with a 4th place on my first ever entry in the abstract category, and thrilled with the 1st place ribbon for my still life.  But here is my question:

What is wrong with this painting???

This painting has been to several "rodeos" as they say, and has either not been juried into a show or has not received an award.  I know that I am prejudiced, after all it is my own work, but I think it is really a nice painting.  Apparently I am the only one who thinks this although my husband did voice that opinion, but of course there again we see a bit of prejudice.

I guess it will always come down to one simple fact:  every painting has a judge who will like it, but not every judge will like every painting.  I know of artists who enter one painting year after year to try to get some kind of positive feedback, and some of those artists who are persistent enough do reach that goal.

I was going to retire this painting from the rigors of competition, but something is telling me that I just need to find the right judge.  Wish us luck!!

Anyone Miss Me??

Well, it has been a long time since I was last on this blog, and I can explain.  With summer here there have been a lot of things going on, and painting hasn't been getting done nor has my reading.  (Still reading Jeanne Dobie's Making Color Sing-slowly I am getting back to that)  Two of our grandchildren stayed with us for a week, two more of our grandchildren stayed with us for 4 days, and then there were numerous birthday celebrations and other family affairs to attend or host. Phew-I get tired just remembering all of that.

So as far as my art is concerned, I was able to enter 3 paintings in our local County Fair.  I got a 4th place on a floral, a 4th place on an abstract and a 1st on my still life.  All in all I was pleased especially since the abstract was the first I had ever entered in that category.  I have entered 4 paintings in an annual juried art show that my art club has.  The show is at our local shopping mall, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get one or more of my paintings into the show.

Now that things seem to be calming down I am getting more painting done, and I am working on a series with a Hawaiian theme which I am having fun doing.  I shot the photographs on our last trip to Kauai in March of this year.  So far the series is going well.


This is the painting that won 1st place at the fair-it is called "Daisy and Virginia's Travel Momentos"