Following on from the last show I thought I would do a ‘wot I learnded’ after each show, because learning is fun 
This one is a little late but still valid.
- Group Shows don’t have to be stressful. This one was great, very relaxed, wonderful people to work with and everything went really well.
- Exposure is king. I love a good exposure, having the festival, while damp, still served to highlight work.
- The opening is still most important. I think the opening was de-emphasized in favor of the festival, and turnouts were not as large as expected. Talking to people really makes a difference too – it’s hard but being shy won’t help!
- Sweat the small stuff. Little features like proper labels and writeups on the artists make such a difference. it isn’t expensive to stick them on foamcore and set it all up well and the immediate look is brilliant.
- People really do respond to color accents. and nice details – plus they are fun to do!
- Be inspired.
- Sorting out the edges as you go is much easier and neater and nicer..
- Hats rock.
- Take what you learn from past experiences but don’t discount previous ones. During preparation this show I bagged the last one a lot. I think that just brought myself down and made me feel crappy for no reason.
- Just because images may offend or disturb doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do them.
- Not everything has to be perfect – beauty is often in the imperfections.
- Don’t scrub out paintings!! I am incapable of judging my own work. once a painting is on the canvas it isn’t mine anymore – I need to make it live but it won’t always go exactly where it is supposed to – and that is part of the magic. painting is a journey not a destination.
- Don’t be afraid to mix it up, try new things and step outside the comfort zone – not every painting needs to be the same and not every exhibition needs to have matching pieces, techniques or styles. Don’t get locked into thinking it has to be a certain way.
- Rest rest and more rest - I would have coped better without both celebrations but planning for a collapse afterward really helped – pity it was worse than planned!
- Be confident in the works. I am ready to move my career forward, I am feeling very positive. I think my confidence building and goal work over the last few months really helped build my confidence and readiness.
- Take time to celebrate! Seeing the works up there, in a hip gallery in such a cool neighborhood made me feel truly like an artist. I was who I wanted to be, where I wanted to be and I could see my career unfolding in front of me.
Tags: artist, creating art, exhibition, post mortem
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