Last weekend, after a lovely invitation from the owners, I debuted a small collection of my artwork in a local coffee shop. I am thrilled to have my work displayed and offered for sale; as an artist just beginning to actively pursue showing my work, this first opportunity is priceless! Other than a group show with one of my pieces last fall, I haven’t shown my work anywhere other than instagram and my own house’s walls since college. The pieces will hang at the coffee shop for awhile, but last Saturday was a “meet the artist” (ME), along with some live music from a delightful group of local musicians. I spent several hours meeting with visitors to the coffee shop as “the artist.” And while I was excited, I was also suprisingly a bit nervous!
In college, any work that gets displayed has gone through multiple peer and professor reviews before ever getting near display, so questioning the validity of the work isn’t a thought by that point. But working on your own, without anyone’s review but friends and family- who of course will love it!- and your own critical eye, leaves room for more than a little self-doubt. Should I have pushed that farther? Is my work coherent in style? Is it good to show variety? Is my technique worthy of being shared? And not only am I wondering all these things about my work, but I’m also standing here claiming it as my own!
As an artist, I suppose one will always question your work. There will always be a depth you imagine in emotion, perspective, meaning, or emotion that you want to share via the canvas. In my mind, I can see it! Sometimes I think I've accomplished it, and that's the work I'll share. But then staring at it hanging on the wall, do I just think it looks like the image in my head? Will anyone get it?
Twinges of doubt or nervousness rarely stops me from doing something I actually want to accomplish, so I pushed those thoughts aside, put my name out there as the artist and enjoyed the afternoon. Everyone had very nice things to say! My family came, even a newspaper reporter who I've known around the area for years snapped my photo. I can now say I've had my first art opening, and while not entirely devoted to me it was plenty of attention for my first showing.
Sketching while I hung out at the shop!
Besides, I do like my work and I want to share it. Hopefully it will make at least one person smile, and at least a few people will understand and enjoy it! These pieces are a small window into my thoughts, I am happy to stand next to my work and say, “I painted this.” :)