Painting

Painters these days are a dime a dozen.  Everyone is an artist.
But the art of painting is easy to do, but difficult to do well.

From Paris with Love

I have just returned from a week in Paris.
While there I encountered a very special gallery in the Montmatre area of Paris, and have some exciting news in that regard. ;)

... to be cont.

Resignation

So, as you have gathered, I have not been painting much.
2011 sort of sucked the creative soul out of me somehow.
After my solo exhibition a year ago, my paintings sold, and I was trying to figure out what I needed to paint to sell more.  That led me to paint more of what I thought people wanted me to paint instead of what I wanted to paint. People told me what to paint and I listened.
Did it work?  Did I sell more?  No.  In fact the opposite happened.
.... and I think I know why.
No soul.
I am battling to paint because I am not enjoying the subject matter. Even worse, I have been blocking the very thing that has driven me to paint up till now.  I have been trying to paint without my muse; trying to deal with that beautiful, dark,  hole that has become such an integral part of me in other ways. Ineffective ways.

Well, I know this will be a disappointment to some, but from now on I am painting whatever I damn well feel like painting.  If you don't like the subject matter, the titles or what they imply then go somewhere else (Or don't. It's your time. Waste it however you please). I don't do "pretty", and I'm tired of safe.

2012 may not be the most prolific year for me art wise.  I will be focusing on quality.  This coming year will not be about selling paintings, it will be about producing ART.

I hereby tender my resignation as Art Whore.

Am I still painting?

No, I haven't chucked in the art gig! :)
I am just taking a bit of a break from it as I a) recharge my creative batteries, b) decide what you would like me to paint c) work hard at getting all the little quacking ducks in a row for my new business and d) find a way of reminding myself why I bother at all.

Be patient oh precious viewer, I shall return!

Please note:

This is NOT my website, this is just a random bunch of thoughts, random discussions and occasional blog posts. :)
Please go to www.carlverster.com if you want to see the formal website.

Arms Wide Open

This triptych of a Freestate scene was easy to name. :)

"Arms Wide Open", Oil on Canvas, 3 Canvases: 30cm x 40cm x 1cm

Another lanscape needing a name

As Yet Untitled, 80cm x 60cm x 4cm, Oil on Canvas