My first two shows as a featured artist happened this spring! They were entitled "Landscapes" in memory of my mother who passed away this March.
In an earlier blog I wrote about the book of poetry and short stories I helped my mother publish using Blurb. She named the book "Landscapes" and used my photographs as illustrations. My mom was an ardent supporter of my photography journey and for that I am grateful.
A word about art shows: work! I chose 20 of what I felt were my best photographs. I decided how to print, mat and frame them. I hung them in a sequence that flowed and made sense. I advertised the event and had a reception party! Many people and companies helped me along the way professionally: my printers, my framers, and my photographer friends who encouraged me to do this. Also, I thank my daughter, Alyssa, who encourages me and is always honest, my friend, Don, who helped me hang and my husband, Geof, who puts on a great party!
CHOICE: How do you choose your best photographs?! Well, that is after all the important starting point. I can say that I am my own worst critic and I am probably not alone in this. I have thousands of digital images stored on my computer. Most are crap. The ones I keep coming back to are not and sometimes it takes a while to recognize a diamond in the rough. I show them to family and friends and when I get a positive reaction then I know I'm on to something.
PRESENTATION: After choosing I have to decide how to print them. What kind of paper? What size? How about canvas? I have one image printed on fine art paper that everyone swears is a water color! Another, a black and white Paris scene printed very large on canvas makes one feel as though you can step right into it. My feeling? If I wouldn't hang it in my living room then it isn't right. So I tend to spend a lot of money on presentation. These two shows cost me over two thousand dollars. A photographer friend told me he liked that I was not afraid to use color when I matted and framed an image. He's right. I love finding the mat color that makes the image pop!
There are so many local venues for photographers: libraries, senior centers, restaurants, hospitals and annual town art shows. Get out there and show your work. It's fun! I'm just getting started.
