This was my very first show at Visual Effects since they started representing my work.  It was such a great experience.  For the first 5 years I held the show at my house, which meant that we had to prepare the space by moving furniture into other rooms which transformed our living/dining room into a gallery.  I have a great hanging system so that was very helpful.  I had to stop painting much earlier so that I could get everything prepared and be ready.  I had to plan everything and do everything except on the last day before the opening when my husband would take the day off to help. 
 
This year I brought my watercolour paintings to them by the end of September so that they would have time to frame them.  Though a few of the larger paintings  I still used my exhibition frames so that folks could choose their own framing.   I was able to continue with my acrylic painting right up until Tuesday, just before the opening on Thursday evening.  After my last painting was varnished Ian delivered it on Thursday morning to the gallery.    
 
My husband took the Thursday day off, like he usually does, but really, he didn’t need to this year.  As everything was all under control.  Peter and John did all the preparation of the show on their end.  We just came with food and wine at 4:30ish. 

Thanks to these two fabulous guys!  I really appreciate all the support they have given me since my work has been in the gallery. 

Thanks for stopping by.  See you next week.  

Well it has been a while.  I am glad to be back. 
 
My art show was  in the middle of November (time is rushing past).  It was a wonderful event.  After 4.5 months of intensive painting it was wonderful to walk in and see all the work hanging as a collection.  All fall I work away and never really get to see the work as a whole.  Once a piece is finished, I hide it away to protect it and then I am off to the next one.  

I have done this process now for 6 years equaling to 6 annual art shows.  Each year there is a point during that I feel overwhelmed, tired and unsure if I will have enough work. This leads to me wondering about my sanity and why I do this to myself every single fall.  That is until all the work is hanging and then I absolutely know why I work so hard.  It is very satisfying accomplishment (after the fact).

Getting ready for a show is not for the faint of heart. It requires dedication, organizational skills and a willingness to retreat from the world nearly completely for months on end.  Those painting days, which if you get a postcard invite to my show you already know that I count them down rather obsessively, as each and every one of them are fleeting and precious.  As they go past I worry about how I am going to create enough work.  But I have learned to just tuck my head down and focus on today…tomorrow will come and then it will be today.
 
I was pleased to have created 6 watercolour paintings and 8 acrylic paintings of birds.  Not a bad amount for a show.  
 
Here are a few photos from the opening.  Thanks for dropping by.  See you next week.