Today kicks off a special sale of my artwork.
Five paintings, sale priced. Infrequent visitors to my studio might have seen one or two of these. A couple of them have even been displayed in low traffic local venues on a couple occasions. One was reproduced and globally distributed as a poster; I still get a royalty check a couple times a year from those sales. I want to sell them for several reasons.
First of all, they were created and presented in a more traditional style than I am currently painting.
Because I have grown and matured as an artist, my style has significantly changed since these were painted, and for that reason I don't want to place them in an art gallery. They are old friends that have hung on my studio walls, or been buried and forgotten in a stack of canvases for years, so familiar or taken for granted that I no longer see them because they've been part of my everyday work setting for too long. It's time they go to new homes, where they will actually be seen.
It's time to open up studio space for new projects...
Reason #2: I have several new projects and I need to make more room.
Just over two decades ago I built this studio with the help of my father-in-law. It's amazing how one can accumulate so much "stuff" over the years. Jackie and I have been picking away at the studio this year. New lights, repainting walls and floors, and eliminating items that have just been piling up over the years. As a result of this process, I think it's time to say goodbye to some pieces of art that were created earlier in my painting career, in order to make room for the new creations that are yet to come!
Reason #3 (and really, my big motivation): both Jackie and I have a big opportunity in 2017.
We have been invited to participate in a summer arts camp at YaGe Community Arts Center in Kunming, China. This will be a wonderful opportunity for us to expand our horizons, and use our artistic abilities to help others. The money raised from selling these paintings will help fund our travel expenses.
If you have ever wanted to own one of my originals but thought they were not within your budget, this might be a good opportunity for you, as well as helpful to us.