"By the Bay" - 5" x 7" - oil
The bulk of the week was spent touching up a group of paintings to be included in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts traveling exhibition. How did you get an exhibition with the Virginia Museum Steven? I'm glad you asked.
About a year ago I entered an open competition at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts that I came across in the Art Calendar. The show included about four of my most recent paintings. I hate entering competitions because it feels like such a gamble but on the other hand...what do I have to lose (certainly not pride or dignity). The competition was more than worthwhile as the juror (thanks Gina) selected two of my entries for awards at the opening. At the time, she was in charge of the VMFA's statewide traveling exhibitions. Fortunately for me I decided to go to the opening. We talked at the show and before I knew what was going on she was offering me my own traveling exhibition with the museum. To make a long story slightly less long, since then I've been busting my hump to make twenty-two awesome paintings for the show.
Lessons Learned:
Enter shows (they do help)
Go to openings (you never know who you'll meet)
When opportunity knocks...get up and answer the door
1 comment:
Great lessons!
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