ON OWNING A PAINTING

As an artist and having participated in several group shows as also solos, I notice the reactions and absorb the feedback which is sometimes amusing and at times, interesting too!

Before any show, I usually feel a palpable sense of nervous excitement to share my work, as my creative expression will be assessed by experienced artists and include those who are regulars known to  have an ‘eye’ for art.  Two decades of creativity has not diminished the pleasure of those reacting to my paintings on buying or the positive feedback after many years of owning my work!

My experience over the years while holding solos is when some couples do a quiet ‘tug-of-war’ over the choice!  The man invariably wants a strong abstract while his wife would prefer an abstract expressionistic work. There was this incident at a well know art gallery in my city that while discussing the two paintings, the wife turns and walks away, leaving the group around very nonplussed. She quickly returned to ‘her’ painting and grandly placed the marking that states “SOLD”!  “That’s mine!” she grandly stated while her husband sighed.  Later on he told me that they don’t have enough walls to add ‘his’ painting!!

On another event a lady had verbally booked a painting and another gentleman offered me double the amount!  I refused stating that it was booked and I had completely forgotten that incident till the lady reminded me recently and laughed at my foolish decision!  I told her that I would have lost the grace of a good friend had I made the decision over money!

Another lady had displayed my painting in a prime position of their lovely home and a visitor again offered double the amount! She firmly informed that she bought it for the love of owning the work and had no intention to sell it! I was truly touched and felt good that a ‘part of me’ is so well treasured. Years later when others come to me stating that they are never bored with my painting or that they would not like to replace my works with any other, my creative ability is endorsed.

There are couples who have playfully squabbled over two paintings at a show, till the wife condescendingly ‘allows’ her husband’s choice to be displayed in their home.  One couple, who have been collecting art over the years, came for one of my solos and the husband chose a painting called ‘Soul’.  Was that a sixth sense of a premonition on the choice of title and the painting, that he never could come for any of my shows, as he had passed on…

Those who love to own a painting for their pleasure of seeing it every day and to ‘grow’ with it are true lovers of art.