This ONE Comment on My Artwork Just Hit Me. . .

Waking slowly in bed today, my mind is still full of memories, digesting the events of the weekend. A quote I once heard looms over my head. It goes something like this:

Sometimes you’re in the messy middle, where your old self is gone, but your new self is not yet born.

That’s where I feel I am at times. Growing. Slowly but surely.

I recently completed three art markets where I watched various people walk home with my artwork. I absolutely enjoyed chatting with passerbyers about my art, giving out some free stickers, and just getting to know people in the area.

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It made me realize that social media might always be a lackluster version of networking. There’s something more immediately interesting and satisfying about being in front of people physically, and discovering their opinions about your work, rather than counting on the number of likes or comments you receive on a post. One is numbers, the other is real interaction. 

Though in a way, social media can be less intimidating. It’s easier to hit “post” from your bed than to get up, pack up your art, and display it in public.
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I spoke with someone about my artwork yesterday that truly touched me. It felt fulfilling to hear someone look at my artwork, and understand the intent.

They said something along the lines of:

​Usually, when I look at artwork, I see the skill. I see the process behind the artwork, and how they chose to make the strokes happen. But when I look at your work, I don’t see the process, I just understand the feeling. These figures are faceless, yet through the gestures and color you understand what’s happening between them. You understand the feeling.

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I almost didn’t know how to respond. “Thank you,” felt too little of a phrase. The more that I share my work, the more I value the words others offer me in exchange for it.

Before hearing this feedback, I was considering switching up my approach to figure painting, though now I knew I was on the right track. My intent was being correctly interpreted among the right audience.

That’s often the key. Just finding the right people.

It’s easier said than done, to keep forging ahead without a clear response and reward. But it must be done. Otherwise, you’ll be walking in circles, constantly changing direction when one person approaches you and wants something different.

You can’t possibly serve everyone, so you must serve someone. Singular.

​I feel like that applies to life, too. Some people will like you, some people won’t, and none of it has anything to do with you. If you aren’t receiving the response you want, it’s not a sign to change what you’re doing, but to change the environment you’re in. You wouldn’t take a flower that isn’t growing and switch out the flower. No. You would change the amount of water it receives, change the sunlight, change the pot.
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​You’d change the environment.

So here I am, wandering out in the world, seeing who may be interested in these silly little drawings and paintings.

I’m changing the environment to slowly find. . . you.

The person reading this. Who loves artwork that’s warm, calming, and which gives just a little bit more to hopefulness in life.

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One last tidbit of something interesting before I head off into the world again. I noticed this yesterday.

I create paintings of figures without faces because I don’t paint people. I paint emotions. Yet– When I flip through my sketchbook, it’s full of faces! How funny. I just found that ironic.

I’ll share some doodles below. And now, I’m off to make some more paintings.

With Love,

Jen Carmiel
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