Why Artists Should Do Demos

The Marietta Square's First Friday Art Walk just keeps getting better and better. This past Friday night the Square, and the shops, restaurants and galleries all around the Square, were bustling with visitors seeking art, food and fun. Friday's event was one big street party, with live music and plenty of entertainment.

Hubs took leave from his role of Supportive Spouse after helping me get set up for my collage demo at 2Rules and struck out in search of a quick snack. When he came back, he reported that he'd had a hard time making his way through the crowds but had managed to snag a couple of cookies.

Gallery owner Lois Rule helps me set up for my demo prior to the start of the art walk. Behind us my mixed media paintings, mini-paintings, jewelry and paper mosaic mirrors are showcased on the freestanding display.

By this time I was in the midst of my demo, fielding questions from a stream of curious visitors wanting to know all about my process and materials. It would have been very bad form to stop in the middle of it to eat a cookie, so I tucked the cookie into my tote bag. (Where I belatedly discovered it just this afternoon. It was a little dry, lol).

Giving a public demo can be agony or ecstasy for an artist. Sometimes it's both. Painting in front of a crowd of strangers, and answering questions while simultaneously focusing on creating a piece of art can be unnerving. But for the undaunted, it's also a great opportunity to connect with people, share your knowledge and art with them, and receive valuable feedback. 

For me Friday night fell into the latter category. I had a grand time. Not only did I meet dozens of extremely nice, very interesting people, I reconnected with a friend I hadn't seen in several years, and was able to point a number of visitors interested in trying collage to resources where they could learn more about it. Talking to people about my art was fun; even more fun was watching it sell. Afterwards, we met up with friends for a late night supper. It was the perfect ending to a perfect night.

If you're an artist who's shy about doing demos, I hope you'll reconsider. You don't have to be perfect (making goofs is normal, and shows you're human as well as creative!). You don't have to be witty or articulate, either. In fact, some artists remain silent during their demos; they just paint and allow the audience to watch. I personally think engaging in conversation with onlookers yields a more satisfying experience for both artist and audience, but that choice is up to you. Giving demos is an important part of an art career. Don't let self-doubts hold you back. It's an opportunity for professional growth you shouldn't pass up.

Besides art walks and festivals, there are many places where you can offer to do demos. Clubs and organizations are always looking for someone to put on interesting programs for members. Active adult and retirement communities are another opportunity. So are churches, employee organizations, certain types of businesses, art and cultural centers, schools...anywhere people gather and are interested in learning something new.

By the way, I goofed during my demo at 2Rules. I misplaced one of my paper tiles, then glued down a few more in the wrong places. It wasn't the end of the world. I just punted by substituting a spare for the missing tile, and gluing down more spares over the "mistakes." You roll with the punches during a demo. Welcome those punches. They're not knocking you down. They're pointing you toward success!

Text and image ©2015 Lynn Edwards

Join Me for My Demo at This Friday's Art Walk

If you've been curious about the process I use to create my mosaic collages, you can watch me construct one at 2Rules Fine Art this coming Friday evening, June 5, for the Marietta Square's First Friday Art Walk.

It's one thing to work in the privacy of the studio, and quite another to demo my process in front of an audience. Fact is, I'm feeling just a wee bit apprehensive. The piece I'll be working on is comprised of 285 tiny pieces of paper, each just a fraction larger than one square inch in size. So what could possibly go wrong??? Oh, lots of things...like if somebody sneezes and all the papers blow away, haha. I can just see the gallery being subjected to a blizzard of "confetti." (It would be rather festive...but it's a scenario I'd like to avoid. Maybe I'll just store those papers in plastic bags as a precautionary measure.)

Here I'm working on a painting on canvas. Cropping the photo made my studio look tidier than it actually was.

Anyway, the piece I'll be working on for the Art Walk will be done on a cradled wood panel. I've been using wood panels in my work a lot. They're a joy to work on, particularly for collage pieces, since there's no "bounce" to the surface like there is with a stretched canvas. The unyielding surface makes adhering the papers that much easier. Better yet, wood's durability makes any art created on it less vulnerable to being damaged.

On Friday night I'll be creating an ombre style collage, using five analogous colors to achieve a softly blended, striated effect. My inspiration for this piece came from a small swatch of upholstery fabric. I'll have the fabric swatch on display to show how it's possible to achieve an exciting relationship between a work of art and one's home's decor. If you'd like to have me design a custom piece for your home, I invite you to come by the gallery Friday night and talk to me or to gallery owner Helen Rule. If you can't attend the Art Walk, just give Helen a call at 404-355-6897, or email her at the address below, to discuss your needs:

2Rules Fine Art
85 Church St.
Marietta, GA 30060
404-355-6897
Email: info@2rulesfineart.com

Text and image ©2015 Lynn Edwards

Come Join Us at Marietta's First Friday Art Walk

Come enjoy some awesome art at tomorrow night's First Friday Art Walk on the Square in Marietta! The Square's dynamic art scene now draws people from all over the metro area for these Walks, held from 5 to 9 p.m. If you're among them, be sure to stop by 2 Rules Fine Art. At 2 Rules you can browse paintings, pottery, jewelry, artful decor items and more by 30+ artists, including myself.
 
As a special treat, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 2 Rules, artist Stanford Ashcroft will demonstrate how he creates paintings using razor blades.

This is a demo that's not to be missed. Some of the most interesting works I've ever seen were painted solely with unconventional tools: kitchen implements, hair picks, rubber bands, kid's foam toys, and cotton twine, for example. The results are often unexpected, which is what draws so many of us to this method. It's the unpredictable nature of it that's so irresistible.

There's a certain sense of freedom that comes from applying paint with tools other than a brush. The process is usually looser, more spontaneous and somehow more personal. Actually, it's just downright fun. When I visit galleries I seek out paintings created this way because I find them to be incredibly engaging. And I really enjoy painting in this manner myself. Thorny Issue, shown below, is a piece I did sans brushes. It was painted in acrylic using only my hands. I've never tried painting with razor blades, though, so I'm curious to see how Stanford does it. I'm sure it will be extremely interesting. I hope you'll join us!

2 Rules is located at 85 Church St. in Marietta. For more information call 404-355-6897.

"Thorny Issue," an acrylic painting on paper. The paint was applied using only  my hands.

Text and image ©2014 Lynn Edwards

2 Rules Fine Art Now Carries My Original Art Pendants and Mini-Collages!

I'm very pleased to announce my Original Art Pendants and mini collage paintings are now available through 2 Rules Fine Art in Marietta, Georgia!

2 Rules is a beautiful contemporary gallery offering an extraordinary selection of two dimensional art as well as sculpture, handmade jewelry, pottery and many other artisan-created items. (Not to be missed: owner Helen Rule's magnificent chainmaille jewelry and delightful origami birds!)

The gallery is located in Marietta's historic district, just north of the Square, at 85 Church Street. 2 Rules is known for offering art of exceptional quality in a welcoming environment. It's so exciting to have my work featured here! With its gleaming wood floors, clean white walls and open, spacious feel, 2 Rules offers you a comfortable, pleasant experience from the moment you walk through the door.

 

Elegant chainmaille pendants created by Helen Rule

Until now my pendants and mini collage paintings have been available only through my Etsy shop, playingwithcolors. They will continue to be offered through Etsy, but if you would like to actually see, hold and -- in the case of the pendants -- try them on, I urge you to pay 2 Rules a visit. 2 Rules is now offering a large number of pieces in the pendant collection, ranging in size from 1x1 inch to bold statement pieces measuring 1 1/4 x 2 1/2 inches. Pictured below are just a few of my creations you'll find at 2Rules:

My own hand painted art papers and intriguing foreign "found" papers form the colorful design on this piece. A luxurious black silk necklace cord (not pictured) with lobster clasp and two-inch extender chain is included.                              © Lynn Edwards

This pendant was created using stamps I designed myself. After stamping onto the paper, I then hand embellished the design with different colors of permanent artist's inks. The pendant is suspended on a silky black necklace cord  (not pictured) with lobster clasp and two-inch extender chain.    © Lynn Edwards

One of several mini-collage paintings now available at 2Rules. Displayed on its own wooden easel (included) it brightens a desk, shelf or tabletop using only a few inches of space. A mini-collage painting makes the perfect gift for that "person who has everything!"          © Lynn Edwards

All of my pendants and mini-collage paintings are created exclusively by me in my North Georgia studio. Each one is a completely original, one of a kind work of art that will never, ever be duplicated or reproduced. I invite you to go by 2 Rules and check them out. Browse all the beautiful items you'll find in the gallery. It's a feast for the senses, and a great place to discover artful finds you won't see anywhere else.

Visit 2 Rules on Facebook: www.facebook.com/2rulesfineart
Visit 2 Rules' web site: www.2rulesfineart.com

Text and images ©2014 Lynn Edwards

Glorious Santa Fe Part 3 -- The Plaza

The Plaza is the very heart and soul of Santa Fe. Around it are fascinating galleries and boutiques, restaurants, the Palace of the Governors and of course, the famous Portal where Native Americans spread blankets on the ground to display their exquisite handmade turquoise jewelry.

My first glimpse of the Plaza caused me to do a doubletake. It looks remarkably like Marietta's beloved Historic Square here in Georgia! The Plaza is about the same size and has beautiful mature trees just like the Marietta Square does, as well as benches where people sit in dappled shade and watch other people. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I had not expected this iconic New Mexico landmark to feel so very much like home.

Santa Fe's Plaza. The trees were just starting to change to their autumn colors during our visit.

Of course, the Square's signature structure is its Victorian bandstand, something that's absent in the Plaza. Nevertheless, it was "deja vu all over again" as we strolled around the Plaza. The surrounding architecture in Santa Fe is quite different of course (adobes prevail) but this lovely patch of green space in the City Different was a place hubby and I resonated with in every way!