Portrait Anyone?

It’s not been a stellar month for me at Etsy.com, but I can tell you that I was star of my show the other night at my opening. I include a small sample. I’m wondering about including some of my paintings on Etsy or making some cards or ACEO or whatever, but I always hesitate because if I think my jewelry is a slow mover I have to admit my artwork is like sludge. I think I’m a good painter, don’t get me wrong, but fine art paintings are not exactly on the top of anyone’s list in this economy and paintings of still living people are generally only interesting to their relatives! That said I did sell a couple of the portraits at my show, but at pretty discounted prices. I would rather they had a happy home among the people that love the sitters than they sit in my attic, basement, or studio gathering dust.

I do actually hang my own art in my own home and several of my favorite pieces are portraits of people that I don’t even know anymore. I actually had to look up the name of one woman. I had forgotten it, but an intriguing portrait is more than just an individual. It takes on a broader connotation after the person is no longer known and becomes a universal: Madonna, whore, mother, daughter or vanity, wisdom, folly, vision. I have become friends with my portrait paintings in a way that I never expected. I put up some older ones at the show and then was shocked that I didn’t want to sell them. I put up ridiculously high prices for them! I figured if it would help pay the rent it was worth it, but otherwise forget it.