02/24/2008 19:22:18

My work is also 'all over the place', so I have a variety. I have only put paintings on this particular site, mostly still life but I also do landscape, when I can get out, and a lot of drawings. Horses mostly, but other animals as well. I think its a form of ADD...I just get bored.

When entering a show, I tend to go by the description of the show, and send works that seem to fit to the show.

I am not all that experienced in all of this, I just go with what I feel will work..and luckily that has done pretty well for me so far.

d

02/24/2008 06:20:06

Thank you for the feeback, hearing from other artists on the site reconfirms what I already think but at times I question myself and then I become more open to hearing other opinions from people who have more experience (and confidence) than me.

02/23/2008 22:56:35

Hi Robin, This is one of those questions that has so many answers. I tend to think that your art is how you communicate with the world. Style to me is a reflection of this and usually is connected to consistency. Why not show your range of subjects especially if every painting, looks like one of yours, and is of the same level of finish. If on the other hand all your work looks like different artists painted them…well, maybe it is still a good idea. Again, this would be true only if all the work is of the same caliber. Now if the work is so completely different that it looks like a child did one and a professional did the next, that would be very odd to a visitor. .

When you think of the great artists of the past how many are known for painting everything under the sun? Most found enough diversity in a few subjects that they painted well and paid the rent. There are an awful lot of artists that forget that to be a working artist means to make your living painting.  A good friend of mine puts it this way. If you are competent and can paint 10 different subjects with the same enthusiasm but one always pays the rent, what do you paint?

Warm Wishes, David

02/23/2008 20:43:59

Hi Robin,

When submitting images to a juried show, artists who submit a cohesive series of images tend to get better results.  They don't have to be practically identical, but should show the expertise of a distinctive style that an artist has developed.  That cohesiveness of style could be specific subject, distictive use of medium, interesting composition, unusual perspective, etc.  If the same theme is carried throughout all the submitted images it catches the attention of the juror and is more likely to make an impact.

02/23/2008 09:41:29

I've struggled with this question for a while. I don't do galleries or shows so I can't weigh in on what they prefer, but wouldn't you rather be known as a watercolorist who can do a variety of subjects versus just a landscape artist? I pretty sure you'll get a variety of opinions on this question (just like politics and religion - there's no right or wrong answer). As for me, I coming out of a severe case of artist block caused by trying to nail myself to one particular name or theme so I'm going with whatever comes out on the canvas...and as you can see by my gallery, I'm all over the place.