Posey's Creations

My Art Is in a Show in FRANCE!

Here's how it happened: I saw an online request for postcard-sized art for an exhibit in a restaurant in Rouen, France (actually in a nearby town with a long name). OK, the restaurant is in a JAIL, the exhibit organizer said, but what the heck. Hopefully, it's in a former jail. Regardless, how else am I going to get myself in an art show in FRANCE... for free... at this stage in my career?!?! I immediately decided to enter. Why? More on that later.

Since the venue is a restaurant, they asked for food-related art. I chose the Texas peach as my theme. Easier to draw than barbeque, right? I also decided to make my piece look as much like an old-fashioned postcard as I could. I painted, I glued, I textured, I shipped it off and – VOILA! – now my art is on display in France. After the exhibit ends, it will be added to the restaurant's PERMANENT collection. Lah-di-da, s'il vous plait!

See below for an image of the postcard. To see the whole exhibit: http://www.facebook.com/linda.s.posey#!/photo.php?pid=187535&id=100000825422919&ref=fbx_album  - Enjoy! :-) (FYI – the "fuzz" on the peach is… dryer lint and carefully applied paint!)

Why did I bother?: I won't get paid for this piece of art. As far as I know, the works aren't even for sale. I just donated my little painting to the restaurant's "permanent collection." And even while it's on display, it's in France for pity's sake, thousands of miles away from where I know a single solitary art collector. Why did I bother?

First of all, for the fun of it. Period. I succeeded at that.

Second, this was a challenge to my creativity, although a small one. Nevertheless, I wanted to see if I could create something that would embody the theme, be fun to create, and be different (in a good way!) from the pieces already showing up on the Facebook page for the exhibit. I feel like I succeeded at that goal too.

Third, I wanted to be able to say I'd been in an art exhibit in France! What better conversation starter for an artist that saying you have work in an art show and a private collection in France. That aspect has been a success too. I've emailed friends, written about the show on Faceboook, and talked about it at one of my networking groups. And the story gets a smile or a laugh - and a lot of genuine "Congratulations," "Atta girl," and "Go for it!" comments.

Finally, it'll look great on my resume. WHAT? This tiny little piece of art in this tiny little show? YES. Anything creative I do is fodder for my resume. The next time I update my bio, this exhibit will definitely be included.

Furthermore, if I can't get some publicity for doing this, I'm just not trying. Already it's given me fodder for my blog! The next media release I send out... you guessed it. The "Diner a la c'art" show will either be the theme of my PR, or it'll be prominently mentioned in the release.

Why do you need to know about this?: As an artist, I encourage you to expand your horizons as I have. 

• What do you consider legitimate outlets for your art? What kinds of exhibits or contests are you willing to enter? Unless you're selling your every creation for top dollar, those less prestigious outlets might open the door to some new opportunity or at the very least add to your resume in an interesting way.
• When was the last time you created a silly, frivolous or "small" piece just for the fun of it? When was the last time you deliberately gave up the notion of creating "great" art or even saleable art - and created something just because you wanted to? If your art isn't fun or if you're not creating something just for your own satisfaction at least part of the time, you're missing one of the best possibilities - if not THE best - of your art career.
• When was the last time you took on a creative challenge, even a small one, that took you outside your usual style or genre or image of yourself as an artist? Again, if you don't to that once in a while, you're limiting your potential growth as an artist. After all, if I can make peach fuzz out of dryer lint, who knows what I'm capable of creatively!
• When was the last time you had your art on display in France? If you're a regular on the French art scene, more power to you. If not, why not try the unusual, the outrageous, the downright playful to get your foot in the door.

Happy creating -

Linda