I plan to do it again next year.
Towards the end of August, I achieved something I'd never done before. I took part in the studio trail which featured work of artists from all over Hampshire.
I applied to be in it way back in the year. It was decided that I'd use the garden house while my husband Steve took annual leave, as its normally his home office.
During the month or so prior to exhibiting, I got to work on framing most of my canvases. I collected second hand frames through freecycle and charity shops. A lot of them needed customizing to fit around the individual pictures.
Once I was satisfied with the presentation, including fixings at the back, I started to install them in my mini gallery.
Besides suspending larger paintings from curtain poles, I made good use of the white c and c grids that were previously used as guineapig habitat. I linked up enough of them to cover the whole picture hanging zone of the back wall. There were still extra pieces which I put onto screw-in hooks in all the left over spaces!
In fact, I think I filled every available inch of the garden house! It meant getting an 'eyeful' for every visitor.
Talking of visitors, there were a good few people coming to view my work. I felt quite important. Many interesting conversations were had and I soon picked up on the common questions like, 'is this where you work?' or, 'have you been doing this for long?'
I had to explain how my actual work-space is in the heart of the house and therefore less accessible.
I enjoyed how my fridge contents still-life pieces sparked up some interest, especially as this meant giving the back story of my 'brush' with fame!!
Altogether, it went well, I sold five paintings and I got a few ideas of what I could do next.
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