It has been a busy month with two very different paintings on the go. For the last 18 months or so my painting has started to really ramp up and each painting is better than the last. This is great as an artist, but it poses a problem which is more often encountered in economics. If the next painting is better than the previous, potential buyers are encouraged to wait for the next one. The problem is similar to the concept of deflation in many ways as there is no urgency to buy.
It is obviously not an option for me to skimp on the quality so I have chosen to focus on 5 main paintings for the rest of the year. I have ideas on what I want these to be, but I will take it one at a time and remain open to ideas and commissions. Regardless, each one will be a real “centre-piece” painting and I am really excited to get cranking.
Painting of the month
Masie and Margs
I completed this wee commission for a family from Ashburton. Arlene asked me for a painting 8 years ago and after all this time we finally nailed down what the painting was going to be. Masie and Margs were members of the McCrea family but sadly Margs recently passed away. Animals are challenging to paint because if you don’t get it right, it is very easy for the painting to look unnatural. Ever heard the term uncanny valley? It is often used to describe animated movies where the characters are 95% similar to real life. Us humans get very uncomfortable watching this and it applies to painting as well. It is often better to get it 80% like real life, or 100%, but in between and you enter the uncanny valley.
Pick the painting - winner
Last month I gave people the chance to have a say in my next painting. I am please to announce that my next major piece will be this stunning shot across the harbour back towards Te Papa. Should make for a cracking painting. Stay tuned.