Spurts of Paint(ing)

Christopher Columbus Park, Boston at night Columbus Park, North End, Boston Over the last 6 months I have concentrated more on my artwork.  I am not sure where credit is due for this change . . . an unusually harsh winter here in the Boston area, a muse that made me want to be creative, or a high level of stress that called for therapeutic time and to pick up a brush . . . but whatever the reason(s) I am happy to be concentrating on my artwork again!

One of the differences with this current spurt of activity is that I've challenged myself -- not relying on subjects I've done before and know how to approach -- but instead finding more challenging compositions, different lighting situations with nighttime scenes, including people (which I've always avoided), and larger canvases that made me think more about detail.  I believe I've grown as a realism artist during this period.

With social media, I've shared completed work to a great response that encouraged me to keep pushing myself.  It was the cheering section I needed to instead of doing one painting and stopping - have others lined up and ideas brewing.  From this interest, I decided to explore offering Giclee prints for those who were interested in buying a print, and built an ecommerce website on Shopify to market my work.  I was thrilled as the first orders rolled in for paintings and notecards!  As an artist, we always doubt our work, but this has been very uplifting.

So, what is a Giclee? Giclee (zhee-klay) is a French word meaning a spray or a spurt of liquid. Apropos since I paint in bursts or spurts! They are incredibly accurate prints made on-demand, on canvas with either a traditional stretcher bar or gallery wrapped and ready to hang, and in the size you want. Giclees may not replace an original oil painting, but it allows people to buy a painting they like, at a lower price point, and enjoy it hanging in their home.  I had seen them offered a lot during my gallery browsing last summer and it's a nice way for artists to offer their work to a broader audience.

I'm off to finish a painting of Fenway Park . . . and it may just make its way to my Giclee offerings!

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