Here’s my tip for the day: When you’re feeling stuck with your artwork, do something small.
My goal for 2004 was to create a new “body of work” by December. I wanted to have enough new wall hangings to develop a proposal for solo exhibits. And I wanted BIG wall hangings.
Well, life had other plans for me.
I did do a small series of wall hangings in time for my summer retail show, returning to my looser, more intuitive style from earlier years. I’m very happy with them and want to make more. But I found planning and executing larger pieces rather daunting.
Fortunately, an opportunity at the show opened a door for me.
A customer begged me to create a very small fragment for her, about the size of a playing card. “I love your work,” she explained, and I do want to buy your fiber work. But I’m retired and live in a very small home. I only have room for a tiny piece.” I pulled out a collage fragment I was planning on incorporating in a larger work, fashioned a simple hanging device for the back, and sold it to her.
I began whipping out new pieces, energized by this new format. Working in such a small scale, it was easy to experiment with different layouts and color combinations. Making art was fun again!
Now I’m preparing for my wholesale show next month, and I’m taking these new pieces with me. They are now mounted on very small wrapped canvas panels, 6”x8”, I’ve painted matte black. They look very classy. I may even make some very simple frames for them. We’ll see….
I’m finding this very small format less intimidating, more welcoming than my larger work for now. And more fun, too. I have a feeling I’ll be doing a lot more of them. Please keep your fingers crossed for me, that they will be very popular with buyers at my show!
When working large is just too much, or life itself gets messy, take a step back, bite off a smaller piece to chew. Or, as Steve Martin used to say, “Let’s get small!”
