Saturday … welcome to the mutual admiration society!

This is Saturday,already a bright and beautiful May morning. I have much to be thankful for and today there are others I would like to send a big hug. They know who they are I hope.  

For the last 2 or more years I have worked to become an artist, attending classes, workshops and one-to-ones. I have traveled the length and breadth of England, almost,  even had lessons in Rio de Janeiro. I have sought out the right teachers and even masters to teach me their craft. ‘Teachers’ have found me, I have received endless amounts of ‘lessons’ good advice, and feedback from others artist, non-artists, and those not particularly interested in my artistic prowess or lack of.  

This is beginning to sound like an award ceremony  or a leaving speech, but believe me this is not the end of a journey but the beginning of a new path.  

As I said I have been preparing to be an artist and at some point perhaps that did happen. However, there comes a point when one needs to show their works to the outside world.  The only way this can happen (as I see) is to have a platform, for example a guild of artists who can support and manage artists and exhibitions on a grand scale to receptive audience  regularly.  

To ‘win’ this help an artist has to request or apply and acceptance is not a foregone conclusion. All guilds or societies have a reputation to maintain and future members are required to meet certain standards, for instance I am an associate member of my local guild and to become an exhibiting member I am required to submit a written request, a CV, several paintings and my work books. The preparation over the last 18 months has been busy, rich and wonderful and diligently recorded in work books.  

However, as the day of decision got near so the doubts and fears, drawn from age old and previous rejection and failure, closed in and I had to call in  some of the above mentioned helpers.  

Nonetheless, I did get through the selection process, with amazing feedback and congratulations; I am now an exhibiting member of the Reading Guild of Artists.

Like I said, this is not the end of the journey, ‘we are not there yet!’ Thank goodness!

These images are from my work books, the paintings now framed do not photograph so well; and best viewed in the flesh!