I was asked (recently) if say, someone wanted a green painting, would I do a green one to please that person. Well, yes and no. That is a complicated question. I wouldn’t “do” and sell a painting that was just “done” to please someone else. I have to feel it works for myself as well. I do multiple panel paintings and each panel is intended to work alone and also within the context of the other panels. But I will sell them separately, sometimes. I have a (painting) habit to feed. Separating parts of some paintings works but there are some paintings that I refuse to sell as separate parts.
I sincerely believe that integrity is the main quality that is important for a good piece of art, be it visual, auditory or verbal. I also sincerely believe that it is ultimately possible to see or hear or read this quality. And today I came face to face with my need for integrity in my work. When Linda Fairchild was here this summer (June 30 entry) she suggested I stop using “x’s” in my paintings. I mulled it over and tried it out and found it very provocative, exciting, rewarding, etc. And difficult. I had to find something else to make the paintings work.
But………..today I found myself putting some “x’s” back into some of the paintings and especially a very large painting that has been hanging in my living room (over my piano). This painting absolutely needed that big bold “X”. It screamed, it cried for it. And even though Linda thinks she has a buyer for it without the X, I put the mark back in today and feel much better. If no one else wants it, I can live with it, with keeping the painting, as long as it has the X in it.
(You know, the color comes out different on every screen, so I hope this doesn't look too dark on yours. It's not a dark painting at all. Sometimes I am surprised how a photo can change depending on whose computer is showing it.)