Happy New year, open studio, cold showers and pay what you like.
Hey everyone.
Happy new year!
I hope you are doing well and either keeping warm or embracing the cold!
2022 saw me finally trying out oil paint and I love it! I’m not abandoning my acrylics because I still enjoy the process of painting that way but I just love the way the oils feel on my palette knife or brush while applying it to the canvas. The buttery smoothness is what really got me, the way the colours blend seamlessly too… The only downside are the fumes from the turps. The paint drying time being so long means I can stop working on a painting knowing I can come back the in the next days to carry on without worrying that it’s dried. This allows me to really focus on the piece and gives me breathing space…
So during 2022 I enjoyed partaking in some art fairs including the Contemporary art fairs in Sandsdown and Windsor. The last one I took part in was at the st Anne’s Well gardens winter arts market close to my studio in Hove. As usual i had a great time meeting people, selling my artwork, drinking mulled wine and listening to the various bands playing.
I decided it was time I tried out a pay what you like experiment , more on that later, back to the cold for a sec…
I have listened to Wim Hoff and others talking about the cold and how it is good for you and that resonated with me. I have cold showers and I enjoy it. I feel really energised afterwards. There’s something about it, when it hits you. It takes a minute to get used to the temperature and you must focus on your breathing and staying calm otherwise it will be worse for you but it’s so invigorating.
I also attempted a sea swim and got in to my waist on Boxing Day but the waves were too big and my better judgment told me to get out as I’m not a strong swimmer!
I’ll try again soon…
With the showers, I try to alternate between warm and cold which helps take the edge off and I think it’s helped me prepare for this cold snap we’re having so I can tolerate the freezing temperatures more easily…
Right, back to art related stuff…
As I said last weekend I let the buyer decide the price on some of my selected artworks. It was a way to get my paintings out into peoples homes rather than they sit on the shelf in the studio.
Sometimes I feel money can get in the way, of course I want to sell my art for a price I consider it’s worth but I know these prices can be out of reach for some people. I had alot of pieces which I haven’t taken out to fairs because they are old now and I’ve changed my style a bit so they wouldn’t fit with the works I have on show, because of this they sit there unloved and alone in my studio. Awwww
So yes I’m pleased to say, alot of them found new homes. Maybe with you?
People were fair with their prices. a couple did go for quite alot less than their original price and this was my little test. Could I just allow them to go knowing that the price was so low. I did and the buyer was so happy that it was worth doing it for that alone.
I believe human interaction is far more important than monetary gain. I know money is a necessary tool to live in this world but it can cause so much trouble, people fall out, we can judge each other and worse case scenario crimes are committed because people want and need money.
So yes thankyou to everyone who came along to any of the fairs this year and continue to support art wherever or however you can.
My studio is now open and if you are interested you can email call or message me to come along and see my art, have a chat and if the mood takes purchase something. There are quite few which I haven’t posted or made available yet . I can also show you my solar power setup if you would like and fingers crossed there will be enough power to make a cup of tea!
Below is some of the paintings from this year, some sold others still available
So yes hope to see you there
All the best
Aaron
