Show targeting. Venue matters.

 Art Matters is an art show and fundraiser organized by the San Marino Art League at the Huntington Gardens . Last night I attended it and showed my artwork. It was the first time I was juried in . I wasn't sure what to expect so I was a bit surprised when I found out it was quite the swanky affair. Very good artists and art and lots of collectors.

 Which brings me to the point of this post. It is hard sometimes to gauge what kind of art to present to different shows. Shows have "personalities"so to speak.

Naturally you always want to sell whatever you hang in a show and be proud of what you present no matter what the venue is.  However,  when I don't have all the facts, it is hard for me to decide on subject matter, size, even framing and price.  For example,  I was surprised to discover during Telluride Plein Air that most paintings sold at that event  were not of the mountains or birches but of the actual town.

Art Matters. Cocktails.

Art Matters. Dinner at the Huntington gardens.

Art Matters. Gallery.

So now that I actually entered Art Matters! I have much better idea of what kind of art to enter next time. Below two examples of pieces perfectly suited for this show -and many others- that Michael Obermeyer piece is splendid.  This was a classy affair for a discerning moneyed public slanted to the conservative. It was a  knowledgeable crowd that likes images of recognizable subject matter. The gallery  itself was visually challenging with the lattice and the hanging by volunteers.  So you are better off with bigger sizes and simplicity of design. Detail can be lost  or crowded out.  What I would not recommend  is "paint for a show" but when you have several options, it really helps to know your venue.

Ok, so even if you don't sell anything the first time,  it is invaluable to attend and have fun -after all, you were juried in- and pay attention to what flies off the walls. Crossing my fingers for tomorrows open-to-the-public showing.

Art Matters. Michael Obermeyer piece. Now. That's a "little gem".

Debra Holaday expertly showing her pieces.

Some amazing portraits at the Huntington.

McEntee's symphony greys harmony conveys his mood after loosing his wife. The landscape as portrait.


Clearly a Vermeer inspired interior. A bit contrived but that light...



Formal and elegant . Love the risk of the brim shade.



I can totally see this woman just barge in a room. German painter active in England. Notice the "bottleneck" shoulders so typical of the period portraiture. Probably didn't have money to add hands.



Sargent. Just plain incredible.


Mr Watts. by Raeburn I think. Again, the light. And the uneasy stuffiness of this character who practically launched the industrial revolution.

They speak for themselves. However, I found it strange that anybody would collect portraits of families not their own. I guess Mr. Huntington was trying to import England wholesale. These are not just nice pictures of anonymous subjects as "figures" but people with clear genealogical roots, names and families. Then again, they are beautiful on their own and some of them were latter acquisitions.