Blog

     Greetings, my friends. First off, I would like to thank everyone that came to my opening night reception last Friday night. A special thank you goes to Kim Martillotta and her Marti's on Main Gallery in Albion, NY, for hanging my work and taking great care of, not only me, but all the folks that came to view and schmooze.

     I'm happy to report that three paintings were sold that night and interest has been shown in others as well. I'm a little over the moon on that point. It's like a slap on the back and validates all the time and effort put into this obsession of mine.

     An interesting question came up a couple of times during some conversations with friends that I thought might generate some dialogue out there. If you do paint, and show your work, you have probably scratched your head a couple of times coming up with a title. In a landscape, do you take the literal path and label the exact place of the subject, or do you leave it vague and open to interpretation. I know other artists struggle with this so I'd like to know your thoughts on the subject.

     A few years back I had someone tell me that he knew the exact place I had done one painting because he had fished the spot on many occasions. He went on to describe in detail the whole area and the good time he and his friends had during his trip in central Pennsylvania. Of course, I spent a second or two deciding if I should tell him that I had painted the small river in my own back yard in Western NY. I'm pretty sure I told him the truth and have always wondered if that might have had something to do with the lack of a sale at the time. Hey, he asked, so I told him straight but do you think it might have been OK to tell a story and leave it to the imagination.

     Well, think about it and make a comment or two. I'd like to hear your thoughts. Keep smiling!