Speaking of Art Blog

I had the most intriguing and humorous message come through from the Contact page of my art website yesterday.  It made me laugh out loud.  A woman was inquiring if I had participated in an Indiana Artisan Marketplace in one of its earliest annual art fairs, as in just over a decade ago.  Actually, yes I had, exactly 11 years ago at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.  I was honored to be invited to participate.

Second question: Did I happen to be selling a painting of a duck in my art booth?  Um no, not a duck, but a painting of a pea hen, the female version of a peacock.

Third question: Did the duck have a disapproving look on its face?  Wow, my pea hen definitely has a disapproving look on her face.  In fact, that’s why I titled it, Attitude.  When I photographed that pea hen she was glaring at my camera, definitely disapproving of my picture taking.

Attitude, pastel, 14x14" 

The reason the woman was asking all these questions is because she fell in love with a painting she saw back at that art event, didn’t buy it, and now wants to track it down to purchase for her daughter.  Oh my word!

I sent her a pic of my disapproving pea hen (which I still own and would be willing to sell to her), and I crossed my fingers that it was the right painting.  Maybe her memory of the exact kind of large bird in the painting was fuzzy.  After all, 11 years is a long time to remember that detail.  No, my pea hen with attitude was not it.  She was definitely looking for a whimsical disapproving duck.  But she thanked me anyway for going to the trouble of trying to help her in her search.  I replied, “Sorry I couldn’t help you.  Happy duck hunting.”

So, what is the moral of this little story?  If you find a handmade art treasure at an art gallery or art fair or special exhibit and you contemplate buying it but are on the fence, don’t wait 11 years to decide that yes indeed you want it after all.  When a piece of artwork speaks to you, when it grabs you and won’t let go in the back of your mind, listen to it.  Just buy the disapproving duck.  You will be glad you did, and the happy artist will be ever so grateful.

BTW, my pea hen with attitude painting is still for sale.  If she’s talking to you with that glare of hers, contact me through my Contact page.  She doesn’t like to be toyed with.  Just make up your mind.