Open Studio!

Photo courtesy NY Times

It's that time of year again--my studio building is hosting its Spring Open House. Join us at Dilworth Artisan Station, this coming Friday, May 3rd, from 6 to 9 PM. Over twenty artists will hold their studios open to the public. It's a great opportunity to take a peek behind the scenes, see what's fresh off the easel, and meet the painters themselves. 

Lesley in her studio...

I'm reprinting below parts of an excellent article from the New York Times about collecting art. (Thank you William Grimes and Robin Pogrebin!). This excerpt discusses how to take advantage of Open Studios. Hope you'll enjoy it, and please come on down on Friday the 3rd! Details here.

Some of my still life props--lots of pieces of fabric!

KNOCK KNOCK! Open studios are annual events in art districts. Individual artists, or buildings housing multiple artists’ studios, join forces and hold an open house for a weekend, with maps and websites to aid navigation.

ENGAGE. The point of an open studio is to let the public see work outside the gallery system and promote dialogue. This is your chance to get the inside scoop on the art and the artist behind it.

"Beakers with Azaleas"
20 x 10, Oil on Linen
(c) Lesley Powell 2019

EDUCATE YOUR EYE.  Go see as much as you can--at galleries, museums and art fairs and by trolling online. The more art you see, the more you will develop clear judgement  Knowledge can  help put things in context, but expertise isn't a prerequisite. 

GET WHAT YOU LOVE.  All sorts of people will give all sorts of advice about what to buy and when and where to buy it. But the bottom line is, you have to live with the painting or sculpture or installation, so you should like what it looks like, how it feels to have it in your home. 

“Buy fewer, better works of art. Buy the best you can afford. Take your time. There is no art emergency.” — Liz Klein (art adviser)