Inspiration Fridays! How do you know when it’s good?
How do you know when it’s good?
I may be an introverted socialite. I love a good opening. Art shows can be magical. The conversations, laughter, wine, and art combine to make an electric stew. Add some sales, simmer and… serve. Still, when it’s all over, I am sapped.
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Over the last six months, I’ve been working on my latest body of work Departure for this winter’s open studio. These paintings are the culmination of several years of shifting perspectives and experimentation in my work. Some pieces are more radical than others, and there are a few that feel completely original. I don’t just mean new for me. I mean, they feel like the kind of painting that this world has never seen before. That sweet spot between abstraction in representationalism that has been so elusive. This is why I paint.
Gabriel Mark Lipper – Fractal Light – acrylic on panel – 12”x12” SOLD
Gabriel Mark Lipper – Harmony – Mixed Media on Canvas – 36”x48”
Gabriel Mark Lipper – Resilience – Mixed Media on Canvas – 48”x48” SOLD
Some of the best works in this show haven’t sold yet. I’m not complaining, the sales have been good. Still, when a piece stands out but doesn’t receive the coveted red dot right away, it can leave us artists wondering why. This can be a slippery slope. If we start conflating the value of strong work with how many pieces we sell, or how many “likes” we get, the quality and power of our painting can get into trouble fast.
Gabriel Mark Lipper – Infinity – Mixed Media on panel – 36”x 72”
Gabriel Mark Lipper – Seclusion – Mixed Media on panel – 48”x 48”
So the next time you are wondering if your paintings are any good… instead of comparing them to other people’s work you may have seen in galleries or online, compare your paintings to your own best work. What is it about your favorite pieces that worked so well? Are your current paintings better? Why? Why not? This is where the real innovations live. We are always learning and evolving, and there is plenty out there to discover, but the best art that we can make comes from learning to trust ourselves.