Bitter lesson in Business

Art is a business. Just like any businesses, professional artists have joys and we have low spots.

Today, I learned a bitter lesson. It took my valuable time and I have learned to be more cautious in the future.
After driving over 60 miles to deliver some work to a firm who urgently requested the work for consignment sales and display, I arrived home only to get an email message saying that another in the firm didn't feel the work was "right" for their environment and that I needed to pick up the pieces I had just left. The person soliciting and receiving the work indicated they were the one with the say, but my 120 mile lesson is that she did not have final say.

Artists deal with rejection often. I don't mind if my work wasn't a good fit for their firm. I do mind being blindsided so that I now must rearrange my schedule once again. I do mind that the firm had my cell number and although the person with final say, "just missed me" after I left, that no call was made so I had opportunity to turn right around and get the work. I really would have appreciated that little bit of consideration.

Bitter lesson, bad timing with Christmas.

It is a difficult time of year for me personally because December 2002 I lost both my mother and my father-in-law. It is a dark time, but this too will pass and a bitter lesson will give me better business sense. I will get over it and learn from it.

I can't wait to get my paintings back to where they "fit".

News for December

November was busy. Didn't get anything posted here.
The show at Norris Center in Naples was great exposure. Two local newpapers: Naples Journal and Pelican Bay Journal carried a feature article on me and my work! They published 6 images of my paintings with the story titled, "Portrait of the Artist".

As a result of the exhibit, I have been invited for a solo show at the gallery at International College by none other than Dr. Ron Bowman, one of this years' "Stars in the Arts" honorees.
This show is scheduled for April 2007.

I still have work on exhibition at Rookery Bay and at Naples Community Hospital.

Other upcoming exhibitions will be announced soon. The Atelier Lizio group will have a group show in February. Details will be posted.

Hope everyone has a great holiday season.

Exhibition information

The Norris Center Art Gallery exhibition will open November 2, 2006.
This show will run through the end of November.
I hang the show tomorrow, November 1st.
Twenty two paintings are set for that show.
Both the City of Naples and The United Arts Council sponsor this exhibition.
Karen S. Stone will share the space. Karen's work is wonderful.
I am quite fortunate to exhibit with her.
November 3rd three additional pieces will be on exhibit
at Naples Community Hospital in conjunction with this hospital's
Arts in Healing program and Jo-Ann Lizio's group Atelier Lizio.
November 9th marks the opening of an additional exhibit for
members of United Arts Council which runs to January 15, 2007.
It is located at the Gallery at Rookery Bay, 300 Tower Rd., Naples, Florida.
The catalog for these exhibitions can be viewed via this link:
http://www.trudybentleyrech.com/documents/NorrisCenterexhibit11_06.pdf

Fall Edition

A lot has happened since the last newsletter. My work will be featured in a two person exhibition at the City of Naples' Norris Community Center. 755 8th Ave S, Naples, 34102.
The exhibit will run the entire month of November. (We hang the show November 1st).

There will be reception November 21, 2006 at the center from noon until 3:30 PM.

The Gallery at the Norris Center is open Monday through Friday 9 AM-9 PM and on Saturdays from 9 AM to 6 PM.
For any additional information about the Center you can call the number below:
239-213-3058.

This opportunity is sponsored by the City of Naples and the United Arts Council of Collier County.

I hope you will come see my work in person.
Karen S. Stone another Naples artist will be showing with me.

Disappointment changed to joy

Updated October 3rd, 2006.

See the entry above. The lost oppotunity for a solo show in September turned out to be a blessing in disguise. In this area, it is far better to show during "season". The closer to the peak times the better. Any exhibition opportunity from November through or near April serves to get more exposure because the seasonal residents usually are in town and the colder months up north also add tourists to the art loving public.

Fun with Paint Updated

Just added some new pictures to the Fun with Paint Blog please go check it out. Here is a preview of the other series of abstract pieces. This second series is called Spring and Summer and this piece is called Birthday.

Reminds me of cake icing and outdoor parties as a child.

Check back next week. I should have the dates for the Norris Center exhibition where I will be showing in September!

"This just in"...

All seven of my latest paintings have been posted on my website http://www.trudybentleyrech.com/
To go directly to the new work use this link: http://www.trudybentleyrech.com/Newwork.htm
The first seven pieces on that page were completed in the last couple weeks. Thank you for visiting.

First Edition

Welcome to the first edition of Trudy's news about art.
Please send comments and let me know what you would like to see in the newsletter.

Summer in south Florida is the slow season for exhibiting locally. However next season looks promising. I will have an exhibit in the Norris Center in downtown Naples coming up. Early in 2007, I will be showing at the airport on Marco Island for 4 months.

Stay tuned for more details and do check out my website to see all my latest work.
http://www.trudybentleyrech.com/Newwork.htm

I have also started a new blog about experimental work. http://fun-with-paint.blogspot.com/
While my passion is a more traditional approach to painting, I do love to experiment and enjoy paint for paint's sake. When my pallet is full and my painting is done, there is a fair amount of color that is just too beautiful to discard. I have decided to use the leftover paint to have some fun.. You will also find some other work there which is usually fairly whimsical. For example, I made a soft sculpture fish...well, you will soon see another side of this painter.

I have been using Old Masters Maroger as a medium. I just tried another one of their fine products, Old Masters Italian Wax medium. I am thrilled with these products and find them to be an excellent value. Check out their website http://www.oldmastersmaroger.com/flemish.htm

I intend on publishing an update weekly. Let me know if you have any questions.

Newsletter site!

Announcing my first newsletter to be published right here. No large emails to receive! Just follow the link to this site and you will see the latest news.