The Painting I Love That Won't Sell

[SteelCurtain]

I love your art, Jenny. When I have some disposable income, I promise I will buy some prints.

I especially like "Lucca," "Dawn at the Station," and "Inside Paris Time."

The latter evokes fond AF memories...

[brewer]

I painted my shed last year, and I'd sell it in a fast minute.

Boru

We could do a tool themed show, your shed and these actual subjects.  I'd hang this painting next to the actual jars.  


Now all we need is a lawn mower, and a few shovels.

god damn sam you're good!

[Brian37]

I painted my shed last year, and I'd sell it in a fast minute.

Boru

We could do a tool themed show, your shed and these actual subjects.  I'd hang this painting next to the actual jars.  


Now all we need is a lawn mower, and a few shovels.

I like this one too.

[Brian37]

Art is what works, and as much as we think it is about detail, it isn't, all the detail in the world does not mean shit if the message is lost. Art is literally in the eye. It is not a battle between styles or simplicity or detail, it literally is simply what the viewer likes.

[Crossless2.0]

Art is what works, and as much as we think it is about detail, it isn't, all the detail in the world does not mean shit if the message is lost. Art is literally in the eye. It is not a battle between styles or simplicity or detail, it literally is simply what the viewer likes.

That gives too much power to the consumer of art, in my opinion. I think the value or 'success' of a work of art is how nearly it captures the artist's intention/vision, whether anyone else gets it or not.

[Brian37]

Art is what works, and as much as we think it is about detail, it isn't, all the detail in the world does not mean shit if the message is lost. Art is literally in the eye. It is not a battle between styles or simplicity or detail, it literally is simply what the viewer likes.

That gives too much power to the consumer of art, in my opinion. I think the value or 'success' of a work of art is how nearly it captures the artist's intention/vision, whether anyone else gets it or not.

No sorry, as the the op proves, it does not matter, we can like it all we want, or hate it all we want. I like what I see, yes, but others may not. I seriously would NOT hang many Picasso's or Pollocks on my wall, I could care less what others think they are worth. Art isn't what the artist intends, it is what the viewer values. The artist may have an idea, yes and convey it well to many, and many may like it, but what matters is the viewer likes it.

I've written over 700 poems in almost 30  years. Most of them are probably junk to most. But my personal favorites I have done, are not what I have always had comments on. I've had readers comment on poems I didn't think that were that great, which they did.

There is no explaining it, art is simply what works, and what the viewer likes.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I wonder if you have to be a painter yourself to appreciate it?  I can appreciate the skill it took to paint it but I can't think of anywhere in my environment where I'd hang it because we don't paint.  I would always pick a piece to live with that elicited a pleasing feeling, in any of a multitude of ways.  This one doesn't get my brain or my heart going so much.  

Sometimes group shows are themed in ways which might fit this piece to a T though.  Plenty of painters have made works that are self referential regarding the media in one way or another.  This would surely fit there.

I agree with this -- it's a bit abstruse, with a specialized meaning that may make the viewer fell locked out?

[Thumpalumpacus]

It's the paintbrushes, I believe.
Without them, I think the piece would take on a touch of a surreal tone. The contrast is so well-defined, and I felt that visualizing the painting with an open sky provoked more thought; a deeper meaning.

It's an interesting painting as it is, mind you. It's just that it reminds a bit a commercial/ad piece with the paintbrushes, though one that I would certainly take notice of and admire.

Without them, my response was more contemplative, is all.

Too bad it's watercolor and I can't just paint out the brushes.  Get rid of them seems to be the consensus.

Understanding that you found the techniques involved a little stretch, could you not paint a second version to see how it works for you -- and for viewers? It's not unknown in art history to do as much, as you know better than I.

[robvalue]

I think it's cool.

If I had to make a criticism, I'd say it's a bit confusing and mentally jarring. But that's just my personal reaction, and not my overall one.

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

First of all I think your painting is beautiful.
But if I had to point out some mistakes,well not really mistakes, just things that I think don't appeal to me - then I'd point out that this painting of yours doesn't inspire any sort of feeling in me. It doesn't give me room to interpret the painting as I like. People like to interpret paintings the way they like so if I had to give an advice it would be to make a painting in which you leave people room to interpret the painting the way they like that fits their current emotional state. In short I feel this painting lacks meaning, it feels emotionless, I don't know how else to word it.

For example ; instead of a sky, which is pretty null for most people, meaning which doesn't actually inspire any sort of feelings people can relate with, well most people, I guess.. My point is if you had made a painting of a man in a soldier uniform kneeling down and hugging his daughter, but left the face of the man blank - kind of creates meaning for the extra tubes you have on the painting,that the painter has left the painting unfinished, so it's up to the viewers to interpret it . This would also give people to interpret the painting the way they want to do that they can feel that they can relate with the feeling the painting is radiating. For example, some would interpret the painting as a soldier that returns after a war who will never be the same again, some will interpret it as the soldier losing his self in battle and having to rebuilt his ' self ' from the scratch..., some will interpret it as a man feeling lost over the fact that he has to leave his family to fight for his country,... I think these would create some kind of feelings in people that they feel they can relate with..
The leaving room for people to interpret it the way they want is a technique I've seen on many famous movies, the first one that comes to mind is the ending of the movie inception

Anyway, that's my opinion, again don't feel bad or anything , your painting looks really good and I am 100% sure nobody else over here at AF can make something as good as that, which itself make it kind of special.
Good luck!