Exhibition Openings

I'm always very nervous when the time comes to attend my exhibit receptions and yet they are always lovely.  So many interesting people to meet and always such an honour when my work travels to new homes (a HUGE thank you to Inglewood Fine Arts & the newest patrons of my work!).  On many occasions I have been asked what I do the day of my shows and it's quite funny actually.  I used to work myself into a frenzy with busy-ness because I was so anxious but that is absolutely detrimental to my state of mind and terribly exhausting so over the years I have developed a bit of a routine.

Typically, as I normally do, I get up early and spend a couple of hours in my studio.  There I read, write and paint...I'll do anything creative really.  Then, when I hear my family beginning to stir (because the openings are often held on a weekend) I start a load of laundry or do some housekeeping (maybe because it keeps me grounded?) and then join them for breakfast and then head to a cozy spot to read for awhile.  This is followed by a nice long shower or soak to pamper myself before heading out.  And that's it.

I find that the more relaxed I am, the better host I can be as I've learned that being at an opening is a wonderful opportunity to share my work with others rather than thinking of it as being some kind of sales gimmick (I'm really not comfortable with salesmanship).  I feel blessed to be able to share what I do and to be able to encourage others in some way, whether that is through speaking about my inspiration, sharing process and techniques, or sharing the work itself.  I'm grateful for those who believe in what I do enough to hang it on their walls in galleries and public spaces, and those who connect with it enough to live with it in their private spaces.