Left-brain learning

The business side of my painting business has been a struggle and a challenge for many years.  I'm so right-brained that I have only recently figured out which side of the brain is creative and which is the other.  I could never keep it straight!  My way of (finally)remembering is this:  the "right" is the right way for me.
A friend came upon right-brainers in business  and shared it with me.  It's been invaluable!  People with good knowledge and people like me wanting it and needing it. I look forward to the next week of free nuggets of wisdom and inspiration!  Check it out.

Thinks Green

thinks green 13"x9" 2013

The third in my 'In My Head' series.  I don't have a plan with these or know what they're going to say in the end.  That's what makes them fun.  Thinking green can mean more than one thing.  Sometimes the green-eyed monster can get in my head and take control.  This is never a good thing.  It can also mean green as in spring, which is definitely in my head as of late!  However you take it is up to you.  But do take it, it's for sale.

In My Head

'Before'

'Before'  10x10  2013

Oftentimes I will like the before picture better than the after.  And sometimes there isn't a noticeable difference!  If men got as many makeovers as women...I can't finish this sentence but I shall ponder over it.

In My Head

Enlightened-most days  11x11  2013

I have really missed painting people.  I can't think of anything more interesting than a face.  (The next best thing being one of a dog)  I'm also desiring to paint abstractly.  So it made sense to kill two birds with one brush.  I like the idea of painting an abstract piece that can stand on its own and then throwing a head on it.  Let's see how it goes.  The danger for me is if something gets too planned it can backfire.  Must be my rebelliousness to agendas.

The danger in revisiting old work

Noodle Soup (sold)

I've been looking at my old work recently while getting my website up and running(still working out some kinks but you should be able to visit marybergherr.com)  The danger for me when I look at older work is the internal dialogue that starts, and it sounds something like this:  Oh my god, I like what I used to do better than what I'm doing now.  Oh my god, I'm not improving.  Oh my god, I sold more work back then...and on and on in that vein and then begins to repeat.  Eventually-after a couple of days-I challenge those thoughts, like so:  Mary, your work isn't better or worse it's just different.  It's good you're changing that means growth and exploration.  Maybe you're not selling as much because your prices are higher and maybe what that means is that it's time to promote more.

whew!  I got through it.  Here's a detail of a painting circa 2006.  I like the looseness of it-something I continue to strive for.

just goes to show...

I almost didn't include these two paintings in my current show.  I thought, they're kind of weird, how many people know who Timothy Treadwill is...nobody will buy these...blah blah, insecure blah.

They sold first off!

Just goes to show, I don't know crap! and/or I am not a good judge and jury of my art or an objective one anyway.  

'A Dream and a Dog'

This is the second year that I have donated a piece to the Make-A-Wish silent auction.  This painting was inspired-and painted on-by Gwynn.  I enjoyed working with her.  A very mature, very down-to-earth sweet girl.  Her wish, which was granted, was to go to Hawaii with her family and swim with the dolphins.  She loves dolphins AND her blue-coated great dane, Marley.