The 15th Annual Exhibition for the International Guild Of Realism is approaching fast. So many firsts! So little time! It's the first time I am exhibiting with this group and the first that is this far away. It's the first time competing with others outside my own area, let alone with artists in other countries. It's the first time I've ever had to ship a painting this large. Most of what I've done so far has been local. It's the first time I've had anything this large framed. The costs for framing, shipping, travelling, and just participating are mounting up fast.
I've always been kind of a thrifty gal. I buy most of my clothes and household needs at Salvation Army. I reserve my hard-earned cash for higher quality painting materials. If the painting sells, I will still be in the red. I might just break even if it sells AND wins an award. And yet....
I wouldn't trade this experience for ANYTHING!! It's positively exhilarating.
The very thought of getting to meet some of the artists in person that I've followed online gives me chills. Having the opportunity to learn from them is the icing on the cake. Guess I'll have to break tradition and buy a NEW outfit to wear to the opening.
Then there's the issue of explaining all these expenses to a spouse who is even more thrifty. He's been on board with the trip to Charleston all along. But I was a little nervous when we sat down to actually make travel decisions regarding hotels, meals, and organized artist events. I laid out several options for keeping costs down. We could forego the opening dinner at that French bistro and eat at Subway. We could join up with the group later. We could forego the guided walking tour of the historic gallery district led by a famous artist/historian and take the less pricey bus tour on our own. We could stay at a hotel a few miles out of town rather than at the Courtyard Marriott in the historic district where the Guild officials are staying. We could always meet up with them in the hotel lobby. These things combined might save us a few hundred dollars.....though we would be somewhat isolated from the very people we really want to connect with.
Then my spouse and best friend of 38 years said something profound. He said, "You can get all the way to the one yard line, but you won't win anything if you stop there." He explained that if we were just going there to see the sights then taking the bus tour and eating at Subway would serve just as well. And Tom Bodette would even leave the light on for us at the end of the day. But if our purpose for going is to meet other artists and pick the brains of gallery people and art collectors, then we need to be in the places where and when they are found. Why would we go all that way only to stop at the one yard line? Well, friends, there's a reason I married this guy.
My painting might sell and it might not. I might place in the competition or I might not. But one thing is sure. I scored a touchdown when it came to choosing life's travel companion!
