Saturday, May 2, 2009

Seeing through other eyes


This painting, Glass and Orchids, was my second attempt to paint glass. I started out with enthusiasm, but by the time the painting was finished I wasn't happy with it. It didn't turn out as I expected, and I felt it was overworked. I wasn't even sure I wanted to frame it. I reluctantly included it in a recent exhibition, and to my surprise, I heard more comments on this painting than on any other.

This unexpected popularity of the painting caused a curious phenomenon; suddenly it started to look better to me. Seeing through someone else's eyes enabled me to see the good points and ignore those parts that I considered flaws (and that probably only I could see).