I’ve always felt the artist’s ability to know when to stop an intriguing thing and one of the signals in defining an artist, although I know some artists do struggle with knowing when to stop. An artist friend back in The States told me once that he observed his child in a group of other children during a painting workshop for kids. Each child was painting a picture, he noticed his son reached a point and stopped while the other kids just kept painting until they were told to stop. He found it significant and I had to agree.
The completion of something is an important boundary; it contains the statement that anything more would be superfluous, unnecessary and an annoyance running the risk of ruining all that came before. It signals not an end but the wholeness of something.
It is with these thoughts that I have decided to stop. I have been writing this blog for a year and half or so and it is about one year ago I participated in my first group exhibition with Core Gallery which marked the beginning of a fruitful journey out of isolation, one which I’m still on I’m happy to say; a journey made possible by Artists Talking. I’ve said before and I’ll say again any success I have relates back to this blog on a-n. That journey is the very reason I’m making the decision to stop this blog. With the launch of Rebecca, I’m now entering a new phase in my artistic life, one which is no longer isolated. It is time to stop working in isolation but my dialog with history will never end.
My sincere wishes of good luck and heart-felt thanks to a-n and everyone who joined me here discussing many fascinating topics, as well as to those who read the things we talked about. I am very grateful for your engagement with my thoughts and the trust you showed me by sharing yours. As my friend and fellow artist Elizabeth Murton said recently, ‘This is, of course, not farewell, but see you soon!’
All the Best,
Jane
