I gained a new word to describe my work yesterday… Ethereal.
I was hanging some prints in the hallway of a local medical office yesterday. It was near the end of the work day, so people were still bustling about. They seemed excited to have new art on the wall, and I received many very nice comments on it. But my favorite was the one that my work was ethereal.
e·the·re·al iˈTHi(ə)rēəl/ adjective
Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
“her ethereal beauty”
synonyms: delicate, exquisite, dainty, elegant, graceful;
I decided I like that description, and will add it to my list. Previous words I’ve taken from other people’s comments include contemplative and delicate.
Getting your art in front of other people, especially non-photographers, is a great way to get descriptions of your work. Not just critical feedback, which we often seek from our fellow artists as a means to improve, but reactions from the general public. How does it connect with them? How does someone unfamiliar with your art, your process, your motivations react? That’s powerful feedback in itself.
There are lots of ways to get your art out there, into the real world, not just online. Doctor’s offices, restaurants, meeting rooms all have wall space they need to fill. As an exhibiting member of the Corvallis Art Guild, I can sign up to hang my work at various local businesses on a rotating basis. It’s a great benefit to members, in that we don’t have to do the leg work to find places to hang our work independently.
Getting a gallery exhibition is nice, and I’ve had a couple of those recently. I’m finishing up a show this week and will have new Treescapes on exhibition at The Arts Center in March. But to work up to that, it’s helpful to hang in other venues that aren’t quite so formal. It’s helpful to have the reactions of people in the real world, to give you some confidence.
Confidence, and maybe a few great words, to help you describe your work.
Kat, This made me laugh! Because……… the ethereal quality of these is what I love about them! My first thought was “well, of course” almost “well, duh!”
Still chuckling, Della
It’s funny, isn’t it? You might have even commented on that before, but for some reason the word stuck with me this time.
Perfect word to describe your art. Why didn’t I think of that? Also one of my favorite words. I will try to use it more often, but I don’t want to diminish it’s importance.
Isn’t it cool to get a new word to apply to something? Why didn’t I think of it either?
I love the word ‘ethereal’, I had it in my header for awhile. This quality is one I mostly identify with in my art, although not all my work comes over that way. It certainly is a complement for someone to describe your work as such….x
Yes, it’s a definite compliment. And it’s hard to achieve. Not all of my work comes over that way either, but maybe when viewed as a whole, it does.
I love that you are getting your work in front of people in the “real world”! My work is currently hanging in my dentist’s office. It’s nice to go in for a cleaning and see some of my prints. =)
I like the word ethereal to describe your work. I would also use the word “tranquil” – I always feel a sense of calm when I see your art.
Ooooh, Annie, I love “tranquil” too! Thanks for that. And congrats on having your art out there. That’s where it’s meant to be — liberated!!