The Art & Poetry of Mary Coleman

Here’s my finished painting, some close ups, and a poem I wrote. I shared this painting yesterday, but not the close ups. Overall I am very pleased with this work. It lived up to my expectations, which are generally higher than they should be.

You’re really good, are you going to show at a gallery? I love being complimented on my artwork, but I hate the second part that usually accompanies a compliment. Galleries are exclusive, who knows who kind of spaces. You can’t just appeal to one to take your art. If there is an open call, it’s juried, and there are gate keepers preventing most from entering. Of course there are community galleries that are easy to show in, but the quality of the work is usually poor as a result. You get some really good artists too, because a showing is a showing, but it’s really a mixed bag. I do submit to a local community gallery quite often because it’s all I have ever been able to get into. Juried shows usually have a fee and it gets expensive constantly submitting, then paying, then getting rejected and having wasted a bunch of money. I prefer to submit to literary magazines because they don’t charge for you to submit work. I have had more luck with my poetry and art in literary magazines than I have ever had with galleries.