“will i love it forever” and a giveaway
a few weeks ago, i redecorated my bathroom. i now have a grey linen shower curtain, new art, and nothing on the sink except for a candle, soap, and the occasional flower. it is very calming.
the previous art – a photograph of a fall scene in michigan, a gift from my sister – is in a closet, waiting to be taken to a framer. i love the photograph, but i have never fully appreciated it because i do not like the frame i chose. i went into a store to find a frame and a mat; they didn’t have the right frame; but i didn’t feel like going to another store so i just bought a frame that was sort of ok. it has been bugging me ever since. the little things do make a difference.
after much deliberation, the art i decided on included one of my photographs. as usual, i ordered it from shutterfly. if i am ordering prints for myself, i almost always order them from shutterfly. it’s fast and easy and i am always happy with the result.
i was thinking about this, because when i order prints of my photographs to sell, i order them from a local print shop. i do this partly because i like to support local businesses, partly because i like the quality of their prints, but partly because in the back of my mind, i think of words i see listed in the description of prints for sale from other photographers/artists, words like “premium”, “archival quality”, and “good for 100 years”.
who knows, maybe those same things are true of prints from shutterfly, but i don’t think they are a lab geared toward the professional photographer.
the reason i was thinking about this is because i realized that longevity and the idea of heirloom quality art – something you will pass down to your children – aren’t important to me when it comes to art. in fact, i suspect that thinking about longevity (maybe not in terms of how long it will last, but in terms of how long you will love it) is yet another factor that stops people from purchasing art, especially if they are someone who is learning how to identify and honor their own unique style. if you’re not sure whether you love a piece today, trying to determine whether you’ll love it forever on top of that is a fool-proof recipe for decision paralysis.
our tastes change. what we love and are drawn to today might not be what we love and are drawn to next week or next month or next year.
i might need to write more about this, especially since one objection to honoring this is related to money and there are many ways to take that into consideration.
for now, i just want to wish you permission and courage, so that, as rumi says, you can “be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love”, even (and especially) when it changes.
speaking of art, i have an 8×10 print of my photograph (pictured above). if you want it, leave a comment letting me know, and i’ll draw a name from the responses.
I love your pictures. And I need a third photo in a grouping that already has one of your prints!
I agree that tastes change. I notice that mine does – most of the things on my walls, though, have a sentimental meaning as well as an artistic beauty to me. For me, the sentiment and memories attached keep them from losing their lustre, as they otherwise might do.
I am content looking at my beloved atlas pictures. I so enjoy them. I know it’s
not art as you’re speaking of . . .
but wonderful art to me!
I do know what you’re saying though. and you said it well. although . . . maybe so did the marine’s little grandson Jacob.
~ he’s 8 ~ today while we were walking around toys r us… he was looking for something to buy with ‘his money.’
I asked him how he decides.
his reply was “i just wait for the magic tam. i just wait for the magic!”
I have chills. So perfect and so simple. Jacob is a genius.
My taste for art changes slightly too… except for sentimental pieces. Those I always cherish!
I love your art and looking at your postcards that are displayed on my wall. Put me in the drawing!
This post brings to mind the meditation a client of mine recently shared with me. It is simply to spend time with the phrase: “everything changes; nothing stays the same.”
There was a bit more to the process (like applying it to life, to thoughts, etc for a certain period of time) but the phrase itself, for me, is a good one to just keep in mind. It is both, somehow, scary and relieving to me at the same time.
I love what you’ve said. I have left walls blank in my house for years waiting for the perfect photo…frame…inspiration. I just did a photo wall in my living room a few weeks ago…the wall had been blank for many, many years until I printed the perfect photos. We had new family photos this year that I love even more & it was quite an ordeal to change them.
As for printing, I have tried many online places…sending the same 10 photos to 5-6 different labs. You would be shocked by the difference! My current favorite lab is Persnickity Prints.
Your photos make me happy
a newly decorated bathroom, i want to see! we were at ikea this weekend so it got me thinking about my future home decorating..so far all i’ve decided is i want massively high windows:) is the art on the right from etsy?
I love high windows! Yes, it’s from Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/ohmydeer
I agree about the little things. Like loving the softness and price of a quilt, but not grooving on sleeping under that color, so, I didn’t buy it. Oh, and of course I’m trying to win a copy of the photo, too.
Your new bathroom sounds gorgeous. And, I think you are absolutely right – the little things – like a wrong frame, make a big difference. Of course I would love one of your photographs.
The Random Number Generator picked Relyn! I’ll email you for your address.